Chapter 10

Diana's heart raced as she spotted a pool of blood on the floor, and beside it, was Mr. Varane's damaged phone and wallet.

"Oh, my God," Diana gasped, her voice trembling. She knelt to examine the wallet, her fingers trembling. "This belongs to Mr. Varane. He never goes anywhere without it."

"That should be his phone, I guess," Dave said from behind.

"That answered why no one was able to pick up my calls" She collected the phone from Dave and examined it. "But where could he be right now?".

" Dave, we need to find them quickly," Diana said and moved towards a locked door leading to the basement. They manage to force the door open, revealing a dark and foreboding underground space.

With only the flashlight from Diana's phone to guide them, they descend into the depths. The air grows colder, and the silence more oppressive, with each step they take.

She hardened her grip on the flashlight as they moved deeper into the darkness.

"Diana, are you sure about this? It's not too late to inform the authorities." Dave asked.

"No, Dave. We can't afford to wait. Something's not right here, and I need to find out what happened to them." She is full of concern for Mr. Varane and Meera.

Dave put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll find them, Dee. Let's keep searching."

A handbag, a broken heel from a shoe, and a shattered pair of glasses lay scattered about. One could sense that a struggle took place.

"Was Meera here too?" Diana whispered, her eyes began to well up with tears.

"But where are they now?"

Diana noticed there was a trail of blood droplets on the floor. And she followed the trail that led them down a corridor and into a small storage room. The sight they received was horrifying.

Meera was bound to a chair, her face looked pale and bruised. Also, her clothes were stained with blood.

She looked up at them with a combination of relief and fear in her eyes.

"Diana... help me."

Diana rushed to Meera's side. Diana's trembling hands worked quickly to free her from the ropes that bound her. But she couldn't lose, so Dave went ahead to untie her.

"We're here, Meera. You're safe now." Diana rushed over and gave her a tight hug.

"We need to get out of here, fast." Dave kept watch with the flashlight in his hand at the entrance.

"Yes, we can't stay here. Dave, we need to find Mr. Varane and get out of this office." Diana reasoned with him.

Dave nodded, leading the way as the trio retraced their steps through the chaotic basement.

Diana noticed a piece of paper on the floor. She picked it up and read the message scrawled in a shaky hand:

"You're next, you can't run forever."

"We have to find Mr. Varane." She said and squeezed the piece of paper in her hand. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I think they took him... he fought them off... but they overpowered him," Meera said weakly for the first time since her release.

"Who are you referring to?" Dave asked Meera who was trying to gain her strength standing. "Diana has got many explanations to make"

Meera's eyes met with Diana's, she quickly averted her gaze.

Diana clenched her fists. "You are not sure Meera, we won't leave here without him,"

The frightening message on the paper she took continued to echo in her mind.

As they reached the reception area, Diana's phone began to ring. It was a strange number, she hit the green phone icon and answered it, her voice trembling. " Please who are you, what do you want?"

The voice on the other end was distorted, "Are you looking for your boss? We have him. If you want him back, come to the abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. Come alone, or he dies."

The line disconnected immediately.

Diana's heart sank as she realized they had Mr. Varane, and now making demands. She knew this could be the work of Steffan, he had been chasing him right from her childhood until now for what's best known to him.

Diana knew that she had to go, even if it was all a trap.

Dave eavesdropped on the conversation and directly opposed the idea. "Diana, it's too dangerous to go alone. We need to inform the authorities, make a plan or something."

"I won't let anything happen to Mr. Varane. We need to save him." Dave's eyes met with Diana's and he could see determination in her gaze.

"I am still skeptical about what happened here, look, I don't know what transpired here nor have a slight knowledge of who did all of these. What I know is that the same people that caused these damages are the ones that called you." He first said.

"You should know they're dangerous and they won't let you get what you wanted." Dave continued.

"I think he's right, Diana. We are no match for Steffan, besides it's just the three of us." Meera helped her body rest on a stained wall.

"I still have to do something, Dave. We can't leave him there alone, not in the hands of Steffan." She sounded weak and pitiful.

With a heavy heart and many thoughts, Dave agreed.

"Okay, but I'm coming with you." He stretched his hand for Diana's phone.

"I thought you overhead the person clearly, I was told to come alone if I want Mr. Varane alive". Diana was bent on handling this all by herself.

"Ok, fine, call the police and send them the location," Dave said out of concern.

"Dave!" Meera and Diana screamed in unison.

With that, he gave up convincing Diana. "I just hope you are doing the right thing".

"Thanks!"

Diana had only one mission, to get Mr. Varane. He had been her saving angel after her parent's death. Now is the time to save him once.

As they left the office behind, the menacing message continued to haunt them. Their quest to rescue Mr. Varane had taken a dangerous turn, and the danger that awaited them at the abandoned warehouse was unknown.