Chapter 72: Going Alone

Reese arrived at the resort. As he approached the cottage they were staying in, he extended his spiritual sense to survey the situation. Inside the cottage, he saw Jasper, Alex, and Alex's parents attending to the very injured Dwight. The room was filled with a tense atmosphere, with the faint scent of antiseptic mingling with the salty air from the nearby beach.

Reese's eyes darkened as his spiritual sense scanned Dwight's body. Dwight was covered in bruises and cuts, his face swollen and marred by a deep gash above his right eyebrow. His breathing was labored, and his clothes were torn and bloodstained. However, Reese sighed in relief as he realized that the injuries, though severe, were mostly flesh wounds. There were no broken bones or damaged major organs.

Reese pushed the door open and stepped into the cottage. The air inside was thick with worry and the soft murmur of concerned voices. "Jasper, what happened?" he demanded, his voice steady but edged with urgency.

Jasper looked up, his face pale and drawn. "About five hours ago, Dwight and Chloe went out to buy something. As the hours passed and they didn't come back, we tried calling them, but they didn't pick up. We started to worry. We asked the employees to look for them. One of the employees found Dwight unconscious and badly beaten near the entrance of the resort. We don't know where Chloe is, and we've been waiting for Dwight to wake up to find out what exactly happened."

Reese nodded in understanding, his mind racing. He turned his attention to Dwight, who lay on the bed, barely conscious. "Let me try something," Reese said. He kneeled beside Dwight and placed his hand gently on his friend's forehead. Closing his eyes, he focused his soul power, channeling it into Dwight in an attempt to awaken him.

As Reese concentrated, a faint purple glow began to emanate from his hand. Jasper, Alex, and Alex's parents watched in astonishment. Their eyes widened as the soft, ethereal light grew brighter, casting a surreal glow over the room. They had never seen anything like it.

"What's happening?" Alex's mother whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from Reese's glowing hand.

"It's... incredible," Jasper murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Reese did not mind the reactions of Jasper, Alex, and Alex's parents. 'So what if they know about my abilities? It's not like anyone would believe them if they told anyone. And there are no cameras in here to back them up.'

Reese's energy flowed through Dwight, seeking to restore his consciousness. The light in the room seemed to dim slightly, and a faint purple glow surrounded Reese's hand.

After a few tense moments, Dwight's eyelids fluttered, and he groaned softly. His eyes slowly opened, and he looked around, disoriented. "Reese?" he croaked, his voice weak.

Reese exhaled in relief. "Yes, Dwight, it's me. Can you tell us what happened?"

Jasper, Alex, and Alex's parents were stunned into silence, their eyes locked on Dwight as he began to speak. They couldn't believe what they were witnessing—Dwight, who had been unconscious and badly injured just moments ago, was now awake and talking.

Dwight winced as he tried to sit up, but Reese gently pressed him back down. "Take it easy. Just tell us what you remember."

Dwight took a shaky breath. "Chloe and I went to the nearby market. Everything seemed fine at first. But on our way back, we were ambushed. There were too many of them and they had guns... I tried to fight them off, but... Chloe... They took her."

Reese's jaw tightened. "Did you recognize any of them? Did they say anything?"

Dwight shook his head slowly. "No... they were fast and coordinated, and they were wearing masks. It felt like they knew what they were doing. They didn't say much, but they did tell me something that confuses me."

Reese leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. "What did they say, Dwight?"

Dwight swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "They said, 'Tell Reese to come to Paradise Beach alone at midnight.'"

Reese's mind raced. 'What did these kidnappers have to do with him?' He had initially thought that Chloe's kidnapping was the work of Mr. Ramirez's political opponents trying to undermine his campaign. But now, hearing Dwight's account, Reese realized there was something more to it. He pondered for a good minute before the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. It had to be connected to Mr. Fernandez and the treasures.

Turning to Alex, Reese's eyes narrowed. "Do you know anything about this? Is Mr. Fernandez responsible for the kidnapping?"

Alex's eyes widened in fear as Reese's soul power bore down on him, the pressure almost tangible. 'He's just a teenager, but he makes me feel like I'm about to die just by looking at me', Alex thought, panic rising within him. "I-I don't know!" he stammered. "I swear, I don't know anything about it!"

Reese stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "You better not be part of this, Alex. If I find out you had anything to do with Chloe's kidnapping, you'll regret it."

Alex's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barreto, stepped forward, their faces flushed with anger. "How dare you accuse our son of being involved in this?" Mr. Barreto shouted. "And why would Mr. Fernandez have anything to do with Chloe's kidnapping?"

Reese took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising tension. "You need to understand what's at stake here. Mr. Fernandez has been searching for the Statue and the treasures. He believes they hold immense power. I know the location of these treasures."

Dwight, who had been listening intently, gasped. "Are you serious, Reese? There's actually treasure."

