CHAPTER FIVE A CALL TO HUNT

The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the city as Luke and Hana made their way through the bustling streets. The air was filled with the sounds of honking cars and bustling pedestrians, but amidst the chaos, a sense of tranquility enveloped them like a comforting blanket. As they drove, Hana couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. Luke's revelation about his family's wealth and status had left her reeling, but she had pushed aside her concerns to focus on comforting him in his time of need. But now, as they neared their destination, a sense of foreboding settled over her like a dark cloud. She couldn't explain it, but something told her that their journey was about to take an unexpected turn. Just as they approached Hana's apartment building, Luke's phone rang, breaking the silence of the evening. Luke glanced at the caller ID, his brow furrowing in concern as he answered the call. "Hold on a moment, Hana," he said, his voice tense. "I need to take this." Hana nodded silently; she watched Luke's expression shift from confusion to alarm. Whatever news he had just received, it was not good. After what felt like an eternity, Luke finally ended the call and turned to face Hana, his expression grave. "It's my sister," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's been kidnapped." Hana was shocked by the news. Luke's sister, the youngest member of the Green family, was a well-known humanitarian who had been organizing aid efforts in a war-torn country halfway across the world. The thought of her falling victim to such a heinous crime sent shockwaves through the nation, setting social media ablaze with calls for action and prayers for her safe return. Luke's phone buzzed incessantly with messages and notifications, each one a reminder of the gravity of the situation. But amidst the chaos, Hana could see the pain etched on his face, the fear and uncertainty that threatened to consume him whole. "Drop me here; it seems that you are needed elsewhere," Hana said, her voice firm. She was not waiting for Luke's rebuttal. "Go, you need to be with your family." Luke nodded, his jaw clenched with determination. "You're right," he agreed. "We need to find out who's behind this and do everything in our power to bring her back safely." With that, he sprang into action. He let Hana out and sped away, starting to regain his cool. He had to get his hands on a source of information quickly. As Hana watched Luke speed away, she couldn't shake the feeling of being alone that gnawed at her insides. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed to her that she was all alone in the world, and the dark was enveloping her. Now, she had to make up her mind and face her problems. As dawn broke and the first light of morning filtered through the curtains, Hana found herself sitting alone in her living room, her mind awash with worry and uncertainty. The events of the past few hours had taken their toll on her, leaving her drained and weary. But even amid her despair, a flicker of hope remained alive in her heart. She knew that as long as she persevered, as long as she refused to give up, there was still a chance that all this would be a distant memory. And with that thought to sustain her, Hana closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off into a troubled sleep. As the sun rose over the city, casting a warm glow through the windows of Luke's penthouse apartment, he found himself seated at the head of a long conference table, his laptop open in front of him. On the screen, the faces of his family members stared back at him, their expressions grave with concern. Luke took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He knew that this conference call would be fraught with tension and disagreement, but they had no choice but to put aside their differences and come together in the face of a common threat. "Are there any updates about Emily?" Luke began, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging within him. "What are the authorities doing about this? What of the governments? Has anyone reached out to us?" His words hung heavy in the air, each one a reminder of the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. Around the table, his family members exchanged worried glances, their expressions reflecting the fear and uncertainty that threatened to consume them whole. "We have pooled our resources and contacts to launch a full-scale investigation," a voice said, then continued, his tone firm with determination. "Time is of the essence, and we can't afford to waste a single moment for bureaucracy to move its hide." "You are being emotional, Luke; that is unlike you," the voice spoke again. "You are not needed here, as your presence will confuse and obstruct the process." Luke bristled at those words but kept his temper in check while making his face unreadable. "This isn't about me," he snapped, his voice sharp with anger. "This is about finding Emily and bringing her home safely. You need all the help you can get." But the voice was undeterred, his arrogance shining through in every word he spoke. "And what makes you think you're qualified to help?" he scoffed. "You've never shown any interest in the family business, never cared about anything but your selfish desires." The accusation hit Luke like a punch to the gut, his heart aching with the weight of the voice's words. He had always felt like an outsider within his own family, a square peg in a round hole, and now, in their hour of need, his brother was questioning his worth. But Luke refused to back down, his determination unwavering in the face of adversity. "No matter how useless I might be, there must be something I can do to help," he declared, his voice ringing with conviction, "I might be nonchalant toward everyone, but that does not negate the fact that I am a member of this family." For a moment, there was silence around the table as Luke's words hung in the air, the tension between them palpable. But then, to his surprise, his father spoke up, expressionless, voice cold for some reason. "He's right," he said, her cold. "We may not always see eye to eye, but right now, we need to put aside our differences and work together to find my daughter. She needs us, now more than ever." His words broke the tension in the family, strengthening their resolve by reminding them of what was at stake. Around the table, they nodded in agreement, a sense of unity and purpose settling over them like a comforting blanket. As they ended the call, Luke felt a glimmer of hope and wished for his sister's safety to be uncompromised till she was brought back home safe and sound. A buzz sounds from his pocket. He reached into his pants to pull out his cell phone and read the message, "Don't get involved."