Marcus stepped out onto the wide stone balcony overlooking the expansive backyard.
The manicured lawn stretched far out into the darkness under string lights.
The cool night wind swept across the grass, bringing a strange feeling of dread.
Marcus called out his son's name softly into the quiet evening air.
There was no answer from the lawn or the nearby garden path.
He walked quickly down the marble steps toward the edge of the estate grounds.
The loud music from the indoor party faded into the background sound of wind.
Marcus hurried past the rose bushes while scanning the dark shadows near the trees.
He heard the faint sound of small footsteps rustling through the thick grass.
His heart started pounding fast against his chest as anxiety took over.
Marcus shouted his son's name again, his voice filled with rising panic.
He broke into a fast run across the wet grass toward the side courtyard.
A tiny, sharp sob cut through the quiet night air near the stone walkway.
Marcus froze in place as the small sound echoed off the heavy brick walls.
Ethan: Dad, please help me!
Marcus sprinted toward the corner of the stone building near the storage shed.
He rounded the brick corner and stopped dead in his tracks from shock.
A small black iron cage sat on the cold stone walkway in the shadows.
Inside the cramped metal bars, little Ethan was crouched on his knees.
The young boy was crying intensely, holding his small hands against the cold iron.
His little tuxedo was covered in dust, and his face was red from tears.
Marcus gasped loudly as his eyes opened wide in utter disbelief and horror.
He fell to his knees on the hard stone right outside the iron cage.
Marcus: Ethan, no... What did she do to you?
Marcus reached his trembling fingers through the narrow bars to touch his son's hand.
Ethan gripped his father's thumb tightly, sobbing uncontrollably from fear.
The cage door was locked tightly with a thick bronze padlock.
Marcus pulled hard on the heavy metal latch, but it would not budge an inch.
He looked around frantically for a heavy tool or a rock to break the lock.
A calm, clicking sound of high heels echoed down the stone walkway.