Captured

"Bo- Lia!" Startled, Selina hurriedly rushed to the bloodied figure without giving it a second thought. When everyone straightened out their thoughts and focused their attention on the figure, Selina had already gone over to examine the body that fell from the ceiling.

"Wait, that's weird. I didn't hear any screams when that body fell from above. If she was alive, then she would've screamed from falling at such a high height. And the blood...." Michael looked around the supposed crime scene where flesh splattered everywhere.

"Hold on! This isn't Lia! This is only a figure. This is some kind of animal flesh. It is cold." Selina was half kneeled by the puppet like figure beside her. The figure closely resembled Lia's figure, giving off the illusion of it being Lia who fell.

"Thank goodness." Selina sighed in relief. Her body fell unsteady for a split moment. Her palms landed flat on the pile of bloody meat near her. Borrowing strength from her fingertips, she took a moment to balance herself before standing up.

"Selina, are you alright?" Rosanna took two steps forward, making an attempt to reach Selina. However, her movements halted midway when a sharp microphone screech suddenly attacked their ears. Following the source of the sound, Rosanna and the others turned around facing away from Selina.

The anonymous voice resounded in the following seconds after the screech was gone. "Testing! Testing! Haha! It works. Well? Did all of you like the show I prepared for you all? Did you feel my enthusiastic welcoming party for you? No need to thank me for the thrill yet. The fun has just begun. There are more for you to enjoy. Hahaha!"

Rosanna growled as everyone began spinning their heads in different angles to search for cameras and possible speakers near them. As they studied their surrounding, Rosanna spoke up. "We know who you are already, so why bother with the fake robotic voice? Just come out, the so called mysterious Master Liam! We already know about everything you've done to mess with our family and we are here to settle scores with you!"

"Yeah! Come on out! Why are you hiding in your turtle shell for? You will have to show your face to us eventually. Might as well come out now to save all of us some time!" Eric spoke right after Rosanna to provoke Master Liam further.

"Hah!" The sarcastic sound he let out mocked the couple in their face. This time, his voice sounded much clearer from a specific direction. Under everyone's expectant gaze, they turned their attention to a certain direction - everyone except for Selina, at least.

Out of the blue, sharp piercing bangs similar to metal bats scraping against metal pipes could be heard. Some strikes dragged on as if the person holding the weapon was deliberately murdering their ears. As these sounds grew closer, the sound intensified. However, nobody showed up

The sounds vibrated from all directions that it made everyone twist and turn their heads every time a new clang occurred. A few occasional screams would then follow after the long dreadful screeches, raising everyone's anxiety and cautiousness.

While everyone was busily scanning all corners of the surrounding, Selina's knees kissed the ground with her body bent slightly forward. A thin layer of sweat covered her forehead. Her eyes squinted as it turned misty. One of her hands held onto her stomach while the other supported her body from falling onto the ground.

She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. However, she exhaled abruptly in the following second.

"Argh!!!" Selina grunted in agony as her head pulled backwards. A rough hand gathered a handful of her thick hair and violently tugged on it, dragging her body off the floor. Her hands quickly grabbed onto the strong fingers, trying to pry it off her hair. However, her efforts were similar to a chicken's peck to the man who was holding her captive.

"Aren't you guys looking for me? I am standing right here, yet none of you spotted me. This isn't the proper way to welcome your host." Master Liam smiled, stretching deep creases across his face. His right hand held Selina's hair as if it was a pile of weed from the wilderness.

"Selina!!!" Rosanna, who was closer to Selina and the group of people that held her captive was the first to react.

"Long time no see, Rosanna. You look the same as we last met, which was many years ago. You seem to be so happy for all these years that you've long forgotten about my existence. Do you remember this old friend of yours?" Master Liam tilted his head, shifting his gaze from Rosanna to Selina.

"Master Liam! Let her go! Your target is us. Let my daughter go, she is innocent! This is a grudge you held against us for decades. If you want to end this, then fine. Come at Eric and me! Leave our children alone." Rosanna exclaimed, attempting to move close to where Selina was. However, she halted her step when she noticed Master Liam tightening his grip on Selina's hair.

Another low grunt escaped Selina's mouth. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let out another groan.

"Innocent? So what if she is innocent? Wasn't I also innocent in this? So does it matter who I have in my hands? Whether it is Lia or Selina, it doesn't matter. As long as they can lure you guys out and paint anxiety on your face, everything is worth it! Haha! You should all take a look at a mirror right now." His laugh ended shortly after he spoke.

"What do you want?" Rosanna asked again.

"Hehe. I want you..." Master Liam's smile looked like carved smiles on halloween pumpkins as he stated his conditions to releasing Selina.