Chapter 6: Glen's Determination
The morning sun pierced through the dense foliage as Glen, with furrowed brow and determined eyes, stepped out of his car. The remote location, a secluded cabin nestled amidst towering pine trees, was his latest lead in the relentless pursuit of Noam. Every fiber of his being screamed that he was close, and he couldn't afford to let doubt cloud his judgment now.
Pulling out his phone, Glen dialed Alex, his best man and confidant, who had been his steadfast companion throughout this harrowing journey. "Alex, I think I've found her. The cabin off Route 29, just like we suspected," Glen whispered, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
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*"Glen, are you sure?"* Alex's voice crackled through the phone, the weight of their shared desperation evident in his tone.*
*"I have a gut feeling, Alex. I can't explain it, but I know she's here,"* Glen replied, his voice unwavering as he surveyed the surroundings.*
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As Glen approached the cabin, he noticed a flickering light through a slightly ajar window. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and cautiously peered inside. His heart skipped a beat as he caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette—Noam, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
"Noam," Glen whispered, his voice catching in his throat as their eyes met through the window. He knew he had to tread carefully; one wrong move could jeopardize everything.
Inside the cabin, Holden sensed a shift in the atmosphere. He tightened his grip on Noam's arm, his eyes darting around as if anticipating an imminent threat.
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*"Did you hear that?"* Holden murmured, his voice laced with concern as he moved closer to Noam, shielding her from potential danger.*
*"Holden, you're just being paranoid,"* Noam replied, trying to suppress the unease that threatened to consume her.*
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Glen circled the cabin, gathering his thoughts and formulating a plan. He knew he couldn't confront Holden head-on, not when Noam's safety hung in the balance. Instead, he began to search for another point of entry, hoping to catch Holden off guard and rescue Noam without further escalation.
Inside, Noam's mind raced as she contemplated her next move. She needed to stall Holden, to buy Glen enough time to intervene. "Holden, can you please get me some water?" she requested, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
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*"Water? Now?"* Holden questioned, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Noam's request, sensing the underlying urgency in her voice.*
*"Yes, please,"* Noam insisted, locking eyes with Holden in a silent plea for compliance.*
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As Holden reluctantly left the room, Noam seized the opportunity to discreetly dial 911, praying that help would arrive before it was too late. "911, what's your emergency?" the operator's voice echoed through the line.
"Please, you have to help me. I've been kidnapped, and I think my fiancé is close by," Noam whispered, her voice quivering as she relayed her location.
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*"Ma'am, stay calm. We're dispatching officers to your location right now,"* the operator assured her, the urgency in her voice offering a glimmer of hope.*
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Glen, having found a side door slightly ajar, cautiously entered the cabin, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear voices in the distance—Noam's soft pleas and Holden's agitated responses. Time was running out.
Drawing closer to the source of the voices, Glen mustered all his courage and burst into the room, catching Holden off guard. "Holden, let her go!" Glen commanded, his voice echoing with determination as he locked eyes with Noam.
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*"Glen?"* Noam exclaimed, relief washing over her as she realized that help had finally arrived.*
*"Noam!"* Glen rushed towards her, pulling her into a tight embrace, their hearts beating in unison as if trying to make up for lost time.*
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Holden, cornered and outnumbered, reluctantly released Noam, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and resignation. "She deserves to make her own choice," Glen declared, his voice firm as he stood protectively beside Noam.
With the distant sound of sirens growing louder, Holden knew that his time was up. "I just wanted one last chance," he whispered, his voice tinged with sorrow as he took one last look at Noam before surrendering to the inevitable.
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*"Holden, this isn't the way,"* Noam whispered, her eyes filled with a mixture of compassion and sadness as she watched him being led away.*
*"I know,"* Holden replied, his gaze lingering on Noam and Glen, a poignant reminder of the love he had lost.*
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As the officers secured Holden, Glen wrapped his arms around Noam, their embrace a testament to the strength of their love and determination to overcome any obstacle. "I told you I'd find you," Glen whispered, his voice filled with conviction as they looked towards the horizon, their future stretching out before them like a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with the colors of their enduring love.
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