Free Web NovelChapter 132: Chapter 132 Push Into Darkness
Bella’s POV
Terror clawed at my chest as we searched frantically for my children. Each passing second felt like an eternity, and I could feel my sanity slipping away like sand through my fingers.
Without Hugo beside me, I would have completely shattered.
My voice cracked as I called their names over and over, the sound echoing through the empty spaces around us. My legs gave out beneath me, sending me crashing to the ground as sobs wracked my body. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Hugo’s strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back to my feet. His steady presence was the only thing keeping me anchored to reality.
That’s when Astra finally spoke up.
"I know where they are," she said, her voice cutting through my panic.
I froze mid-step. My grip tightened on Hugo’s hand, stopping him in his tracks. He turned to face me, his eyes searching mine for answers.
"You can really find them?" I whispered to her, hardly daring to hope.
"Did I stutter?" Astra snapped back, and I bit down hard on my lip to keep from arguing.
"Astra says she knows their location," I told Hugo, my voice barely steady.
"Then tell her to guide us. Now," Hugo demanded, his jaw set with determination.
"Please," I begged Astra. "Take us to our children."
She instructed me to follow her lead. I surrendered partial control, allowing her instincts to guide our steps along an unfamiliar path.
The bond she shared with the children must have been stronger than I realized. She could sense their presence in ways I couldn’t understand.
Something felt wrong though. Astra’s energy was agitated, almost violent in its intensity. The wrongness of it made my skin crawl.
She led us through twisted trees and overgrown brush until we reached a wide clearing. In the center, beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient oak, stood an old stone well.
My heart stopped when I saw them.
All three of my children stood clustered near the well’s edge.
"Get away from there!" I screamed, waving my arms wildly to catch their attention. The distance between us felt impossibly vast.
"We have to move fast," I gasped.
Hugo was already in motion. We both broke into a desperate sprint, but we weren’t quick enough to prevent what happened next.
The image burned itself into my memory forever. Tara stepped backward, placed her small hands against her siblings’ backs, and with deliberate force, pushed both Zack and Leah into the well.
"Tara, no!" The scream tore from my throat.
My knees hit the ground hard, but Hugo never stopped running. I forced myself up, stumbling forward on unsteady legs.
Hugo stripped off his shirt without breaking stride. The moment he reached the well, he launched himself over the edge without hesitation.
I lunged toward Tara, grabbing her arms and yanking her away from the opening.
"What have you done?" I shook her, my voice raw with horror.
"What do you think? I told you I didn’t want them here. You should have listened when I said to get rid of them," she replied. Her voice carried an unnatural quality that made ice form in my veins.
My hands trembled as I held her back from the well. Every instinct screamed that something was terribly wrong with my daughter.
I reached the stone edge while keeping Tara firmly in my grasp. She was still trying to move closer, and a cold laugh escaped her lips.
"I hope they sink to the bottom," Tara said with chilling calm.
I spun her around to face me, my grip tight on her shoulders.
"They are your brother and sister. You will never speak about them that way again," I said, my voice shaking with fury and fear.
Her expression twisted into something ugly and unfamiliar.
"Keep talking like that and I’ll start hating you too," she said in a monotone that didn’t belong to my child. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Terror consumed me. This wasn’t my Tara. Something had taken hold of her, and I didn’t know how to get her back.
"Please tell me what’s happening to you," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. Two of my children were trapped in dark water below while the third had become a stranger.
A splash echoed from the depths, followed by Hugo’s voice gasping for air.
My body went limp with relief, though I maintained my hold on Tara as I leaned forward to peer into the shadows.
Hugo surfaced with both children secured in his arms, their heads above the waterline. He was breathing hard, treading water in the narrow space.
The sight of them alive gave me strength, but we weren’t safe yet.
The well was deeper than I’d imagined. The stone walls were slick with moisture and covered in moss, making climbing treacherous.
I pressed my body against the edge, gripping the rough stone while watching Tara for any sudden movements.
"Are they conscious?" I called down, my voice echoing off the walls.
"They’re breathing. Took in some water, but they’re okay," Hugo replied, adjusting his hold to keep them both secure.
I studied the wall structure, looking for handholds. The stones protruded at irregular intervals, creating a makeshift ladder that looked slippery but manageable.
"Can you see a way to climb up?" I asked, tracing the possible route with my eyes.
Tara went completely still in my arms. Her body became dead weight, as if she’d simply shut down.
My attention snapped to her face. Her eyes had rolled back, and she was completely unresponsive.
"Tara!" I lowered her to the ground, checking her pulse and breathing.
"What’s wrong?" Hugo shouted from below.
"She collapsed! But she’s still breathing normally," I called back.
"Leave her for now. Help me get these two out first," he urged.
The practical part of my mind knew he was right, but every maternal instinct fought against leaving any of my children.
I positioned myself at the well’s edge again, making sure Tara was safely away from the opening.
"There’s a ledge on my left side," Hugo said. "If I can boost Zack up, can you reach him?"
"Yes, I’m ready," I said, extending my arm as far as possible into the darkness.
The water level made rescue possible. If the well had been dry, Hugo would never have been able to lift them high enough.
Hugo maneuvered Zack upward, guiding his small body toward my waiting hands. I stretched until my muscles burned, finally grasping him under his arms.
Water poured off him as I hauled him up and over the edge. He coughed weakly but his breathing was steady.
Every fiber of my being wanted to hold him close, but Leah was still trapped below.
"I have Zack. Send up Leah," I called down to Hugo.
