A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the lag in this one. But good news is that the story is finished and I will be posting the final 15 chapters in pretty quick order. Likely to be daily updates. So, if you are following this one, make sure you check the chapter numbers. This is Chapter 22 and there are 39/40 Chapters in total, and they will be updated daily! Feel free to send a PM or a review.
22
The jungle was never silent, but in the early hours of dawn, it held a strange kind of stillness. The humidity wrapped around them like a wet shroud, thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. The fire had burned low, little more than embers glowing faintly in the dim light. Morning had arrived, and with it, the unrelenting reality of their situation.
Chet was the first to wake, stretching stiffly as he sat up. He rubbed his face, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle deep in his bones. The events of the previous night played through his mind like a haunting reel—Lila's voice slithering from the darkness, the doll, the whispers. The knowledge that they were walking into a trap gnawed at him. But they had no choice.
One by one, the others stirred. Maddie and Jaime emerged from their tent, subdued but determined. Frank and Joe were already strategizing, their quiet voices carrying across the small clearing as they went over their route. Marcos and Antonio, ever alert, moved through the perimeter, ensuring they were alone.
"We need a plan," Frank said once everyone was gathered. "We know Lila is watching us, leading us right to Reese. That means his compound is close, and he's expecting us."
"We also know it's going to be heavily guarded," Joe added. "Reese has resources. Surveillance cameras. Guards. The works. We can't just waltz in there and expect to get Callie out without some pushback."
Chet exhaled sharply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "So, what do we do? We can't just walk up to his front door. Even though I suspect that is what they want us to do."
Marcos nodded in agreement. "We must find the compound without alerting them to our full presence. If they see us coming, they will have the upper hand."
Antonio pulled out a rough map he had made based on their conversations in Anama. "The lake route took us northeast. If Reese's hideout is as fortified as we think, it will be built on higher ground, away from the flood zones. That means we need to start looking for signs—clearings, elevated areas, or areas where the foliage looks disturbed."
Jaime frowned. "What about their surveillance? If they have cameras, they'll spot us."
"Not if we approach smartly," Frank said. "Lila is making sure we don't get lost, making sure we don't take the wrong path. We need to use that against her."
"How?" Maddie asked.
Joe smirked. "By making her think we're doing exactly what she wants."
The group fell silent as they considered the implications.
"If Lila's job is to guide us to Reese," Frank continued, "then she needs us to be predictable. She expects us to walk right into the trap. But if we make it seem like we are, while actually scouting for another way in, we might have a shot."
"Decoy movements," Marcos murmured, catching on. "We make it look like we're advancing, but really, we're scouting alternative routes."
Antonio nodded. "We also watch for supply trails. A compound that big will need to bring in resources—food, fuel, weapons. Those trails won't be as heavily guarded, and they might lead us to a weak spot."
Chet clenched his jaw. "And what if they're expecting that, too?"
"They probably are," Joe admitted. "But if we can time it right, get inside before they know what hit them, we might have a shot at grabbing Callie and getting out before Reese can lock us down."
Maddie swallowed. "That's a lot of 'ifs.'"
"It is," Frank said grimly. "But it's all we've got." He felt that their chances of success were not all that good. And in all probability they would get abducted. He only hoped that his father was in route and able to locate them quickly.
A rustling in the trees made them all freeze. The tension in the camp thickened as a small bundle dropped from the branches above, landing between them with a soft thud.
Another doll.
Maddie stiffened, her stomach turning as she recognized the stitched face. This one was cleaner than the last, its button eyes staring blankly upward. A note was pinned to its chest, written in neat, looping script.
Closer. Keep going. Don't be shy.
Chet cursed under his breath, while Joe picked up the note and read it aloud. "She's practically rolling out the welcome mat."
"She wants us to keep going," Jaime muttered. "Which means we're on the right track."
Frank folded the note, slipping it into his pocket. "Then we do. But on our terms."
They moved out, their pace steady but cautious, following the signs they had discussed. The air grew thicker as they walked, the humidity clinging to their skin. Each step felt like a countdown toward something none of them wanted.
