Catarina’s POV
I thought he was dead.
“You were shot!” I pointed to his leg; it was all healed as if nothing had happened to him. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
“David, what are you doing here? Where is Alex? And my babies? What have you done?” I gasped, looking around to find bodies lying all around.
“Oh, this.” David chuckled proudly.
“Well, what can I say? We have friends all over. You know, Tara is a pretty good witch.”
“You what? What are you talking about?” I couldn't process what he was trying to say.
“It was easier than I thought it would be. You know a special spell cast upon them—this whole Castle. All your precious kingdom people are under a spell, they will not help you! There is no escape from this. I am the Beta, and you should be with the alpha. You made a promise to him when he made you, his Luna. Now, enough of that! I think you have something for me. The key.” he held his hand out. “We want our Alpha and will do what we must.”
Startled, I stepped back, eyes scanning the room for any sign of Alex or my babies. But all I saw were lifeless bodies lying on the cold floor. Panic washed over me like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf me in its suffocating grip. David's presence only added to the chaos within my mind.
"What have you done, David?" I hissed, my voice laced with a mixture of fear and anger. "Where is Alex? And my babies? Tell me!"
David smirked, an unsettling glint in his eyes as he extended his hand towards me, demanding the key. My heart pounded in my chest as I warily clutched the metal key, my fingers trembling with a mixture of trepidation and determination.
“They are safe, for now. However, I suggest you do as I say.”
“Tell me what you’re planning to do?” I demanded to know.
"You think I would divulge all my plans to you, my dear Catarina?" he sneered, his tone dripping with superiority. "How naive. Now, hand over the key before I forcefully take it from you."
A surge of defiance coursed through me, my grip on the key tightening as I glared at him. "You won't get away with this, David. I'll never let you harm them. I'll die before I let that happen."
His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint replacing the smugness in his expression. "Well, if that's the way you want to play it," he growled, lunging towards me with a speed that caught me off guard.
Instinct kicked in, and with adrenaline, I sidestepped his attack, narrowly avoiding his grasp. The metal key slipped from my fingers, rattling as it hit the ground. David lunged for it, but I was quicker. As he reached for the key, I swiftly stomped on his hand, causing him to yelp in pain and retract his hand.
With determination, I bent down and snatched the key up, clutching it tightly in my fist. "You're not getting this," I spat, my voice firm and laced with defiance.
David let out a low chuckle, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "Oh, my dear Catarina, you underestimate my power and influence. You can't stop what's already been set in motion. You can't even mind linking to your pathetic King right now!”
My heart raced with a renewed sense of urgency as I backed away from him, my eyes darting around the room for a way out.
As I looked around, my gaze settled on a ventilation shaft above me. With a surge of determination, I made a split-second decision. With all my strength, I ran towards the wall, jumping at the last moment and grabbing onto the ledge of the ventilation shaft. My fingers gripped the edge tightly as I pulled myself up, my muscles straining with effort.
David's voice echoed behind me, filled with fury and frustration. "You can't escape, Catarina! Tara has them brats of yours, and you will give in eventually,” he shouted. But I ignored him, determined to find a way to rescue Alex and my babies. I would smash that Tara to pieces if she had so much as harmed a hair on my babies!
Crawling through the cramped vent, I cautiously navigated the narrow passages, my mind racing as I searched for a way to reach my family. The air was stale and suffocating, but my fear propelled me forward.
Finally, I spotted a grate ahead, a faint glimmer of light peeking through the openings. With renewed hope, I crawled towards it, my heart racing with anticipation. As I reached the grate, I pushed against it with all my might, the metal shrieking in protest. The grate shifted, allowing me to squeeze into the room beyond.
I emerged into a dimly lit corridor, the silhouettes of guards patrolling in the distance. I knew I had to move quickly to find Alex and my babies before David could catch up to me.
As I crept along the corridor, avoiding the guards' line of sight, my mind raced with thoughts of the future. I couldn't help but wonder how everything had spiralled out of control so quickly. It felt like just yesterday we were planning a future filled with love and happiness, and now we were caught in a dangerous game.
The sound of a door creaking open ahead snapped me out of my thoughts. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart pounding as two guards emerged from the room. They were deep in conversation, their voices hushed but audible enough for me to catch snippets.
"...secure the perimeter...search every room..." one guard muttered.
"Did you see the escapee?" the other guard asked.
They were talking about me. Panic surged within me, urging me to find a hiding spot before they spotted me. Desperation fuelled my every move as I continued to inch along the corridor. Finally, I spotted an open door with a flickering light inside. Without hesitation, I darted inside and closed the door behind me.
Breathing heavily, I realised I had stumbled upon a control room. Monitors lined the walls, displaying various views of the facility. The space was empty except for a lone guard, slumped in a chair, visibly bored.
Taking a moment to steady my breathing, I carefully approached the guard. With a swift and precise movement, I wrapped my arm around his neck, cutting off his air supply. His eyes bulged with shock as he struggled against my vice-like grip. It was a necessary evil, a means to protect my loved ones and escape this nightmare.
Eventually, his body went limp in my arms. I gently lowered him to the ground, his unconscious figure a chilling reminder of the darkness within this place.
Turning to the monitors, I scanned the screens for any sign of Alex and my babies. My heart sank as I recognised the room, they were being held captive in. It was heavily guarded, with multiple armed men stationed outside the door and there she was with them. Tara. That dirty she Wolf. I was going to kill her!
It was clear that a direct approach would be futile. I needed a plan, a way to outsmart the guards and save my family. The gears in my mind turned, strategizing every possible move I could make.