Chapter 45 – Imposter bride

Zoe's POV

"Get in the wedding dress" She order.

"Excuse me? " I yelled.

"Well, I know he paid you good for this work, now come on. Hop in the dress, get me to the car and run away" She said throwing her hands in the air.

"What? No," I protest and turn to leave.

I was yanked back soon after.

This girl pulls my hair. O! M! G!

"Listen here you lowlife shit" She said in dangerous deadly tone, "I have been stuck with my fake family for a year now. I will not marry that old, rusty cranky man for the sake of my family"

"Ohhh" I said as she retracts her hand from my hair.

"So, you better get in that dress and get me to the car, or you won't be able to withstand the consequences" She yell.

"I’ll take you to the car. " I ask pointing my index finger on myself.

"Yes. You." She points her index finger on me.

"Okay. But where is car? " I ask.

"I know it's location. Now get in the dress" She yell.

I immediately got in the dress.

The dress was pretty. The prettiest.

A foam fitting dress with floor length cape which also gave the illusion of bell-bottom sleeve-. Focus Zoe.

The girl helped me to clean the dirt off my body. She somehow had wet rug, so that's what we used.

"Get in the dress now" She said impatiently tapping her leg on the ground.

"Turn around" I request.

"I have same stuff that you have, now get along and strip" She impatiently throwing her hands in the air.

"You are toxic," I yell.

"I know I am. Now come on please. I need to leave." She pleads angrily.

"Turn around," I said stubbornly.

And this time I am prepared. I will hurt her if she hurt me.

"Fine." She huffs and turns around.

"Thanks," I said rolling my eyes.

I quickly slipped into the gown.

She helped me with the zips.

"Now what? " I ask.

"Now, I get out of the room and you follow me. You ensure my safety." She said clipping the veil on my head.

"How will I ensure your safety? " I ask.

"Because you will go in church and take vows and I will be out" She said laughing.

She pushed me hard on the ground and took off.

"No wait," I yell.

That bitch pushed so hard, that too directly in my stomach.

Groaning I sat up.

Gaining my strength, I walked up to the door.

As soon as I open the door, someone tackled me into a hug.

"I missed you." They spoke.

"We are sure that you have to go through this but trust us, you will be used to it" One of them said dragging me somewhere.

"Yes. And you won't even miss me" The other said.

About 4-5 girls surround me.

"But" I start only to be shushed.

We were soon in the chapel.

An elderly man came and walked me down the aisle.

Everything happened so fast, didn't even have me time to do anything.

The man holds my hand so tightly that I was almost in tears.

I look at groom. At least sixty-year-old with fine lines deeper than tectonic cracks.

This is why that girl wanted to run.

These people are forcing her.

This reminds me of Aarav. He fought for me.

Even though I disrespect him.

Even though I yelled at him Even though I gave him silent treatment.

He has always been there.

I removed the veil from my head in the middle of the aisle.

Everyone gasps.

"I am not the bride" I yell.

The man who was holding my hand roughly grab my chin and made me look at him. "Do as you are told," he whispers in my ear.

"He said 'Do as you are told' " I yell.

"You traitor" The groom yell walking up to us, faster than he should be walking.

I yank my hand out of the man and ran out of the church.

The loud yelling from the chapel didn't go unnoticed.

I quickly ran out of the church. I saw Carson and the bride in a car just few meters away from the church.

I ran towards them.

"Let's go" I yell sliding in the car.

Carson, who was on driver’s seat, immediately went into action.

I gasp for the air.

It's not an everyday event that you act as an imposter bride and declare that in the middle of the aisle.

I am sure I ran faster than Usain bolt and that too in wedding dress.

"You were not supposed to be here" The girl yell pulling her hair.

"Same goes for you" I yell panting hard.

"What happened? " Ask Carson.

"She was supposed to be the bride, but she forced me to be one and abandoned me." I yell.

"I am Sorry" She said "but how did you escape? "

"Carson, I need to save Aarav, take us to Kings mansion" I order ignoring the girl. "Drop me at the gate and take off from there"

"Thank god" Said the girl in relief.

"No. I am coming with you" Said Carson.

"No, Carson. It's my fight. "I said resting my head on the headrest.

Girl hand me the water bottle. I gulp it down in one go.

Carson stopped the car about half a mile from the mansion, " Are you sure? " He asks.

