Chapter 232 232

Chapter 232 232
I walked down the dark sidewalk with no idea where I was going.

The box behind me bumped and rattled over the cracked pavement. My mind was completely blank.

I didn’t know where to go and I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.

I felt so alone.

Slowly, I looked up at the night sky. The moon shone brightly above me.

I closed my eyes and whispered a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, placing my future in her hands.

Only she knew what was waiting for me now.

Suddenly, a strange sound made my ears twitch. 

It sounded like footsteps on the gravel behind me. My heart skipped a beat. 

I stopped walking and quickly turned around, scanning the dark street.

Nothing. The sidewalk was empty and not a single person was there.

I let out a shaky breath and forced myself to keep walking.

Maybe I’m just imagining things. I whispered, trying to calm myself.

I forced my feet to keep moving, but the uneasy feeling refused to go away. 

It felt as though someone was watching me. Like a pair of cold eyes were fixed on the back of my neck.

Every few steps, I glanced over my shoulder.

Not a single soul was in sight.

I tightened my grip on the handle of my box and hurried down the sidewalk, its wheels rattling wildly over the uneven concrete.

BOOM!

A deafening crack of thunder split the sky.

A second later, icy rain came pouring down, soaking me within seconds.

“Oh, Moon Goddess,” I whispered, staring up at the pouring rain.

“Could this day get any worse?” I let out a shaky laugh that sounded more like a sob. “I’m completely stranded.”

The rain came down so hard I could barely see.

Desperate to protect myself, I pulled off my backpack and held it over my head, hoping it would shield me from the freezing rain.

Then I ran.

The wind whipped against my face as I dragged my heavy box through the storm. Its wheels bounced over the uneven sidewalk, slowing me down with every step.

I blinked through the curtain of rain.

In the distance, a bright neon sign glowed through the darkness.

A bar.

Right now, I didn’t care what kind of place it was.

I just needed somewhere dry.

Perfect, I thought. I can stay there until the rain lets up.

I hurried toward the entrance, pushed through the heavy glass door, and stepped inside.

Warm air wrapped around me, making me shiver even harder.

Completely exhausted, I dragged my box to the nearest empty table and sank into the chair.

I had barely caught my breath when a shadow fell across the table.

I looked up.

A waiter stood in front of me, a small notepad in one hand and a polite smile on his face.

“What can I get for you?” the waiter asked in a flat, bored voice.

I almost rolled my eyes.

I’d only been sitting down for a few seconds, and I was completely drenched.

But I was too exhausted to argue.

“I’ll have your strongest vodka,” I said.

The waiter froze.

His pen stopped moving across the notepad as he slowly looked up at me.

Then his eyes swept over my soaked clothes and finally settled on my face.

A deep frown creased his forehead.

“You look too young to be ordering vodka,” he said.

A flash of irritation shot through me.

I threw my hands up in frustration.

“Look, I’m eighteen years old,” I said showing him my ID. “Stop looking at me like that. I’m an adult.”

The waiter studied me for another second.

Then he let out a quiet sigh, gave a small nod, and walked away to get my drink.

As I waited, the cold air from the bar’s air conditioner seeped into my soaked clothes, sending a shiver through my body.

A moment later, another shadow fell across my table. I looked up, but it wasn’t the waiter.

“Hey, pretty,” a loud, arrogant voice said.

A man I had never seen before was standing beside my table.

He leaned against it with a smug grin spreading across his face.

“Mind if I keep you company?” he asked. “You look like you could use a friend.”

I frowned. Then I noticed where his eyes were.

The rain had soaked through my thin shirt, making the fabric cling tightly to my skin.

His gaze lingered there, and a slow, disgusting smile spread across his face.

He slowly licked his lips.

A chill ran down my spine.

A wave of disgust rolled through me. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover myself.

“I’m not interested,” I said sharply, glaring at him. “Please leave before I call security.”

Instead of backing off, his expression darkened.

He took another step toward me until he was standing uncomfortably close.

“Easy there, little girl,” he said, his voice low and unfriendly. “You don’t have to be so rude.”

His eyes never left me.

My grip tightened on the edge of the table.

“She said she is not interested! Can’t you just do us a favor and go to hell?”

A fierce voice exploded from right behind me.

My eyes went wide. That voice... it sounded so incredibly familiar, but I couldn't believe it. I spun around in my seat, and my jaw dropped.

Jasmine was standing there! Her eyes were flashing with pure anger as she stared down the creepy guy.

“Are you going to leave right now, or should I call my brothers to throw you out into the cell?” Jasmine shouted, crossing her arms.

The guy looked at Jasmine, then looked at me. Realizing he was outnumbered and that people were starting to watch, he hissed loudly under his breath, turned around, and stomped away.

