Chapter 5: The Price of Power
"Who are you?" Arthur demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of blinding rage and sheer terror, lowering his weapon slightly to protect his family.
The operative lowered his hood, revealing a calm, smiling face with piercing gray eyes. "Dr. Silas Thorne’s compliments, Mr. Carlyle. My name is Commander Vance—no relation to your nervous little doctor. We aren't here to harm you or your daughter. We simply want the boy."
Before Arthur could lunge forward, the door to the guest room clicked open. Leo stepped out into the hallway, rubbing his eyes against the bright halogen lights of the tactical flashlights. He looked at the armed men, then at Arthur, instantly assessing the grave danger.
"Leo, get back inside!" Arthur shouted.
"No, Mr. Carlyle," Leo said, his voice remarkably steady for a twelve-year-old boy. He looked directly at Commander Vance. "You’re here for me, right? If I go with you, you leave them alone. Swear it."
Commander Vance chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "You're remarkably perceptive for a street urchin. Yes, if you cooperate peacefully, no one else in this chalet will be harmed."
"Leo, don't do it!" Clara cried out, bursting from her room, tears streaming down her face as she rushed over and grabbed Leo’s hand. "They're monsters! They'll use you!"
As soon as Clara’s hand grasped Leo’s, a brilliant flash of golden light surged between their palms. It was an involuntary reaction of their shared energy bond. Commander Vance’s eyes widened behind his tactical scope. He raised his hand, signaling his men.
"Fascinating... the resonance is even stronger than anticipated," Vance murmured. "Grab them both. We’re taking the girl too—she's a vital biological control subject."
"Over my dead body!" Arthur roared, raising his pistol and firing twice.
Chaos erupted in the hallway. Bullets shattered expensive marble pillars and carved wooden panels. Commander Vance ducked, returning fire with a paralyzing dart gun. One of the darts struck Arthur squarely in the shoulder. A wave of intense, numbing cold washed over his body; his limbs turned to lead, and he collapsed heavily to the floor, his vision blurring into darkness as he watched the mercenaries close in on the children.
"Leo... Clara..." Arthur whispered into the cold floorboards before consciousness completely slipped away.
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When Arthur finally regained consciousness hours later, the chalet was deathly quiet. The blizzard outside had subsided, leaving a pristine, mocking layer of white snow over the ruined doorway. The security systems were completely fried, and the rooms were empty.
Clara and Leo were gone.
