I woke late the next day, my neck covered in bluish marks.

"Mathew Byrne..."


"Mathew Byrne! Have you lost your mind?! This is kidnapping! Where is Crystal?! What have you done to her?!"

My voice overlapped with my mother's.

I finally understood who "they" were in Mathew's ramblings.


My heart clenched. I had no time to process.

Movement caught my eye outside the window—Ivan Lane!


He clung to the windowsill, knocked twice, and mouthed: "I'm getting you out."

My parents and Ivan were working together to rescue me.

Mom's voice grew louder, more desperate: "We raised you for fifteen years! Paid for your education! Sent you abroad! And this is how you repay us? Locking Crystal away like she's your property? Please, for the love we've shown you, give her back..."

Mathew remained silent.

I bit my lip, straining to hear more.

Meanwhile, Ivan climbed through the window and produced a key to unlock my handcuffs.

My body felt suddenly lighter, then strangely heavier.

I had no time to examine this feeling as I followed Ivan out the window.

Thankfully, it was only a second-story drop, and not particularly dangerous. A ladder propped against the wall showed my parents had planned thoroughly.

Ivan's car waited nearby. He pulled me along, and soon the shouting faded behind us.

The engine roared to life, the sound jarring in the quiet suburb.

Mathew burst out of the house!

He stood in the doorway, my parents restraining him on either side.



His desperate cry reached me: "Crystal, come back!"

I looked at him, at my heartbroken parents. The world seemed split in two—Mathew on one side, my parents on the other.

I couldn't bridge the gap. Couldn't go back.

"Crystal, should we go?"

Ivan took my hand.

I pulled my hand away, unable to look back.

"Drive."

In the mirror, I watched Mathew break free and lunge forward. Mom stumbled from the force, nearly falling before Dad caught her.

I covered my mouth to stifle a sob.

Tears spilled down my face, landing cold on my hand.

As we drove away, Mathew's figure grew smaller.

Through my tears, I watched him collapse to his knees.

In the distance, he became just a speck.