After an hour, they found the first signs of a compound—a faintly visible clearing ahead, the trees cut in precise patterns, unnatural in the wild chaos of the rainforest.
Joe pointed toward the treetops. "See those? Camera mounts. They're watching."
Chet exhaled sharply. "This is it, then."
Maddie's heart pounded. Somewhere beyond that perimeter, her mother was waiting. Somewhere inside that compound, Reese was waiting.
As they pressed forward, Maddie and Jaime trailed slightly behind, keeping their voices low. Jaime paused, a strange sensation came over her. A whisper of movement. She turned just in time to see something shift in the undergrowth—a thick, scaled body slithering into view.
A massive Bushmaster snake, its golden eyes gleaming, coiled back, ready to strike.
Time seemed to slow. Jaime sucked in a sharp breath, her body frozen in fear as the viper tensed, preparing to lunge. The realization hit—she wasn't fast enough to get out of the way. It was going to bite her!
Maddie moved on instinct. Before she even realized it, she had pulled the gun from her pack, her hands had already steadied, her aim locking onto the snake's raised head!
The gunshot cracked through the jungle, sending birds scattering from the trees.
The snake jerked violently, its body coiling in spasms before it slumped to the ground, lifeless.
Jaime stumbled backward, her breath coming in short gasps. The others came running at the sound of gunfire. Chet skidded to a halt, his eyes widening as he took in the scene—Jaime trembling, the dead snake, and Maddie standing there, still gripping the pistol.
His pistol.
Chet's face darkened. "Where the hell did you get that?"
Maddie hesitated. "Dad, I—"
"That's my gun! From my safe back in Bayport!" Chet strode forward, snatching the weapon from her hands. "You stole it? You had this the whole time?"
Marcos knelt beside the snake, examining it closely. "Bushmaster," he muttered. "One of the deadliest in the Amazon. If Maddie hadn't shot it…" He looked up at Jaime, who was visibly shaken. "She saved your life."
Chet exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face. His anger was warring with the stark realization that Maddie had just protected Jaime from certain death. He clenched his jaw, hesitated, then reluctantly held the gun back out to Maddie. "Just… be careful. And don't let your guard down again. Watch where you are walking!"
Jaime turned to Maddie, gripping her arm. "Thank you. You—" Her voice hitched, her emotions getting the better of her. "You saved me."
Maddie swallowed hard. "I wasn't going to let anything happen to you."
The steady echo of approaching footsteps sent a fresh wave of tension coursing through Callie's body. She lifted her head from where she sat curled on the thin mattress, her pulse thrumming in her ears. She had been waiting for this. Dreading it. But her diminished energy kept her from really being able to object.
The heavy iron door groaned as it swung open, the dim light from the hallway spilling into the cell. Reese stepped inside, exuding his usual air of smug control. His shirt was crisp, his sleeves casually rolled to his elbows, his expression unreadable save for the slight smirk curling his lips.
"Ah, Callie," he drawled, stepping further into the small space. "It's been far too long since our last little chat. I do hope you've been enjoying Lila's hospitality."
Callie remained silent, her fingers curling against her knees as she forced herself to meet his gaze. She refused to give him the satisfaction of looking afraid, though deep down, fear gnawed at her like a living thing.
Reese chuckled at her defiance and took another step forward, his sharp eyes sweeping over her bruises, lingering on the dried blood at the corner of her mouth. "I see Lila's been keeping herself entertained. But don't worry, my dear. I made sure she didn't leave any permanent marks. That privilege belongs to me."
Callie's stomach twisted, but she said nothing.
Reese took his time, casually rolling his sleeves further as he glanced around the cell. "I have good news for you, Callie." His smirk widened. "Your family is close."
Her breath heightened.
"Oh yes," he continued, watching her reaction with amusement. "Your doting husband, those pesky Hardy boys, and of course…" He tilted his head, enjoying the moment. "Maddie and Jaime."
A spike of pure terror lanced through Callie's chest.
Reese grinned. "Ah, I knew that would get a reaction." He took a step closer, lowering his voice to something almost intimate. "You should be proud, Callie. Your daughter is proving to be quite the little warrior. Lila has been watching them—guiding them, actually. Ever so carefully nudging them along the path we've laid out. And they're following, step by step, just as we knew they would."