I breathed a massive sigh of relief. Jasmine smiled and slid into the empty seat right next to me.

I looked at her, the pieces finally coming together in my mind. “So... you have been the one following me through the rain this whole time?”

Jasmine laughed. “Obviously! Do you actually have any other friends besides me?”

Just then, the waiter arrived and set down my glass of vodka.

Jasmine looked at the glass, then looked at the waiter. “I need one of those too!” she ordered quickly.

I stared at her, completely confused.

After everything that had happened today… Why was she here?

I wrapped both hands around the glass and took a small sip of the burning vodka.

“Jasmine…” I whispered. “What are you doing here with me?”

I looked down at the drink, unable to meet her eyes.

“Everyone at school hates me now.”

My voice cracked.

“So why are you sitting here with the traitor’s daughter?”

Jasmine’s smile didn't fade. She reached over, gently slid the glass out of my hand, and took a sip of it herself.

“I only have a friend named Kiara,” Jasmine said, looking straight into my eyes. “I don't know any traitor's daughter, so I have no idea what you are talking about.”

A tear slipped down my face, but this time, it was because I was happy. 

I reached out and gently pulled my glass back from her, a real smile finally breaking across my face.

“Hey, wait for your own order!” I teased her playfully. Right on cue, the waiter returned and placed a second glass right in front of Jasmine.

Jasmine took her glass, but then her eyes traveled down to the floor, noticing the massive suitcase parked next to my chair. Her playful look turned into a worried frown.

“Where are you going with this huge box, Kiara?” she asked.

I stared down at the floor, my smile turning a bit sad. “I actually have no idea,” I admitted honestly. “But I guess I will find out soon enough.”

To keep from crying, I forced a little laugh, and Jasmine joined in, trying to keep the mood bright.

Jasmine took a big gulp of her drink and slammed the glass down on the table. “Well, you are definitely coming home to live with me!”

I shook my head, my heart sinking slightly. “I don't think your parents will be very happy about that, Jasmine,” I said, cupping my hands around my warm glass. “After all the rumors, they won't want me around.”

“When we get to my house, we will figure it out,” Jasmine said fiercely, leaning forward. “And if my parents say no and won't let you stay, then guess what? I will pack my own bags and leave with you! I will follow you wherever you go, Kiara.”

Hearing those words made me smile, but I could see her eyes blinking a little too slowly. The strong drink was already working.

“Oh, I guess you are already getting tipsy,” I teased her, nudging her arm. “You need to stop talking nonsense.”

We sat there for a while longer, chatting and drinking. To be honest, the alcohol was starting to make my own head spin a little bit, too.

“I guess you are right,” Jasmine giggled, closing her eyes tightly for a second. She glanced toward the window. “Look, it finally stopped raining. We need to move now.”

Jasmine stood up from the table and grabbed the handle of my box to help me roll it. But the moment she lifted it, her feet tangled together, and she stumbled sideways, almost crashing into the floor!

I moved fast, catching her by the shoulders to steady her. “Whoa! Easy there!”

“Don’t worry, I am totally fine!” Jasmine laughed, waving her hand in the air.

“Oh yes, I can clearly see how fine you are,” I teased, but as I stepped forward, my own legs felt like jelly, and I almost tripped right over my own feet!

We both burst into giggles. Holding onto each other for balance, we gripped each other's hands tightly and stumbled out through the front door after paying our bill.

We stood on the damp sidewalk, laughing at nothing. 

“Hey, look over there,” Jasmine said suddenly, trying not to laugh. “That’s my brother, Jason.”

I blinked and looked in the direction she was pointing.

A tiny rat was scurrying across the floor.

I turned back to her, trying to keep a straight face.

“Jasmine… that’s a rat.”

“I know,” she said with a grin. “But look at it closely. Doesn’t it remind you of my brother?”

For a second, I just stared at her.

Then we burst out laughing.

Jasmine pulled her phone out of her pocket, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to open the phone to make a call.

But she never got to make the call.

Suddenly, the laughter died.

A strange silence settled over the street.

Then I noticed movement.

Dark figures began stepping out of the alleyways around the bar. One after another, they emerged from the shadows until they formed a circle around us.

Every one of them was tall and heavily built. Their faces were hard and their eyes were cold, and none of them looked like they had come for a drink.

They had come for us.

Jasmine froze, her phone slipping slightly in her hand. My heart plummeted directly into my stomach. We were trapped.

From behind the circle of men, heavy footsteps echoed against the wet pavement. The crowd parted, and a figure walked out into the light.

When I heard the voice that spoke next, my blood turned to absolute ice.

“Kill them both,” the familiar voice growled, dark and full of hatred. “Don’t let either of them escape.”