Christina’s POV
"Christina! Christina!" I heard Priya’s panicked shouts just before the van door slamd shut and we sped away. Inside the van were several masked figures. The air felt cold and hostile, and fear began to claw its way up my throat. "Fight back!" Akira snarled inside . "Who are you? What do you want?" I asked as I lunged forward, throwing punches at whoever I could reach. But there were too many of them. I managed to land a few hits before soone grabbed from behind. A sharp blow to the back of my head made everything spin, and I crumpled forward, dazed. The man who’d dragged in grabbed my hair and yanked up from the floor. Slap. My head spun, ears ringing. Another blow landed. I tried to struggle, but n on either side pinned my arms down. "Fuck! Let go! Who the hell are you?" I shouted. Slap. A third hit, harder this ti. It felt personal. "You stupid bitch. You must know you’ve pissed soone off," a cold voice hissed. I didn’t recognize it. "Who are you?" Pissed soone off? Who? Genevieve? Franklin? Soone else entirely? "Why should I tell you?" The voice replied with contempt. He sounded like he genuinely hated . "What’s your connection to Genevieve?" I guessed blindly. But the slight tightening around his eyes told I’d hit a nerve. Slap! Another stinging blow landed on my already sore cheek. I gritted my teeth against the pain, furious and helpless. I prayed Priya had called the police and Hudson. Maybe traffic caras had caught the van’s license plate. Maybe help was already on the way. "Hudson will find us," Akira growled, trying to comfort both of us. "He’ll tear them apart." For now, I decided it was better to stay quiet.
I couldn’t see outside; the windows were covered. The van sped recklessly, swerving and jolting until my stomach churned violently. I sat perfectly still, afraid that if I moved even slightly, I’d be sick.
Ti stretched endlessly. I lost all sense of how long we’d been driving, every mont pure agony.
Then, finally, the van began to slow. It rolled to a stop, and the engine cut out.
The door was opened and as soon as I saw it swing wide, I rushed out and vomited violently onto the ground.
"Useless bitch." The sa scornful voice.
When I was finally done, my whole body felt weak, but at least my stomach was sowhat relieved.
It was only then I realized it was already dark outside. Had I really been in the van for so long?
Where was I?
I looked around. We were outside a large house. It looked like a private residence, tucked away in what seed like a wooded area far from Highrise City.
"If you’ve finished being sick, get your ass inside," the man’s cold voice cut through the night.
I dragged myself forward on heavy legs.
Once we were inside, he spoke again, just as coldly: "Take her upstairs."
Just like that, I was escorted up to a room.
Soon after, the man appeared in the doorway, his gaze still frozen. "Now you’ll get to experience what it’s like," he said.
Before I could untangle my frantic thoughts, I was hauled back downstairs, a hood was pulled over my head, and I was shoved into another car. We drove for nearly two hours, ending up sowhere completely unfamiliar. Wherever it was, it was a long way from Highrise City.
"What are you looking at?" the man asked coldly.
"Who are you?" I shot back. "What’s your connection to Genevieve?"
"That’s none of your business."
"You don’t strike as one of her hired hands," I pressed. "You’re too angry. This is personal for you."
For just a second, he seed caught off guard.
"Don’t get smart with ," he snapped.
"Are you her friend? Or just another pathetic admirer?"
"You talk too much. People who ask too many questions tend to disappear."
I stared harder. "I was right, wasn’t I? Genevieve didn’t hire you. This is personal for you. What’s your connection to her? And aren’t you terrified of what Hudson will do when he finds you?"
"Terrified?" His laugh was like broken glass. "Why the fuck would I be scared of him? If he knew who I was, he’d be the one pissing himself."
"I’d reconsider making Hudson your enemy. It won’t end well."
"Whatever. You should worry more about yourself. How are you so calm right now?" He sounded almost insulted.
I said nothing. My stomach twisted painfully with hunger, but I’d rather starve than beg this asshole for anything.
All I could do was hope Hudson would find soon.
He must know I’d been taken by now. But could he trace who was behind it? Would he find this place before it was too late?
The man glared at for what felt like forever before finally leaving.
When the door clicked shut, I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Truth was, I was scared shitless. How could I not be? I was just doing everything possible to hide it from my captor.
Once alone, I searched every inch of the room, including the bathroom. Windows nailed shut, door locked from outside, and the bathroom vent was barely big enough for a mouse.
No escape route. Great.
I slumped onto the bed.
My thoughts were a chaotic ss, none of them useful.
Outside, darkness fell completely. I didn’t turn on any lights, preferring to sit in the shadows.
As ti dragged on, my nerves stretched tighter and tighter.
The silence was suffocating.
A bone-deep chill settled over .
I huddled on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest.
Without my phone and no clock in sight, I had no idea what ti it was.
The darkness magnified every fear until panic clogged my throat.
"Wait," Akira suddenly perked up. "Do you sll that?"
I paused, confused. I hadn’t been able to sll things properly since Niall’s rejection. But now... there was sothing.
A faint scent, unfamiliar yet sohow triggering alarm bells.
"Your senses are coming back,"Akira noted with surprise.
Before I could process this developnt, I heard movent outside.
My muscles tensed instantly.
The door creaked open.
The room remained pitch black, but I sensed soone approaching.
Before I could strike, a cloth pressed against my mouth and nose.
A sickly sweet sll overwheld .
Everything faded to black.
Reviews
All reviews (0)