"Yes." I said getting out.

Carson came out too.

I hug him tightly. "Thank you," I whisper.

"You are the bravest girl I have ever seen. Take care kiddo." He said patting my head.

"I want a hug too." The bride said opening her hands.

Now my turn for revenge, I punch her right on her nose.

"Never ever raise your hand on innocent," I yell.

"Wow," Carson yells raising his hands in surrender.

"Bye. Take care. And drop her somewhere safe" I said.

"Bye" He said.

I started running to the mansion. I heard the car taking you turn and speeding off.

I can't believe what this king has made me do in just past twenty-four hours.

The driver's stunt.

Watching mom getting shot.

The kidnapping.

The escape with Carson.

The bike accident.

Imposter bride.

Running off from a wedding in wedding dress.

Now running to king in wedding dress.

The gates were wide open when I reached there.

Although so many men were positioned on the gate and inside.

No one stopped me.

I directly ran inside without thinking much.

My only goal is to save Aarav.

My energy was running down. Even in fight or flight mode of my body, I can sense the lack of energy.

Mumma's painful face when she was shot ran in through head.

More adrenaline flush in my body.

The run from gate to the front door of the mansion was pretty long.

My lungs screamed for the oxygen; my chest tighten due to pain.

I gasp for the air as soon as I reach the front door.

Two large life-size wooden doors right in front of me.

I composed myself before entering the gate.

I don't want to pass out in front of king due to lack of oxygen.

The fight is yet to start.

Two huge guards stood in front of door looking at me.

"Can you open the door? " I request One of them nod and push open the door.

Cool air hit me.

I cautiously step inside the mansion.

It was black. Black walls.

Black rugs.

Black decor.

Black- golden interior.

Two black and golden twin stairs.

The guards that were standing inside glanced at me keeping a straight face.

I look around. I don't know where to go. This place is huge.

"In the lounge to your left" The guard standing in near the door said before closing the door.

I took a deep breath bracing myself for what's coming.

My goosebumps rose when I heard a heard wrenching scream.

Shaking I took steps.

The blood stains on the stairs were visible despite of its black color.

It looked like an injured person was dragged forceful.

I moved to the left, taking small steps.

My brain shouting at me to leave this place at any cost.

But I kept moving forward, Aarav is priority.

A string of muffled profanities followed by screams. The painful screams. I froze in my path Just by the sound it was clear that someone is inflicting pain mercilessly.

I heard footsteps from behind me, but I didn't dare to move. I just stood there petrified.

No one touched or spoke to me. But they just walked past me.

When I looked closely, I saw Crystal. They were dragging Crystal. I ran behind them.

"Crystal," I called when I reach them They guy shoved me away making me stumble a little.

I heard another set of steps, and this time two large men were dragging unconscious Aarav.

Aarav had busted lips, broken nose. Blood seeping out of his mouth and nose. His hands were shackled.

"Omg" I whisper as I started walking behind them.

"Where are you taking him? He is my brother" I shout.

They were still walking and me behind them.

They dropped Aarav's unconscious body on makeshift sofa.

I was so lost in Aarav that I didn't even notice where we are.

I heard strong profanities and scream and now they were too close.

I looked up to see Jack.

My heart skipped a beat.

Jack is here.

But the small joyous moment vanished when I saw him.

I looked down to see a familiar figure.

"Elijah" I whisper when it hit me.

Elijah lay down screaming in pain.

My eyes widen.

My breathing stopped. Everything stopped.

My brain shout at me to run.

My heart shout at me to help Elijah.

But my body refuse to work.

Jack slowly put his hand inside Elijah.

My eyes refuse to blink.

My ears refuse to listen. Everything muffled.

He pulled Elijah's heart out.

I heard a gunshot pulling me out of my petrified state.

My head shot up to the direction from where the bullet came.

"Sam"

Sam is alive and the sinister look on his face.

Jack smiled at Sam proudly, but my eyes again went to the heart he was holding.

The blood seeping out of still pumping heart.

Jack turns to look at me.

The sinister look on his face sent chills down my spine. The fear consumed me.

I trusted him.

I thought he was protecting me.

I thought he... I feel heart broken.

His once warm loving eyes are now cold heartless ones.

His goofy smile has been replaced with frown.

His calm serene face now replaced with sinister one.

"Zoe" He said.