Felicia behaved as if oblivious to her precarious situation, carrying herself like a guest of honor at the Glover estate. She demanded the finest food and drink daily, directing the staff with an air of entitlement. She frequently mentioned her plans to return to Khogend once Maurice's legs healed, her optimism evident in every casual remark.
Even Maurice's men, ostensibly assisting her, found her naiveté amusing. Did she truly believe she could escape Maurice's lair unscathed? They all played along, of course, until Maurice's recovery was complete. No one would reveal the danger lurking beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, in Khogend, three days had passed since Felicia's disappearance. Carmen was distraught, her lips cracked and dry from stress. Three days prior, she and Felicia had been hiking, laughing, when their descent was interrupted by an ambush. These were not amateurs; they came prepared, and they came for Felicia. Carmen had wanted to fight alongside her friend, but Felicia pushed her away, insisting she would only be a burden. Felicia urged Carmen to flee and find help. Clearly, Felicia was protecting her, and with no time for argument, Carmen fled. But upon returning with help, Felicia was gone. No clues remained; the trail had been wiped clean, every surveillance camera disabled. Felicia had vanished without a trace. Carmen reported the incident to the police, but three days later, there was still no progress. The longer Felicia remained missing, the greater the danger.
Carmen was barely coping. She hadn't slept since the abduction, haunted by nightmarish scenarios. Visions of Felicia injured, tortured, or worse—her life cut short—drained the color from Carmen's face. She shook her head violently, trying to banish the thoughts. Someone could save her. Then, a solution struck her: the Fuller family. Felicia was still their daughter, regardless of their estrangement. Surely, her biological parents wouldn't ignore her disappearance. Surely, they would act.
Carmen grabbed a jacket and rushed to the door. But she was met with a familiar face—Calvin. For days, he had been loitering outside her apartment and Felicia's, relentless as a clinging leech. His presence enraged Carmen, especially since he had begun harassing Felicia even in her absence.
"Get lost, or I swear I'll kill you!" Carmen snapped, storming back inside for a kitchen knife. She returned, blade in hand, eyes blazing.
Calvin laughed, unfazed. He leaned against the doorframe with a smug grin, as if doubting she would act on her threat. Even if she did, he would simply flee and return.
"Carmen," he said, his voice dripping with a twisted sweetness. "You've already ruined me. I lost my job. My parents, fed up with the gossip, returned to the countryside. Now, I have nothing left but you." His face contorted with a disturbing blend of desperation and false devotion, sending chills down her spine. "It doesn't matter if you don't like me. I'll keep following you. Wherever you go, I'll be right behind you… You can't get rid of me."
Carmen's patience snapped. Without hesitation, she swung the knife. Calvin dodged; the blade struck the wall, leaving a jagged mark as plaster crumbled. But she wasn't finished. She raised the knife again and charged, fierce determination in her eyes.