As she approached her house, she noticed that the door was already unlocked. Her heart began to thump loudly inside her chest as her mind conjured up wild and frightening scenarios of what might have transpired.
Reaching into her jeans pocket, she grasped her gun while unlocking the door with the spare key she had. With caution, she stepped inside and immediately noticed the disarray: furniture moved, a broken table, and other signs of struggle. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to take deep breaths, attempting to calm the rising panic. Pointing her gun forward, she pressed on, her grip firm.
As she ventured further, she observed the destruction of each piece of furniture, and her eyes widened as she spotted blood on the floor. The brightness that usually radiated from her black-brown eyes now faded into darkness.
Footsteps sounded behind her, but she stood frozen, unable to move. Suddenly, a hand gently patted her shoulder, causing her to startle. She turned to face the person—a man she considered a father figure and mentor, Detective Thompson.
"Ava—" he began, but his words were cut short as Ava's phone started ringing. She already knew who the caller would be, and her blood boiled at the sound of his voice. Anger and rage coursed through her veins.
"Honestly, you deserve someone better than this guy. He's a weakling; he couldn't even put up a fight. But instead, you chose to suffer with him rather than embrace what was offered to you on a silver platter," the caller mocked.
"If you lay a finger on him or any of my loved ones, I will snap your neck," Ava threatened, her voice dripping with steel, low and dangerous.
"Oh, look at you. You still remember how to issue threats?" the voice taunted.
A brief moment of silence ensued before the voice turned serious. "If you don't want to witness his lifeless body, you better show up. I have another surprise prepared for you. See you soon, my darling daughter." With that, the call abruptly ended.
Ava turned her head to face Detective Leo and whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks, "They know... they know that I..." Her world crumbled around her as she grasped the severity of the situation. "...he asked me to come."
"We will rescue him and your two brothers. Just stick with me, okay?" Detective Thompson attempted to reassure her, but it seemed futile. He could see her tears of anguish transform into a resolute determination to either kill or die trying. She had always been prepared to face the risks for her loved ones. Wiping away her tears, her face transformed back into that of an emotionless, determined warrior.
"Let's go get them, Detective Thompson," she commanded in her leader's voice as she strode out of the house.