Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 412: Dead Already?

Chapter 412: Dead Already?

"She’s what?"

Arthur stopped before stepping in the jet. He felt like his heart skipped and fell into an abyss hearing what Lambert said.

"Arthur, I don’t understand either. The militia were involved in a gunfight with our people, and she was taken to safety and there...Apparently she fell in a hole and disappeared."

"Disappeared? What the f*ck were your-" Arthur gritted his teeth and stopped himself from saying disparaging words about Talia’s security personnel.

"Arthur," It was Louis’ voice this time. "She was taken to an underground tunnel and we were able to track the path she was taken by her tracking device."

"So you know where she is?" Arthur felt a little hopeful.

"That...We found that they got out near the river, and we found..." Louis gulped.

When he saw the images sent by his people, of the pile of her clothes including her underwear, his heart stopped.

"What?" Arthur started to breath hard. His brain started thinking of thousand worse situations. "What is it? What was there?"

"We found her clothes... " Louis paused.

Louis’ pauses only made Arthur more worried, "Just her clothes? Will you just tell me everything you know?"

Louis took in a deep breath. "It’s been over an hour since she fell in the hole and we had to clear the rubble to get in. By the traces left, there is another person with her, possibly a male. We believe it is Ralph and he used the distraction from the militia to get to her. He seems to have planned it all since he knows his way around the intricate tunnels. We had tracers in her clothes and since it was stationary, we thought she is held there, but we only found her clothes. There weren’t blood or any other bodily fluids found there. For now we can safely assume that Mary is unhurt."

Hearing Louis’ explanation without him taking a break and sensing the trembling in his voice, Arthur could understand everyone is as worried as him.

Other bodily fluids... Ah, she is held by a man – a psycho to say the least. He might do anything to her.

"I’ll talk to my Pa to send military jets to aid from Dugimia-"

Basmia’s neighbour Dugimia is a nation that has very strong diplomatic ties to Esteria since a lot of Northern Star charities are based on Dugimia. That’s where he got the diamond for the ring too. If they ask, they will surely send help.

"Jets? What would they do? We are not dealing with the militia here, but one guy. And he is using the knowledge of the terrain and hiding. What if we provoke him by using excessive forces and he hurts Mary?"

"That makes sense," Arthur rubbed his forehead. His brain had shut up and he couldn’t even think properly.

"Arthur, we’re asking help with the locals to gather info. We are planning to spread around... We guess he might have taken her to the Genoas mountain range to the North of her last known place. They say that place is filled with rocks and caves. There is also an abandoned coal mine South of where her clothes were found. So..."

Louis explained and Arthur felt his head hurting. They are all taking their best efforts it seems.

"I’m going there right now."

Arthur found the need for his visit more than anything now. It would help a lot if someone from her family is there to apply pressure from their side on the Basmian government.

"You have a Visa?" Louis wondered if he always planned to visit there, but then realised as a President’s son and the brother of the Foreign Affairs Minister, he can claim the status of "Internationally Protected Person" just like Talia and under certain circumstances can travel without a Visa. He’d be entitled the same protection as Talia.

"Never mind. Good luck." Louis too felt Arthur’s arrival will give some support.

Arthur told the pilot to go as fast as he can and the pilot assured they can reach there in maximum thirteen hours if the weather conditions are right. They were travelling in the fastest jet after all.

Four hours into the journey, Arthur was still in contact with Lambert and they still didn’t have a clue as to where she might be.

"You didn’t have to join me, you know," Arthur said to his assistant who got out of the restroom, wiping her face. She has morning sickness and yet she insisted she’d take this trip with him.

"It’s better to have a woman beside Her Highness after we find her," she said and Arthur didn’t have anything more to say.

She is right!

"I know as your superior and a man, I should not as you this, but-"

"You can ask me anything, Sir," Peggy sat opposite to Arthur with a cup of ginger tea after passing him a cup of coffee.

Arthur stared at her for a moment. "Death or r@pe. If you have to choose one, what will you choose?"

He really didn’t want to think about anything negative, but that’s all he’s been thinking all this time. Ralph h probably removed her clothes to make sure they aren’t tracked. But he cannot help but remember how Ralph was the one who pushed Ray and Cyrus to force her.

And now with him having a hold of her, how will he stop himself from ruining her.

"Death," Peggy said without much thoughts and Arthur closed his eyes and leaned back on the seat with a dry chuckle.

"Women! Why would you think that way? Won’t staying alive be better than getting killed? You can always recover from physical hurt," the corners of his eyes got wet.

They have not talked about it, but he knows this would be the answer his Iris would give too. He still remembers the face she had when she remembered what Ray did.

"Honestly, it is a tough choice. I wish no one has to come across this dilemma. One is the death of the soul and the other is the death of the body. If given a choice, I’d choose to end my physical pain before getting my soul killed." Peggy took a deep breath. "I think most women would choose this way too. Apart from the physical hurt, the shame they have to face after getting physically violated and the stigma in the society blaming the victim for that cruelty, possible unwanted pregnancy... Most men won’t be able to accept their women after that and some families even disavow their daughters... I don’t know... It is terrible and would make one think death is better than living with it all. I know it is not healthy and cowardly to think that way; to take the easy way out. Striving to survive is better than giving up and die, but still..."

Peggy kept on talking and Arthur really couldn’t understand her point of view. She understands giving up is not good, and yet she’ll choose death?

Iris... no matter what hold on to your life! Nothing can happen to you. My love for you won’t change with this.

Please come to me, my love... You promised you’ll come back to me.

"But I think Talia won’t take the coward’s way out. She’d come back to you, Sir." Peggy said and Arthur opened his eyes.

"I saw how strong she was, while you were recovering from the surgery. The more troubles stacked up, the more determined she became and started facing them like she’s on a mission. I saw it in her eyes the fire that kept her focused. She burnt every opposition. That issue with the Vice President of Silver Fox studios... Even I had lost faith, but she worked overnight to get an answer to that problem. And so, I don’t think she’d give up on returning to you that easily. And I bet she’d protect herself pretty fine too."

"I wish your words come to fruition too, Peggy. All I want is her back in my arms."

"Of course," Peggy smiled and scrolled through her phone.

"Ugh! The news of Talia’s disappearance is already out..." Peggy looked up. Arthur was leaning back with his eyes closed. She could see his eyelashes that were curved having a shimmer that got reflected by the overhead lights.

He’s crying.

She didn’t want to disturb him and say that #RIPPrincessTalia is trending in all the social media sites since one tabloid published an article that they have found Talia’s body.

It’s just been only seven hours since her disappearance and these scums are already frothing in their mouth, wishing for her demise!

She got so mad and contacted the lawyers to file for a suit. She then contacted Cyril Lockhart to make sure to keep the mainstream media in leash.

-----

Talia felt her entire body cold when she woke up. There was the sound of water dripping heard and it echoed in the cave she was in.

Her head hurt like she was smashed by bricks and she opened her eyes with difficulty. Her vision was blurry and she squinted her eyes to focus on her surroundings. A campfire was burning at the distance and her back hurt as if it was slammed on a rock.

She was lying on a rock. Her back was cold as she was lying on a wet floor.

Slowly her memories returned and she remembered the last thing that happened to her.

What happened after that? Where am I?