POV: Hex
My wrists burned from the cold metal cuffs. Two days. Two days of nothing but water, barely enough to keep me conscious. My stomach growled endlessly, and every attempt to twist or pull free ended in failure. The door was locked, and the sound of my father's drunken laughter echoed through the empty room.
"Stop moving, son," he slurred. "No one's coming for you."
"Yes, they will," I said, straining against the cuffs. "Just wait."
He staggered closer. "Let me tell you a secret… and then you tell me why you left your mommy's house."
I just stared. His words were meaningless. I could feel his breath on my face, smell the alcohol. I have to stay calm. I have to wait. They'll come.
"I'm super drunk," he said, pointing at himself. "Do you know what your secret is, Hex?"
"No," I said flatly, swallowing hard. "No one loves me. All of you only care about what I can do… my skills. That's it."
His grin widened. "Exactly. That's why I took you. You're mine to use. I could've made you help me a long time ago if I'd known how capable you are."
"None of you love me," I said, voice shaking. "Only Jayjay does."
He laughed, staggering. "Jayjay… that girl? Ha! She's nothing. You think she's special? She's just a kid. Weak. Beautiful, sure… but fragile. Imagine her screaming if I had her here, Hex. Imagine her—wild, untamed… mine."
My chest tightened. No… you won't touch her. Never. She's not yours.
I tried to struggle, but the cuffs held me. My legs couldn't kick. My hands were trapped. Panic flared, but I gritted my teeth. I had to wait. They'll come. They'll come for me. Jay wouldn't let me stay here.
Then the door slammed open.
"Who—what—" my father stammered, fear flickering in his eyes for the first time.
I froze. And then I saw them. Keifer. Aries. The Section E boys. Not a hint of fear in their eyes. My heart slammed against my ribs. Finally…
Keifer's gaze locked on my father, icy, unrelenting. His presence made the room feel smaller, heavier.
Before my father could react, Keifer stepped forward, fists coiled. Then he punched—hard. My father went flying back, hitting the wall. Blood dripped from his mouth.
"You… dare… kidnap him?" Keifer's voice was low, terrifying, vibrating with controlled fury. "Do you know what could have happened today if she came?"
My father laughed weakly, wiping the blood from his lips. And that's when it started—his vile, drunken insults aimed at Jayjay.
"Oh… you mean Jayjay?" he slurred, leaning forward. "I know you love her, boy "Do you know something, boy? She's… beautiful. Imagine her in bed with me. Tight, wild… the perfect little girl for me. And you… you can't do a thing to stop it."
I froze. My chest tightened, rage and fear mixing. How dare he… how dare he talk about her like that.
Keifer's eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers. He slammed my father against the wall. "What did you just say?" His hand gripped my father's collar, lifting him slightly off the ground. A hard kick to the stomach doubled him over.