Chapter 108: Sacrifice
Lucas and Esperanza were in the small room, carefully reviewing the video they had sent to Mr. Thompson. Despite the shadows of the night filtering through the window, their attention was fixed on the file that contained the necessary key to free Analú. On the computer screen, the head of the kidnappers had pressed a number on the keyboard: 58702, followed by the letters MC. It was the combination to open the door that held the young woman captive.
—Here’s the key —Lucas muttered, quickly writing it down in his notebook as a faint sigh of relief escaped his lips. He immediately sent the combination to Mr. Thompson.
Esperanza, her face serious and determined, looked up from the screen and stared at Lucas. Her eyes shone with a mix of bravery and fear, but above all, with unwavering resolve.
—Please, wait for me here. I’m going in to rescue Ana Lucía’s daughter. Mr. Thompson and his family have been very kind to me, the best I can do is help them. —she said, her voice firm, though trembling with anxiety.
Lucas looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and concern, the fear for her reflected in his eyes. He jumped up, crossing the distance between them quickly.
—Are you crazy, Esperanza? You don’t even know what’s waiting inside. You don’t know who’s there or who you’re up against. You’re about to face extremely dangerous people. Have you forgotten what they did to you 13 years ago? They held you captive, Esperanza!
—I know, Lucas —she replied with an unsettling calm—, but I have to try. I can’t just stand by knowing there’s a young woman who needs my help, who’s suffering the same thing I did. I won’t let more people suffer like I did.
The determination in her words made her stronger, and although Lucas was still worried, he knew he couldn’t stop her.
—Alright, but be very careful, do you hear me? I don’t want to lose you.
With one last look filled with emotion, Esperanza left the room and quickly headed for the door that would give her access to the room where Analú was held captive. She took out her phone, and with trembling hands, typed in the combination on the security panel. The door opened with a faint click. The sound, instead of being liberating, left an uneasy echo in the air.
The room was dark and gloomy. The only light came from a small crack in the wall, barely illuminating the concrete floor. Esperanza moved cautiously, her hands brushing against the walls to find her way. She didn’t know how long she had been walking when, finally, she heard a sob from one of the rooms at the back. A soft sob, but full of desperation.
With her heart racing, Esperanza approached quietly, fearful of being discovered. When she reached the door, a whisper alerted her.
—Is it you, Analú? —she asked in a soft voice, afraid any noise would give her away.
From inside, a weak voice responded:
—Who’s there? Please, help me! They have me trapped…
Esperanza took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that shook her body. She moved a little closer and, in a reassuring tone, replied.
—Don’t worry, sweetheart. My partner and I followed the trail of your kidnapping. We’re here to help you. Don’t worry, I know your parents, we’re going to get you out of here soon. Just be patient.
At that moment, they both heard heavy footsteps approaching from the other side of the hall. The kidnappers were getting closer. Tension hung thick in the air, and Esperanza, without thinking twice, pushed Analú toward the back of the room, where she could hide behind a piece of furniture.
—Hide and stay quiet —she whispered firmly.
Soon after, the men entered the room. The leader, a large man, was at the front. One of the kidnappers approached the young captive with a mocking attitude.
—How’s it going, young lady? Finally stopped screaming, huh?
Analú, with a look of fear in her eyes, tried to stand her ground.
—Please, sir, let me go. I can offer you double what your boss pays you.
The kidnapper laughed cruelly. His face was marked by desperation and resignation.
—I wish I could, but I can’t. My boss knows where my family is, and I can’t fail him. I have to do my job right, can’t make any more mistakes.
—What do you mean, more mistakes, sir? —Analú asked, trying to understand what was going on.
The kidnapper moved closer, and with an empty stare, began speaking in a lower tone.
—You see, we were going to kidnap someone else, but we confused you with her, our target was supposed to be Miss Alexia. She always wears that jacket you have on, and we thought you were her. My boss is in love with Frederick Michelini’s daughter, and that’s why he gave us the order to kidnap her. Now, because you’re wearing the same jacket, you’ve become our prisoner. And the worst part is, my boss still doesn’t know we don’t have Alexia Michelini. I don’t know what’s going to happen to you. The most likely thing is, we’ll get the order to eliminate you, so get ready to say goodbye to this world.
The kidnapper’s voice became threatening, and panic overtook Analú, who was on the verge of tears.
—Please, sir, let me go. Give me a chance. I’m sure my family will protect yours. Nothing will happen to them.
While the man laughed, the sound seemed like a cruel mockery, an echo of the dark moments Esperanza had lived through years ago. Anger grew in her chest as she remembered what she had suffered at the hands of these same monsters.
Meanwhile, Lucas anxiously awaited news from Esperanza. He had sent all the information to Mr. Thompson, but the hours passed slowly, and anxiety consumed him. In the meantime, the kidnappers seemed to be moving with greater disorder, making his concern grow.
Finally, the door was thrown open violently. The head of the kidnappers entered, shouting in fury.
—Useless! How is it possible that you brought me the wrong person? This is not Alexia Michelini! It’s Analú Thomson, and I don’t want her! I’ve been planning to kidnap Michelini’s daughter for months, and now you bring me this one!
The leader’s fury was palpable, and as the kidnappers tried to calm him, Lucas seized the opportunity. The leader left the room, leaving the door ajar, and Lucas, crouched behind some boxes, took out his phone to take pictures of the situation and send them to Mr. Thompson. At the same time, he informed him he was going in.
—This is our chance —Lucas thought, cold sweat running down his forehead as he prepared to enter.
He slipped quickly inside, where he saw two of the kidnappers arguing heatedly. While they focused on their dispute, Lucas located Analú in a corner but didn’t see Esperanza anywhere. His heart skipped a beat. Without wasting time, he ran towards the young woman and, in a low voice, reassured her.
—Don’t worry, miss. I’m an employee of your father’s, and with my partner Esperanza, we’ve come to rescue you, but I don’t know where she is.
At that moment, a faint and familiar sound reached his ears. Esperanza emerged from her hiding place, her face covered in bits of cloth but relieved to see Lucas.
—Lucas, what are you doing here? How did you get in?
—I'll tell you later, Esperanza —Lucas replied, his breath short. —Now, we need to get out of here fast. The door’s open, we can’t waste this opportunity.
They peered cautiously through the crack in the door. Seeing that no one was around, Lucas signaled for them to leave.
—On the count of three, run. One, two, three.
The three figures bolted, running down the dark hallway. However, as they neared the exit, a shout of alarm echoed in the air. The kidnappers had seen them, and the sound of gunfire rang in their ears. Lucas felt a sharp burn in his side. A bullet had hit him.
—Lucas! —Esperanza cried, as he collapsed to the ground.
With Analú by her side, Esperanza took him by the shoulders and helped him get up, but at that moment, danger increased. The kidnappers threw a liquid at their bodies, and Esperanza felt the burning on her face.
—It burns! It burns so much! —Esperanza screamed, struggling to keep calm.
—Stay calm, Esperanza, just a little more. We’re almost out. I can already hear the sirens.
With each step, the hope for freedom grew nearer. But they knew they couldn’t let their guard down. Despite Lucas’s wound and Esperanza’s pain, their struggle for survival was almost over.
—Please, hang on! We’re almost there! —Lucas exclaimed, his voice weak but firm.
The sound of police sirens grew louder, and the end was within reach.