Mrs. Barreto crossed her arms, skepticism written all over her face. "This sounds like a fanciful story, Reese. We've never heard anything about a statue and treasures before. Is this true?"

Reese looked each of them in the eyes, his voice steady and unwavering. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but the treasures are real. I was just there."

Silence filled the room as his words sank in. Jasper, Alex, and the Barreto parents stared at Reese in disbelief.

Dwight was the first to break the silence. "You're not joking, are you?"

Reese shook his head. "No, I'm not. I was in the chamber where the statue was. I saw the treasures with my own eyes."

Mrs. Barreto's voice was barely above a whisper. "You mean to tell us you found the so-called treasure?"

"Yes," Reese confirmed. "And if Mr. Fernandez is involved, it means he will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means hurting innocent people."

Alex looked pale, his voice trembling. "But why would he target Chloe?"

Reese sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Because they know I'm connected to her. They want to use her to get to me and ultimately to the treasures."

Mr. Barreto stepped forward, his tone now more concerned than angry. "What do we do now?"

Reese and Dwight exchanged glances, understanding the seriousness of the situation. "We have no other choice but to follow the kidnappers' demands," Reese said. "I'll go alone and rescue Chloe."

Dwight nodded in agreement, wincing slightly from his injuries. "It's the only way. We can't risk Chloe's life by going against their demands."

Alex's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barreto, looked visibly distressed. "We need to call Chloe's parents and inform them," Mrs. Barreto said, reaching for her phone.

Reese quickly intervened. "No, please don't. If you call Mr. Ramirez and ask for backup, it might change the kidnappers' plans and put Chloe in even more danger."

Mr. Barreto frowned. "But we can't just sit here and do nothing. How can you be sure you can handle this on your own?"

Reese's eyes hardened with resolve. "You must trust me. I can take care of them and bring Chloe back to the resort safely."

Alex and his parents exchanged skeptical looks. Alex's father, Mr. Barreto, shook his head in disbelief. "You're just a kid. What could you possibly do to resolve this kind of situation?"

Mrs. Barreto added, her voice tinged with concern, "This isn't a game, Reese. These are dangerous people. How can we trust that you can handle them on your own?"

Before Reese could answer, Dwight suddenly spoke up. "I trust Reese. He may be just a teenager, but he can rescue Chloe and bring her back safely. You just need to trust him and...."

But before Dwight could finish his statement, Jasper suddenly interrupted. "Reese, are you really Dwight's cousin?"

Seeing that Jasper was now suspicious, Reese decided it was time to reveal the truth. "I'm not Dwight's cousin. I'm your personal bodyguard."

This revelation stunned Alex and his parents. They exchanged glances, trying to comprehend the implications. Mrs. Barreto's eyes widened. "A bodyguard? What kind of abilities does this kid have to make Mr. Ramirez decide to make him Jasper's personal bodyguard? Richard is so protective of his family. If he trusts this kid, then Reese must be some kind of... freak of a monster."

Mr. Barreto nodded in agreement, his voice filled with awe. "Richard would never take chances with his family's safety. If he trusts you, Reese, you must be something extraordinary."

Jasper chuckled a bit after hearing Reese's admission. "No wonder you don't act like a teenager on vacation, and Dwight agreed to the kidnappers' demands without batting an eyelid. Now I finally get it." Jasper's expression turned serious. "Reese, you must rescue my sister at all costs."

Reese was momentarily confused by Jasper's lack of anger. He looked at Jasper and asked, "You're not mad about this?"

Jasper shook his head. "My sister was kidnapped. It would be selfish of me to be mad about it. Right now, all that matters is getting her back safely."

Reese nodded, appreciating Jasper's maturity. "I'll bring her back. I promise." With that, he turned and walked out of the cottage, ready to head to Paradise Beach.

As he was leaving, Alex tried to help. "Here, take my car. You can get there before midnight."

Dwight and the others nodded in understanding of Alex's offer. But Reese shook his head. "It would only slow me down."

Alex and the others were perplexed. "How could a car slow you down?" Alex asked, genuinely confused.

Reese just smiled at their shocked faces. "You'll see," he said cryptically.

Before they could react, Reese moved. He was so quick that they barely saw a blur. The next thing they knew, someone had jumped over the gate at the entrance of the resort.

The employees standing by the gate gaped in disbelief. "Did you see that?" one of them asked, eyes wide.

"I think I saw someone jump over the gate," another replied, equally stunned.

"No way. That gate is over ten feet high," a third employee said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Back in the cottage, Jasper, Dwight, Alex, and his parents stood with their mouths agape. Dwight knew that Reese was more capable than he initially thought, but this?

Dwight just managed a weak chuckle. "Told you he's not just a regular teenager."

Jasper nodded, his expression a mix of awe and determination. "If anyone can bring Chloe back, it's Reese."

As Reese sped towards Paradise Beach, his mind was laser-focused on the task ahead. He knew the risks, but he also knew he couldn't fail.