CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 426

After Lex finally left, the heavy door shutting with a thud, Karl slumped against the cold wall. His chest shook as sobs broke out of him, and he buried his face in his hands. The stinging on his cheeks was unbearable—her slaps had left his skin raw, each tear that fell making it burn even more. He cried harder, his body trembling, the sound of his own sobs echoing faintly in the silent, damp basement.

After a while, he forced himself to calm down, sniffling as he wiped his face roughly with his sleeve. His quickly pulled out the medicine Ruby had told him about. "Come on, Kai... hold on," he whispered shakily, crawling toward Kaelan.

When he turned Kaelan’s face slightly, his breath caught in his throat. The injury was on his head, a dark, deep wound that made Karl’s stomach twist. He ripped a piece of fabric from his robe with trembling hands, carefully wiping away the dried and fresh blood. He flinched every time he touched the wound, his heart aching to see Kaelan like this.

"Sorry, sorry..." Karl whispered under his breath as if Kaelan could hear him. He gently wiped down Kaelan’s face too, cleaning the streaks of blood until his skin showed again. Then, with careful hands, he applied the medicine to the wound, spreading it as evenly as he could despite his shaking fingers.

Finally, he tore another strip from his robe and wrapped it around Kaelan’s head, tying it firmly but not too tight. When he sat back and looked at him, Kaelan’s face—once stiff and pained even in unconsciousness—now seemed softer, more at ease. The tightness in his brow eased slightly, his breathing sounded a little steadier.

Karl sniffled again, wiping his own swollen eyes with the back of his hand. For the first time since they’d been trapped, he felt a flicker of relief. "You look better now, Kai... just hold on," he whispered, his voice breaking, but there was determination in his eyes.

Karl sat back against the damp wall, pulling his knees close to his chest after finishing with Kaelan’s wounds. The quiet of the basement was heavy, broken only by the sound of Kaelan’s weak breathing. At first, it calmed him a little, but soon the silence felt suffocating, pressing against his heart until it hurt.

His fingers brushed against his swollen cheeks, the sting of Lex’s slaps still raw, and his eyes blurred again. He thought of home. He thought of Ruby—his wife who always fussed over him, scolded him when he acted out, but never let him feel unloved. She pampered him in her own way, making sure he carried that little pouch, making sure he was never careless. Just remembering her steady voice gave him strength.

Then Jules came to mind—gentle, warm Jules. He had the softest smile, always ready to pull Karl into a hug, always whispering kind words when Karl needed comfort the most. Jules treated him like he was precious, like nothing Karl did could change the love between them.

Next was Brother Adi. Cold on the outside, yes—his face serious, his words clipped but underneath, Karl knew how much he cared. Adi never left them behind, never let them go hungry. He had a way of showing love through action instead of words, and Karl had come to rely on that steady, quiet strength.

And then Milo—innocent, childish Milo, with his endless questions and bright laughter. Karl could almost hear his cheerful voice, see his happy face when he came running into the room with paint still on his hands, chattering about his art.

The tears slipped down Karl’s cheeks as he whispered their names one by one, his voice breaking. "Wife... Jules... Brother Adi... Milo..." Saying them felt like holding onto a thread of hope.

But no one answered him. Only Kaelan’s faint breathing was there in the darkness. The silence made him feel like a lost boy, small and helpless, aching for the warmth of his family. The ones who pampered him, scolded him, loved him, and made him feel safe. And here, in this cold place with no windows, no laughter, he felt more afraid than he ever had before.

*****

The news of Kaelan going missing reached his parents, and the moment they heard it, they came to the city overnight. Martha’s face looked tense, her golden hair tied back neatly, and Loren’s calm expression couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes.

Ruby met them as soon as they arrived. Her body felt heavy from stress, but seeing them step inside gave her a huge sense of relief.

Without wasting time, Martha and Loren began to use their powers.

Meanwhile, Lex paced back and forth in her room, her nails digging into her palms. Her face twisted with anger. Every corner of the city was being checked, officers storming houses and stopping every car. She clenched her jaw. They are looking everywhere... but they won’t find my basement, she thought bitterly. The stone walls below her house were sealed and secretive, a place no one in the city even knew existed. Karl and Kaelan could scream their lungs out and no one would hear them. That thought gave her a cruel satisfaction, though the tension in her chest never left.

Back with Ruby, things felt different. She wasn’t calm, but there was a quiet fire in her eyes. She knew Karl always carried the pouch she forced into his robe every time he left, and inside it was the phone she had given him. That was her way to reach him. And now, with Kaelan’s parents by her side, she had more strength than ever.

Martha and Loren stood with the officers, their powers working together with the city’s system.

"Did the number get traced?" Martha asked the moment Ruby stepped out of the control room, her sharp eyes fixed on her.

Ruby shook her head, her face tight with focus. "Not yet... they’re still trying. They said it will take some time," she replied, her voice steady but heavy with worry.

Martha studied her for a moment, then gave a small nod to herself. In her heart, she couldn’t help but compare. Ruby was running around day and night without rest, fighting for her husband, not letting fear slow her down. She carried herself with seriousness, every word and action reliable. Such kind of witch... far better than Emma, Martha thought, the respect in her eyes quietly growing.

To be continued... 🪄