Athena was kidnapped

Asher stepped out of the house, gripping Athena's hand tightly. His stride was firm, but his eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp caution. Standing in front of them was a man built like a wrestler, broad shoulders like a doorframe, thick muscles bulging beneath a heavy leather jacket. His face was hard, cold, and cruel.

Athena instinctively moved closer to Asher, clutching his arm tightly. Her breathing grew rapid, her body trembling.

The man sneered. "You've got some nerve, hurting my boss," he said, his voice deep and thunderous.

Asher glanced at the black car parked not far behind the man. Inside, Carlos sat in the backseat, his smug expression watching them through the darkened window.

Asher clenched his jaw. "Carlos started this. He tried to force Athena just to pay off a debt. It's disgusting."

The man let out a short, mocking laugh. "Carlos has every right. He's just collecting on a broken deal."

Athena shook her head quickly, her voice shaking. "I didn't mean to break it… I had the money. But I had to use it yesterday… for my friend's hospital check-up."

Asher narrowed his eyes, flashes of yesterday surfacing, Athena and Lucy taking him to the hospital. Her words snapped into place. He turned to Athena, eyes sharp with realization.

"So… you had the money?" he asked, his voice low but heavy with pressure.

Athena froze. Asher's gaze shifted from surprised to disappointed.

"It was for me, wasn't it?" Asher murmured. "You spent that money… on someone you didn't even know."

Athena quickly shook her head, panic in her eyes. "Asher, no. That's not what I meant. I ... I never saw you as a stranger or burden. I jus..."

"You shouldn't have done that," Asher cut in, his voice rising. "You shouldn't have sacrificed everything for a stupid stranger like me!"

Before Athena could respond, the large man interrupted, his tone sharp and commanding. "I don't have time for this drama. Let's go." He reached out toward Athena. "You're coming with me. Now."

Asher immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. "You're not taking her. She's not going anywhere."

Fury flashed in the man's eyes. Without warning, his fist shot forward.

CRACK!

The punch landed square on Asher's face, sending him crashing to the ground. Blood gushed from his nose, staining the thinning snow beneath him.

"Asher!" Athena screamed, panicked. She dropped to her knees, cradling Asher's trembling body, seeing the blood pour down his face. "Oh God… Asher…"

But before she could catch her breath, the man lunged. His massive arm seized Athena and yanked her into his grip.

"Athena!!" Asher groaned, trying to rise.

Athena thrashed in his arms, crying out. "Let me go! Please let me go!! Help!!"

Her sobs and screams echoed through the freezing air, pushing Asher to rise, hands trembling, eyes blazing with fury and guilt crashing over him like a storm.

Asher staggered to his feet. His head throbbed, blood still dripping from his nose onto the ground. His legs shook, his body weak. He tried to stand tall, but every muscle ached like he'd hit a brick wall. His breathing was ragged.

He looked ahead. The man was dragging Athena toward the car. She screamed and fought back, tears pouring down her face.

"Asher!!"

"Asher!! Please!!"

Asher tried to move, but his legs barely held him up.

He clenched his fists, trying to summon that immense power he had earlier but now… nothing. No surge. No energy. He was just a broken body, a sick man.

"Athena…"

He stumbled forward.

The man shoved Athena into the backseat. The door swung open, and before she could flee, it slammed shut and locked. Athena screamed from inside, pressing her hands to the glass.

"Asher!!"

The car engine roared to life, tires skidding across the snow.

"Asher!!!"

Asher screamed back, his body collapsing but he refused to give up. He forced himself up and began to run. Even as pain tore through him, even as blood soaked his shirt, he ran.

"Athena! Wait, Athena!"

Snow sprayed beneath his feet. His chest screamed in agony, but he didn't stop. All he could see was Athena behind that window, crying, reaching for him, pleading.

"Asher!!!"

"Asherrrrr!!!"

Tears fell down Athena's cheeks as she watched him, this man with no memory, no name, running like hell just for her.

Asher, who moments ago couldn't even stand, now chased after her through snow and ice.

"Asher, no!" she cried inside the car, fists pounding on the glass. "Stop! You're hurt!"

But Asher kept running. His eyes locked on the fleeing car. His breath ragged, but his legs kept moving. His heart refused to stop.

The car sped off, fading into the night, leaving tracks in the snow.

Asher finally collapsed to his knees in the middle of the road, hands sinking into the snow, blood dripping from his lips. He gasped for air, eyes locked on the now-empty road.

"Athena…" he whispered. "I'm sorry…"

The icy wind whipped around him, carrying away the last echoes of her voice.

Suddenly, headlights cut through the dark. A car approached fast, blinding his tired eyes.

"Athena?!"

The car screeched to a stop. Lucy jumped out, coat flapping in the wind, eyes wide with horror as she saw Asher crouched and broken in the snow.

"Asher, what happened?!"

Asher stumbled to his feet, blood trailing down his face, rage and panic in his eyes.

"They took Athena…" he panted. "Those men… they took her to pay off a debt…"

Lucy's brows knit in confusion. "Wait... you mean Carlos?"

Asher nodded quickly. "Yes. We have to go. We can use your car. We can still catch them!"

Lucy froze, her face darkening.

"Asher… you're insane," she said firmly. "You can barely stand. You want to go after Carlos? His people could kill you!"

Asher turned to her, his eyes blazing.

"Then what about Athena?!" he shouted. "I can't just let her suffer there! I have to save her!"

Lucy took a deep breath, then grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the roadside beside the car.

"Listen to me," she said, locking eyes with him. "Now's not the time. We can't chase them like this. They're armed. They're dangerous. And you… you can't even stay on your feet."

Asher fell silent. His shoulders sagged. Behind his rage, he knew she was right. His body was failing. But his mind couldn't stop picturing Athena screaming his name from that car window.

He clenched his fists, lips trembling. "I can still hear her voice… She needs me, Lucy. I failed her. She saved me… and I couldn't save her. What if they hurt her?"

Lucy's gaze softened, emotion catching in her throat. "If you really want to save her, Asher… then we need to do this the right way. We need a plan. I'll take out a loan from the bank if that's what it takes. Because if it's money Carlos wants, we can't fight that with fists."

Asher slowly turned to her, eyes glassy with emotion. The memory of Athena spending her only money on him crashed over him like a wave.

Lucy placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll get her back. But not recklessly. We'll do it smart. We'll bring her home and no one will ever touch her again. Trust me."

Asher looked into her eyes. "Where can we get that kind of money right now?"