Chapter 84
SEBASTIAN
I’ve been pacing back and forth inside Atlas’ office. It’s been five days since the explosion, yet we still don’t have any idea about Blair’s whereabouts. We’ve been searching the area for quite some time now, but somehow all we find is the wreckage of the helicopter. There were no signs of Blaire or anyone on it.
“Did you find her?” I immediately asked upon Atlas entering his office.
Based on the look on his face, it seems like there’s still no good news.
“We found a body,” Atlas answered.
Body. The word resonates throughout my being. That sounds like he was referring to someone alive.
“Stop with the suspense, Atlas. Tell me everything,” I confronted him.
“It looks like one of Catherine’s men. I’m sorry, but we still don’t have any news about Blaire. We’re scouting every island in the area, hoping that Blaire has been washed away in that direction. Unfortunately, we have no luck.”
“It’s been five days, Atlas! How incompetent are you?”
“Sebastian, I understand where you are coming from. Believe me when I say that we’re doing everything we can. The ocean was unpredictable. We’re fighting against not just time but nature as
well.”
“Stop giving me excuses and find Blaire. I don’t care if you’re fighting against G od himself. All I want is for you to find Blaire.” I yelled. Frustration was engulfing my whole system. It kills me inside that I can’t do anything but wait. “Where’s your man?” I’ll go with them. If I have to scout the whole ocean floor by myself just to find her, I will.”
“No, you’re not going anywhere! Stop making st upid decisions, Sebastian. Remember that there’s still someone who’s counting on you. There’s a possibility that we might not find his mother. Don’t let him lose his father too.”
His words have taken me aback. I almost forgot that I still have a son in the hospital who counts on me. He needs me now more than ever. I took a deep breath to calm myself down so I wouldn’t act recklessly.
I let out a loud sigh. “What’s your next plan?” I asked.
“We will continue to search the whole area until we find traces of Blaire.”
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“It’s a good thing that we haven’t found her body, right? That means there’s a bigger chance that she might still be alive,” I said.
Atlas stayed silent for a minute. I can sense that he didn’t want to get my hopes high. After an agonizing silence, he speaks. “That or the possibility that we won’t be able to retrieve any traces of her. If she didn’t die from drowning, we can’t deny the fact that there are a lot of natural predators in the ocean. Who knows if her body has been eaten by wildlife such as sharks?” Atlas suggested.
“No, I firmly believe she’s still alive. I can feel it. I won’t stop until I know for sure that she’s dead. Until then, I’m going to believe that we will find her sooner rather than later.”
Days turned into weeks, and still, there was no sign of Blaire. The relentless search efforts continued, each passing moment adding to the weight of uncertainty that hung over us like a dark cloud. Despite our best efforts, the vast expanse of the ocean seemed determined to keep Blaire away from me.
As time passed, our initial rush of activity slowed down, and we came to accept the grim reality of our situation. Hope faded away, replaced by a heavy feeling of despair that hung over our Atlas’
office.
I felt restless, always thinking there must be something more I could do to find Blaire. Night after night, I pored over maps and charts, searching for any clue that could lead us to her. But each lead turned out to be a dead end, leaving me frustrated and helpless.
Despite my efforts to stay strong, the uncertainty started to wear me down. I couldn’t sleep, haunted by visions of Blaire lost at sea, her voice echoing in my mind, calling out for help.
But then a glimmer of hope appeared. A fisherman reported that they found a woman a few weeks ago, sparking new interest in the search. They’ve been living on an isolated island; that’s why it took some time before they managed to report it.
“Let’s go. I’d like to see it for myself.” I’m not wasting any more time inside this office. If it is indeed Blaire, then I want to see her as soon as possible.
As we approached the island, my heart was filled with anticipation, hoping against hope that the woman the fisherman had found would be Blaire. But as we drew closer and I caught sight of the figure on the shore, my hopes were dashed in an instant. Instead of Blaite, we saw Catherine standing on the shore with obvious burns that marred her skin, evidence of the explosion that had torn through the helicopter.
I stepped onto the shore, my eyes locked with Catherine’s, as a flurry of emotions swirled within me: anger, frustration; and a lingering sense of betrayal.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice tinged with bitterness.
Catherine’s expression remained impassive as she looked at me. “Surviving,” she replied simply.
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I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to contain the surge of anger that threatened to overwhelm me. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face here,” I spat.
Catherine’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “I could say the same to you,” she retorted.
I took a step closer, my frustration boiling over. “You nearly killed Blaire and my son. You destroyed our lives!”
Catherine’s gaze remained steady, unfazed by my outburst. “And yet, here I am, still standing,” she replied co olly.
I shook my head in disbelief, unable to comprehend how someone could be so callous and so devoid of remorse for the pain and suffering they had caused.
“But not for long. I’ll make sure you’re going to pay for every pain you cause my family. And do pray that we find Blaire alive; otherwise, you’re going to pay it with your life and those who helped you!” I threatened; my eyes were burning in rage.
Catherine’s smirk only widened at my threat, her confidence unshaken despite my anger. “You can try,” she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. “But I’ve survived worse than you, Sebastian. And as for Blaire, well, let’s just say she’s not as lucky as I am.”
Her words struck a nerve, sending a chill down my spine. “Where is she?” I demanded, my voice laced with a mixture of fear and fury.
Catherine’s expression remained inscrutable as she shrugged casually. “Oh, I have no idea. But have you considered the fact that she might have become food for the sharks?” She replied cryptically.
I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to maintain control over my emotions. “Do pray that we find Blaire safe and sound; if not…”
“You’ll what?” Catherine interrupted, her tone mocking. “Kill me? Good luck with that, Sebastian. You’re going to need it.”
I took a step closer to her, my fury bubbling dangerously close to the surface. “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” I seethed. “Well, let me tell you something: no one is above the law. And I will make sure you pay for your crimes, one way or another.”
Catherine’s laughter echoed in the air, grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. “I’m counting on it, Sebastian. But I don’t think putting me in jail will bring your precious Blaire back. She’s gone. The sooner you accept, the better.”
“I’m not taking any advice from you. However, I’m going to make your life miserable as you did with mine.” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Catherine’s smirk only widened at my threat, a glint of defiance flashing in her eyes. “Empty threats won’t save your precious Blaire,” she taunted, her tone dripping with venom.
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I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting to keep my anger in check. “We’ll see about that,” I growled, turning away from her before I did something I might regret. “Cuff her. Make sure she’s not going anywhere but jail.”
As we made our way back to the boat, my mind raced with thoughts of vengeance and justice.
Back on the boat, the atmosphere was heavy with tension as we sailed away from the island. Atlas approached me, his expression grave. “We’ll find her, Sebastian. We won’t stop until we do,” he
reassured me.
I nodded, grateful for his support, but the weight of uncertainty still hung heavy in my heart. Blaire’s fate remained unknown, and until we found her, our ordeal was far from over.
As we sailed back to the mainland, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our journey was far from over. The road ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but I refused to let fear or doubt hold me back.
For Blaire and for our son, I would stop at nothing to bring her home. And as the sun dipped below the h orizon, casting a golden glow over the vast expanse of the ocean, I silently vowed to never give
up hope, no matter what challenges lay ahead.