Christian POV:-

I kept banging my head on the table to let these thoughts out. I searched for her in every single place I hoped to find her. Parks, Beaches, Libraries, her old working places, her friends but no avail. It's been two days and I am so fidgety. The strain is affecting my mind drastically. Utterly distressed by her disappearance, I cannot focus on anything. Filled with extreme consternation- all I could do is to pray for her safety. Why..?

"Christian.," Tyler said as my head shot up,

"Did you find her?" I quickly asked. He looked at me with a dire gaze and took a deep breath. His blue eyes blinked as he ran his hand through his raven hairs not being sure about speaking.

"Speak damn it!" I said restlessly. He took a seat beside me and began to say,

"Look, you're gonna listen carefully." He said as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"If it's not about Sophie, then I am not interested," I said nonchalantly.

"I have found her." He said as I stood up.

"Then let's go and get her," I stated as if it was obvious.

"Listen to me first." He sighed.

"What!? Speak it up. I can't wait here." I said exasperated.

"I know you are dying to see her but listen to this carefully." I grit my teeth and took a seat as I listened to him,

"She has been kidnapped and they plan to release her after a week from her birthday. You see.. it seems someone is trying to push you guys away from each other.."

"And who might that person be?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. He seemed hesitant for a second. I felt my chest tightened in dread. When someone like him is hesitant, I must be something great.

"Hey, say something." I shook his shoulder. He inhaled and began to say,

"It is like that Sophie has been told that you are the one behind that kidnapping and-"

"That's ridiculous! Why would I!?" I shouted.

"We all remember what happened at the party. Who knows what is going through her mind. I want to say that you're not going to give her any justification unless she asked, Okay?" He explained. I just gave him a nod.

"And about the person?" I asked.

"Well. It's someone who knows what you're going to do that day because that person knew it was her birthday. You know, very few of us know about her real birth date."

"You, me, Aunt Skye, her mother and her." He said and the realization hit me, she doesn't even know when is her actual birthday. To her, it's a normal day. But, of course, I can't forget that day, I was there the moment she was born, we all were. I named her... Sophie Florence- Skye.

When he finished his sentence my eyes widened in disbelief,

"Hey, I know she is crazy and all.. but she can't do this.." I uttered. Unbelievable. This can't be true.

"Do you think I'll receive wrong information?" He asked as I stood there flabbergasted. it's hard to believe.

I took a step back and turned towards the door,

"First we will greet her and then we're gonna get Sophie," I said and left with him.

I was filled with intense fury, she'll pay for it. This was the last straw, she is so dead. This is the lowest thing she can attempt. My anger is beyond any control. I am burning with rage. I'll teach her a lesson she's gonna remember for the rest of her life. I have warned her but she didn't listen and now she will pay for the consequences of her deed.

We reached her place,

"I'll go alone," I said. "Just be careful not to kill her."

"I wish I could," I said as I barged in.

I walked inside and called her,

"MERLIN!" Upon hearing my voice she walked down. She gave me an innocent look as if she is not aware of what she has done.

"Well, Hello, What brings-" Before she could finish her sentence, I pushed her against the wall and glared at her. Her smile faded as she gulped in fear.

"I told you, didn't I?! How dare you. I have warned you but you didn't listen. Just watch how I'm gonna make your life miserable. You ruin the day she was so happy about. I will never forgive you for this. I will break your soul,. Your very being into pieces. Just you wait and watch. Your devastation starts now. I'm gonna push you deep into those abysses that are gonna tear your life out of you slowly and painfully." I growled and pulled away as she began to pant in dread.

"Once I'm gonna get her. You start counting backwards." I hissed as I left her alone.

I walked out as Tyler asked, "Still alive?"

"I'm not gonna let her die that easily," I growled as I sat on the passenger seat and Tyler drove the car.

My heart began to race by each moment we got close, "Is she.. okay?" I asked tentatively.

"Alive. That's all I can say."

I gulped when we stopped in front of a cabin in the woods. We waited for Tyler's men to reach the place too. Tyler opened the dashboard and took out his gun and offered me one too,

"Here, take it." He said but I shook my head 'no'. I looked at the cabin and replied,

"I don't want to stain my hands in blood.. not anymore." I looked at him and he smiled,

"You have changed a lot... You know, you're like a Moon."

