1 | Run!

Nikki's POV

The leaves below my feet were crushing, scrunching as if they were announcing to the world that I am trying to escape.

Escape from the reality of my life!

Sometimes life throws you in such situations where you don't understand what to do next?

The point where you want to go in the past and change your decision but you can't is the point where you want to run, run away from everything, even from oneself.

This is exactly what I am doing right now!

Running aimlessly among the woods, going where my feet are taking me.

"Jaan (Darling)"

Oh my God!

My feet stopped, my brain became dead, my heart started beating in leaps and bounds, my palms turned numb as I heard him calling me.

He has caught me!

NO!

"Jaaan (Darling)" he sang the name and whistled in the end.

He started calling me his 'Jaan' (life) from the day he came to know its meaning.

A loud gasp escaped my throat and my hands immediately shot up to seal my lips and restrain them from making any sound. My breathing was harsh and my chest was heaving up and down in anticipation. I could feel perspiration running down my forehead and tears rolling down my cheek.

I was not this weak, No!

I am standing between woods, darkness surrounding me, the clouds are also against me as they have hidden the moon behind them, snatching the only source of my light.

Currently, the situation of my life is mirroring my surroundings, Completely dark and aimless.

I am at that point of life at which I don't know where I am standing and where I am going next. All I could see is blackness which is scaring me even more as I don't know what is waiting next for me.

With the help of my senses and hands, I found the way, slid down the tree when I found one and used the bushes to hide myself from the devil of my life, the one who is behind me to ruin me completely.

The white color of my wedding gown has now turned muddy and it is torn from different places, mirroring the situation of my heart.

"Jaan, come out" the monster sang "I know you are hiding here, so come out on your own if you don't want to become the victim of my wrath" he raved.

I shivered but kept quiet. I don't want to get caught. If he caught me this time he will surely eat me raw. He will torture me every day but won't let me die.

"You know how much I love you. There is no benefit in hiding as you know I will unearth you, no matter what it takes!" He added.

I shook my head vigorously. This time I won't let him find me. No!

I came on my knees and palms and started crawling away as I heard his feet approaching me. Something tweaked my palm sharply but I kept on moving ahead ignoring the pain. I am not going to give up like this. I will fight till my last breath. He can't snatch my everything from me just like that.

He is a complete psychopath!

Crawling forward I saw a ray of hope when I found the road. I am sure someone would be there who could help me in coming out of this situation.

Wiping the tears from the back of my palm, I gathered my dress with hope in my heart, stood up, and bolted towards the road only to get jerked back by my hair.

"Missed me... Jaan?"

Dread crippled up my skin as he whispered in my ear. I tried to pull away but his grip was too tight to let me go.

Oh, God! How was I caught up in this situation? What have I done to receive all this?

"Leave me, you monster. Let me go!" I yelled, thrashing in his hold.

He wrapped my strands around his wrist and whirled me around to face him. His eyes that have now become my nightmare staring directly into mine, making me shiver at my place. His jaw was tightly clenched, eyes spitting fire, breathing was harsh and lips were pressed into a thin line.

"Welcome to your hell, my Queen!" The corner of his lips twitched a bit as he smirked devilishly.

He jerked my hair harshly, it seems like he wants to pull out the hair from my scalp. He never cares that his moves are hurting me and then he says that he loves me.

If this is what love means then I don't want love in my life! I am happy to stay alone.

"Come on now, let's finish our wedding rituals so that I can show how much I love you" his hand moved down from my hair to grip my arm.

As his attention diverted a bit, I used it as an opportunity and kicked him at his groin. He instantly left my arm to cover his crotch and yelped in pain. Taking it as a cue I turned on my heels and ran towards the road.

For the first time, luck was on my side as he was alone, his men were not following him to catch me. He doesn't like his men touching me that's why he must have come alone. Without looking here and there I ran for the sake of my life.

It was a do or die situation for me.

I turned down the alley and a sharp stone drugged in my heels making me yelp in pain but this pain is nothing in comparison to the agony I have gone through due to that monster. I ignored the pain and just kept running and running until I didn't reach a place where I could hear human voices.

I could see the back of a few men who were dressed in black suits. My heart flushed in happiness and I took two steps towards them to ask for help. But as I moved forward I saw guns in their hands which halted my movement.

Anxiety ran through my veins, heart throbbed in terror.

I can't trust them! What if they also work for the monster who is trying to cage me. He is also into guns and drugs.

No! I can't!

As I was looking for a source I saw piles of sacks that were stuffed with something. The pile was long and wide enough to cover me completely. With silent steps, I cornered around and hide myself behind it. There was space between the sacks which allowed me to see what was happening there.

The men whispered something and dispersed around, revealing a man who was lying on the floor, beaten black and blue. Looking at the situation of the poor man a gasp was about to escape my lips but I bite them hard to restrain them from moving and making any sound.

I have to keep quiet if I want to escape alive.

The silence was broken by the sound of boots against the floor. A man entered the alley, his personality was dominating. I couldn't see the face of the man who entered the place but the way those men got alert and bowed their heads, clarified that he is their boss.

The man lying on the floor cried and joined his hand in front of him, begging for mercy, my heart clenched looking at the way the man was pleading for his life but the mysterious man didn't give any heed. He pulled out his gun and without thinking twice, shot him in between his eyes.

"Ahhhhhh!"

We heard two screams at the same time. One was from that poor man who died on the spot and another one was from me, who was going to die next.

One of the sacks that were hiding my face fell on the ground and I used my palms to cover my face. At the moment I just wanted the earth to open up and swallow me whole.

My scream was followed by pin-drop silence and I could feel many eyes on me that froze me at my place. I didn't dare to move away from my hand and look at those men.

The ice-chilling silence was again broken by the sound of boots which this time was stepping towards me.

I shivered and whimpered as the tears started forming in my eyes. The sound of his steps stopped when he reached me. The sound of his harsh breath was indicating that he is standing very close to me.

My fingers started curling on their own as I felt his breaths fanning my forehead. He doesn't need to touch me to burn me, his hot breath and heat radiated by his body were enough for me to melt.

With teary eyes and zero hope, I looked up to see another green eyed monster standing in front of me. His dark and empty eyes were penetrating my soul. He became quiet and still for a moment as he stared deep into my chocolaty brown eyes.

"Elena!"

He whispered under his breath without moving his eyes from mine, but due to proximity, my ears caught what he called me. His voice was so thick and powerful that I felt my knees going jelly.

My world stopped and my eyes widened when he lifted his murderous hands to touch me!

And the only thought that came to my head was to run! Run again for the sake of my life!