CHAPTER TWO (The Chase)

Helen

I still hear conversations outside, but can't connect or piece together the words. My dry throat increases my thirst for more drinks, and I smack my mouth repeatedly like a drunkard on a bar stool ready to shut down. 

My vision has now become vividly blurred, I stretch toward the sound of the ringing phone, and I feel my purse. I bring out the phone and look at the screen. Sadly, all I see is a red light. The substance has finally distorted my vision, bringing it to total shutdown.

I shut my eyes and lift my head, reckoning on the dilemma of regaining consciousness and consuming more alcohol that's playing in my head at the moment. After a few seconds, I decide to go outside and get more wine.

I stagger towards the door, and my head continues to spin mercilessly. I barely locate the door handle, so I give up and lean on the wall, then listen to the rhythm of my racing heart. Some weird sex scene from the movies I'd seen starts playing in my head, and unconsciously I start licking my lower lips. 

I try to open my eyes, but it feels as if my eyes were gum shut. My brain instantly starts reminding me how much my body craves touch, how my lips long for passionate yet terrific kisses. That's the work of the wicked adrenaline rush. I feel so horny. I wonder why the urge comes now. It might put me in serious trouble if it persists.

The thought of what Rex could do to me if he sees me in this state starts flooding my mind, somehow it disgusts me, especially as I imagine his fat tummy on top of me. But the strong urge makes me for a minute think it wouldn't be a bad idea to go down with him. My breathing continued racing fast, like my lungs had just been released from a grip. I couldn't hold on any longer. My strength and legs have finally failed me. Slowly, I drop to the ground and fade off, unconsciously.

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Helen

I slowly tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids were too heavy for a slow opening. It's the same feeling I get any time I take cough syrup. I feel so tired. I decided not to try again and continue sleeping, but the tumbling and shaking with the loud sound of shoes on a tiled floor refused me to sleep. I finally opened my eyes, the environment was different from the dressing room. It wasn't dimly lit. Moreover, I don't remember being in a cap, so why am I in a motion? As I observe further, I discover I am in the arms of a muscular man with dark shades. From his outfit, I immediately knew he was a bodyguard. One of Mr. Rex's bodyguards, I suppose.

Wait, how did I get into his arms? A question only illusion can answer.

“Where am I? Drop me at once,” I try to sound authoritative. Expecting him to react timidly and drop me immediately, but he did not attempt to respond, rather he continued pacing with his face fixed on the front like someone on a war front.

I wiggle my legs with all my strength trying to get off his grip, but unfortunately, all my effort was like a little chick struggling in the palm of the farmer. The substance has gotten through my bloodstream, making me more soft and fragile. 

“I will scream and accuse you of rape now if you do not put me down,” I said in between breaths.

“I will advise you to stay quiet, ma'am, I can be mischievous sometimes. I am following  Mr. Rex's order to bring you to him, he's waiting in his lodge for you. And to reach there in one piece, you need to stay calm.” His deep, cold voice brought reality upon me. 

At that very moment, I knew I was finished, they must have found me in the dressing room. Tears gathered in my eyes as I gazed up at him. 

“Let me go, please. I'm not a spoiled girl,” I whisper in despair, hoping he would see my sad face and change his mind. He ignores me and my wailing tears and proceeds to the last door in the corridor.

At this point, the only way out is to run, but he'd hold me so tight that my effort to get off his grip is to no avail, and even if I have the chance to run I'm not sure of running three steps because the substance has weakened me, blurred my vision and drop me powerless. The only thing that works perfectly in my body now is my mouth. I must use it if I want to overcome this.

The corridor itself is as quiet as a graveyard. If a pin drops on the tile, the sound will be tantamount to that of a bunch of keys.

I know he will drop me when he reaches Mr. Rex's lodge. He needs to open the door or make some calls. But what will I do?   

I try to familiarize myself with the environment as he proceeds to the last door in the corridor. But I couldn't connect the way in or out. All I see is a long walkway and one faint door on the left side of the corridor. That’s the only door that was closer to us.

When he finally reached the last door, which instinctively, I know is Mr. Rex's, he dropped me just as I predicted. 

This time, my legs were as if the tibia and femur bones were replaced with cartilage. I sank to the ground as soon as my feet touched the cold floor and started to crawl.  The faint door was my destination. I feel hopeful as I crawl towards there. Somehow, I was certain that help would come from there. 

My hope was cut short when a thunderous slap landed on my face.

A vague fever flushed through my pale face and I screamed in absolute pain. I cover my face with my palms and lay flat on the floor. Sobbing. 

 “Where do you think you're going?” The bodyguard asked as he dropped one of his knees to reach me on the floor.

He wrapped my hair around his fingers and pulled my head up to his face. I winced as my head hurts, and I feel the already intensified headache increase in percentage. 

“People that stay here are not your hostel mates, stay quiet, and do as I say. Don't blame me if you sustain any mischief because of your hardheadedness” his voice has all cruelty.  

“All my life I have lived with tears and pain, yet it never breaks my toenail or my nose bone, to think I will throw myself to that filthy swine all in the name of fame and riches is a lunatic thinking. My sanity is intact, and I will fight till my last drop to keep it that way, so Mr. Bodyguard, get Rex and yourself to eat shit.” the tears were just rolling out uncontrollably, as I speak explaining all the harboring pains in my heart. I wish I was stronger.

So sad he has no stain of pity, instead, from his narrowed eyes, he is provoked to the extreme.

“The little fly has guts, I will make sure that before you reach Mr. Rex, you have gotten enough from me. I will start with your nose bone. Watch me.” he squeezed my chin with his left hand and slowly uncurled his fingers from my hair. I squirmed in pain, but he ignored me. He set his fist on my nose bone, making sure that he’ll not miss before flinging it right to my face. I knew the pain will be excruciating but at some point bearable, so I close my eyes and wait for the punch, but it never comes.

“That's enough, let go of her.” 

It was a deep, cold masculine voice, filled with pain but more of anger. I opened my eyes and could vaguely see Mr. Rex's bodyguard's hand hanging in the air with a strong arm clutching on his wrist.  I follow the arm which lead me to his face slowly, but the tons of tears I’ve cried and the substance running through my bloodstream has blurred my vision completely. I could only faintly see a shirtless pale muscular body with hairs that look unkept like someone who has been locked up in a cage for countless years. For a second, I became proud of myself for being strong.

The man groaned like a beast of the forest, like a hungry roaring lion in particular, ready to devour its unlucky prey. The aura he’s emitting is far greater than that of the man he’s holding his wrist.

Mr. Rex's bodyguard shakes in fear. “Who are you?”

“He is your doom,” a voice came from behind. His legs began to shake and beads of sweat ran from his forehead to his neck as the man approached with his shoes striking loudly against the tile floor. He frights like someone who has seen the death that will kill him.