Chapter 34 34
|| Author POV ||
Under the vast sky, where the moonlight shimmered over the trees lining the desolate highway, Rosa stumbled forward, limping along the endless stretch of road. Towering trees loomed on either side, leading to deep forest.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps, chest heaving in panic. Fear gripped her like a noose as she ran desperately.
Rosa didn’t know where she was going. Didn’t care. Fear forced her forward. All she knew was she had to run.
She had made the decision without a second thought, without listening to her heart the moment he left her there alone. She was terrified. There was guards from whom she sneaked out.
Rosa had no idea where her legs were carrying her, only that she needed to be far away from him. Her shoes finally stopped, standing in the middle of the highway. Her heart was aching. She looked around. Darkness.
Rosa turned back to see if anyone was following her. No one. She breathed heavily, panting through all the runs. Her eyes filled with water immediately.
‘Where do I go?’ The question screamed in her mind, drowning her in helplessness.
Suddenly, she flinched at the sound of a car approaching from behind. Panic shot through her veins as she turned, praying it wasn’t him.
The headlights tore through the darkness, blinding her. Rosa gasped and quickly turned around to run forward only to freeze.
Three cars sped toward her from the opposite direction. Headlights flashed straight into her wide, terrified eyes, blocking the entire road.
Rosa let out a sharp scream as the roaring engines came closer. Her heart dropped. An accident was about to happen. She spun back in desperation.
The car behind her was also closing in fast.
Her steps faltered. Her eyes widened in horror. She was trapped. Her tiny body caged between metal monsters.
Who are they? Don’t they see her? A human standing helpless in the middle of the road? Why don’t they stop the car?
Or maybe, maybe this was the end of her life? Her chest tightened. Was this how she’d die?
Rosa’s legs gave out as she stumbled back, falling to the ground on her butt with a cry. Her bandaged hand slammed against the rough asphalt, tearing through the gauze. Pain exploded through her palm but terror drowned it.
The car thundered toward her. Rosa shut her eyes tight, heart pounding in her ears, breath trembling. Waiting. Waiting for metal to crush her bones. Waiting for everything to end.
But nothing came.
A long, ear-splitting screech of tires shattered the silence.
Rosa’s breath hitched. She slowly opened her trembling eyes, only to be blinded by the glaring headlights inches from her fragile form. Her heart thundered, vision swimming as she looked up and froze.
Those cold, murderous eyes.
Icy, blue, and soulless, piercing straight through her like a death sentence.
Her blood ran cold.
This was it. This was the moment she realized she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
“No.” A breathless fragile gasp left her lips as sheer terror overtook her.
Rosa scrambled back on the torn road, crawling like a wounded animal. Her injured palm scraped raw. Her frantic eyes darted to the road behind.
Men in black suits, standing before those cars like statues. The road was blocked.
She was caged. Hunted.
“TURN AROUND!” Killian’s deadly voice exploded through the night like a gunshot.
Rosa’s body jolted seeing the men immediately turn their eyes away at his command. Like he was their king. Then Killian’s cold, dead gaze locked onto Rosa’s trembling form and he stepped forward.
Poor Rosa didn’t dare meet his eyes and quickly stood up. Fear consumed her. She turned and tried to run again in a desperate, tiny sprint.
But it was useless.
The moment she moved, his hand snapped around her wrist. Rosa stumbled, nearly falling and still tried to pull away. Killian yanked her back with brutal force. Her body slammed against his hard chest. Rosa gasped, pain shooting through her wrist.
“Thought you could run away?” His voice was low.
Rosa’s legs kicked in the air when he lifted her off the ground slightly by holding her wrist. “Let m-me go!” she sobbed, trembling in fear.
Killian’s other hand grabbed her chin harshly, forcing her to look into his eyes. “You really thought you could escape me?!”
Killian’s hot breath hit her face, seething with rage.
The grit between his teeth scared the life out of her. Rosa cried when he yanked at her wrist.
“I don’t wanna go! Leave my hand!” she tethered, trying to pull away. But he grabbed her waist, dragging her toward the car with brutal force. Her cries grew louder and desperate.
“Let go of me! Let go! Someone help–let me go!” she screamed, thrashing, her tiny feet scrambling to stay out of his grip.
“Mommmaaaaaa~!”
Rosa wailed helplessly before he shoved her inside the car. The door slammed shut in her face. Rosa pounded her fist against the glass, desperation in every thump while Killian stormed around the car and slid into the driver’s seat.
Rosa turned to him with glistening eyes. “Open it! I d-don’t want to go back! Let me go! Pleassssse–”
Killian said nothing. His hand gripped the wheel, veins bulging and he slammed the accelerator. The car jolted forward, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter. His eyes were dead.
⋆-----⋆
Rosa’s cries hadn’t stopped for a second during the entire drive. Her voice was desperate and broken but it didn’t matter. The car screeched to a halt in front of the Salvatore Mansion.
Frantically, Rosa tugged at the door handle again but it was still locked. Panic filled her veins. Her breath caught as Killian stormed out. He wrenched the door open and without a word, dragged her out.
“I don’t want to go in! Let go of my hand! P-please! Let go!” she begged with wrecked sobs.
His grip was merciless. Rough palm crushed around her wrist. Her bones ached under the pressure and whole body shivered from fear.
The guards bowed low, completely ignoring the girl’s desperate cries and helpless pleas. Killian didn’t stop. Fury spilled through his veins like wildfire. His eyes were bloodshot.
She tried to escape.
After everything, after all his warnings, she dared to leave him?
She tried to leave him?!
What was he supposed to do without her? Who is he without her? How could she not understand? She was his. Only his!
The massive doors of the mansion loomed ahead and Rosa’s heart skipped a bit. She didn’t want to go back, didn’t want to be caged again. Her palm throbbed in agony under his merciless grip and her legs wobbled with fear.
She had no idea what he was going to do to her now. All she knew was, she disobeyed him. And there would be consequences. She sensed his rage.
“Pleasssse–” Rosa sobbed while Killian dragged her like a lifeless doll. Her feet stumbled to keep up.
But what truly shattered her soul was the direction he was taking her.
The basement.