4. Demon in Human Flesh

Dymond

I was thrown back into the cell.

“Nile Garres hurt you, did he not? That is what that beast does.” The man rattles from the pool of water under him. “Try to get out of here while you still can. You are much too innocent.”

“If you think I'm innocent, think again.” I mutter.

“No matter what it is you've gone through, believe me when I tell you, that this particular billionaire is far worse. Nile is a demon in human flesh, never underestimate him.”

I ignore him, wiping the dried tears off my face. The cell now smells of piss and rot, and the darkness remains disorienting. I don't think I can ever get used to it. The way time is lost here. Hours could feel like days. Days, like mere seconds.

A sinking feeling invades my guts. I should never have taken that diamond, never should have gotten mixed with this strange, powerful man.

But it was the perfect opportunity! I barely made enough to survive on the streets by pickpocketing and shoplifting, so when I stumbled upon the unguarded showroom, with a diamond piece on blatant display… I believed life had decided to be kind to me for once.

That diamond could have gotten me a plane ticket out of the country, along with a new life in a small, faraway place. That way Greg would never, ever find me again. I could finally be free of my abusive ex, who had followed me all the way to L.A. He was everywhere, and that diamond could have saved me.

“I half-expecting him to keep you up there. Why did he have you sent back in here?” He coughed.

I turned in his direction, snarling at the darkness, “Aren't you so damn nosy, old man?! You want to know what I did? I slapped him. Yes, I hit that godforsaken ‘billionaire’ in the face, knocked him off his pedestal for a good second. What about it?”

The man wheezed, “You did what?!”

I am angry, frustrated, irritated. “Instead of interrogating me, why don't you tell me what you did to be left to rot in a sad, cold cell? If you were so careful, why are you still here?!”

The old man goes silent. Even his coughs and wheezes stopped completely. Even through the darkness, I can feel him staring at me, coldly. I feel a chill in my belly.

The door suddenly opens, and the Head of Security, Dante, walks in. The light he brings with him is too bright.

"Mr. Garres has ordered your release." He says monotonously.

I am speechless with shock, watching his movements with wide eyes. That arrogant boss of theirs really told him to let me go? 

Suspicion slithers into my mind and I back further into the wall, shaking my head,

"Don't touch me! Are you guys trying to take me somewhere to kill me?"

Dante arches an eyebrow, "Mr. Garres just has no time for petty criminals like you. You being here is more of a nuisance to him than stealing from him."

I scoff, incredulous. And above all, in disbelief. Something just seems too fishy about the way he is letting me go just like that. From the icy look he gave me after I slapped me, I was convinced my death would be next.

While I am distracted by my thoughts, Dante slips out a white towel from inside his inner pocket. My eyes widen in horror and I try to lunge away from him. 

He is unfortunately too fast. One big arm locks around my shoulders and upper arms, completely immobilizing me. 

I struggle and try to scream, but his hand presses the towel against my mouth and nose, cutting my scream off.

A foul chemical makes its way into my airways almost instantly, and my struggle immediately grows sluggish. My eyelids droop without my consent, and I am still trying to scream when I completely go unconscious.

**

The rocking of a vehicle rouses me out of my drug induced slumber, and I blink sluggishly, looking around slowly. All of that grogginess snaps off when I see two men in suits on either side of me, in the backseat. And Dante is driving.

"Where are you taking me?! This is illegal!" I scream anxiously. "How dare you drug me?!"

Something about my words seem to be amusing to them, as I catch grins and smirks appearing on their faces. Dante swerves sharply into a rowdy street, and stops the car.

"Now." He says.

I am confused, until one of the guards at my side opens his seat door and steps out, yanking me out along with him. He pushes me towards the streets and gets back in, slamming the door shut. Just like that, the car sped off. 

I am sprawled in the asphalt dust, staring after them, completely stunned.

Am I free?