CHAPTER 81

CHAPTER 81


Elena

I stood inside the quiet room while holding my baby against my chest. She whimpered softly, and I caressed her face to calm her down. She must be so scared.

I pressed my lips against my baby’s forehead and whispered, “Shhh… Mama’s got you. We’re getting out of here.”

Crystal had been gone for fifteen minutes now. I don't know, I don't think I want to stick around to find out. I need to somehow leave this shit hole.

I scanned the room, my heart pounding in my chest as I walked towards the door

To my surprise, the door was unlocked. Is this some kind of trap? I don't care, I need to escape no matter what.

I stepped into the hallway, It was dim, lit only by a flickering bulb in the ceiling. The place was an old, abandoned house, probably chosen on purpose for how forgotten it was. Every door had a lock.

I walked carefully across the cold concrete floor. My legs were weak, and trembling beneath me. My body felt sore and fragile after childbirth, but my spirit burned.

I padded silently down the corridor, stopping every few steps to listen. The house was quiet. Too quiet. It didn’t feel right. That wasn't my concern, all i wanted to do was to get the fuck out of this place no matter what.

Where even am I? I wondered as I kept on walking.

I reached the kitchen and I felt my heart leap. The back door stood there, metal, rusted, but very real. I reached for the handle but it was locked. I mean I should've expected it.

I glanced around. “Come on El, think, think.” I scolded myself internally as I scanned my environment. My eyes landed on a row of drawers and old cabinets.

I walked closer to it and started checking each one. I was careful not to make as little noise as possible. My breath came fast and shallow.

I opened drawer after drawer but found nothing.

Finally, I looked under the sink and saw a ring of keys. I grabbed them and tried the first one in the lock. No luck with that one. I tried the second one and it was the same result. Just as I was about to give up on the third one, I heard a click.

It opened.

The amount of joy and relief I felt was something out of this world.

I didn’t even stop to think. I swung the door open and stepped outside. The air hit her like a wave. Cold, fresh, filled with the scent of trees and freedom. My knees buckled from the rush of it, but I forced myself to keep going. I couldn’t stop. Not now.

I moved through the yard, weeds as tall as her waist, and found the broken-down fence on the far side. Just a few more steps. But then I realised that another uncompleted building was attached to where I was being kept.

My eyes scanned the area and I saw the cars parked in front of the building. Those…those belong to Archer, he's here. He probably came to rescue me.

I ran. Barefoot, holding my baby, I tore through the weeds and ducked under the hole in the fence. My breath was loud in her ears. I entered the building, feeling some kind of way.

My stomach twisted in a way I didn't understand, probably it's because of all this stress.

As I walked closer, I heard muffled voices. I walked faster and the voices became clearer. I could hear Archer.

I peeped from where I was standing and saw Archer, Ric, Savien and Pius. But why was Ric standing beside Pius? I didn't know what was going on.

“Oh, didn't I tell you? Your little girlfriend has also been working for me all this time. You being all this miserable over here, was all my idea. You didn't have a weakness, so I created one. How lovely is that?” Pius blurted out and my heart sank.

No, not like this. I didn't want him to find out like this. My heart plummeted to my stomach and I couldn't think straight. I finally came to my senses.

I don't know what he plans to do, but I won't let him do it. Pius is not to be trusted.

“Take care of them for me,” Archer said faintly and I yelled out his name. “Archer!” He turned to me and stared at me, his eyes held so many emotions, and I was the cause of those emotions. Just then, gunfire erupted.

Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang My eyes widened in shock as Archer fell with a loud thud. My mouth hung open as I watched him gasp for air.

“Well done Malysh.” I heard Pius from behind me, and he placed a piece of paper in my hand. “PIUS!”

I heard Crystal’s voice. I immediately rushed to Archer’s side. “Why did you do that? You said you wouldn't hurt him,” Crystal cried out.

“Come on, honey, you think I'd just let my enemy go scot free? Come on, you know better.” I heard him talk back at Crystal but I didn't care about that.

Savien helped him inside the car and I followed suit. His breath was laboured and my tears wouldn't stop flowing. “Edward, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. I'm very sorry.” I said through sobs.

I couldn't control myself as we drove. There was blood everywhere. How could I do this to the only person who finally cares about me?

Oh my God, I'm a terrible person. We arrived inside the hospital and the nurses placed him on the gurney as they wheeled him to the ER. He opened his eyes slightly to look at me before he shut them and they whelled him away.