Chapter 46 – White wedding dress with bloody handprints
Zoe's POV
"Zoe" Said Jack.
My eyes remained fixed on the pumping heart of Elijah in his hands. Blood seeping out of the heart, down the Jack's hand.
This is beyond humanity.
This is pure evil.
I have been engaged to an evil, cruel, and heartless man.
I was going to marry this devil disguised in human form.
"Zoe" I heard him call me again.
My body still refuse to work.
But my brain on other side, it was going to expose any minute now.
The constant waves of chill running down my spine, creeping their way all over my body.
We both stood there in shock. I can see his shocked expressions too.
No one uttered a single word.
The heart from his hand fell down, colliding with the edge of the table then to the floor.
The pool of blood gathered around the table slowly made its way to me.
I saw as blood making its way towards me.
I look around to see many dead bodies on the floor. The bottom of my dress completely turned red from the amount of blood around me.
I felt a pair of hands dragging me away.
Both my mind and body numb.
When I didn't move, they tug me harder causing me to fall hard on the floor.
My hands covered in blood. The bottom half of the dress covered in blood.
"Move" I heard the harsh voice of Jack.
He scooped me up in his arms. Picking me up bridal style he started moving.
The only thing my body knew at this point was breathing.
"Everyone out!" Someone yells.
"You are safe Zoe. " Whisper Jack in my ear.
"Everything is clear now" He whisper again. His voice didn't even weaver.
Everything is lie.
Every word he ever told me was lie.
Everything between us was lie.
Lie.
Lie.
And lie.
He placed me down and knelt in front of me.
My eyes fixated on my hands. My blood dripping hands.
He placed his hands on my thighs, rubbing small circles.
His hands leaving bloody handprints on the white wedding gown.
"Look at me, love" He said softly.
The cold tone he used few moments ago replaced with soft fake tone. This is fake.
This is lie.
Everything is lie.
"Say something, love" He whisper taking my hand in his.
I yank my hand back.
"Zoe. I know you are scared" He said taking my face between his palms, making me look at him.
"Let me explain everything, love. Okay? "
The black eyes I once loved were now making me feel ashamed of myself.
How can I be so dumb?
How can I not look past this fake face?
I close my eyes.
I can't look in his eyes anymore. The pure evil. He himself is devil.
He is King.
He sighs and got up. Leaving me alone to my thoughts.
My eyes again fall on my bloody hands.
Slowly the images of Jack flash in mind.
I was grounded.
My parents suddenly decided to bring a guy in my life.
How awkward they behaved. How Mumma used to cry in front of me.
How Aarav got angry when I confess that I like King.
It all makes sense now.
Now I know why he was angry.
Now I know why he used to give me ideas of avoiding Jack. Or I say King.
This is why Aarav planned my escape.
This is why I ended up in King’s mansion earlier.
This is why Aarav and Papa went missing for days.
This is why Aarav had fractured hand. How dumb am I believe all those lies?
How ignorant I behaved.
Everything makes sense now.
But if Aarav knew why didn't he tell me?
Why did he tell Mumma and Papa? Papa would have never let King come in our lives.
These thoughts kept running in my mind in never ending loop.
Why?
Why?
Why?
So many things happened this year.
Sam went missing.
And now Sam is here.
"Zoe"
I saw Sam shooting Elijah.
King kidnapped him.
Sam is evil too.
"Zoe"
Where was Sam?
How did King find me?
Why didn't Aarav tell me anything?
"ZOE"
Why-
Somebody shakes me harshly, bringing me back.
"It's okay, Zoe" I heard Aarav's voice. He sat to my right.
"We are here." Mumma said who was now sitting to my left.
I look around to see papa leaning on the couch in front of us. And Jack sat to his right.
The blood in my hand is dried completely.
"When did you...? " I tried to ask Mumma but only my small whisper came out. My voice hoarse and scratchy.
"You have been sitting there for past 4 hours," said Jack instead of Mumma.
"And you didn't even notice anyone from past 30 minutes," Said Papa.
"Jack is King," I said.
I expect papa to freak out. Take me away but he just sighed "Papa, Jack is King," I said again.
"They know," said Jack standing up.
I stood up too.
"What?” I yelled. I looked at papa. He looked directly in my eyes, without denying anything.
I looked at Mumma who looked down, ashamed.
I look at Aarav, who too avoid my eyes.
"Aarav?" I ask.
"I know," he said.
"How? When? I don't get it." I shout looking at three of them.
"They knew even before I met you," answered jack.
I looked at him in disbelief.
"Really? " I ask.
"Yes," said Papa.
"Then why didn't you tell me? Why had you forced me to meet him? Why you let him take me alone with him? " I yell throwing my hands in air.
"Calm down," said Jack as he places his hand on my back.
I moved away in disgust.
"Why would you let him touch me?" I ask.
"I can touch you and I will touch you," said jack sternly.
I look at him in disgust.
"No, you can't" I yell.
"I already have, Zoe" he said.
I just looked at him.
How low can one go?
In front of my family?
