Chapter Sixty-Five: The Kidnapping

As Aboud, Abbas, and Aurora exited the airport, everything seemed to be falling apart for Aboud. The betrayal by Layla and the emotional chaos that overwhelmed him took a heavy toll. Outside the airport, tension hung in the air, and Aboud walked as if the ground beneath him was vanishing, drowning in his thoughts. He couldn’t escape the pain of Layla’s betrayal. The love he thought would bring him happiness had now become the deepest wound of his life.

Abbas (whispering, noticing Aboud's distraction):
"Aboud, take a deep breath. Everything will be okay."

Aboud (his voice hoarse and broken):
"I don’t think so, Abbas. Not after everything that’s happened."

At that moment, Aurora silently observed Aboud. She sensed a strange tension in the air—not just related to Aboud's emotional state, but something else. The atmosphere felt off, as if danger was lurking nearby.

Aurora (whispering, scanning the area):
"Do you feel that? Something isn’t right here. There's a weird vibe."

Aboud was too absorbed in his thoughts to analyze anything else. All he wanted was to escape the pain engulfing him. But despite his turmoil, he sensed something strange. His military instincts kicked in.

As they walked toward the parking lot, Aurora noticed two men in the distance approaching them quickly. She thought it was just a coincidence until a black car suddenly stopped in front of them.

Abbas (scanning the situation anxiously):
"Aboud... this doesn’t feel right. Something dangerous is happening."

Before any of them could react, another black car pulled up suddenly. A group of armed men, all wearing black masks, stepped out quickly. Their violent intent was clear. One of them swiftly moved toward Aurora, attempting to grab her.

Leader of the group (shouting firmly):
"Grab her, quickly."

In a moment of shock, Aboud and Abbas stood frozen for a second as Aurora found herself in the grip of one of the masked men. She struggled with all her might, but their grip was strong and suffocating. She screamed at the top of her lungs, pleading for help.

Aurora (screaming desperately):
"Aboud! Abbas! Help me!"

Aboud, still reeling from his emotional turmoil, snapped out of it at the sound of her scream, as if her voice was a wake-up call in his mind. He leaped forward in a frenzy, rushing toward the men, trying to stop them.

Aboud (shouting in a rage):
"Let her go!"

Before he could get close, one of the armed men fired a shot, hitting Aboud in the shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground. The shock and pain overwhelmed him in an instant.

Aboud (gritting his teeth, groaning in pain):
"Ah... damn it."

Aboud felt the bullet tear through his body, but he couldn’t think about the pain. His entire focus was on Aurora and her desperate cries that tore at his heart. As he lay on the ground, his vision began to blur, and everything around him started to fade.

Aboud (in agonizing inner monologue):
"This... this doesn't hurt as much as what’s inside my heart."

Despite the excruciating pain in his shoulder, bleeding profusely, Aboud couldn’t allow himself to give up. He forced his eyes open, struggling to breathe. Aurora's screams echoed in his ears, and the sense of helplessness consumed him.

Aboud (weakly, anger simmering in his voice):
"Aurora..."

He tried to stand up, but his body refused to cooperate. Still, he managed to push himself up slowly, using every ounce of strength he had. He saw the kidnappers dragging Aurora toward the car, and he struggled to reach them.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Aboud sprinted toward the black car, which had begun to move slowly. He grabbed onto the back window, trying to hold on.

Aboud (his voice raspy):
"I won't let you take her!"

But one of the men inside the car saw him and threw a brutal punch through the window, causing Aboud to fall to the ground again.

The armed man (mockingly):
"Go nurse your wounds, this is no place for you."

The car sped away, leaving Aboud lying on the ground near the airport. He let out a scream of fury and despair into the darkness.

Aboud (screaming with rage and hopelessness):
"Auroraaaaa!"

After his second fall, Aboud lay on the ground, his body writhing in pain. It wasn’t just his body that was screaming—it was his heart and soul too. Everything happening at that moment reminded him of the cruelty of life: Layla’s betrayal, the kidnapping of Aurora. Everything was falling apart.

In that moment, Abbas came running toward him, his face filled with worry.

Abbas (running quickly):
"Aboud! Don’t give up now, we have to get up."

Abbas hurriedly wrapped Aboud’s wounded shoulder with a makeshift bandage, trying to stop the bleeding.

Abbas (firmly, lifting Aboud):
"Don’t let them win this fight. We’ll find her, Aboud. We won’t let them take Aurora away."

Despite the pain in both his body and heart, Aboud felt an inner strength pushing him to rise again. He couldn’t accept defeat. With everything he had endured in his life, this was the final challenge. He had to fight, not just for Aurora, but for everything he had lost.

Aboud (in a quiet, determined voice):
"I’ll find them... and I’ll bring her back."

With Abbas's help, Aboud stood on his feet. He was bleeding, but he wasn’t going to stop now. He looked toward the dark horizon, and despite the searing pain in his shoulder, his eyes were filled with resolve.

Abbas (calmly):
"We need to move quickly before we lose their trail."

Aboud nodded, knowing that time was not on their side. As he caught his breath, he began to plan his next move. He wouldn’t let these men disappear easily, and he wouldn’t let Aurora be lost.

Aboud (his voice deep and filled with anger):
"Now, the real reckoning begins. I won’t let them take what’s left of me."

As Aboud and Abbas stood in the darkness, the mission ahead became clear. They had to move fast because every second could mean the difference in saving Aurora from an unknown fate.