"How?' I asked.

"You are one but have different phases; desperate, happy, devastated, cold, scared, caring and now loved. finally." I smiled faintly when I heard this. He said all of my stages of life correctly, started with the desperation to escape from poverty...

"You should also quit Mafia life now and settle down," I said. He just laughed.

"Dude, I wish I could, but I don't have a girl that can drag me out from that dark world. Not after Lydia died. " He said sadly. I pat his back and pass him a smile. I couldn't say anything. I am not in the place to say anything about love. Tyler's girlfriend, Lydia died years ago. He promised her to leave the mafia world after marriage but she died on the day of their marriage and he was devastated. I felt so bad for him. It took him a lot of time to get out of that tragic incident and now he is also pushing himself away from his Crush- the one he loves deeply because he is scared to love.

I also used to be in the Mafia but I left when my mother died after saying those heartbreaking words that are my eternal regret;

"I could have lived the life of poverty happily but this.."

I was in the underworld for about 8 years. But now I am not. I sometimes feel scared that if Sophie came to know about my past, she'll surely hate me...

As we were waiting, Tyler's men came and he said one more time,

"Take it. Not to take one but save one. Besides, Don't expect me to protect you like a bodyguard." He said as I sighed and took it.

"You do think that I need protection?" I asked slightly smirking but he laughed off and we got out.

I am coming to get you, Sophie.

We walked in, it was silent. No sound. The moment we took a step a creaking sound of the wood made, may have alarmed the people inside. We walked in, it wasn't that big.

"HEY!" We heard a voice as the sound of a gunshot was heard and the havoc started.

"You go and get her. We'll take care of it." Tyler said and somehow I managed to slip out in the middle of chaos and began to look for Sophie.

I entered a room. My eyes widened in horror. My heart froze as I felt startled by the sight before me. Dread consumed my body as I stilled. I didn't dare to move for a few seconds but somehow some courage actually blessed me as I walked closer.

There, Sophie was lying her clothes ripped, bruises all over her delicate skin. A chain on her right foot and a blindfold over her eyes. Her mouth was covered by a cloth. I gulped hard, feeling too broken by looking at her like this. She seemed so.. lifeless.

Taking a deep breath, I rushed to her side,

"Sophie. Can you hear me?" I asked removing her blindfold and the cloth on her mouth. She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting her vision. I pulled her in my embrace hugging her as if I will never let go of her.

"Oh my, Sophie..." I whispered as tears began to fall from my eyes by looking at her like this.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry. I wasn't able to protect you. I am sorry. I couldn't protect you." I cried and continued hugging her. How void she has become. Looking at her like that makes my heart stabbed. As if I was being torn into pieces. The ray of hope I was clinging onto slipped out, every expectation for the day of love turned to dust. Nothing was left. Everything was shattered and the look of hers was evidence of it.

"Christian..." I heard her voice. It was so vague. I pulled away and cupped her cheeks,

"Yes, It's me.." I said as tears streamed down. She lifted her gaze and looked at me devoid of any emotions and put her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her again and kissed her head.

If you say you are fallen from grace. Then let me be your light.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I wish I could have protected you." I sobbed. I pulled off all the restraints from her and looked at the chain.

"Sophie put your hand over your ears," I said but she just blinked. Looking at her like that made my whole being to burn in the depths of despair. I swear I'll kill the bastard who made her like this by my own hands. I cannot see her like this. It is killing me from inside.

"Sophie!" I called her a little loudly but she startled upon hearing my raised voice. My whole being was panting, I was distressed looking at her like this.

I put her head over my chest and put my one hand over her ear while her other ear was attached to my chest.

"Sophie.. listen to my heartbeat.."

"It beats for you.." I breathed out and took out the gun. I spare a glance at her. Her eyes were closed, If she isn't getting affected by the sound of gunshots from behind, maybe she can bear it too.

I shot the place where the chain was attached, releasing her. I turned to look at her who was still. My heart skipped a beat in dread when I looked at her. I swallowed the apprehension inside me and put up a strong front for her sake.

Gulping hard in terror of what she has gone through, I removed my hand from her ear and slightly pulled away. I rested my forehead against her and took off my coat and wrapped it around her.

