~
Eric let's out a sigh as he glanced towards one of his photos with Erica.
The backstage area was buzzing with the energy of the upcoming show, but Eric Carr couldn't shake off the worry that consumed him. Ace Frehley, ever perceptive, noticed his friend's distress and decided to offer some comfort.
Ace walked over to Eric, a concerned expression on his face. "Hey, Eric, I can tell something's weighing on your mind. You know you can talk to me, right?" Ace asked.
Eric looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Ace, it's Erica. She's been missing for days, and I feel so helpless. I don't know what to do." Eric replied with a worried tone to his voice.
Ace placed a hand on Eric's shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. "I can't even imagine what you're going through, man. But remember, you're not alone in this. We're all here for you, and we'll do whatever it takes to help find Erica."
Eric let out a deep breath, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and desperation. "I appreciate your support, Ace. It's just so hard to stay positive when there are no leads, no answers." Eric said as he was starting to give up hope.
Ace nodded, his gaze steady and determined. "I understand, Eric. It's natural to feel overwhelmed, but we can't let despair consume us. We have to keep the hope alive, for Erica's sake." Ace said in a reassuring voice.
Eric's eyes met Ace's, searching for solace. "But what if we never find her, Ace? What if she's gone forever?" Eric asked a she was almost starting to panic.
Ace's voice softened, filled with empathy. "I can't promise you that everything will be okay, Eric. But what I can promise is that we'll fight for her. We'll use our platform, our music, and our fans to spread the word. We won't stop until Erica is found." Ace replied back.
Eric's shoulders sagged, the weight of his emotions evident. "I just miss her so much, Ace. I can't bear the thought of never seeing her again." Eric said again.
Ace pulled Eric into a tight embrace, offering a shoulder to lean on. "I know, Eric. And we're going to do everything we can to bring her back to you. Lean on us, lean on our fans. Together, we'll create a force that can't be ignored." Ace said as he was willing to help his friend.
"You're probably right, man." Eric said. "Hey, how are Bruce, Vinnie and Peter?" He asked Ace. "Well, knowing them, probably off to get some rest." Ace said as he stood up.
"I'm heading back first. You can come with." Ace said. "Nah, I'll stay here for a while. I'll catch up with you soon." Eric said as Ace waved him goodbye and Eric did the same. Ace then left towards the hotel.
"I won't give up on you! My little rockstar." Eric said to himself as he stood up and went back into the security office.
~Meanwhile with the kidnappers~
"It's okay, Erica. No one will do you harm as long as I am here." Xavier said as he feed Erica some porridge.
Tony's once ironclad control was steadily unraveling. The abandoned warehouse, their secret hideout, was filled with a palpable tension. His eyes darted nervously around the room, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him.
In stark contrast, Xavier was a picture of calm, his focus entirely on tending to Erica's wounds. His hands moved with practiced ease, but his mind was far from peaceful. He was grappling with the moral dilemma that their actions presented, the guilt gnawing at his conscience.
Suddenly, the eerie silence of the warehouse was broken by the creaking of the rusty door. A group of shadowy figures stepped in, their faces obscured by the dim light. Tony's face lit up with a mixture of relief and anticipation.
"Ah, you're here," he said, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. He turned to Xavier, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Xavier, meet our new team."
Xavier's heart sank. He had always been against expanding their operations, knowing that it would only complicate matters. But before he could voice his concerns, Tony had already started introducing the newcomers.
"This is Jake, an expert in logistics," Tony pointed to a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. "And that's Leo, a tech wizard. Over there is Victor our muscle, and finally, we have Akira our strategist."
Each of them nodded in acknowledgment, their eyes cold and calculating. Xavier's gaze lingered on Akira, the only woman in the group. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, he saw a flicker of something he couldn't quite place.
"Tony, can we talk?" Xavier asked, pulling his friend aside. "This... this isn't what we signed up for."
Tony's gaze hardened. "It's done, Xavier. They're part of this now."
Feeling a surge of frustration, Xavier clenched his fists. He cast one last glance at Erica, her eyes wide with fear. He knew then that he had to do something. He couldn't let this go on. He wouldn't.
~
Eric sighed as he ate his lunch before their next show. Paul noticed this and was feeling concerned about Eric especially in this situation.
"Hey, um,....Eric. We can cancel tonight's show if you want." Paul said. "What? No, I mean you can't because our fans will be disappointed. I'll be fine." Eric said as he tries to hide his worries away by starting to play on his drumsticks. "Don't force yourself, man." Gene said.
"Guys, I'll be fine. Don't worry." Eric said again. "Well, after the show, we have an interview and do you think you can-" Paul said again but, Eric cut him off.