Callie's nails dug into her palms. But due to her lack of significant food she didn't have the energy to dig them too deeply.
"And Maddie?" Reese continued, sighing wistfully. "She's just like you, you know. So headstrong. So desperate to save the ones she loves. She reminds me of you in so many ways. But unlike you…" His smirk turned predatory. "She hasn't been broken yet."
Callie swallowed back the bile rising in her throat.
Reese's gaze flickered with something darker. "And then there's Jaime."
Callie stiffened.
Reese gave a low chuckle, tilting his head. "Now there's an interesting little thing, isn't she? Lila tells me she and Maddie have grown quite… close since their little ordeal. Very close, in fact." He let the implication settle before continuing. "They spent last night tangled up together in their tent, indulging in… well, let's just say they found some comfort in each other's arms."
Callie's stomach lurched.
Reese's eyes gleamed with twisted amusement. "I do hope they didn't wear themselves out. I have quite a night planned for them when they arrive."
Callie forced herself to remain still, even as nausea curled in her gut.
"You know," Reese mused, stepping even closer, "Jaime was always a good little recruiter. Smart, observant. She had a natural instinct for spotting the girls who wouldn't put up a fight, the ones who'd break easily. The beautiful ones. I so enjoyed my vacation in West Virginia where I had such a selection of them. To play with some of the most nubile young ladies and then sell them down the line and go out and fine some more. Jaime was so good at that…" He gave a nostalgic sigh. "Until she met Maddie, of course. That was when she lost her edge. Such a shame, really. She had so much potential."
Callie's nails pressed so hard into her palms she thought they might draw blood.
"But don't worry," Reese continued, his tone almost soothing. "I'll make sure she finds her way again. And this time, Maddie won't be there to 'save' her. No, this time, Maddie will be right beside her. Just like before. And I will finally get to know her without any interruptions."
Callie inhaled sharply, her control slipping for just a moment.
Reese's smirk widened. "Do you remember, Callie? That night in the asylum? When you tried to be the hero? When I made you get into that tub with them?"
Callie squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head, as if she could will the memory away. She had been so close to taking him out that night.
"You fought me," Reese mused, his voice laced with mock admiration. "At first. But when I reminded you of what would happen if you didn't obey? Oh, the look on your face when you finally gave in. When you stepped into that tub, knowing exactly what I wanted. What I expected."
Callie's breath came in sharp, uneven gasps.
"You were so desperate to protect them," Reese murmured, lowering his voice to a sickening whisper. "But you couldn't. Because you were just as much my plaything as they were."
Callie finally found her voice. "Yeah, but a minute later you had the butt of a shotgun in your guts and chose to run away." She shed a tear remembering how close she had been to ending it all that night.
Reese's smile deepened as he reached out, brushing the tear away with his thumb. "Yes, so I could live to fight another day."
Callie recoiled, her body trembling.
"But this time," Reese added, his voice dark and full of promise, "there won't be any water to wash away what I do to them. Or you. And since my power works quite well here, there will not be any opportunity to turn the lights out and hit me when I can't see you. "
A strangled sob caught in Callie's throat, but she refused to let it escape.
Reese straightened, adjusting his sleeves with a satisfied nod. "I must say, Callie, you've been such a lovely guest. But I do believe our time is coming to an end. I think it's time for a proper family reunion. The final one, I might add."
Callie closed her eyes, willing herself to stay strong.
"Oh, and one last thing," Reese said, pausing at the doorway. "Do try to get some rest. You'll need your strength for what's coming."
Callie sneered up at him. "Then maybe try to feed me more than two slices of bread a day, you sick fuck!"
With a smirk down at her, he stepped out, the heavy door clanging shut behind him, leaving Callie alone in the suffocating silence of her cell.
Her breath came in short, panicked bursts, her body trembling with rage and terror.
Maddie and Jaime were walking straight into his hands.
And she was powerless to stop it.
She curled her arms around herself, rocking slightly, whispering a prayer she knew, deep down, might never be answered.