SEATTLE — KIDNAPPING NIGHT
The triplets' room, occupied by Cassian, Dorian, and Kane, was filled with toys scattered across the floor. Stacy was there to help the boys settle down before bedtime. As she organized the toys, Kane questioned why their mother wasn't home yet.
“Why isn't Mommy home yet?” Kane asked, his innocent gaze seeking a reassuring answer. “I want her to read Little Red Riding Hood tonight.”
Stacy, maintaining her gentle smile, replied, “I think the café was very busy today, and she had to stay a little longer. But she'll be back soon, don't worry.”
Dorian, ever the provocateur, cast a glance at Kane and remarked, “Stop being a mommy's baby, Kane.”
Kane, defending himself, asserted, “I'm the youngest, I can't help it.”
Dorian, rolling his eyes, teased, “By a matter of minutes.”
Stacy, noticing the exchange of banter between the brothers, approached to calm them. “Boys, let's get ready for bed, okay?”
Turning to the window, Stacy noticed the brightness of the blue moon infiltrating the room, adding to the boys' restlessness.
Cassian, the eldest of the triplets, looked at Stacy and requested, “Stacy, can you leave the curtain open? I like to see the moon.”
Considering the request, Stacy agreed, “Okay, Cassian, but just a little, alright? You need to sleep.”
Cassian thanked her with a smile, and Stacy went to the window to leave a crack in the curtain. The gentle light of the blue moon softly illuminated the room, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Stacy turned to the boys and said gently, “Now, lie down and close your eyes. Tomorrow will be a busy day; after all, we need to prepare the Halloween costumes, right?”
The boys, despite their typical childhood energy, agreed and settled into their pillows. Stacy began telling a soothing story to help them relax, and soon the room was filled with dreams and promises of future adventures. The gentle glow of the blue moon continued to illuminate the space, accompanying the triplets as they fell asleep, embraced by the warmth of home and the care of their beloved babysitter, Stacy.
***
Stacy dried her wet hands as she finished washing the dinner dishes, surrounded by the soft sounds of the quiet house. Her phone, resting on the counter, announced a call from the triplets' mother, Fierce Silver. With a smile, Stacy answered, greeting her with respect.
“Hello, Mrs. Silver.”
“How are the boys?” Fierce inquired.
“They're fine, they've had dinner and are in their room,” Stacy replied.
“Great, thank you. Sorry for the delay, you know how crazy this time of year is at the café,” explained Fierce.
“Don't worry, the boys kept busy playing baseball in the backyard today,” Stacy said.
“Oh, I hope they didn't break the neighbor's window again,” Fierce commented.
“According to them, they didn't break it, but you never know,” Stacy laughed.
Fierce then announced her imminent arrival home and instructed Stacy about a possible encounter with the neighbor Meg.
“I'm heading home now. If Meg shows up before me, give her the account number, and I'll deposit the amount,” said Fierce.
As they talked, the front doorbell interrupted the conversation.
“I have to hang up, Mrs. Silver. It looks like Meg is here. See you later,” Stacy said, hanging up the phone and heading to the front door.
Stacy quickly said her goodbyes and approached the door, but upon opening it, she found herself faced with an unusual scene: three imposing men, dressed in black, occupied the threshold of the house. One of them, the spokesperson, inquired, “Is this Fierce Silver's house?”
“Yes, it is. Can I help you?” Stacy asked, surprised.
***
In the bedroom, the three brothers, Cassian, Dorian, and Kane, were lying ready for bed. However, the idea of going to bed so early was not appealing to the little ones. Kane, with his typical childish honesty, expressed his displeasure.
“It sucks to go to bed so early,” complained Kane.
Dorian agreed, adding his opinion, “Yeah, I can't wait to be older.”
Cassian, the eldest brother, suggested with a hint of enthusiasm, “If no one makes noise, maybe we can play a little longer.”
Cassian's proposal was enough to excite the brothers. Kane jumped out of bed and ran towards his toy cars. Dorian left his bed to play with his surgeon's kit. Cassian went to the window, where he gazed at the blue moon bathing the night with its magical light.
“Do you guys think the moon looks different tonight?” Cassian asked his brothers.
Dorian, confused, asked, “What do you mean?”
Cassian explained, “I feel like the moon is trying to tell me something.”
Kane laughed, finding the idea absurd, “You're going nuts, Cassian.”
Cassian, smiling, accepted the teasing, “Maybe I am.”
While the brothers enjoyed themselves, a noise from downstairs caught their attention. Kane questioned if the others heard it too.
Dorian, detecting a familiar smell, stated, “The wet dog smell is back.”
Cassian, feeling a shiver down his spine, warned his brothers to hide quickly. Kane rushed under the bed, Dorian sought refuge behind the curtain, and Cassian hid behind the door. The sound of footsteps approaching heightened the tension, making the boys anxious.
Then, the doorknob of the room was forced, the door opened, and three men entered, casting threatening shadows in the dim light of the moon filtering through the curtains. Cassian, Dorian, and Kane remained hidden, watching with wide eyes.
The man at the front, tall and imposing, spoke with a deep voice that sent shivers down the boys' spines. “We thought we heard something here. Did you hear, Bradley?”
The man beside him, slightly smaller, responded, “Yes, Gideon. It seems there are kids in this room.”
Trembling under the bed, Kane looked at Dorian and Cassian, indicating that the wet dog smell was getting stronger. Cassian, behind the door, put a finger to his lips, signaling silence to his brothers.
Gideon, the taller man, scanned the room with his gaze. “Where are you, little boys? If you don't come out now, it won't be good for you.”
Dorian, behind the curtain, held his breath, and Kane, under the bed, closed his eyes tightly. Cassian, determined, took a step forward, emerging from behind the door.
“What do you want here?” Cassian asked, trying to maintain bravery despite the fear.
Gideon smiled, revealing his gold teeth. “What do we want? We want you.”
Dorian and Kane, hidden, exchanged nervous glances. Cassian, in turn, kept his composure. “Leave us alone.”
The third man, annoyed, said, “We don't have time for games. Come on, grab this one and find the others, quickly.”
The men began searching the room, discovering Dorian and Kane in their hiding spots. The three boys were grabbed by the intruders, each held by a strong arm.
As they descended to the lower floor, a fourth man, larger and more imposing, approached Gideon. “Are these the only boys?”
Gideon confirmed with a nod. “Yes, just them.”
The fourth man ordered, “Take the boys out of here.”
The three men led Cassian, Dorian, and Kane out of the room. Downstairs, as soon as they were out of sight, the fourth man underwent a terrifying transformation. His body grew and contorted, assuming the threatening form of a werewolf.
The creature, now in lupine form, began searching the house, sniffing for the trail of something they sought beyond the boys. Tension spread through the atmosphere as the boys were taken away from the safety of their home. Their fate was now in the hands of these mysterious invaders, unaware of where they were being taken or what the future held for them.