"Guys, again. I'll be fine. Now, I'm going back to the dressing room to get ready first." Eric said as he stood up and went to the dressing room.
After the show, the band took a 30 minutes break before the interview.
~
When Xavier locked eyes with Akira, he noticed something unusual. Her gaze held a flicker of uncertainty, mirroring the conflict he felt within himself. It was a subtle hint of humanity amidst the coldness of their surroundings. Xavier couldn't help but wonder if she, like him, was questioning the morality of their actions.
As Tony turned away, Xavier seized the opportunity to approach Akira "Akira, we need to talk," he whispered urgently.
Akira glanced around, her eyes darting between the others in the room. She nodded subtly, indicating her willingness to listen. Xavier led her to a secluded corner of the warehouse, away from prying eyes and ears.
"I can see it in your eyes," Xavier began, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and hope. "There's doubt, isn't there? Doubt about what we're doing."
Akira hesitated for a moment, her gaze searching Xavier's face. Slowly, she nodded. "You're not alone in questioning our actions, Xavier. I never wanted it to come to this."
Xavier felt a glimmer of relief. He had found an unexpected ally in Akira. "We can't let this continue," he said firmly. "We have to find a way out, for Erica's sake."
Akira's expression softened, her resolve strengthening. "I agree. We need to come up with a plan, a way to free Erica and put an end to this madness. Plus, I'm a Kiss Army Fans." Akira said as they both laughed a bit.
With newfound determination, Xavier and Akira began to devise a risky escape plan. They knew they had to act swiftly, before Tony and the others grew suspicious of their intentions. It would require careful coordination, exploiting weaknesses in their captors' defenses.
As they huddled together, plotting their next move, Xavier couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. In Akira, he had found a kindred spirit, someone willing to challenge the darkness that had consumed them. Together, they would fight for redemption and bring an end to the nightmare that had ensnared them all.
Little did they know, their alliance would spark a chain of events that would test their loyalty, push their limits, and ultimately determine the fate of not only Erica but also themselves.
"Ugh,.......this job is getting boring." Jake said as he switched on the Television. And, the News was on. "Hey! Guys, look. Their talking about the kidnapping! Which is us!" Jake said. "Shut up, man!" Victor said. "Be quiet both of you!" Leo said as Tony walked towards them as well.
~Back with the band KISS~
~At the interview~
An interview with Eric Carr, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Ace Frehley regarding the search for Eric's daughter, Erica, on the News:
Interviewer: Good evening, everyone. Today, we have a special interview with the legendary rock band KISS. Joining us are Eric Carr, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Ace Frehley. Thank you all for being here.
Eric: Thank you for having us.
Interviewer: Eric, we've heard that you've been on a search for your daughter, Erica. Can you tell us more about it?
Eric: Yes, that's correct. Erica went missing a few days ago, and we've been doing everything we can to find her. It's been a difficult time for all of us.
Interviewer: I can only imagine. How has the band been supporting you during this challenging period?
Paul: We're like a family, and when one of us is hurting, we all feel it. We've been there for Eric every step of the way, offering support and doing whatever we can to help find Erica.
Gene: Absolutely. We've been using our platform to raise awareness about Erica's disappearance, reaching out to our fans and the public for any information that could help locate her.
Interviewer: That's commendable. Have there been any leads or progress in the search?
Ace: Unfortunately, we haven't had any solid leads so far. But we're not giving up hope. We believe that someone out there has information that can bring Erica back to us.
Interviewer: Is there anything the public can do to assist in the search?
Paul: Absolutely. If anyone has any information about Erica's whereabouts, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, we urge them to come forward. They can contact the authorities or reach out to us directly through our official channels.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing that. Is there anything else you'd like to say to Erica, if she's watching?
Eric: Erica, if you're out there, we want you to know that we love you, and we're doing everything we can to bring you home. Please, if you can hear this, reach out to us. We miss you, and we want you back in our lives.
Interviewer: Thank you all for joining us today. We hope that this interview helps bring Erica back to her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
~
Erica's tiny hands squirmed in Xavier's hands as she held them out and pointing out towards the Television. "Papa. Papa." She said.
"Aw,.....she misses them,....well, too bad! Because your Dad hasn't given us the money yet!" Tony yelled at Erica which caused her to cry.
"Dude! She's a child! Stop it!" Xavier said as he tries to calm Erica in his hands.
"Whatever. I'm going to call them again and this time, they better give us the money or else!" Tony said as his eyes went dark and Leo helped him with the call. So, the authorities won't be able to track the phone call.
~To be continued~
(PS: If there's any grammar mistakes, then, I'm sorry. I was doing this in such a rush)