FOR ORLA: A MOTHER'S REVENGE

nd urgent. The sound was unlike anything they had heard before-sharp, guttural, desperate. The dog pac

Alaric muttered under his bre

r chest tightened as she scanned the empty driveway, dread crawling up her s

bolted toward the gate, her bare feet skimming

ind, his voice louder, firmer, as he jo

like a cruel taunt. Each second that passed without a reply

er voice tight as panic surged.

the backyard, his gaze scanning every shadowed co

sound of Max's barking fading as h

eeze kissed her flushed cheeks. The street stretched out before h

acked, desperation t

used nearby, her expression co

re of Orla, taken just that morning. Her daughter's wide smile beamed from the sc

y, thrusting the phone forward. "Have you seen

ad apologetically. "I haven't, I'

u," she murmured before moving on, her feet carryi

sion grim, Liora had already spoken to three more neighb

his voice taut with worry. "She'

said firmly, though her voi

d toward the park a few streets over, clutching her phone like a lif

toward every corner, every shadow that could possibly

cycle, an older couple walking hand in hand-showing them Orla's

e had seen a little girl in a pink d

his calls growing more frantic with each step. When he finally dialed th

sing," he said, the words tastin

ur concern, sir, but we can't officially classify her as missing until 24 hours h

as he called Liora. "We'll have to keep looking ourselv

voice laced with determination despite the

more desperate. Liora's legs burned from running, her voice hoarse from shou

ss the quiet neighborhood. It was then that Liora realized she didn't recognize her surrou

d, relieved to hear Alaric's voice on the other end.

mitted, her voice trembl

aid firmly. "I'll find you. Ju

t's when she noticed it-a cluster of people gathered at the end of the street. The

r gaze fixed on the commotion ahead. She didn't know what drew her tow

she s

ribbon, smeared with dirt and slightly frayed. Liora's heart st

knelt down, her trembling fingers brushing against

her head violently as denial surged through

rowd parting reluctantly as she pushed her way through. Each step fe

round, partially obscured by a police officer. Blood stained the