Innocent in the Dark

Chapter 7

**Narrator’s POV**

Açelya woke up to a throbbing ache that pulsed through her entire body. Her eyelashes were matted, and it took every ounce of her remaining strength to pry her eyes open. When she finally managed to focus, she found Polad staring down at her with a smile. It wasn’t a comforting smile; it was one that made her blood run cold.

"Polad? Where am I? What happened to me?" she stammered.

"You’re with me now, safely tucked under my wing, my little jasmine flower," he replied, his voice chillingly smooth.

"I want to go home," she insisted, her voice trembling. "I don’t feel well."

Polad’s expression shifted instantly, his composure shattering as he bellowed, "Forget about that house! It’s over. Your home is wherever I am. I know about all the stunts you’ve been pulling—tell me, what were you doing at Ateş’s house, and why were you in his car?"

"Wait a minute," she countered, her fear giving way to defiance. "Who are you to demand an explanation from me? You’re not my boyfriend, and you're certainly not my husband."

"That’s going to change very soon. I love you, Açelya," he declared. He walked over to the window and threw back the curtains. Açelya’s breath hitched. She couldn't believe her eyes. There were photos of her everywhere—every moment, every move, at home, on the street. It finally clicked: Polad was delusional.

"This isn't love," she hissed, "it's proof that you’re insane."

Polad was about to lunge at her when his phone rang. He stepped out of the room to take the call.

"Polad, my boy, is what I’m hearing true?" Engin asked.

"Which part, Father? Which part?"

"That you kidnapped the Demir girl and, on top of that, framed Ateş for it. The Demirs have lost their minds; they’ve already torched fifteen of Ateş’s warehouses."

"And what’s Ateş doing?"

"He’s hunting for the girl. Tell me, how did you even manage to pull this off?"

"I chose a time when the men were away," Polad explained with a sinister chuckle. "I took out the guards and kept the women trapped inside so they wouldn't interfere."

"Is it really that simple?" Engin pressed.

"Well, not entirely," Polad laughed, "Demir’s own Cem was kind enough to help me out."

Meanwhile, the Demir family was in an absolute frenzy. Akın Demir had abandoned his classic, cold composure, issuing orders to torch the warehouses.

"Altan, enough! Stop it!" Altan pleaded.

"Stop? Why should I stop?" Akın raged. "They’ve taken a piece of my soul! How am I supposed to stay calm? We don’t know where she is—is she hungry? Is she being tortured? Is she even—"

"Akın, that’s enough, son. Calm down. We’ll find our girl," Erdem interrupted.

"Get a grip, brother," Caner added. "You’ve already blown up fifteen of his warehouses. Ateş might hurt her even more out of spite now."

"Brothers," Altan asked, "are we certain it was Ateş who kidnapped her?"

"Let's bring the women in; they can tell us," Caner suggested.

Their right-hand man, Kərəm, summoned the women to the study.

"Sevda," Erdem asked, "was it definitely Ateş who took her?"

"They held us at gunpoint in our room," Sevda explained, shaken. "Suddenly, we heard Açelya scream. When we tried to go toward her, they threatened us with their weapons."

"Can was terrified too," Deniz added. "We were too scared to move."

"We asked them who they were," Sevda continued, "and they said they were Ateş Kılıç's men—that Ateş Kılıç was behind the kidnapping."

"Sinem, what about you? What did the kidnapper look like?" Altan asked.

"I wasn't at the house at the time, Altan. When I arrived, I just saw a lot of dead bodies on the ground."

"God knows what kind of trouble she was getting into to deserve this," Nil muttered.

"Oh, my sons, you only see one side of her," Handan added. "I saw a thousand. Lately, she’s been lying, hiding things. I could feel it."

"Shut it! I’ll drown you in a spoonful of water," Akın snapped.

"Mother, that’s enough. Everyone out," Erdem ordered.

As the women left, Altan grabbed Sinem’s arm and pulled her aside. "Where were you, Sinem?"

"I went to meet a friend. They called me urgently; they weren't feeling well."

"I expect to be informed of your whereabouts," Altan growled.

"Altan, now is really not the time for this," she sighed.

"I said what I said," he retorted before heading into his room.

Açelya’s voice was hoarse from crying. The sting of the slap and the way he’d yanked her hair left her body aching.

"I hope this teaches you a lesson, my love," Polad said cruelly.

"I am *not* your love," she spat back. Just then, gunfire erupted outside.

"Polad! Get out here! If you have the guts, show your face!" Ateş roared.

"It’s Ateş," Açelya whispered.

"What, happy your boyfriend’s here to save you?" Polad mocked.

"How many times do I have to tell you? He’s not my boyfriend!" she yelled. At that moment, the door burst open.

"Come on then, Ateş Bey. Did you come to rescue your lover?" Polad taunted.

Ateş paused for a split second, confused. "What are you babbling about, you fool?"

"Ateş, help me!" Açelya cried out. She was shocked she’d even asked, but Ateş lunged at Polad instantly, raining blows down on his face, his hands tightening around his throat. Açelya watched in terror.

"Ateş, stop! That’s enough! Ateş, please!" she begged.

Ateş looked up, meeting Açelya’s red-rimmed eyes. He cut the ropes and set her free. As she tried to stand, her head spun, and Ateş caught her by the waist, pulling her close.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"My body hurts... and I’m hungry," she confessed, looking at him with hauntingly innocent eyes.

"Ali, Yılmaz! Take this lowlife and 'host' him in the warehouse," Ateş ordered. "And tell the boys to get the car ready." He scooped Açelya up into his arms.

"Ateş, what are you going to do to him?"

"I told you, I’m going to 'host' him."

"I can walk on my own," she protested. "Put me down."

"You’re starving, and you can barely stand," he dismissed her.

"Where are we going?"

"First, to feed the princess, and then to take her back to her tower."

Açelya couldn't help but laugh at his comment, and seeing her smile, Ateş found himself caught off guard, a rare laugh escaping his own lips.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Altan asked.

"You know, Açelya mentioned someone, right? She was home three or four days before she said that," Caner replied.

"Enough!" Erdem snapped. "What could Cem, our own flesh and blood, possibly have to do with Açelya’s kidnapping? She’s his sister!"

"We aren't saying Cem did it, brother, we just..."

Suddenly, the gates swung open. Ateş’s car drove into the Demir courtyard. Açelya stepped out, having finished her meal, and the family rushed to meet her.

"Açelya, my girl!" Altan cried out.

"Uncle Altan," she said, leaning into his embrace.

"My daughter, how are you?" Akın stepped forward, but Açelya looked at him with a heart full of the pain caused by that slap. She bypassed her father, hugging her uncle and aunts instead. She didn't go near her mother or her grandmother.

"Ateş Bey," Altan said, turning to him. "What is the meaning of this? You kidnap her and now you bring her back yourself?"

"Kidnap?" Açelya interrupted. "Uncle, what kidnapping? He’s the one who saved me."

"What are you talking about?" Akın demanded. "Who kidnapped you then?"

"Polad—Polad Bozkurt. Your partner."

"We know Polad Bozkurt," Altan frowned, "but he isn't our partner, girl."

"Wait a minute, then..." Erdem trailed off.

"Polad Bozkurt kidnapped Açelya and framed me," Ateş stated coldly. "The goal was to drive a wedge between us—and it worked. I’ll be collecting damages for the fifteen warehouses from you, Akın Bey. I’m not doing anything right now, so sit tight and thank your daughter."

With that, he got into his car and drove off, leaving them all in a state of utter shock.