Chapter 13 - The Disappearance
Two days later, Victor was taken.
Clara had taken him to the park.
She had turned her back for just a moment.
When she turned around, he was gone.
She searched everywhere.
She screamed his name.
But he was nowhere to be found.
---
Ethan arrived at the park within minutes.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
"I don't know. I turned my back for one second, and he was gone."
"Did you see anything? Anyone?"
"No. There was no one."
"We need to call the police."
Ethan called the police.
They searched the park.
They searched the surrounding area.
They searched everywhere.
But there was no sign of Victor.
---
Clara was hysterical.
"My baby," she sobbed. "They took my baby."
"Clara, we'll find him."
"How? How will we find him?"
"I don't know. But we will."
"Ethan, what if we don't?"
"We will. I promise you."
"Ethan, this is my fault."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. I turned my back. I wasn't watching him."
"Clara, you can't blame yourself."
"Who else is there to blame?"
---
The police searched for three days.
There was no sign of Victor.
No ransom note.
No demands.
Nothing.
Clara was beside herself with grief.
She couldn't eat.
She couldn't sleep.
She couldn't do anything but sit in Victor's room and cry.
---
On the fourth day, a package arrived.
It was addressed to Clara.
She opened it with trembling hands.
Inside was a lock of Victor's hair.
And a note:
"Come alone to the abandoned warehouse on Pier 17 at midnight."
---
Clara showed the note to Ethan.
"Ethan, I have to go."
"No, you don't. It's a trap."
"I don't care. I have to go."
"Clara, you can't. It's too dangerous."
"I have to save my son."
"We'll find another way."
"There is no other way. She wants me. She's always wanted me."
"Clara, please."
"Ethan, I have to do this."
---
Clara went to the warehouse alone.
She walked through the dark, empty space, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Veronica!" she called out. "I'm here!"
There was a laugh from the shadows.
Veronica stepped into the light.
"You came," she said.
"Yes. Where's Victor?"
"He's safe. For now."
"Let him go."
"Not yet."
"Veronica, what do you want?"
"I want what I've always wanted. Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes. Ethan. The company. The money. Everything."
"You can't have Ethan."
"Yes, I can."
"Veronica, he loves me."
"He thinks he loves you. But I can make him love me."
"How?"
"By taking you out of the picture."
"You want to kill me?"
"Yes."
"Then do it. Just let Victor go."
"Not yet. I want you to suffer first."
"Veronica, please."
"Please what?"
"Please let him go."
"No."
"Veronica, I'm begging you."
"Begging? That's pathetic."
"Veronica, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes."
"Then kill yourself."
"What?"
"Kill yourself. That's what I want. I want you to die by your own hand."
"Veronica, that's insane."
"No, it's not. It's justice."
"Justice for what?"
"For everything. For taking everything from me."
"Veronica, I didn't take anything from you."
"Yes, you did. You took Ethan. You took the life I was supposed to have."
"Veronica, you were never supposed to have Ethan. He never loved you."
"Shut up!"
"Veronica, you need to let this go."
"I'll never let this go."
"Veronica, please."
"Enough! I'm tired of your begging."
She raised a gun.
"Veronica, don't do this."
"Why not?"
"Because Victor needs me."
"Victor is going to die anyway. I'm going to kill him as soon as you're dead."
"Veronica, no."
"Yes. And you're going to watch him die."
---
At that moment, the warehouse doors burst open.
Ethan rushed in, followed by a team of armed men.
"Veronica!" he shouted. "Put the gun down!"
Veronica turned, her eyes wild.
"Ethan," she said. "You came."
"Yes. I came."
"You're too late."
"Veronica, don't do this."
"It's already done."
"Veronica, please."
"I love you, Ethan. I've always loved you."
"I know. But I don't love you."
"I know. That's why I have to do this."
---
She raised the gun to Victor's head.
"Say goodbye to your son," she said.
"Veronica, no!"
At that moment, a shot rang out.
Clara screamed.
But it wasn't Victor who was hit.
It was Veronica.
She fell to the ground, a bullet hole in her chest.
Ethan ran to her side.
"Veronica," he said. "Why did you make me do this?"
"Because I love you," she whispered.
And then she was gone.
---
Victor ran to Clara.
"Mommy!" he cried.
"Victor!"
May you like
She hugged him tightly.
"You're safe," she sobbed. "You're safe."
