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