Some scenes in this chapter may be too harsh to read.

I advise readers to read with caution.

^^^

Violet's POV

I walked around the backyard, inspecting the bushes, trees and birds that lived within them, with Alora perched onto my hip. The afternoon sun was beating down on our backs relentlessly as we adventured around.

The fountain was gushing out water by the second and swallowing it up again and again, in repeated cycles. The aura was influenced by how magical the backyard looked. There was a beautiful mist that created a bewitching nature.

I pointed at a bird flapping its little wings as it soared above us and into a tree. "Look over there!" I exclaimed at Alora, introducing her to one of nature's beauty.

When I looked down at Alora, she was smiling in response. "Do you like the bird, Alora?" I asked her, not expecting a response, rather a giggle or a smile instead. I kissed her forehead and sighed, watching her giggle. She was such an angel.

"What are my girls doing?" I heard from behind me and I turned around. Adrian walked into my view, a grin spreading on his face. His outfit consisted of a pair of navy colored jeans and a blue t-shirt that immersed itself around his muscles perfectly, sculpting his body.

I chuckled and shook my head at him. "Just looking around." Behind Adrian, I perceived the layout of empty plates and utensils, organized around a table located in the middle of our backyard. Four chairs along with a high chair surrounded it.

"Are they coming? The food will get cold." I asked Adrian. We invited Darcy and Lexie over for one last time before they would depart back to their homes. I wouldn't be able to see them in a while after they leave so organizing this lunch would be a special and memorable occasion.

Darcy and Lexie should be on their way, we decided to meet up at three and it's now three thirty in the afternoon.

Adrian nodded his head. "I just called them, they said that they were caught up in traffic. They'll be here in a few minutes, don't worry." I nodded, understanding the reason as to their lateness. Adrian stepped closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist as nervous butterflies swirled through me. His lips met mine for a few seconds before they separated.

"I love you. You know that right?" Adrian whispered to me whilst caressing my right cheek with his warm palm. "Definitely, Addie. It isn't the first time you mentioned it." I chuckled and pecked his lips, lingering them there for a bit. "Well, I'm glad to know." He replied in an impressed tone, gazing into my eyes with a smile.

I felt Alora moving against my side and when I turned to look, her face was twisted into a frown which I recognized. She was hungry.

"Alora's hungry." I muttered while placing a light kiss on her forehead. I was going to head inside and feed her her baby food but I was stopped by a hand blocking my way. I turned my head up and frowned at Adrian confusedly.

"I'll feed her, Violet. You can stay here and wait for them, I left the backyard's door open so they could get in quicker that way." Adrian suggested and I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll do that." I replied and handed Alora over to Adrian carefully, who had his hands outstretched.

He kissed her cheek and smiled down at her. At that moment they appeared exactly like how a father and daughter should look like. A doting bond between them made my heart blossom.

I love my family.

I took a stride in their direction and kissed each of their cheeks tenderly. "I love you." I remarked gleefully as I watched Adrian's lips tilt upward into his famous grin.

His eyes identified as hidden treasure that needed special attention to release all the emotions that swirled inside. His entire figure looked angelic under the sunlight. "I love you too."

He turned around with Alora clutching onto his left shoulder, who happened to find my presence in her vision and giggled. "Mama!" It was indescribable of how I felt each time she said Mama.

I was proud of my daughter, and always will be.

I waved at her right before Adrian stepped inside the kitchen and disappeared. I turned around again, and touched the leaves that grew along the bordering fence of the backyard.

My thumb traced a green and yellow leaf all the way to its stem. Even though it was nearing autumn time, the weather presented a different story. I didn't mind though, as long as I got to spend time with my family and friends outside and burying ourselves within the depths of the end of summer's cycle.

Before my mind even registered, a rough palm clasped over my nose and mouth and a fabric covered my mouth. Two hands forcefully held my arms together behind my back and tied my hands together with a rope, tightly.

The last time I was in a situation similar to this was when Christy and Adrian attacked and kidnapped me. But that couldn't be happening again. Adrian wouldn't do that.

My body immediately acted against the vigorous hold around my legs and waist as I kicked my legs. I let out a muffled scream when a blindfold was lowered on my eyes, blocking my view of the afternoon glow to a chilling darkness.

I couldn't breathe properly cause my nose and mouth were both covered by the fabric. My nerves must have been pounding up against my skin in fright. All of a sudden I felt wearisome and my eyes were rolling back in their sockets.

I felt myself making contact with the ground when I fell. I wished that at that moment, the ground would've opened up and swallowed me, protecting me.

Who was this? Why were they doing this?

It just didn't make sense to me. Whatever the reason, I hoped Adrian would somehow come back outside to save me. I was being kidnapped, and there was nothing to help me.

The last thing I remembered before losing consciousness was being hoisted up of the ground and carried by an anonymous source. I heard a disturbing laugh which echoed through my mind.

"You're with us now, Violet. All safe and sound."

———

Third person's POV

Adrian grabbed the tips of his hair in frustration as he paced around the backyard calling for Violet. "Violet!" He yelled and was given no response. He was greeted with the chirping of birds that overlapped the silence of the backyard.