'Why did you sleep with me when your family clearly hate it' his word ran in my mind.
'You don’t want to get married? Why? So, you can go slutting around?’
That was true Jack. Those were his true colors.
And. Now he is standing in front of me as King.
"You are nothing but a disgusting man who knows nothing but to inflict pain. You have inflicted pain on me. You have inflicted pain on my family. You don't deserve anything but-" My sentence was cut by my Mumma. She pulled my hand harshly, gesturing me to shut up.
"I won't shut up. Why didn't you tell me before?" I shout.
"Because he didn't let us," said Aarav.
"We live together Aarav. You could have told me alone. Why?" I ask, frustrated.
No one answered "Why had you forced me to meet him?" I yell.
"He hurt Aarav. Just look at Aarav papa. He fought for me" I yell pulling my hair.
I look at Aarav, "I am so sorry" I whisper as tears fall from my eyes.
"I-i-i never understood you. I am so sorry; I yell at you for this disgusting man," I said pointing at Jack.
"I am so sorry I let an outsider come between us"
Aarav pulled me in hug.
He hugs me tightly as I whisper my apologies.
"It's okay," he said hissing in pain.
I pull away. Aarav clutch his sides, "He is injured Zoe," said Mumma.
"Let's go to hospital," I said standing up.
"No," said Aarav holding me hand tightly.
He started cleaning the dried blood from my hand, "I won't let anything happen." He kept repeating.
"Say goodbye to them Zoe," Jack said.
"No" I yell.
Jack pulled me away from Aarav roughly.
Aarav tried to fight back but Kevin came behind Aarav, pulled out an injection in his neck.
"No," I yell fighting Jack. Jack held both of my biceps tightly and pulled my back to his front.
"Jack leave me, you bastard," I yell.
Aarav lost his consciousness within seconds.
"Papa, do something," I yell.
"Calm down" Said jack in my ear.
"No. Let me go," I yell.
"Never." He whispers.
"Give us five minutes alone please. For the last time" Plead Mumma.
I stopped my movements. "What do you mean by the last time? "
"Because you are already mine. You were mine from the day I saw you. We have already signed the marriage contract, wife" He said.
"What? " I ask in disbelief.
"Yes. He is right." Started Papa.
Jack sat me beside Papa.
"When?" I ask.
"You signed them thinking those are some bank documents a day before you met him," said Mumma.
My eyes widen.
"Is that true?" I ask Jack.
"Yes, my lovely wife"
I just stared at him in disbelief. So, my life was already traded "Why?" I ask no body in general.
"So that I don't kill Aarav. They trade you with Aarav. I would have killed that loving brother of yours without any remorse. But your smart parents knew that I won't let any harm come your way" Said Jack shamelessly.
Hurt.
Hurt is the only thing I felt.
"Then why did you ask me to marry you when we were already married?" I ask.
"Because I want a normal happy life with you. I want you to marry me willingly." He said, "and that won't have happened if you knew who I am"
At this point I lost it.
I got up and slap him hard.
"I.am.not.your.wife." I spoke.
He just smirks in response.
"You don't raise hands on your husband Zoe," said Mumma. I looked at her in disbelief, "now that you know everything. We are not allowed to meet you, ever. Please don't fight it. We tried hard, trust me"
"You should have killed me instead of trading my life without my consent" I yell at my mom.
"He would have killed Aarav" said Mumma helplessly.
"Riley" warmed Papa.
"There is nothing to warn now. You should have warned me before giving me away just like that" I yell and broke down in front of everyone.
I cried for Aarav.
I cried for the trauma we faced.
Mumma hug me tightly, "Please don't fight it my baby. He won't harm you if you fight. I promise"
I started pushing her away after hearing this. "Baby, remember you promised me something? You promised me that you would understand our position. Remember? " She asks.
"Go away" I yell pushing her back.
I can't take this anymore.
I need some air.
I need some time to think.
"Bye baby." Papa said kissing my forehead. "I will take care of the girls."
"Girls" I whisper. The thought of girls didn't cross my mind.
Jack tortured them.
And they knew.
"You knew Jack tortured them? " It was a statement instead of question.
"Yes" Said Oapa, "I didn't trade your life. I saved 21 lives" He whisper the last part in my ear so that only I can listen.
"Don't leave me" I cried on his shoulder.
"Zoe. Let them go." Said Kevin.
"Bye" Papa whisper and started pulling Mumma away.
"Papa" I yell as I saw them rushing out.
"Remember the rule. Never ever. Not even Aarav" Yell Kevin.
I immediately got up from the ground to run behind them.
I saw Aarav was not on couch. They took Aarav too.
"Zoe, don't" warn Jack sternly.
Ignoring him I ran behind them. Jack grabbed me from my waist pulling me to his chest.
I saw Mumma and Papa walk out of the room. They didn't even look back.
"They left. You will never see them. The faster you fit that in your head, lesser the struggle will be." Said Kevin walking out of the room.
"Also. Girls were mine. I will bring them back here if you don't behave" Said Kevin finally walking out and closing the door behind him.