BEYOND DARKNESS

CHAPTER ONE

SPARKLING MANSION>>> 8:35pm

Rain lashed against the windows, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Brian stirred, awakened by his phone's insistent ringing. Beside him, his baby sister Rihanna jerked upright, her big brown eyes wide with concern.

"Hello, Dad? Are you not-" Brian's voice trailed off as an unfamiliar voice responded.

"Who are you? Why do you have my dad's phone?" Brian asked, confusion etched on his face.

Rihanna watched him, her gaze unblinking.

"Are you the owner's son?" the stranger asked.

"Yes, why?" Brian's innocence faltered.

"There's been an accident. Your father was rushed to the hospital." Brian's eyes widened in horror.

"Which hospital?" he demanded.

The stranger provided the name, and the line went dead. Brian leapt from the chair, his mind racing.

"Who's at the hospital, Brian? Where are Mom and Dad?" Rihanna's tiny voice trembled.

Brian grasped her hand, trying to reassure her.

"We'll go to the hospital first, Rihanna. Let's go."

The rain had subsided, casting an ominous calm over the city.

•

MORGAN NOVA HEALTH HOSPITAL>>> 8:55PM

Brian and Rihanna entered the hospital, their footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. At the reception desk, Brian approached the nurse.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I received a call about an accident. My parents..." His voice cracked. The nurse's expression faltered.

"Last room on the right," She whispered. Brian nodded, his thanks barely audible.

As they entered the room, Brian's heart sank. Two figures lay motionless beneath white sheets.

A doctor and two nurses turned to face them. The doctor's eyes widened.

"You're the one I spoke to?" he asked, surprised.

Brian nodded, his gaze fixed on the beds.

"I'm so sorry, kiddo. We lost them. They were brought in too late." Brain's world crumble as the doctor dropped the bombshell.

"Brian, Mommy's not moving! Tell Daddy to talk to me!" Rihanna wailed, struggling to break free from Brian's grasp.

The doctor's gentle gesture of uncovering the corpse made Brian's heart shatter. He held Rihanna closer, absorbing her sobs.

A lone tear escaped Brian's eye, but he bit back his grief. He had to be strong for Rihanna.

"Thank you," Brian whispered to the doctor, his voice cracking.

- THREE DAYS LATER>>>SPARKLING MANSION

The funeral had passed, a blur of faces and condolences. Their parents' colleagues had organized the ceremony, and one kind stranger, Mr. Thompson, promised to check on them in a week.

"We'll be fine, sir. Thank you," Brian had said, trying to sound brave.

Now, on the second night without their parents, Brian faced a new challenge: Rihanna's refusal to eat.

In the dining room, Brian coaxed Rihanna for the hundredth time.

"Cookie, please eat something. You're getting thin."

Rihanna turned away, her face streaked with tears.

"No! I want Mommy and Daddy!" she sobbed.

Brian sighed, desperation creeping in.

"Rihanna, please...Mom and Dad would want us to be strong."

But Rihanna's cries only intensified.

Brian's eyes stung as he held her, feeling helpless.

The doorbell rang, shattering the tense silence. Before Brian could react, the front door swung open, and three imposing men strode in.

Brian sprang from the chair, clutching Rihanna tightly as the men's daunting presence filled the room.

Rihanna's tears forgotten, she peeked out from behind Brian, her voice trembling.

"Brian, who are they?" Brian's throat dried.

"I don't know," he whispered.

Summoning courage, Brian faced the men.

"Who are you? Why did you barge in here?" he demanded, trying to hide his inner shaking.

The tallest man, his face chiseled and menacing, stepped forward. "Kid, where are your parents?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.

Brian's gut twisted. "They died three days ago," he replied, bracing for a reaction.

The man's eyes narrowed. "How dare he die owing me!" he thundered, his face reddening.

Rihanna shivered against Brian's back. The man's gaze locked onto Brian.

"You two will pay for this. Take them!" he barked.

Brian's eyes widened in horror as Rihanna was yanked away.

"No! Not my sister! Let her go!" Brian screamed, desperate.

Rihanna's cries echoed through the house.

"Brian, don't let them take me! I don't want to go!"

The men dragged Brian and Rihanna out of the house, leaving their shattered world behind.

-AN UNDERGROUND CLAN>>>LATE IN THE MIDNIGHT

Brian jolted awake, memories of the previous night flooding back. His eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness.

Sniffles echoed through the room, and Brian's heart skipped a beat.

"Rihanna!" he called out, his voice laced with urgency.

No response.

He strained his ears, picking up faint movements and muffled sobs.

Rihanna's fear of the dark made Brian's anxiety spike.

"Rihanna, is that you?" he asked gently.

"Brian, I can't see anything...it's so dark," Rihanna's trembling voice replied.

Brian pat the ground, searching for his sister. His fingers brushed against hers, and he pulled her close.

Rihanna clung to him, her body shaking.

"I'm scared," she sobbed.

Brian rubbed her back, his own tears falling silently. Words failed him.

Suddenly, the lights flickered on, illuminating two menacing figures at the entrance.

One of them pried Rihanna from Brian's grasp.

The other pinned Brian down.

"Where are you taking my sister?" Brian's panicked voice echoed through the room.

The man dragged Rihanna away, her desperate cries echoing through the corridors.

"Brian! Brian!" she screamed, stretching out her hand.

Brian's anguish intensified.

The man returned, his expression unyielding.

"Where did you take my sister?" Brian demanded.

The man ignored him.

"The boss said to bring him too," he growled, grasping Brian's arm.

Brian struggled, but was forcibly dragged away.

-A DIMLY LIT ROOM>>>

Rihanna lay chained to the bed, her small body trembling with silent sobs.

The door creaked open, and Brian stumbled in.

His eyes widened in horror.

Rihanna, naked and vulnerable, was shackled to the bed.

Brian's heart shattered. He rushed towards her, but was caught by the man.

"No! Let me go!" Brian screamed.

Rihanna's eyes met Brian's, filled with fear and desperation.

"Brian," She whispered. Brian's anguish boiled over.

Brian's eyes blazed with fury.

"What have you done to my sister?" he demanded.

The henchman remained silent. The boss gestured.

"Leave us." Brian was thrown to the ground.

The henchman bowed and exited.

The boss's gaze slid to Rihanna's lap, his lips curling into a sinister smile. Brian's horror intensified.

"No! Don't touch her! Take me instead!" Brian begged, crawling to the boss's feet.

The boss crushed Brian's hand beneath his shoe. Brian screamed in agony.

Rihanna's tears flowed uncontrollably. The boss bound Brian to a pole.

Brian struggled wildly. "How old are you?" the boss asked Rihanna. Rihanna trembled.

The boss aimed his gun at Brian's head.

"Answer me, or I'll blow his brains out!" Rihanna pleaded. "No! Please!"

The boss's eyes narrowed. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Rihanna hastened. "Twelve...I'm twelve, and I'll be thirteen in three months." The boss sneered.

"You're not that young."

The boss's hands moved to his trousers, and Brian's eyes widened in horror.

Rihanna trembled, her voice shaking.

"Please..." she begged.

The boss's face remained impassive.

He climbed onto the bed, his actions swift and merciless. Rihanna's cry echoed through the room.

"NO! BRIAN! HELP!"

Brian's eyes clenched shut, his body racked with sobs.

He strained against his restraints, powerless to stop the nightmare unfolding before him.