"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu

Saint

"She's been in her room a long time," I said to Marcus, my gut twisting with a familiar dread. Veronica had gone up to bed hours ago, and I hadn't seen her since. I’d tried to give her space, knowing how shaken she was, but this… this felt wrong.

"Maybe she just fell asleep," Marcus offered, but I could see the worry in his eyes mirroring my own.

I shook my head. "I don't think so. I have a bad feeling about this."

I went to her room, and the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. The bed was empty, and the covers neatly turned down as if she had planned to return. But her phone, her purse, everything was still there. She hadn't packed to go anywhere. She’d left in a hurry.

"She's gone," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Marcus joined me, his face grim. "Damn it. Where could she have gone?"

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We searched the house, calling her name, but there was no answer. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic pounding of my heart.

"Think, Marcus, think," I said, my voice rising in panic. "Where would she go? Who would she turn to?"

"Hayley," Marcus said suddenly. "She mentioned going to see Hayley earlier."

"Right," I said, grabbing my keys. "Let's go."

As we raced to Hayley's apartment, my mind was filled with terrifying possibilities. Had someone taken her? Was it connected to Julian? But he was still in prison… wasn't he?

We arrived at Hayley's building, and I pounded on the door, my knuckles white. No answer. I tried the handle, and to my surprise, it was unlocked.

We burst into the apartment, calling out for Veronica and Hayley, but the place was eerily silent. And then we saw her. Hayley was lying on the living room floor, unconscious.

"What the hell…?" Marcus breathed, rushing to her side. He checked her pulse. "She's alive, but… something's not right."

I knelt beside Hayley, my mind racing. Just then, her eyes fluttered open. She looked around, confused, her brow furrowed. "Veronica?" she called out, her voice groggy. She sat up, wincing. "What happened? Why am I on the floor?"

She looked around the room, her eyes landing on us. "Saint? Marcus? What are you doing here?"

"Hayley," I said, my voice tight with fear. "Where's Veronica?"

Hayley's eyes widened, her confusion turning to panic. "Veronica? She was just here… we were talking… and then…" She trailed off, her face paling. "Oh my god," she whispered, realization dawning on her. "She's gone."

"What do you mean, she's gone?" I demanded, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I… I don't know," she stammered, tears welling up in her eyes. "We were here, just talking, and then… I don't remember. I woke up on the floor, and she was gone. There was someone here… I think I heard them, but I didn't see anything."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Veronica had been taken. Again. And this time, I had no idea who was behind it. But one thing was certain: I would find her. I would tear this city apart brick by brick until I found her. And whoever had taken her… they would pay. They would pay dearly.