Chapter 33: chapter 33

In the quiet Westwood village, the warm glow of the setting sun bathed the small cottages in hues of amber and gold. Frida sat on a wooden stool by the hearth, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her apron. Across from her, Theon paced the floor, his boots echoing against the wooden planks. His face was lined with exhaustion, a shadow of the man who had left for Riverfield just a day ago."Theon," Frida began, her voice trembling, "you’ve been silent since you returned. What happened? I know something is wrong. Please, tell me."Theon stopped pacing and sank into a chair, his broad shoulders slumping under an invisible weight. He ran a hand through his graying hair and looked at his wife with weary eyes. "It’s worse than we feared, Frida. Much worse."Frida's heart clenched. "Tell me."Theon took a deep breath, his voice breaking as he spoke. "Eric’s boy, Adam... he’s been taken. Abducted by soldiers."Frida gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "No... no, not Adam! But why? What would soldiers want with him?"Theon’s jaw tightened, and his fists clenched on the armrest. "They came for Amelia, Frida. They wanted her. But when they couldn’t find her, they took Adam instead. They... they left a message. They’ll return the boy only if Eric gives them Amelia."The room fell silent, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Frida stared at Theon, her mind racing. "They are monsters, all of them!" Theon's voices was heavy "I went to Eric’s house. Frida, it was heartbreaking. Alexis... she’s completely shattered. She cried until she fainted. Eric... he just sat there, staring at the ceiling like a man turned to stone. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. His eyes... they were empty, as if he had given up on everything."Tears welled in Frida’s eyes. "Poor Alexis... poor Eric. No parents should go through this. Both of them are their children, their flesh and blood. How could anyone be so cruel as to tear their family apart like this?"Theon  nodded grimly, his voice low and somber. "It’s unnatural, Frida. The bond between a parent and child is sacred, but these soldiers... they have no regard for such things. They only see power and control, not the lives they destroy."Frida wiped her cheeks with the corner of her apron, her hands trembling. "Alexis must be completely broken. And Eric... he’s always been so strong, but this—this could crush even the mightiest heart."Theon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It’s not just the loss, Frida. It’s the helplessness. Eric knows that no matter how hard he fights, he’s up against something far greater than himself. And Alexis... I fear for her. Losing Adam like this, knowing why he was taken—it’s enough to drive anyone mad."Frida clutched her apron tightly, her knuckles white. "There has to be a way to save Adam without sacrificing Amelia. There has to be, Theon. We can’t let them choose between their children. It’s inhuman."Theon reached over, placing a steadying hand on hers. "We’ll find a way, Frida. I don’t know how yet, but we can’t lose hope. Eric and Alexis need us, and we need to stay strong for them. We owe them that much."Frida looked into his eyes, "we’ll do everything we can to help them. Adam is just a boy. He doesn’t deserve this."The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting shadows that danced across the room. Amelia stood frozen behind the door, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the hushed voices from the room had stopped her in her tracks. Her aunt’s words hit her like a sharp gust of winter air, each syllable cutting deeper.Amelia's heart sank, shattering into pieces that felt impossible to put back together. She stumbled away, her chest heavy with guilt. It’s because of me, she thought, tears streaming down her cheeks. They’re suffering because of me.She ran to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. Dropping onto her bed, Amelia buried her face into her pillow, the sobs wracking her small frame. Her mind swirled with images of her parents, of her little brother, the most precious soul in her tiny world. She loved him more than life itself, and now, knowing they were in pain because of her, was unbearable.The hours dragged by until a knock on her door startled her. “Amelia?” It was her cousin, Sofi, her voice gentle but firm. “Dinner’s ready. Come on, it’s time to eat.”Amelia hastily wiped her tear-streaked face with her sleeve, glancing at the mirror to check her red, puffy eyes. She couldn’t let anyone know what she’d overheard. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.Sofi took one look at her and frowned. “Were you crying in there?” Her tone was more concerned than accusing.Amelia shook her head, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “No, I was sleeping.”Sofi crossed her arms, her disbelief evident. “You’re a terrible liar, Amelia. What’s wrong?”“It’s nothing,” Amelia said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. “I was just... missing my family.” She looked away, willing her emotions to stay in check. “But I’m okay. I’m really thankful to have you all. You’ve been so kind.”Sofi studied her for a moment before her expression softened. She reached out and pulled Amelia into a quick hug. “You’re family, Amelia. You’ll always have a place here. Now, let’s go. Dinner’s getting cold.”At the dining table, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Frida and Theon, Sofi’s parents, sat with tight-lipped expressions, their worry poorly concealed. They exchanged brief glances but avoided looking at Amelia directly. It was clear they didn’t want her to know anything about the conversation she’d overheard.Amelia played along, keeping her head down as she poked at the food on her plate. Her appetite had vanished, but she forced herself to take a few bites. The silence stretched, broken only by the clinking of utensils.“Amelia,” Frida finally said, her voice overly cheerful, “how was your day?”“It was fine,” Amelia replied, managing a small smile. “Thank you for asking.”It was an unusually quiet dinner. The clinking of cutlery filled the silence more than their usual chatter. Sofi and Noah exchanged glances, sensing the odd atmosphere.Finally, Noah broke the silence. "Did something happen today? Did you two fight?" he asked hesitantly.Their parents exchanged a quick look before bursting into laughter. The sound echoed unnaturally in the quiet dining room, almost rehearsed. "Of course not, Noah," their mother replied, her tone overly cheerful. "Why would you think that?"Noah frowned. Something about their response didn’t sit right. He didn’t press further, but he could feel it—a strange tension, a secret being carefully concealed from them. He glanced at Sofi, who gave him a slight nod, confirming she felt it too. Something was definitely wrong, but they had no idea what.As the evening wore on, the weight in the room remained, unspoken but palpable. Amelia kept her head low, her heart heavy with the burden of her secret. She knew Frida and Theon were trying to protect her, but the truth had already found her. And now, she bore it alone.