"Jack… please save me. I'm scared…" Selena whispered through trembling lips, her hands clasped tightly in prayer.

Her voice echoed softly in the dimly lit room. Just then, the door creaked open. A tall man entered quietly. It was Eduardo, the guard who had been watching over her the past few days.

"I overheard my boss talking earlier," Eduardo said in a low voice. "He mentioned that Jack had a confrontation with my colleague."

Selena’s heart skipped. "How is Jack? Is he okay?"

Eduardo looked away. "I don't know what happened after that… but one thing is clear—he’s coming for you."

"Please," Selena said, voice cracking with emotion, "don't fight him. You won’t win. He’s… he’s stronger than he looks. And more than that, I don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve been kind to me."

Eduardo gave her a sad smile. "You’re kind too, Ms. Selena. I wish things were different."

Over the past few days, Eduardo had become her quiet protector in the shadows of captivity. Whenever fear consumed her, he would tell her stories—wild tales of his youthful mischief, of sneaking out at night and getting caught stealing mangoes from neighbors' trees.

Slowly, those stories had chipped away at her fear, and now, she saw the truth in his eyes. He didn’t belong in this world of shadows.

"I never thought it would be like this," Eduardo continued, sinking into a chair near the door. "I thought I was applying as a security guard for a warehouse… but then they moved me here. Then you…"

He looked down, ashamed. "I wanted to quit, I really did. But I’ve got five kids. My wife’s been sick for years. This job… it was the only way to feed them."

Selena’s eyes filled with tears. "You're not a bad man, Eduardo. You’re just… trapped."

He nodded. "And so are you."

Selena took a deep breath. Her voice, though soft, was full of hope. "When I get out of here… I’ll help you. I’ll get you a real job, at my company. I’ll pay you more than what they ever did here. You deserve better. Your family deserves better."

Eduardo looked at her, stunned. No one had ever offered him anything before—especially not someone he was meant to guard as a prisoner.

"Thank you, Ms. Selena… I don't know what to say."

"Just stay safe," she replied. "And if you can… help Jack when the time comes."