Chapter 210 Sprint
>>Riona
The car sped through the darkened streets, the headlights casting long, eerie shadows across the empty road. I kept glancing at the door, heart hammering as I ran through the slim chance of escape.
I could feel the pulse of adrenaline heating my blood. I turned my gaze to Demos, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on the road ahead.
With how he’s speeding, if I jump out, I’m going to break something… But I don’t like how I’m going to end up being a gangster’s slave. It’s now or never. But what if I break something and can’t escape? That’ll be worse. I’ll still be his slave but with broken bones…
Suddenly, his phone rang, breaking the silence. He cursed under his breath, slowing the car down, he took the phone out of my pant’s pocket to answer it, his attention shifting completely to the call.
“What is it?” He answered in a low tone.
My pulse quickened as the speed dropped—this was it. If I was going to try, it had to be now.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I shifted in my seat, maneuvering to face away from the door. My wrists strained against the bindings, fingers fumbling to find the door handle behind me. A wave of doubt washed over me as I twisted, but I pushed it down, keeping my mind on the singular goal of getting out. I felt the cool metal of the handle against my hand, and with one sharp pull, the door clicked open, cold air rushing into the car.
!!!
Just as I did it, I saw Demos snap his head towards me, his eyes widening as he realized what I was about to do.
“Don’t!” He shouted, but I couldn’t even hear it properly over the pounding of my heartbeat as I threw myself out of the car. The impact was brutal, the ground slamming into me, scraping my knees and shoulders as I tumbled. The pain shot through my body, but I forced myself up, ignoring the ache as I scrambled to my feet.
The blanket fell off of me, exposing me but that was the least of my concerns at the moment.
Behind me, tires screeched as Demos slammed on the brakes. I didn’t waste a second and I took off, legs pushing hard, desperation driving me faster with every step.
My heart pounded as I darted into another alley, the smell of damp concrete and rust filling my senses. I barely had time to think, I just wanted to get out of there and I put in all of my strength.
I couldn’t hear anyone behind me, but I didn’t look back to confirm either.
My lungs burned as I ran but I kept pushing forward, feet pounding against the cracked pavement of the alley. With each twist and turn, I prayed that somehow, the darkness would hide me from Demos. But the narrow passage suddenly opened up onto a main street, the bright glow of streetlights casting harsh beams onto the empty sidewalk. For a fleeting moment, hope sparked in me as I scanned the area, searching for any sign of life, anyone who might help me.
Is there perhaps a police station nearby? Anything would do at this point!!
I didn’t stop running and then I saw them—a group of three men lounging outside a shop, talking lowly and laughing.
Relief mixed with dread as I sprinted toward them, “Hey!!” I shouted, “Please! Help!!” I picked up speed to get to them faster.
But as I got closer, the details began to take shape in the fluorescent light spilling from the shop’s sign: dirty, torn clothes, hollow eyes, and the unmistakable smell of smoke and something bitter. They looked up at me, their expressions sharpening with interest, and I felt my stomach twist.
I slowed my steps, realizing that they weren’t the type of help I was hoping for. Their eyes lingered on me, moving slowly over my almost naked form, a look of twisted amusement spreading across their faces.
!!!
I wasn’t conscious of myself till that point but I couldn’t even cover myself in any way. Every nerve in my body screamed for me to turn away, and I did.
I glanced behind me, there was no one there but I wasn’t going to risk going in the direction I came from, so I turned towards the road to cross it.
I’ll look for other people!
But just as I stepped on the road, I felt a rough hand grab my wrist, yanking me back toward them.
!?!?
“Where do you think you’re going?” one of them sneered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer, the sickly smell of smoke and something foul hitting me full force.
Were they doing drugs here?! I tried to pull back, twisting my arm, but he only laughed, the sound low and amused.
“Look at this one,” Another one chuckled, eyeing me up and down, “Dressed like that and wandering alone? Lucky night for us, huh?”
Panic shot through me like a jolt of electricity, and I opened my mouth to scream, but another man clamped a hand over my mouth, silencing me as they dragged me toward the shadows of the alley.
NO!
No, no, no, no!! This can’t be happening!!! Why is it one bad thing after the other?!
WHY!?!?
My mind spun with fear as they pulled me into the darkness, my limbs thrashing in desperate resistance, but it was useless against their strength.
Once out of the light, they slammed me on the ground. I thrashed around but two of them held me down while the one with a beanie straddled me.
“Come on, pretty” He smirked, “You came here for this,” He looked at me with a look that made me nauseous. He put his finger on my waist and slid it down, making my skin stand up, “Why else would you be dressed like that?”
I screamed at him, but the other hand was still holding my mouth shut.
“Let me go!!” A muffled plea came out, “Let me go!!!” His hand pressed even further, making it even difficult to breathe.
Shit!
I could have taken care of these drug addicts if it wasn’t for how I was tied up! And the auction house had definitely given me something, I can tell all my strength isn’t there.
“I’m going first,” The man with the beanie grabbed my bra as he came face to face with me, his eyes peering into mine, “Then-” The sound of gunshot reverberated in the air and everyone paused. I felt something pierce into the concrete right by my head as a splatter of some liquid came onto my skin.
…
Blobs of blood fell on my face.
???
That’s when I noticed the hole in his forehead, blood trickled down his face, falling onto me and my breath hitched. The beanie guy began to fall to the side while the other two panicked as they were already looking at someone.
“Who are you!?!?” The other one yelled as he looked at someone but right then he was shot as well, right in the head. As the man fell I saw him
Demos
More blood splattered everywhere as he killed the last man, making me flinch violently as he shot again. I couldn’t dare bring myself to look at all the dead bodies around me. My breaths were ragged and shallow. I could feel the blood, warm and thick on my skin, dripping down from where it had spattered on my face.
I pushed myself up and tried to sit. I could still hear the echo of the gunshot ringing in my ears.
Then I looked up at Demos. He stood there with a cold look in his eyes.There was no hesitation in his gaze, no hint of anything human.
I get that these people were scum, but how can one kill without hesitating?
My fear for him grew but I had no energy left in me to stand up and run away once again. He studied me for a second, then without a word, he lifted his gun and slid it back into the waistband of his pants, his every movement calm, efficient.
Before I could react, he closed the distance between us, crouching down to my level. I flinched instinctively, but I couldn’t move, couldn’t bring myself to push him away.
In one swift motion, he reached down, his arm hooking under my knees as his other arm supported my back, and suddenly, I was weightless. He lifted me effortlessly, as though I were nothing more than a doll, his grip was unyielding but strangely steadying as he got up and began to walk out of there.
The way back was quiet and unnerving. The blood I had on me was sickening, I wanted a hot shower to get all the filth off of me. I glanced at Demos’s back. When I was running away, I was sure he wasn’t behind me. And I ran a lot.
“How did you find me so fast?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“You talk as if you’re genuinely surprised.” He scoffed, “Your scent is very strong.”
????
“What?” Whatever this man says is so weird. His words go over my head. My scent is strong? What is that supposed to mean? He’s not a dog that followed my scent all the way here.
“You’re my mate,” He growled, making me go stiff, “Don’t even think about running away again.” He squeezed my thigh, “Because I can always find you. And next time, I won’t be this merciful.”
I felt my blood run cold at his words.