CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: ESCAPING EVIL'S GRASP II

\-BELLA-

"You guys should quit tumbling around. We have to find a way to get out of here if we want to survive." Bartholomew's cold voice penetrated my ears. 

I motioned towards him, wanting to see what had befallen. His chains weren't holding him back any more; he had set himself loose, curry still in his laps. 

"I'm sorry about curry." I said, my tone a mixture of sympathy and sorrow. 

"Curry gave up her life to save us. I'm not letting that go to waste no matter what." His face went stern, his eyes grew deeper, and his hands trembled with blood. 

"So we're escaping?" Catherine inquired. 

"Yes, the right time is now." He placed Carrie on the floor, covering her body with the pieces of clothes on the ground. "Rest in peace, Curry."

He rose from the ground, carefully approaching Catherine, who was barely breathing. She had lost a lot of blood from her hands and was trying to keep conscious. 

He inserted the key, unlocking her cuffs and wrapping her hands to prevent more blood loss. 

We could hear footsteps echoing in the darkness, a turmoil of emotions flooding in our heads. He didn't move, hiding behind Catherine's body like nothing had happened. 

"Bella, Bella," Kim's voice pierced through the darkness. 

"What do you want now?" I grind my teeth, ready to fight for Curry even though we barely knew each other. 

"Just a gentle reminder that you're going to die just like Curry over there." His laugh was spot on in the room. 

"Death by sex is really a one-way ticket to heaven. I mean you get to enjoy me before crossing to the afterlife. Isn't that just amazing? She growled. 

Bartholomew held onto his anger, clutching his hands to stop himself from revealing his location.

"Bartholomew is a triggered-up bastard, don't you think? He fought through the chains like he was some strong martial artist, but he couldn't save his twelve-year wife." Kim chuckled as he opened the door of the cell. 

Twelve years wife… Bartholomew was losing it, his hands curled into fists as he waited for Kim. I didn't know what to do, a lump abruptly holding my words down in my throat. 

He walked in, turning to where Curry lay. Seeing the corpse up close, his smile turned into a smirk. His mind roamed, his head shaking as he was struck by a pang of disbelief. 

"Looking for me?" Bartholomew approached him, grabbing Kim's neck from behind with his elbow. Kim grunted as they both fell, the wooden board vibrating with the fall. 

"You!!!!" Kim muffled, his hands reaching for his pocket.

"His legs." Catherine yelled as Kim grabbed a pocket knife from his pocket. 

Bartholomew managed to dodge the attack, applying more force on Kim's throat. Kim muffled sounds came, his hands trembling as Bartholomew strangled him. 

Unable to hit Bartholomew in the face, he went for the laps, stabbing Bartholomew with all his strength. 

"Arghhh!" Bartholomew grunted as the knife's blade pierced his lips. 

"For curry." He crouched to the ground, his grip on Kim tightening. Kim raised his head trying to stop the effect, but Bartholomew didn't let him, crouching further till Kim's neck was beginning to bend. 

Kim began to tap Bartholomew's elbow, surrendering himself in an instant. "Criminals aren't to be trusted."

Creeee! 

Kim's neck twisted, his head bent to the back. His eyeballs all white with his hands crumbling right to the ground. 

"Is he dead?" I asked as Bartholomew released his grip from him. 

I watched him grunt as he pulled out the pocket knife from his left lap. His face was stern, his muscles tensed, contracting more often. 

"Let's get out of here." He limped over, grabbing the key from Catherine's cuffs. 

He released me from the chains, his arms catching me as I was about to fall." We have to leave before Delilah and her men return. 

He grabbed Catherine by the arm after making sure I could stand. Catherine helped him as the both of them left the cellar first. 

About to leave, I caught sight of a pistol in Kim's pocket. I ran towards him, grabbing the pistol and the knife. I bolted out of the cellar, stopping at the cellar's entrance door where Bartholomew and Catherine were waiting for me. 

"Here." I handed him the knife and the pistol, hoping he would be able to protect me till I could escape. 

I was the only one with bare injuries and bruises. I could escape using them as a decoy to escape. 

