CHAPTER SIX

Arielle’s POV

Pain was the first thing I felt when I woke up with a sharp throb at the back of my head pulsing against my skull like something alive. 

My eyelids were so heavy and my throat was dry.  My body was weak in a way that immediately sent panic crawling through my chest.

I tried to move but noticed that a rope was tightened around my wrists.

When my eyes finally snapped open, I saw darkness but not completely as there was a dim light flickering somewhere above me but it was too weak to cast a long shadow against the concrete walls.

Not complete darkness. A dim light flickered somewhere above me, weak enough to cast long shadows against concrete walls..

The air had a smell of cold and industrial damp with my breathing turning uneven. The memories of what happened to me came slamming into me in broken flashes.

I could remember that we were at the gala, Alora approaching Viktor, hands grabbing me trying to force a cloth over my mouth and Viktor screaming my name.

I tried jerking against the ropes again in a harder way this time but all to no avail.

“Take it easy girl, you might hurt yourself.” A female voice came echoing from the corner of the room.

I recognized the voice to be Alora’s. Then I I adjusted my eyes towards the direction of the voice in order to get a better view of her.

She was sitting  and smiling with one leg crossing over the other like this was some casual meeting instead of a kidnapping.

“Well,you woke up faster than most people would do.” She said softly, making my pulse spike.

“What do you want from me?” I asked sternly with no sign of fear.

“Straight to the point. I like that about you. You know” She said, leaning closer to me. 

“You kidnapped me.” I said staring at her

“Yes, I did and would do that a thousand times if I got the chance,” she replied without hesitation.

 “You’re insane.”  I cursed with anger surging through me instantly 

 “You have no idea of what I’m capable of .” She said letting out a quiet laugh 

I started looking  around again, forcing myself to think of a possible way out but the door was metal and the room had only one window which was too high to reach. Moreover, there are no visible weapons or any immediate way out.

“Why do I need to worry?. Viktor will definitely find me.” I said almost mocking her.

The moment those  words left my mouth, a wave of jealousy came flickering across her face.

“She already talks like she belongs to him,” she murmured standing up slowly, with her  heels clicking softly against the concrete floor as she walked towards me.

“You really don’t know anything, do you?. Maybe he didn’t tell you why he chose you? He’s really cruel.” She said moving close enough to me that I could smell her perfume.

Before I could respond to her, the metal door behind her bursted open and a man stepped inside quickly.

“Nikita called. Viktor’s men are already searching the east district.” He announced and Alora’s expression darkened instantly.

“He’s really that fast like he’s tearing through everyone.” Alora said.

Then I observed that the tension in the room sharpened and I just realized for the first time since waking up that I could feel a little bit of fear not because I thought Viktor wouldn’t come but I realized that the only man who clicks come to a rescue like that could possibly be more that an ordinary man.

“You should drink something, you must be thirsty” Alora said, placing a bottle in front of me after she returned.

“You drugged me once already and you think you can succeed again.” I said looking at the bottle and then back at Alora but she kept on staring at me.

“The funny part is that you still trust Viktor” she said, sighing softly and sitting close to me again.

“No, I don’t trust him,” I replied immediately.

“Then why did you say he’d come for you like it comforted you?” She asked, smiling wider.

That statement hit harder than it should have because a part of me hated the answer.

Maybe because I think that somewhere between his threats, his control, and the way he looked at me like he already owned every part of me, I am starting to believe that he would protect me too. Though the thought made me sick.

“You know, I used to look at him like that too. It wasn’t jealousy, trust me if not for anything I almost feel sorry for you.” She said softly whilst studying my silence carefully.

“This isn’t jealousy,” she continued. “Trust me. If anything, I almost feel sorry for you.”

“You kidnapped me and you are pretending  to care so much. I feel you should settle whatever issues you had with Viktor and leave me out of it.” I said angrily, snapping at her.

“You think Viktor is dangerous because he threatens people?. No, that’s not what makes him terrifying.” She responded quietly almost ignoring my statement

“What are you talking about?” I asked with the room suddenly feeling colder.

“He destroys people without changing his expression. He did it long before you came into his life. And he’ll do it long after you.” She added.

Before I could respond, another man entered quickly looking nervous.

“Boss, we noticed some unusual movement outside.” He said with urgency in his voice.

“How many are they?” Alora asked, standing instantly and ready to move.

“We saw at least six vehicles.” The man replied.

I realized that Viktor and his men must have arrived to save me.

“Move her now.” Alora cursed under her breath. The words came snapping through the room like a gunshot which made my stomach drop.

Just then two men started approaching me immediately.

 “Don’t touch me!” I shouted jerking backwards violently.

But they were stronger than I was as they whisked me away so easily. Though I kicked hard, it was useless.

The ropes around my wrists were cut roughly before one of the men yanked me upright, shooting pains through my numb hands instantly.

“Move.” One of them ordered.

I was stumbling forward as they dragged me toward the door.

Outside the room, there was a warehouse stretching endlessly with rusted metal containers and dim overhead lights.

Immediately we got outside we heard gunshots exploding from every corner.

The gunshots were getting closer this time and the  men around me immediately started reaching  for their  weapons. My heart was slamming violently against my ribs as chaos was erupting  instantly.

I could hear people shouting and running for their safety with metal crashing somewhere in the distance.

And then I heard a loud scream and one of the guards beside me suddenly dropped to the floor with blood exploding from his chest.

The second guard shoved me violently behind a container.

“Stay down!” He ordered as more gunfire was still erupting.

I pressed myself against the cold metal container, breathing hard as footsteps were  thundering around me.

Then I heard Viktor’s voice calling out my name from a distance despite the loud gunshots echoing in the air.

“Arielle!” He called out and I felt a ray of hope since I was abducted 

I heard slow footsteps around the container and I heard my breath to avoid being noticed.

Suddenly, a figure appeared around the container. It was Viktor and relief just hit me.

But the moment our eyes met, the relief vanished because he didn’t look relieved, rather he  looked murderous with blood stains around the sleeve of his black shirt. And his eyes are dark enough to make my stomach twist.

“Are you hurt?” He asked me quickly, moving closer to me.

The moment I opened my mouth to respond, something cold pressed against the back of my head. It was a gun.

“Take one more step and I’ll paint the floor with her brains.” Alora threatened from behind.

Viktor went still instantly as every muscle in his body was tightening even my breathing turned shallow.

Alora stepped fully into view behind me, the gun still steadily against my head smiling.

“You know, this is exactly why I warned you not to choose her.” She said softly.

“Let her go Alora.”Viktor said with his voice dropping dangerously low.

“No.”

The single word echoed sharply through the warehouse.

“No. You have  ruined everything for her, just like you ruined everything you touch.” She said with a threatening tone.

“Alora.”He called out with his gaze but leaving me.

“Don’t,…. “Don’t say my name like you didn’t destroy me first.” She snapped suddenly.

I could feel the tension building around us like something seconds away from exploding. And my pulse was continuously pounding. 

Then Alora laughed softly and whispered something against my ear that made my blood run cold.

“He still hasn’t told you why he chose you, has he?” She asked and my stomach dropped instantly.

“What do you even mean by that?” I asked, whispering. 

Alora smiled widely while looking directly at Viktor.

And fired the gun.