"It's okay. I am here. I promise I'll never leave you alone ever again." I picked her up like bridal style, I hate the clicking sound her chain around her foot is making. I want to release her from this.

I saw Tyler holding some of them captive. His eyes widened when he looked at her. We stopped there and I turned my attention to Sophie,

"Sophie.." I called her, she slowly lifted her gaze and met mine. Her ravage form is killing me.

"Tell me, who made you like this," I asked, looking at them fiercely. When she trembles looking at them, my blood boils more. What have they done to her that she is so petrified?

"It's alright. I am here. No one can harm you in my presence." I reassured her. She held my shirt and nuzzle closely after motioning to two guys. I looked at Tyler who nodded and I took her outside.

"I'll be back," I said but she held me.

"Don't.. go.." She whispered. I lean closer to her and kissed her forehead, "I can't be at ease if I don't take the life of the bastard who made you like this." I growled.

"I-I ..want to.. w-witness it too.. he...r-ra-r" She began to stutter. I began to rub her back,

"What?" I asked softly. She looked at me with a glint of.. shame? She held my arm and looked down as if she was depraved and mouthed 'raped'. My eyes widened as I felt like my life had been sucked out of me. The things around me burn in a fiery fire as I am in a desolate place feeling her agony which is killing me painfully like a slow poison. How much have you suffered?

I hugged her again and began to cry again,

"Sophie. I.. I.. am so sorry." I sobbed loudly. Why is all the anguish of this world is in her fate? Why is she always the victim? Don't they have any mercy on her? Just why?!

I sniffed and wiped my tears and picked her again. My trembling lips can't produce any sound other than a cry. I have no control over myself. Biting my tongue to calm myself a little, I picked her up again and took her inside again.

"Give them a painful death d- Hey, why is Sister-in-Law here?" I sniffed and didn't reply to him.

I saw some boxes in the corner and gently placed her there.

"These two, right?" I asked softly. She just gave me a nod and began to pant in dread.

"Shh... it's okay, I am here." I tried to soothe her.

"Man, why is she here?" Tyler asked again.

"She deserves to watch them die," I said with venom laced in my voice. I tightened my hand in a fist and looked at them infuriated.

"They don't deserve an easy death." I hissed grabbing one of them by the collar as I punched him again and again.

"How dare you touch her!?" I shouted, punching him again and again. Tears rolled onto my cheek. I can never forget that look of hers. How she lowered her gaze and said that word. Afraid of my reaction, afraid of meeting her own gaze. It's etched in my mind as a constant source of ravage, "Finally, I sucked the feeling of being defiled from her and you motherfucker elicited it again!" I shouted.

His face was red from blood. I pushed him away, my knuckles also slightly bloodied from hitting him again and again. I then took out my gun and shot him. I will take revenge from everyone who made her like this, who ruined everything.

I heard a squeaking sound from Sophie and turned to look at her. Her eyes were shut, hand clenched in a tight grip. My gaze softened looking at her like this. I went to her and caress her cheek gently, I whispered in her ears,

"Do you still want to witness the death of the other one?" She bit her lips and gave me a nod without opening her eyes.

"Cover your ears," I said softly. And she put a hand over her ears.

I shook my head and turned to the other one. I shot his leg first and heard his scream. She must have also screamed like that. I then shot his arm and put my foot over it as he screamed louder. The fury filled me as I couldn't get enough of this sound. How dare he touch her with his filthy hands, when she couldn't bear my touch, I couldn't even imagine how hard it must be for her to bear that. How dare he defile her. Filled with extensive detest and wrath, I shot his head.

After killing them, I threw the gun away and wiped the sweat on my forehead. I took life after years and it was for her... again.. just like the first time.

I looked at her, she was holding the coat tightly, trembling violently.

I pushed the hairs from her face and picked her again. I placed her in the car. She curled like a ball. I sat beside her and began to rub her back, Tyler came and began to drive to hospital without saying a word.

The drive was silent and Tyler finally spoke up, "I.. I.. have never seen you like this. And I don't want to ask what happened to her." Tyler managed to breath out.

"But... Sophie is one heck of a girl. I have never seen someone as strong as her." He said as I ran my fingers in her hair and looked at her form which is currently passed out after bearing all the anguish I was trying to protect her from- I was trying to liberate from her.

"I know..."

Let me see a scenery where all the pains were oblivious to her.