12

[REBECCA]
My heart pounded in my chest, its rhythm matching the frantic fluttering of a bird’s wings. With determination, I cautiously climbed out of the window, carefully avoiding any creaking sounds that might betray my escape. As my feet touched the ground, a wave of weakness surged through my legs, causing me to stumble momentarily. Glancing around, I breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one in sight.
A surge of adrenaline fueled my resolve, and without wasting a moment, I broke into a sprint towards the dense woods behind the house. The distance seemed endless, and the exertion pushed my leg muscles to their limits, causing a burning ache. But I urged myself on, silently chanting my own name, willing myself not to give up.
Suddenly, the sound of shouts reached my ears, causing my heart to skip a beat. Instinctively, I turned my head and glimpsed several guards hot on my trail. Refusing to let fear consume me, I forced my gaze back towards the sanctuary of the woods, fixating my eyes on the path to freedom.
Almost within reach of the sheltering trees, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. In an instant, someone seized my arm, and I cried out, desperately trying to break free. Overwhelmed by the sudden force, I was dragged down to the ground, a weight pressing down on my back. Helplessly, my arms were restrained, my captor’s grip unyielding.
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I realized my struggle was in vain. No matter how fiercely I fought, escape seemed impossible. I was forcefully pulled upright, my legs trembling beneath me. Clenching my eyes shut, I sobbed uncontrollably, offering up pleas for mercy.
“Please. Please let me go. Please,” I whimpered, my chin firmly held by a rough hand that dug into my skin. Desperate to escape the grasp, I attempted to move away, but the hold only tightened.
“If you come quietly, we won’t have to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you, Rebecca,” a voice hissed with a mix of anger and menace.
A cry escaped my lips as I recognized the voice. Opening my eyes, I was met with Brayden’s furious expression. Feebly, I attempted to struggle against his grip. “Stop moving,” growled another voice, Avim. He was the one restraining me.
“Do you understand, Rebecca?” Brayden demanded, his gaze piercing me with intensity. He exuded a terrifying aura, much like Artemy and Avim.
Trembling with fear, I shrunk back, my voice barely audible. “Please.”
“Rebecca, do you understand?” Brayden snarled, his anger palpable. Nodding weakly, I allowed myself to go limp in Avim’s unyielding arms.
“Good,” Brayden spat through gritted teeth, releasing his grip on my chin. The spot where his fingers had dug into my skin burned and itched. Adjusting my jaw, I winced at the lingering pain.
Taking a few steps backward, Brayden nodded at Avim, indicating that it was time to return to the mansion. He led the way, while Avim forcefully pulled me along. My feet dragged behind me, my every instinct urging me to resist.
“Foolish girl, you truly don’t comprehend,” he muttered in frustration, finally releasing his hold on me. But before I could make a break for it, Avim swiftly wrapped his arm around my waist. With a fierce glare, his grip remained unyielding as he hoisted me over his shoulder.
I unleashed a flurry of desperate kicks, punches, slaps, scratches, and screams, but none of it made a dent. Avim pressed forward, his body seemingly impenetrable.
Once we entered the building, instead of ascending, they took a sharp left turn and led me down a dimly lit corridor. The frigid air enveloped me, and darkness swallowed everything in sight. In an instant, I found myself motionless on Avim’s shoulder, paralyzed by fear.
A sense of dread slowly crawled up from the depths of my stomach, while an icy wave surged through me, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end and my mouth to go dry. I remained fixed, suspended over Avim’s shoulder, trapped in a grip of menacing aura.
We paused briefly, and then the creaking of a door pierced the silence, sending shivers down my spine. A metallic rattling followed, reminiscent of a heavy chain.
My blood ran cold, inducing a tremor that seized my entire being. I clenched my fists tightly, closing my eyes in sheer terror.
With a resounding thud, the door slammed shut, and a faint glow seeped through my closed eyelids. Slowly, I opened my eyes, greeted by the sight of a gleaming white marble floor. Avim set me down on my feet.
My head spun from the sudden movement, causing me to stumble, but Avim caught me. As I gazed into his dark, expressionless eyes, I pleaded silently, begging to be released.
Yet, he stared back, his gaze icy and unyielding.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed hold of my arm, yanking me backward. I attempted to scream, but my voice vanished, and my throat constricted, robbing me of breath. Panic flooded my senses, leaving me numb.
Brayden guided me forcefully into a chair and pushed me down, forcing me to sit. He twisted my arms behind my back. Avim moved past me until he vanished from my view.
After a few minutes, I felt something encircling my wrists, and it dawned on me that I was being bound.
“No!” My cries reverberated throughout the room. I struggled against my restraints, but the rope held me firmly in place. The rough fibers dug into my skin, leaving it raw and burning.
“You’re only hurting yourself. If you continue to struggle, the rope will cut into your wrists, and you’ll bleed,” Brayden warned from behind me. “I suggest you cease your futile attempts.”
“Please…”
Noises emanated from beyond the door, and moments later, it swung open with a forceful crash against the wall. Instinctively flinching at the sound, I pressed back against the chair, my body trembling with sheer panic.
Frozen in terror, I watched as Artemy entered the room accompanied by two other men. One of them shut the door behind them, sealing us inside.
He appeared before me in the same suit he had worn during our last encounter, but this time his hands were concealed by sleek black leather gloves. As I cautiously lifted my gaze to meet his piercing stare, a startled gasp escaped my lips. His intense glare emanated a fierce and overwhelming power, causing my breath to catch in my throat.
His formidable presence loomed over me, enveloping me in a suffocating sense of dread. A shiver ran down my spine, sending tiny pinpricks of unease rippling through my body. Every hair on my arms and the nape of my neck stood on end, while a persistent itch crawled beneath my skin.
Artemy slowly bent at his waist, positioning himself at eye level with me. I couldn’t help but whimper as I found myself locked in the gaze of his chilling eyes.
I had witnessed his anger in the past, but this time, it was different. He appeared poised to unleash deadly wrath. His vibrant blue eyes crackled with an untamed fury, his face flushed with rage, and his clenched jaw twitched uncontrollably.
The Artemy standing in front of me revealed his true nature, a merciless being whose reputation as a monster had always preceded him.
And here I was, trapped within the very den of the creature that instilled fear in the hearts of all.
My heart pounded so fiercely that its rhythm reverberated in my throat. Desperation compelled my fingernails to dig deeply into my palms, and the slight pain brought a small measure of solace.
Pain reassured me that I still clung to life, that I still drew breath.
But how much longer would that be the case?