(AMARI'S POV)
My heart was on the verge of exploding as the words left Elara's lips. She stood before me, eyes flashing in hostility.
"What?" I asked in a weak whisper.
"Oh, you know what, Amari!!" She accused with a wave of her hand as she marched to the other side of the room. "They came and took my innocent son away. They threatened me roughly, smashed my phone even."
Goosebumps covered my skin and my heart started racing.
"Who?" Rudina asked.
But I already knew who it was. Even before Elara confirmed it.
"The damned monster your beloved sister married!" She hissed. She reached for a bottle under the table (definitely some alcohol) and fiddled with its cover while still talking. "Talen, Kaelon, Taelon… I don't bloody know anymore!" She tossed the cover and raised the bottle to her lips for a good swig.
I bit my lips to stop the tears of frustration from spilling as I moved the fake photo on the wall and took it off without a word.
"Oh goddess! He did come here." Rudina's voice was low and weak as she hugged her arms around herself.
"Yes he did!" Elara continued after wiping her mouth. "He came here and shared his insane plan! I just don't understand why this Alpha survived because now it's worse for us! He's handsome and calm but I swear to the goddess he scares me more than the other one!"
Perhaps that's the only thing in my life I've ever agreed with Elara on.
"When did they take him?" I asked in a shaky, hoarse voice.
"A few hours after you both left." She didn't even glance at me.
My body started trembling and even though I felt the strong urge to sit, my legs refused to move.
It will become a day in some hours.
Al needs his medication.
Al needs to come back home.
"Oh Al." Rudina burst into tears and my eyes stung.
"You always glorify Amari. You can see that your darling sister has put us between the devil and the devil." Elara's eyes were digging into mine with disdain. "You led a monster into our lives!"
"You led him into our lives, Elara." I spat angrily.
There was a moment of silence. Elara stared at me, surprise and annoyance clouding her facial expressions.
I tightened my hands into fists and tried to keep my tone neutral as I continued to speak.
"You forced me into marrying him. So if you're going to be mad at anyone, be mad at yourself or your friend who introduced you."
She dropped the bottle on the table angrily. "How dare—"
"We need to think of Al." Rudina hurried to the center of the room, her teary eyes pleading with us. "What should we do?"
The anger in me disappeared and I moved closer to Rudina.
"Maybe we can try filing a police report. Perhaps through someone else so Talon doesn't think we reported." I suggested even though I didn't feel sure of it.
"He said 'anyone hears about this and my son is dead.' Besides, he is from an influential family and I don't trust the police." Elara snapped.
"I don't trust the police either." I agreed with a weak smile.
Another moment of silence. This time feeling like a moment of defeat and absolute helplessness.
"I think I know who can help us." Rudina announced and I looked up to see her eyes were lit up despite her tear-stained face. Hope. "You know Al's friend, May? She's in his class and he always talks about her?"
She was directing the question to me and I nodded. I know May. She's one of Al's best friends.
"Well, her dad is the deputy police chief. I could tell Neo, who is my classmate and May's brother, and he can in turn tell May to tell their dad." Rudina was now looking from me to Elara, clearly seeking opinions.
"Telling kids? We will all end up dead. Them included." Elara said with a bitter laugh but I could tell from the way her trembling fingers reached back to the bottle that she was terrified.
"I think we can give it a shot." I joined. "Al wasn't at school today and we can find a way to make it seem like the little girl knows something is happening."
"You're encouraging this, Amari?" Elara turned to me.
"There's nothing else we can do." I met her gaze with all the strength I could muster. "We must try."
A second later, I returned my gaze to Rudina. "What do we do now?"
"I need to go. Now. So I can be back before the Alpha returns." She said.
I nodded. "I'll get some money for you to take a bus. It's faster." I dashed to the stairs and once in my room, I rested my back against the door and took a deep breath.
The air smelled the same and the plain room looked exactly the same too. I wanted to bask in it, to act like this was all a bad dream and I was back to how things were days ago. Back to a normal life.
But I had no time.
I walked to the end of the room and knelt down to move a floorboard aside. There were my medical school fees receipts, my results, and the stash of money I saved for emergencies. I took some bills out of it and hurried back to my door, but Rudina was already waiting for me.
"Thank you, Amari." She said as she received the money.
"Don't do that." I said softly, pushing her hair aside.
"I'm sorry. For everything Mother said." Tears welled in her eyes and she looked down at her hands. "None of this is your fault."
I tipped her chin up gently. "Don't worry about that, okay? Let's just focus on bringing Al home. And we will."
She threw herself into my arms and hugged me tightly. I kissed her head and rubbed her back before releasing her.
"Take care." I said and she smiled sadly before hurrying away.
I lingered at the door for a moment and then went back into the room, to the open floorboard.
I used to feel a little sense of pride when I stared at my secret stash. Money from years of work, saved for my examinations, Al's health, and family emergencies. And then the file, my most precious. My school records. The biggest secret in my life and proof of my determination.
But now, it all felt useless. I felt empty. I had no—
The door hit the wall and I quickly closed the floorboard and stood on it.
Elara was already in my room, her eyes narrowed in suspicion for a moment before the usual bitterness settled back in.
She folded her arms. "Rudina isn't returning with you to that devil's trap. You will return alone and face whatever is happening." She announced.