Tina's brow furrowed as Daniel's words washed over her. She tilted her head, confusion swirling in her eyes. "Help? Help with what?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine bewilderment. "I haven't even said anything. What do you mean you're willing to help?"
Daniel inhaled sharply, frustration building within him. He'd hoped she would voice her concerns, so that they could work together to find a solution. But she seemed hesitant, reluctant to open up. He knew pushing her wouldn't help, but the worry etched on her face was a constant ache in his chest. He was determined to understand what was troubling her, even if it meant asking directly.
"Tina, you're clearly upset," he said gently, trying to keep his tone calm. "You look terrified. What's wrong? You don't have to wait for me to ask. Just tell me what's bothering you."
Tina continued to stare at him, her gaze unreadable. Daniel felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach. Was she truly confused, or was she deliberately playing coy? Was there something she wasn't telling him? The suspicion gnawed at him. Could she be a traitor, hiding secrets that will threaten them all? He needed to know. He needed her to be honest.
Tina's facade finally crumbled. She took a deep breath, her hand instinctively rising to rest on her forehead. "I..." she began, her voice trembling slightly.
"Honestly, I'm trying my best to be okay," Tina admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But it's getting harder. I'm scared. I never wanted to burden you with this, or anyone else. We already have so much to worry about. But it's eating away at me. I can't stop thinking about it, even though I've tried to push it aside."
Daniel watched her, his gaze filled with concern. He took a deep breath, folding his hands in front of him. "Tina, that's what I've been trying to tell everyone. When you have a problem, you need to speak up. I might not be able to solve everything, but I'll do what I can. That's why I'm here. That's what my parents taught me, what kept them going. We shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, or to help others."
"We're a team now, all of us," he continued, his voice firm but gentle. "No matter what happened in the past, we're family. We need to support each other. If someone has a problem, we need to share it. Otherwise, how can we know what's going on, how can we help?"
Tina nodded slowly, her eyes meeting his. Daniel was right. She had been afraid to burden him, to add to his already heavy load. But he had offered his help, and she had to trust him. She had to believe that he could make a difference.
"You're right," she said, her voice gaining a bit more strength. "I've been so worried about adding to your problems, but you're right. We're in this together. And if there's anything you can do, I'll be forever grateful. Even if there's nothing you can do, at least I'll have shared it. I just hope you can help."
"Well, since you really want to help, I'm so grateful," Tina said, her voice filled with sincerity. "You're the only one who seems to care. Everyone else talks about you. And they think you're just a righteous person, but I know you're more than that."
Daniel nodded, but a part of him felt a pang of disappointment. He'd hoped she would finally reveal her problem, not just offer encouragement. He had heard enough encouragement, enough abuse, enough betrayal. He was tired of being a target.
"I understand," he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "But, Tina, what's bothering you? What's your problem?"
Tina took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger. "It's my sister," she began, her voice shaking slightly. "I think she's being hurt, betrayed, by the people who kidnapped me. I'm sure it's that man who wanted to marry her. She refused, and I stood up to him. He's just an old man with no plans for her, just interested in her because he has money, claiming to buy heaven and earth for her, from the money they stole from the society."
Daniel listened intently, his brow furrowed. He had never heard this story before. He had always thought he was the only one facing such injustice. But now, he realized he wasn't alone.
"I threatened him," Tina continued, her voice growing stronger. "My sister is so kind, so fearful, so easily manipulated. I had to be her backbone. He told me I'd end up in jail, and that's how I ended up where you found me. They took me away, and I still don't know what crime I committed. But I know that old man is responsible."
Daniel felt a wave of sympathy wash over him. He had always felt a connection with Tina, a shared understanding of their shared pain. He knew, now, that their paths were intertwined in ways he had never imagined.
And now he know he has to do something to save Tina's sister from the hand of that old man, the weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders. He saw the injustice, the suffering, and the pain, and he knew he had to fight for a better future. But it was a lonely battle. Most people, even those who were victims themselves, couldn't see the bigger picture. They were caught in the first wave of the problem, unaware of the devastation that lay ahead. He understood their ignorance, their fear, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. He hoped that one day, when they had witnessed the full extent of the crisis, they would join him in the fight and not fight against him instead.
"So, you're saying your sister is in danger now that they've taken you away?" Daniel asked, his voice laced with concern. He knew the situation was dire.
She nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "She's completely vulnerable. She can't protect herself."
"How long has it been since you've seen her?" Daniel pressed, wanting to understand the urgency. "You left her behind, right? Is she at your house?"
She nodded again, her voice cracking with worry. "I've been gone for two months. I'm not even sure if she's still there. But she has nowhere else to go. Maybe she ran away from that man. Maybe she's not even home anymore. We just need to go see. Probably, she's married to the man now"
Daniel understood. Her words painted a vivid picture of the desperate situation. He knew they had to act. He wanted to rush to Tina's house to see if her sister will be in there so he can bring her back with them. He had to protect her, just as he had to protect her sister Tina. He knew, deep down, that Tina was the key to everything so keeping her happy is also important.
"So, where exactly is your house? We need to organize some guys to go check on her. Obviously, some of us have to stay here and watch over the place. Not everyone can go with us," Daniel said. Tina swallowed hard, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination. Daniel knew something was wrong.
"Honestly, that's the problem," Tina admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "My house is right in the heart of the city. That's where me and my sister lives. There's no way we can sneak in without the police catching us."
She paused, her gaze falling to the floor. "It's a dangerous place. I don't want anyone getting hurt."
Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle but firm. "We'll be careful. We're not going to let anything happen to your sister. We'll figure something out." He gave her a reassuring smile, but inside, his stomach churned with anxiety. He knew this was going to be a tough one. The city was a labyrinth of shadows, and the police were always watching. He had a feeling they were going to need more than just a few guys to pull this off. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.