The next day, Elijah prepared for his usual round at the private warehouse. Clad in all black, he hopped into his car and drove away from the mansion. The ride was quiet, but his thoughts were anything but calm. He kept replaying Savannah's words in his head, the desperation in her voice, and the deep trust she had placed in him.
Could he really help her? Was he ready to stand up to Blaze?
When he arrived at the warehouse, and parked his car, stepped inside, where workers moved and, efficiently handled their tasks. The hum of machinery filled the air as crates were unloaded. Elijah's keen eyes scanned the scene, making sure everything was running like clockwork.
"Elijah!" a familiar voice called out. It was the supervisor, who greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Everything good?" Elijah asked, still keeping an eye on the operations around him.
"Yeah, all smooth!" the man replied confidently. He continued chatting, but Elijah's mind started to wander. Something was tugging at the edges of his memory.
His mind suddenly, flashed back to a time long ago—years back—when Savannah had gone missing for several days. There were no clues, no leads. During that time, that little boy, Theo had been around, constantly asking about his mother. To spare the child from worry, they had spun a tale, telling him she was away on a business trip. After all, he was so just a child, too innocent to bear the truth.
Elijah vividly remembered one particular night. They had returned late from another failed search for Savannah, only to find Theo curled up on the couch in the living room, his small frame tense, eyes glued to the main door.
Elijah had walked over, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why aren't you asleep? It's pretty late."
The clock had just struck 2 AM. Theo looked up at him with those big, innocent eyes and whispered, "I'm waiting for my mom."
Elijah opened his mouth to say something, but a voice from behind him cut in.
"Elijah."
He turned to see Blaze standing there, his gaze fixed on Theo. There was something in his expression—something hard to read.
"Come with me," Blaze said, specifically to....the little boy. Theo.
Elijah confused knitted his brows as he looked up at his boss, something felt out of the place.
Theo hesitated, "Where to?"
"You'll find out," Blaze replied, his tone flat.
After a moment of thought, Theo asked, "Is it about my mom?"
Blaze nodded.
"Bos-" Elijah had started to say, but Blaze had silenced him with a authorative stare.
And then, they had walked away-Blaze leading Theo toward his study.
Theo was never seen again.
Elijah's heart raced as he snapped back to reality. A chilling thought crept up his spine.
Was Theo still alive? Or had Blaze done something he couldn't undo?
If Theo had been in Blaze's way... Elijah dreaded what the answer could be.
Later the Evening
The café was dimly lit, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee blending with the cool evening air. In a corner, a man sat shrouded in shadows, dressed head to toe in black—black jeans, a black jacket, black boots, a black cap pulled low over his forehead, and a black mask hiding the lower half of his face. His fingers tapped lightly on the wooden table, his eyes glued to the door, waiting.
The soft chime of the bell announced someone's arrival. Savannah stepped inside, her posture straight, her expression unreadable as she scanned the room. When her gaze landed on the man in black, she walked toward him, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency.
The man let out a breath, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "I remembered something," he said, his tone low and deliberate. "Something that might help you uncover the truth about Theo's disappearance."
Savannah felt her breath catch for a moment. A flicker of hope, small yet powerful, ignited in her chest. "You've finally decided to help me?" she asked, disbelief creeping into her voice. For so long, she had been chasing shadows, knocking on doors that remained shut, trapped in a maze with no way out. She had started to think she would never find the truth, that she was completely alone in this quest.
Elijah, the man in black, studied her closely. "Yeah," he said, almost reluctantly. "But I'm still loyal to my boss. After this, you're on your own." His words were straightforward, but there was something in his gaze—something hard to read, something hesitant.
Savannah nodded, forcing a small, practiced smile. "Thank you, Eli."
Elijah narrowed his eyes slightly. "You don't have to pretend," he said, leaning in, his elbows resting on the table.
"I'm not pretending—"
"I'm talking about that half-smile," he interrupted. "The one you just gave me. It's not real." His voice softened, his eyes searching hers.
Savannah pressed her lips together, trying to maintain her composure. "But I really am grateful," she insisted.
Elijah held her gaze for a moment longer before a glimmer of amusement sparked in his dark eyes. "Then how about treating me to a nice meal?"
Savannah blinked, taken aback. "What?"
"If you're grateful, treat me to a nice meal...later when you've finally found peace." he repeated, his tone lighter now. There was something in his voice—maybe reassurance, or even a hint of something more. Hope. And something deeper, something Savannah couldn't quite put her finger on yet.
She paused for a moment before giving a small nod. "Alright. I promise I'll take you out for a real meal."
Elijah tilted his head slightly as she reached out her pinky finger towards him, a gesture that felt both innocent and serious. He stared at it for a second, as if trying to decipher what it meant.
"Link your pinky with mine," she said.
He hesitated just a heartbeat before lifting his hand and curling his pinky around hers. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a surprising warmth through him, settling deep in his chest. His heart thudded against his ribs, a feeling he hadn't anticipated. It was the first time he had touched her, and it left him feeling both unsettled and oddly comforting.
If only Savannah knew the whirlwind of emotions churning inside him—the trust, the yearning, the love that had been buried under layers of obligation and secrecy. But for now, he kept those feelings locked away, hidden behind the dark mask he always wore.
For now, he would help her. And after that... she would be on her own.
Author's Note :
Apologies for not updating:(
Thankyou for reading<3
Hope you have a good day/night y'all<3<3