The Shadows of Annecy. 

It was a week before Sophie Laurent's wedding, and the streets of Annecy seemed to sparkle with the promise of spring. The air was cool, carrying the scent of blooming flowers from the lakeside, and the town buzzed with activity. Sophie had spent the afternoon with her best friend, Chloé Lefevre, catching up over tea at Chloé's chic apartment near the canal. They laughed, shared stories of their childhood, and discussed Sophie's upcoming wedding with Adrien, the love of her life.

Sophie's heart was light as she left Chloé's place that evening. The streets were quieter now, the last rays of sunlight fading into the horizon, and the delicate glow of the street lamps cast a soft, golden hue on the cobblestone alleys. As she walked down a familiar street, taking in the quiet beauty of the town, a sense of peace settled over her. She had always loved Annecy—the quaint charm of the town, its mix of old-world elegance and modern flair.

But tonight, something was different. A strange sense of unease pricked at Sophie's senses. It was nothing obvious—just a shift in the air, a feeling she couldn't quite place. She quickened her pace, the echo of her footsteps on the stone streets the only sound accompanying her.

She was nearing the narrow alley that would lead her home when a sudden sound made her pause. A rustle from behind—a soft shuffle of footsteps. Sophie turned her head, her heart racing. The alley was dark now, with only the dim light from the streetlamps illuminating the cobblestones. She could see no one.

It was probably just her imagination, she thought, taking a deep breath and starting to walk again.

But then—everything happened in an instant.

A pair of hands, strong and swift, clamped over her mouth and around her waist. Sophie gasped, but before she could scream, a cloth was pressed against her nose. The sharp, sickly-sweet scent of chloroform filled her nostrils, and her vision blurred. She struggled, trying to pull away, but the world around her faded into darkness.

When Sophie finally regained consciousness, she was no longer on the streets of Annecy. Her body felt heavy, her head pounding as though the entire weight of the world had settled upon her. Slowly, her eyes opened, and she found herself in a dimly lit room, the air damp and musty. The walls were cold, and the floor beneath her was hard and unyielding.

She tried to move, but her wrists were bound tightly behind her, and her legs felt like lead. Panic surged through her as she looked around. The room was sparsely furnished, with a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows on the walls. She wasn't alone.

As Sophie struggled against the ropes, she saw the faces of several other women in the room. Some were sitting quietly, staring blankly at the floor, while others seemed lost in their own thoughts, their faces pale with fear. Sophie's eyes darted from one to the next, trying to find some sign of recognition, but there was none. They were all strangers—each of them here, trapped like she was.

The brunette woman closest to her looked up. Her face was tear-streaked, her eyes hollow with exhaustion. "You're awake," she whispered, her voice hoarse.

Sophie nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. "Where… where are we? What's going on?"

The woman shook her head, her hands trembling as she hugged her knees to her chest. "I don't know. They just… took us. One by one. Some of us have been here for days, some for weeks. They don't tell us anything. They just keep us here."

Sophie's stomach twisted with fear. Who were these people? Why had they been taken? Her mind raced, but she couldn't make sense of it. The woman's words echoed in her head. "They don't tell us anything."

A sudden sound from the door made everyone freeze. The lock turned, and the door creaked open. Sophie tensed, her heart pounding in her chest. A tall man in dark clothes stepped inside, his face hidden in shadow. He looked around at the room full of women, his eyes scanning them like they were nothing more than objects.

"Quiet," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "No talking. No noise."

Sophie's throat went dry as she realized the gravity of the situation. They were trapped, and whoever was behind this—whoever had taken them—had no intention of letting them go.

The man left just as quickly as he had entered, the door slamming shut with a finality that made Sophie's heart skip a beat.

She looked around at the other women. Some of them were crying softly, others staring into space, lost in their own terror. Sophie tried to steady her breathing, refusing to let panic overtake her. She had to stay calm. She had to find a way out.

Her thoughts drifted to Adrien. He would be looking for her. He had to be. He would never give up.

---

Meanwhile, in the heart of Annecy, Adrien sat in their apartment, anxiety gnawing at him with each passing minute. Sophie had been out for hours, and he couldn't reach her. His phone buzzed again—another missed call from her mother, Catherine.

"Adrien, have you heard from Sophie?" Catherine's voice crackled through the phone. "She was supposed to be home an hour ago. I'm starting to get worried."

"I haven't heard from her, either," Adrien replied, trying to sound calm, though his voice betrayed his growing panic. "I've been calling and texting her. I'm sure she's just caught up with something, but…"

"But what?" Catherine interrupted, her voice edged with concern. "This isn't like her, Adrien. Something's wrong."

"I'll go look for her," Adrien said quickly, standing up from the couch. His thoughts were racing, but there was no time to waste. "I'll go to Chloé's, and I'll check the places she usually goes."

He hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped out into the chilly night, the streets of Annecy now seeming foreign, even menacing. Every corner, every alley felt like a puzzle he couldn't solve.

Back at Sophie's parents' home, her father, Jacques Laurent, had joined the search. The tension in the house was palpable as they combed the town, calling Sophie's name, asking anyone they met if they had seen her. No one had.

As the hours stretched on, worry turned to fear, and fear turned to dread. Where was Sophie? What had happened to her? And why hadn't she returned?

As Adrien walked through the streets of Annecy, his heart felt like it was being torn apart. He had to find her. He couldn't lose her, not like this. Sophie was everything to him. He couldn't imagine a life without her.

But the night seemed to stretch on forever, and with each passing moment, Adrien's hope began to wane. Sophie had vanished without a trace. The person he loved more than anything had disappeared, and there was no sign of where she had gone.