We walked out of the cellar jurisdiction, mixing with the criminals in the pub. I whispered slowly, directing them to the main entrance. 

"Do you know that Delilah's boyfriend Jarvis was killed?" One of the men let out. 

"Yeah. I heard Bella Mercedes in the cellar instigated it. Delilah wouldn't let her off easily. She'll pay with her life." They chuckled. 

"If I can get a smoothie out of her before she's eliminated, then I'd feel rewarded. At least I'll have something to eat from her." They chuckled again.

I could feel my blood boiling from their words, but we had to hide ourselves in the shadows if we ever wanted to escape their grasp. 

Catherine and Bartholomew had helped us with cloaks, blending in with the night guild criminals who were highly respected.

The stairs stared at us as we finally got to the entrance. It suddenly seemed bigger than I remembered, the edges sharper than a blade. A mere collision could end one's life in an instant.

"This is it, guys. The entrance." I let out. 

I took to the front, not wanting to be caught in case the enemy caught up with us. Catherine went in second, not wanting to slow Bartholomew with her weak body. 

We were barely midway when the alarm went on. "The prisoners have escaped; check the surroundings for them." The sound of scrambling feet sent warnings to us, our tongues tied as we tried to reach the entrance faster. 

I began to run, my heart thumping with every step I took. Catherine and Bartholomew had also increased their pace, covering more stairs. 

"There they are." Jim shouted, his hands pointed in our direction. 

"Sh*t," I groaned, running faster. 

The grunts of men pierced the air as they ran forward, trying to stop us from leaving the pub. 

With a heave, I opened the underground door, running out. I was trembling, scared they'd be able to meet us since we were weaker than them. 

"Get back here."

Catherine crawled out, her hands still bleeding. "Let's go quickly."

"Bartholomew is almost up; we have to wait for him." Catherine yelled, trying to signify to Bartholomew to get up faster. 

The men behind him were within fifty; we'd barely be able to outrun them unless we stopped them from here. I needed to stop them from reaching the door fast. 

As I searched for something to use, I spotted the peppermint spray on the cabinet. I rushed towards it, grabbing it in the blink of an eye and bolting back.

Bartholomew was almost at the door, his hand stretched out as the criminals had begun pulling his legs. 

"Hello, me, he cried."

"I'm sorry, Bartholomew." I said, shaking my head in sympathy. 

"Wait, please don't. I have two kids. They don't have anyone to care for them. Help me out here." He wailed. 

"What are you doing, Bella?" Catherine reached out. 

"Goodbye, Bartholomew."

"No… no… no!" He cried. 

I pressed the peppermint spray on the head, watching the content filter into the stairs. "No!!!"

The content entered into his eyes, making him lose sight of the surroundings. He couldn't hold his grip on more, following on his back. 

"Avalanche!!!!" A man from behind screamed as the men began to roll down the stairs. 

I grabbed the door, slamming it back in place. A plank appeared, falling into the right hall, locking them out. 

"He saved us, Bella. Why did you do that?" Catherine questioned. 

"If you want to die along with them, then you're welcome." I grunted, helping her off the ground. 

"You're evil!" She stuttered. 

"In this world it's either you get killed or you kill. It's survival of the fittest; don't you get it yet?". I heard myself say. "Let's leave before Delilah and her men return."

Catherine bottled up her emotion, rising to her feet. "Let's go."

I felt no remorse for Bartholomew; he had played his part in helping us escape, and he had gotten rewarded. There was nothing to feel bad about. 

We passed through the forest, planning to escape from Delilah's grasp. Despite the thick trees, we managed to find our way, following the ray of light at the other end. 

We were at the end of the forest, the grocery store opposite us. I tilted my head, looking at pale Catherine, who could barely stand. 

"You would be a problem if you ever returned to the Mercedes house. Even though we're sisters, you care for Artemis more than me. I think it's time for you to meet our parents." I reached for the pocket knife I had grabbed from Bartholomew before he slipped. 

"You're kidding, right?"

I let out a smile, unveiling the blade the next minute. 

"Bella, please don't." She went on her knees. 

"The Defiler shall always know death."