Chapter 7 – Blood Is the Message
1089 Words
Baik. Ini Chapter 7, melanjutkan langsung dari cliffhanger sebelumnya. Tetap konsisten dengan semua arahan: English, grammar rapi, natural seperti penulis manusia, tanpa emdash, dialog dan narasi seimbang, konflik naik, pacing terjaga, dan hook kuat di akhir.
Chapter 7 – Blood Is the Message
“What do you mean they took my brother?”
Elara’s voice came out sharper than she expected. The words felt unreal, like something pulled from a nightmare that refused to fade.
Adrian did not answer immediately. His silence was enough.
“They wouldn’t dare,” she said, shaking her head. “He has nothing to do with you. With this.”
“That is exactly why they took him,” Adrian replied. “He is clean.”
Her knees weakened. She steadied herself against the wall. “Where is he?”
“We don’t know yet,” he said. “But they want me to know they can reach you.”
Her chest tightened. “This is my fault.”
“No,” Adrian said firmly. “This is mine.”
She laughed bitterly. “That doesn’t make it better.”
He stepped closer, his expression hard but his eyes strained. “Listen to me. We will get him back.”
“You sound so sure,” she said. “Like this is just another negotiation.”
“It is,” he replied. “Only this time, the currency is blood.”
The words made her stomach churn.
They left the safe house before dawn.
The city looked different from the back seat of Adrian’s armored car. Darker. Sharper. Every street felt like a threat waiting to reveal itself.
Elara stared out the window. “How long have you known this could happen?”
Adrian hesitated. “Since the day I met you.”
She turned to him. “Then why didn’t you walk away?”
“Because I wanted you,” he said quietly. “And because I believed I could keep you untouched.”
She swallowed. “You were wrong.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “And now I will fix it.”
“That’s not comforting,” she replied. “You keep talking like this ends with violence.”
“It does,” he said. “The question is how much.”
Her hands curled into fists. “I won’t let my brother die because of your war.”
Adrian looked at her. “Then you need to trust me.”
“I trusted you,” she said. “And he was taken anyway.”
The truth cut deep.
They arrived at a warehouse near the docks. The air smelled of rust and salt, heavy with decay.
“This is where my father’s world began,” Adrian said as they stepped inside. “And where it may end.”
Elara glanced around. “You brought me here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because hiding you will not save him,” Adrian replied. “They expect fear. They expect me to lock you away.”
“And instead?” she asked.
“Instead, you will be visible.”
Her eyes widened. “You are using me.”
He met her gaze. “With your consent.”
She studied his face. “You promised no more secrets.”
“This is not a secret,” he said. “This is strategy.”
“And if they hurt him anyway?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Then I will destroy everything they touch.”
She believed him.
That scared her.
A phone buzzed.
Adrian answered without hesitation. “You have something that belongs to me.”
A distorted voice responded. “We have something that belongs to her.”
Elara’s breath caught.
“You took the wrong person,” Adrian said calmly.
“No,” the voice replied. “We took the right message.”
Elara leaned closer. “Let me talk to him.”
Adrian hesitated. “Elara.”
“Let me,” she insisted.
He handed her the phone.
“What do you want?” she asked, forcing her voice steady.
“To see how far he is willing to fall,” the voice replied. “Your brother will be released when Adrian Blackwood kneels.”
Her grip tightened. “You are cowards.”
Laughter crackled through the line. “We are survivors.”
The call ended.
Elara stared at the screen. “They want to break you.”
“They will fail,” Adrian said.
She turned to him. “Not if I break first.”
He stiffened. “What are you saying?”
“I will meet them,” she said. “I will trade myself for my brother.”
“No,” he said instantly. “Absolutely not.”
“You said I was your equal,” she replied. “Then let me choose.”
“This is not choice,” he snapped. “This is sacrifice.”
“Yes,” she said. “And you’ve been making those for me since the beginning.”
Silence fell between them.
“You won’t survive,” Adrian said, his voice low. “They won’t keep you alive.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know them,” he replied. “I was raised by them.”
She stepped closer. “Then teach me how to survive them.”
His eyes searched hers, desperate and torn.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking,” he said.
“I understand perfectly,” she replied. “For once, I am not afraid.”
That was a lie. But fear no longer ruled her.
Later that night, Elara stood alone in a dim room Adrian had prepared. No guards. No locked doors.
He watched from the doorway.
“You’re really going through with this,” he said.
“Yes.”
He rubbed his face, exhaustion etched into every line. “I never wanted you to be this strong.”
She smiled sadly. “You made me this way.”
He stepped forward. “If you walk into this, I may not be able to pull you back.”
“Then don’t,” she said. “Stand beside me.”
His breath hitched. “I don’t deserve that.”
“Then earn it,” she replied.
She held out her hand.
After a long moment, he took it.
Elara’s phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
Come alone. Midnight. Or your brother dies.
She showed Adrian.
“I won’t be alone,” she said.
He nodded slowly. “No. You won’t.”
- Writer
