RESIST, ANTHONY

Sara lay peacefully asleep in Nick's arms, both of them wrapped in warmth under the soft linen sheets. The crackle of the fireplace still hummed in the background, casting a golden glow across the room. Nick remained awake, his hand gently caressing Sara's back, then sliding tenderly over her side and settling on the gentle curve of her belly.

He smiled as he felt the subtle flutter of their unborn child.

"You woke us up," Sara whispered sleepily, her voice soft as velvet.

Nick chuckled. "Us?"

"The baby and me. He's been giggling inside ever since you started kissing my stomach."

"I didn't mean to wake you," he said, kissing her shoulder.

"It's okay," she smiled. "Being with you is the safest place I know."

They kissed slowly, deeply, their bodies tangled in shared warmth and love.

"I hope at least one of our kids looks like you," Nick whispered.

"And I hope they all look like you," Sara replied, laughing softly.

They made love again—gentle, slow, intimate—then fell asleep in each other's arms as the storm outside intensified, with heavy rain and distant thunder rolling through the sky.

---

In the children's bedroom, the sound of thunder startled Ana awake. The little girl clutched her blanket to her chest, heart racing. She had never liked storms. Whimpering, she slipped out of bed and padded over to her twin brother's room, where Anthony was sound asleep.

"Anthony," she whispered, climbing into bed with him. "I'm scared."

Anthony stirred, then wrapped his small arms around her. "It's just thunder, Ana. I'm here."

Another thunderclap echoed. Ana clung to him tighter.

"You're safe," he said confidently. "I'll protect you. Promise."

Eventually, Ana fell asleep beside him, comforted by her brother's warmth. Morning came with the rain still pouring steadily. The children showered, dressed with help from the nanny, and went to the study room for their daily lesson.

As they entered, something went terribly wrong.

The nanny, just steps behind them, suddenly collapsed to the floor. A sharp pulse had hit her neck—a stun device.

Anthony turned around in shock. "Ms. Eira?" he gasped.

The teacher, once kind and gentle, now stood before him with a cold expression. Her voice, no longer warm, turned sharp. "You and your sister are coming with me."

She lunged forward, grabbing Ana's arm. Anthony reacted instantly, tackling the teacher with a force surprising for a six-year-old. "Let her go!"

Ana, trembling, scrambled to her feet and ran toward the hallway, yelling with all her strength, "Help! Help us!"

The teacher wrestled with Anthony. "You little brat!"

"You'll never take her!" he shouted, squirming and kicking.

Realizing she had lost the chance to take both, the woman seized Anthony and dragged him toward the back exit. Anthony thrashed and screamed.

"Help! Dad! Mom!" he cried out. "She's taking me through the back!"

The teacher silenced him with a firm hand, carrying him with effort down the hall. Servants rushed in, but were blocked by the butler—one of the agency's infiltrators—who fired stun charges at them.

"Father! The butler's helping her!" Anthony shouted.

Nick's voice echoed from somewhere in the mansion. "Anthony! Hold on! I'm coming!"

"I'm going outside!" Anthony yelled, kicking harder.

The teacher pulled him through the rear door into the pouring rain. The storm soaked them instantly, thunder rumbling above. Anthony kept fighting, his small fists punching and his feet kicking as he tried to grab anything to stop her.

But she had a head start. She sprinted across the back garden, desperate to reach a vehicle waiting beyond the gate. Anthony screamed again, "Mom! Dad! Please! I don't want to go!"

Inside, chaos spread through the household. Guards and staff, stunned and confused, began to regain their senses and rush to the source of the alarm. Sara, awakened by the commotion, was already halfway down the hall.

"Anthony!" she cried out, her voice slicing through the storm like a blade.

Nick burst from the front, soaking instantly as he ran through the rain, following the sounds of his son's cries.

"I see them!" he roared. "She's heading to the gate! Stop her!"

Anthony, still in her arms, heard his father's voice and mustered the last of his strength.

"I'm here, Dad! Please!"

The rain pounded the earth as the battle to save him reached its peak.