Where was she? She was just here a few minutes ago...

"Adrian, she's not at the front either." A worried voice wandered to Adrian. Lexie had searched the front of the house for Violet, but she wasn't there.

Darcy and Lexie arrived at Adrian's house for lunch, only to find him holding Alora to his chest and distressing over Violet's strange disappearance. They both offered to help look around the house, but received the same luck as Adrian did.

Adrian turned around, he felt his blood pressure working harder that it should've. He was scared. He clutched onto Alora tightly, who was staring curiously at him.

Why would Violet just leave without mentioning about it with him?

Darcy sprinted into their view, a defeated look straggling his face. "I can't find her," He panted for a second then continued. "Are you sure that she was here?"

Adrian waspishly nodded his head, while his mind bubbled up with questions and conclusions about Violet's disappearance. "She was here, I saw her last here." He managed to grit out.

Adrian figured that something wasn't right. This was out of character for Violet. She wouldn't just leave. Adrian scrunched his eyes together and sighed. "I told her to wait here while I feed Alora her food. I kept the backdoor open for an easier access for the both of you and..." He trailed off, a new thought consuming his mind.

Adrian's eyes opened in fright, sweat was forming on his skin expeditiously. "I think someone took her..." He took big strides to the backdoor and looked back at Darcy and Lexie.

"There's no way she left on her own." They both watched him with confusion on their faces. "That can't be real, Adrian. Maybe she just-" Adrian cut off Darcy's sentence in a demurring manner.

"It's just not like her to leave without telling me, Darcy!" Adrian raised his voice a little, panic flooding his voice. The last time Violet went missing was cause of Christy and him abducting her, so it was possible that she could have been taken again.

Adrian heard a feeble whimper and tilted his head down to meet his gaze with Alora as her chin wobbled and her brown eyes filled with tears. He needed to calm his nerves or else he would burst and that wouldn't he helpful for seeking Violet's whereabouts. He inhaled a deep breath and looked up at Darcy and Lexie, pleadingly.

"Look, can we please search for her once more?... Something's not right." Adrian begged them, as his eyebrows furrowed into a painful expression. "I wouldn't be able to endure if anything happens to her."

Darcy stepped closer to Adrian whilst Lexie followed his steps. Sympathy and concern were reflecting off his face. "Violet's my best friend, Adrian. I would do anything for her safety." Darcy placed a hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Let's not waste anymore time. Lexie and I will help you."

Adrian relaxed slightly, at least he was getting help and support. He nodded gratefully at Darcy and switched his gaze onto Lexie. He knew that he couldn't let his daughter tag along with him in this dangerous situation. "Will you look after Alora while we search? I don't wanna hurt her."

The question came out all rushed and Lexie had to take a few seconds to understand. "Okay." She agreed and Adrian passed a crying Alora over into Lexie's grasp.

"Da! Mama!" She kept on repeating while tears rolled down her cheeks. Adrian felt his heart crack hearing her cries but he knew that this needed to be done. He needed to keep his daughter safe. "Go inside and lock all the doors, including the backdoor. Don't allow anyone in unless it's me or Darcy. If we happen to not return home in ten minutes, call the police."

Lexie nodded and followed Adrian and Darcy as they left the backdoor, she immediately locked the backdoor before running inside the house.

Adrian and Darcy rushed forward, without words of exchange. A sinking feeling crept inside Adrian as they searched for Violet further away from his house.

They were about a kilometer away from Adrian's house and found themselves in a secluded area. The pavement had led them until the end of the estate where a dumpster was located. There was nothing in the area except the dumpster and a roadway to the left of the property that led out of the estate.

"Violet! Violet!" Adrian and Darcy yelled at different times, attempting to catch the attention of Violet, if she was somehow in the location. They tried looking for Violet for a long time and the search had led them here.

But as they were seeking for Violet, they didn't notice that a sketchy white van was following them. The van stopped a few meters away from where Adrian and Darcy stood.

The door to the van slid open and two bulky and wicked hitmen dressed in black outfits and with their hoods up, walked out carrying ropes and shovels. It was unfortunate that Adrian and Darcy didn't notice the hitmen sneaking up behind them, or they possibly could've protected themselves.

The hitmen used their shovels to bang it against Adrian's and Darcy's heads, causing both of them to collapse into the ground.

It all happened suddenly that Adrian and Darcy never got a chance to prevent the attack. The hitmen ignored the groans erupting from Adrian and Darcy as they tied the ropes around their wrists and legs, before dragging Adrian and Darcy in an unconscious state into the van. The van's door slid shut with a loud clank as the hitmen took their seats up at passenger and driver seat, and then they were off.

The men would meet their client in an hour at a secret location and in their understanding, would be paid a sum of money for accomplishing their heinous crime.

They were clearly professional hitmen, and just under half and hour ago they had successfully managed to kidnap their first victim. The job was complete now with Adrian and Darcy.

With Violet, Adrian and Darcy trapped in the van, the job was complete.