Chapter 13

He kissed me, deeply, before we began to dance again. This time we both held each other and kissed for the entire song.

But, unfortunately, we're broken apart by an "ahem."

It was Rosa, who looked exactly how she always does when she just came back from shopping.

"Dinner, anybody?" She asked, smiling, but there was an edge in her voice. I remembered that she liked Roy, and so she probably didn't like what she saw.

I wasn't sure why I was kissing Roy. I didn't like him. Definitely not like Rosa did. But it was as self-control gets the hardest thing to do around Roy!

We took our places at the dining table and saw Roy's face was still flushed from cool winds, and Rosa's from what seemed like jealousy.

I knew exactly how that felt as I had felt the same way numerous times when the guys I liked were either dreaming about kissing Rosa or actually doing it.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you, Scarlet, but we are leaving for Delhi tomorrow," Roy said, taking a spoonful of his Dal, a little of which lingered on his lips.

"And will you tell me why?" I asked.

"For work." He said.

"That's why you went shopping?" I asked, turning to Rosa, realizing we were talking for the first time after our fight.

She just nodded in reply.

"Can I get my phone?" I asked no one in particular.

"No. Not yet." Roy replied simply.

"Why not?"

"I will give you myself when I feel like it's time." He replied without looking at me.

"I am done," I said, dropping my napkin on the table and getting off my chair.

"Don't throw your anger on your food, Scarlet," Rosa said.

"No. I am throwing it on his food." I said and walked towards my room.

*****

The next day, Mrs. M woke me up. Wearing an azure blouse and white jeans, I descended the stairs to see Roy and Rosa talking in hushed voices. They abruptly stopped when they saw me approaching.

Shaking my head, I walked straight to the door, not caring for the world if they were following or not.

I had to stand there for five minutes because that asswipe Singh wouldn't open the door until Roy came and he was intentionally taking too long and kept whispering to Rosa.

I stared at Singh till they reached, who tried to look away to avoid my gaze.

As the door opened and Roy and Rosa walked past us out, I smiled at Singh and made sure to flash a finger in front of his smug eyes before I left the building.

Singh opened the door of a black Mercedes for Rosa, and Roy opened a gate for me. Afterward, we took our seats in the driver's seat and passenger seat, respectively.

"Singh is coming too?" I asked.

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Roy asked genuinely.

"No," I replied and looked out of the window.

"Wait! We don't have our passports." Rosa said.

"You won't be needing one," Roy replied.

"Why, you have bought the plane as well!" I mocked.

He just smiled in reply.

And indeed he did!

After an hour, we found ourselves standing in front of a plane which was owned by Roy.

He took a seat next to me, and Rosa took the one adjacent to ours.

I retreated my book from the bag and began reading.

"You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world...but you do have some say in who hurts you," Roy said.

"You have read this book?" I asked him, amused.

"Read and love it." His eyes twinkled. "I even suggested it to Rosa." He said pointing to her. She smiled weakly. I wished Roy could give her attention too. I hated watching my sister like this.

But I don't think I was wishing with my whole heart.

"Wow. So you love this stuff too?" I teased.

"Books? Yes."

*****

Soon we reached the hotel, and I dropped myself on the soft bed. Nothing is as soothing as hotel beds. Given it was a five-star establishment, it had a huge balcony and beautiful ambiance, with twinkling chandeliers and wind chimes that sang melodies of wind.

I don't remember when I dozed off. I heard a laugh and opened my eyes to two silhouettes. Consciousness and reality kicked in, and I saw two men who looked like bouncers smiling a creepy smile and looking hauntingly familiar.

I almost shrieked when I realized who they were, but one of them had already grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth with his sweaty hands.

They were Stamp Men.

The ones from the day they stamped us, one of them was the guy who smacked me.

"The spicy feisty treat." The guy who was crushing me around his arms said.

"I always thought about how you would be in bed."

No. No. No.

I pinched myself and felt the pang of pain.

Oh shit! This wasn't a dream.

"Now I think I'll find out." He said menacingly in my ear.

"But didn't we get the orders to bring her straight to the Magnificent hotel?" Another Stamp Man said.

"Yes, and that's what we will do. After we had our fun." He said and slid hands on my ass. I writhed and struggled, kicked, but nothing would work.

He smacked me again hard.

"You have been very, very naughty. Running away. Pissing off Rover." He said and smacked me again. "You deserve a punishment, baby." He said and smacking me again, slid his hands to the inner side of my thigh, creepily feeling his way up to my parts.

"Come to daddy, darling." The other said, and a look at him gave away how turned on he was. I shrieked and took the other Stamp Man's support, kicked him right at his nuts, and bit the other one's arm.

Throwing them off guard in surprise, I ran towards the door, but before I could unlock it, one of them grabbed me from behind, his dangerously strong hand digging in my stomach and covered my mouth that still attempted to yell and call for help.

He dropped me on the bed and pressed me against his body. The other one found the tape and stuck my mouth shut.

I still yelled, but it was too low and muffled, and I doubt if it even reached the wall, which I hopelessly knew would never make it out of the soundproof walls.

I kicked my knee to the man's groin, who was crushing me under his weight, and he gave away a small yelp of pain.

I momentarily rejoiced at causing him pain when he slapped me hard. My surroundings began to ring, and as if I lost half of my sight.

"Bitch!" He said, which seems to be coming from a distance.

I heard ripping and felt hands on my body, grabbing my breasts so hard that it hurt and I yelped.

I felt my pants being pulled off, and I knew my end was closing in.

I don't know what I had done so wrong that the universe was now punishing me so hard.

In that moment of sheer helplessness and pain, with the burn of unwelcomed hands touching every inch of my body, I felt that I had lost more than I had ever gotten.

In that moment, all I wanted was to lose my life as well.

I closed my eyes, hoping this would shut off my senses, and prayed to be saved.