Chapter 3 THE BEGINNING

{CHAPTER ONE}

TW: KIDNAPPING

Twelve years ago, in a small town ruled by extravagant mansions, five-year-old Chloe found solace in the Black's mansion. Neglected by her own parents, Chloe's only source of love and attention came from her nanny. Thus, she often begged to be taken to the Black's house, where she could experience glimpses of a normal childhood.

On a sunny afternoon, Chloe, accompanied by her twin best friends, Tyler and Claudia, played in the front lawn of the Black's mansion. Exhausted from their running around, Claudia expressed her desire to rest. Concerned for his sister, Tyler suggested they all head inside. However, Chloe had a different plan in mind. She yearned for a sweet treat and resolved to ask Jackson, her best friend's twelve-year-old brother, to accompany her to the ice cream parlor.

After bidding farewell to her friends, Chloe nervously approached Jackson. Hesitant at first, she stuttered out her request, hoping he would agree. To her delight, the kind-hearted Jackson agreed to accompany her for ice cream. Their cheerful stroll was abruptly interrupted when six men dressed in black surrounded them. Chloe felt a sense of danger, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

The men forcefully separated Chloe and Jackson. Panic surged through Chloe's veins as she witnessed Jackson being dragged into a van. Desperation filled her eyes as she pleaded with the men to release him. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. One of the men held her down, while the other silenced her cries with a sharp slap across her face. Dazed and disoriented, Chloe fought against the effects of chloroform, aware that she was losing consciousness. Before succumbing to the darkness, she managed to whisper Jackson's name.

When Chloe awakened, she found herself in her own room. In a frenzy, she tried to get out of bed, only to be confronted by her mother. Fearing the worst, Chloe mustered the courage to ask about Jackson's whereabouts. Her mother's response shattered her heart into a million pieces. Blaming Chloe for the kidnapping, her mother labeled her a burden and a carrier of bad luck. Overwhelmed by guilt, Chloe's mother twisted her ears, inflicting physical pain to match the emotional torment.

Weeks passed, and a glimmer of hope emerged when the doorbell of the Black's mansion rang. The family rushed to open the door, expecting to see their beloved son returned safely since they already paid the ransom they were told to. Instead, they were met with a grim sight. Within the opened package lay a severed finger. Jacob Black, trembling, took hold of the letter enclosed within the box. With trembling hands, he read its chilling message: "That Finger Belongs To Your Son, May His Soul Rest In Peace Jacob."

His facial expression showed one of disbelief and agony. Jacob let out a choked sob, his whole body shaking with anguish. He and his wife Melissa hanged on to each other while crying, letting all of the pain they felt visible to everyone present. Luckily, the maid already took the twins inside, so they couldn't witness their parents miserable state.