Chapter 4

Rhea

I’ve been trying to hold in my tears all day. I can’t believe in five days, I’ll have to move away from my sweet papa. I’ve tried my best to negotiate with Mrs Denver, but she was adamant. She insisted that I can either take this offer or just resign completely. I can’t resign because if I do, I won't be able to pay for Papa’s treatments. We won’t be able to survive.

That's why I have no choice but to accept this job and pray I don't lose my life in the end. Also, my papa’s health has been getting worse since he went crazy about that bracelet two nights ago. I'm so worried about him. I hope he gets better very soon.

After finishing up with my reports, I check the time and realize it's past 6pm. I have to go back to the hospital and check on Papa.

As I gather my bag and property, I silently hope that I won't bump into Nora since we work at the same office. I don't waste any time as I rush out of my office and make my way to the elevator. There are three other girls chatting with each other when I step inside. I mutter a greeting to them before settling in the back.

After a few seconds, one of them starts talking. "Did you hear that one of our workers has been assigned to work for the notorious billionaire, Adrian Raven?"

My body tenses up immediately. I know they’re talking about me.

"Oh really?” The other girl replies with excitement. “Whoever they are, they're living my dream! Imagine working for the most handsome, most powerful man in this world? I’m sure a man like that is a beast in bed!"

Ugh, of course some girls would thirst after a guy that is popularly dangerous and cruel. I’m not surprised.

“I agree! And I just love that he has a mysterious aura. Something about him that’s hard to figure out. Imagine being his woman? That would be a dream come true!”

“I really hope I get the chance to be close to him one day.” The third girl sighs, looking upwards with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I would allow him use me and fuck me however he pleases. I don’t mind my vagina being destroyed by him!” They all laugh out loudly, making me more annoyed.

What is wrong with these girls? I want to tell them to shut the hell up and be glad that they’re not chosen to go to that hell hole, but I force myself to remain quiet because I don’t want to lose this job at any cost. I already decided that I’ll go through with it. For the next three months, I’ll focus on working as a nurse at the Raven manor, I’ll also have to pay Mrs Rose to help me take care of my papa for all that time.

As soon as the elevator doors slide open on the ground floor, I step out and head straight for the exit. My heart is still pounding from everything I overheard upstairs. From the assignment. From the name Adrian Raven echoing in my head like a bad omen.

All I want right now is to get into my car and go home.

“Rhea.”

Oh no. The sound of my name coming from that voice makes me upset again. Sira growls in my head again.

I pretend I didn’t hear his stupid voice and continue walking. But he calls my name again. I sigh before turning around to look at Marcus. He’s standing a few feet away from me, looking terrible.

His eyes are red and sunken, like he hasn’t slept in days. His hair is a mess, his clothes wrinkled, his whole body is sagging like he’s about to pass out. I hope he does though.

He looks nothing like the man I loved. Nothing like the man I trusted.

Seeing him still hurts but I can’t ever forgive him. “What do you want? You don’t work here.”

“Please,” he says softly. “Just give me a minute. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I told you not to talk to me,” I say, my voice coming out colder than I feel. “Get away from me, Marcus.”

“I know I fucked up,” he says quickly, stepping closer. “I know. But I can’t lose you like this. You don’t understand how bad things are for me right now.”

I take a step back. “I don’t care. Whatever you’re going through is not my problem anymore.”

People are walking in and out of the building. I can feel some curious eyes on us. I just want this to be over. Marcus swallows hard. Then suddenly, he pulls a small knife out of his pocket. Before I can react, he presses it against his own throat.

My breath leaves my body in a sharp gasp. “Marcus, what the hell are you doing?”

“I can’t live without you,” he says, his eyes wild. “If you walk away right now, I swear I’ll kill myself. I swear.”

My hands start shaking. I can’t believe how manipulative this bastard is. I feel trapped because I don’t want to be the reason someone kills himself.

“Stop!” I whisper urgently. “Put that down.”

“Come talk to me somewhere private,” he pleads. “Just a few minutes. Please. Then I’ll leave you alone forever.”

Every instinct in me is screaming no. But the fear of blood on the floor, of people screaming, of his death being my fault, squeezes my chest until I feel sick.

“Fine,” I say tightly. “One last time. And then we’re done.”

Relief floods his face instantly. He drops the knife and we walk to his car in silence. I keep my distance from him, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. The moment we get inside, he tries to reach for my hand.

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, slapping his hand away. “Go touch Nora instead.” His jaw clenches, but he says nothing.

The drive is short. When he parks, I realize we’re nowhere near his apartment. The area is quiet and there are trees everywhere. Bushes on each side of the road. The only building I can see is a bit far away, a hospital I think. My heart starts beating faster.

“Why are we here?” I ask him.

He doesn’t answer. We step out of the car and walk a little further into the bushes. I stay behind, walking slowly and looking around in fear. I wonder why he thought it would be okay to talk in the middle of nowhere?

That’s when a feeling hits me. Something is Wrong. Deeply wrong. My chest tightens and my palms start sweating. I slow my steps, my eyes darting around nervously.

‘Rhea,’ Sira’s voice suddenly cuts through my thoughts, sharp and urgent. ‘Leave. Now. Run.’

My breath stops.

“What?” I whisper in my head.

‘Run!’ she repeats, louder this time. ‘Its a trap!’

I turn to Marcus, my heart hammering. “I’m leaving. This was a mistake.”

I'm about to walk away when Marcus laughs out loud. “You poor thing. You were always so trusting and stupid.” I turn around to see two men slowly step out from the shadows ahead of us. At first, they look human, but then their eyes glow red in the dark. Their bodies seem larger than they should be, wider and thicker with way too much muscles. Their faces twist into something ugly and inhuman.

Fear crashes into me like a wave as I stumble backward, my back hitting Marcus’s chest.

“Marcus,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “What is this? Who are they?”

“They are people who offered me a shit ton of money to have you. Now you’re no longer my business, bitch.” Marcus chuckles, shoving me away.

That’s when I realize that Sira has been trying to protect me all this while. Marcus set a trap for me and foolishly fell right into it. My body moves immediately as I start running with all the strength I can gather. But before I can make a few paces, a hand suddenly grabs me from behind and slams me into a tree. A scream tears my throat as I feel my bones crack in so many places. I’m going to die tonight. How will papa move on without me?

“No..no! Let me go!” I scream in pain as one of them grabs my legs and roughly drags me forward.

“You can be rough with her.” I hear Marcus say. ”She's stingy with that cunt anyway. I want to see what she looks like when she's taken by force.”

No! I'd rather die than be raped by these monsters. Their red glowing eyes and beastly form is even more scary. What are they?

“What a beauty. We'll have fun with you before we kill you like we were ordered to.”

I close my eyes, tears streaming down my face as I pray for death to take me.

***