Unknown route

Chapter 6: Unknown route

Jasper stood there leaning against the wall.

His presence hit me like a blast of ice. My breath caught and my pulse started racing.

His eyes met mine and they were cold, dark and furious.

“You really have no shame, do you?” he hissed, his voice slithering through the air like venom. The last person I expected to see was standing in front of me.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, finally finding my voice. It trembled, but I masked it with steel.

He stepped toward me. I instinctively stepped back, every part of my being recoiling.

“This is Nathan’s hotel,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “You have no reason to be here.”

“So now you’re f*cking my brother too? The one i despise so much, First, you fornicked with me, now him? Is that how you climb your way to the top?” His voice was low, laced with bitterness. “You don’t have to do all this. I told you I still want to be with you. I just need a year, just one year and we will get married.”

My stomach turned. The words curled around me like smoke, choking the breath from my lungs. The sheer audacity of him, twisting the past and rewriting the truth to make himself the victim.

Before I even realized what I was doing, my hand rose and slapped him across the face really hard.

The sound echoed in the hallway like a crack of thunder.

“Don’t you ever talk to me like that,” I spat. “You lost the right to speak to me the day you chose my sister over me, the day you betrayed me without flinching. You’re just mad because I never let you into my bed, right? Well, guess what, Jasper, you’ll never get that chance, not now, not ever.”

His jaw tensed. A red mark bloomed across his cheek but the anger in his eyes didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened.

“You were nothing but a distraction, a mere fling” he sneered.

“Then why are you here?” I demanded. “Why are you stalking me like a pathetic coward?”

That’s when the door to the suite opened.

Nathan stepped out, his expression unreadable at first then swiftly changing into fury as he took in the scene. I was shaking with rage and Jasper filled with anger, still holding his cheek.

“Jasper,” Nathan said, his voice cool but dangerous. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Just catching up with your slut,” Jasper growled.

And then it happened.

Nathan moved like lightning.

His fist connected with Jasper’s jaw in a perfect arc, sending him staggering back into the opposite wall. The impact echoed through the hall, brutal and satisfying.

“You say one more word,” Nathan growled, towering over him, “and I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

Jasper clutched his jaw, eyes blazing.

“She was mine!” he shouted, almost desperately.

“No,” Nathan said, stepping protectively in front of me. “She was never yours and thank God for that.”

He took my hand gently but firmly and pulled me inside, slamming the suite door shut behind us. The sound rang like closure.

Inside, I collapsed onto the couch, my legs trembling. Nathan crouched in front of me, his eyes scanning my face, his hands steadying my shoulders.

“Elena,” he said softly. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, even though my body trembled in shock. “I didn’t know he would be here. I swear, Nathan......”

He cut me off, shaking his head. “You don’t have to explain anything. I believe you. I know what he’s like and i will deal with him.”

Tears sprang to my eyes. His words anchored me.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He wrapped his arms around me and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could exhale and I wasn’t alone anymore.

That night, Nathan drove me home. He insisted, even though I told him I could call a cab. I think neither of us was ready to be apart.

He held my hand in the car, thumb gently tracing circles against my skin. Silence filled the space between us, not uncomfortable, just…...... Safe.

When he dropped me off, he didn’t say goodbye. He just said, “Call me if you need anything..... anything at all.”

I nodded.

I went in and I heard the car driving off afterwards. I can't seem to understand Nathan. He acts cold to me but gets worried once I get hurt. He had always been like that from when we were young. Nathan, Jasper and I used to be close friends but we got separated when Nathan left and Japser remained.

I headed for my room and showered then pounced onto my bed but sleep didn’t come easy.

I tossed and turned, haunted by Jasper’s words. His face and the twisted pain in his eyes which told me that he was not done yet.

What kind of storm was I walking into?

.........................

The next morning, I dressed simply. A plain black turtleneck, faded jeans and the same shoes I’d worn for past one year. I couldn’t afford luxury anymore not since Mrs. Rivers froze my accounts but there was strength in simplicity and survival. I scaled through promising myself to become a famous doctor like Mr. Rivers, my mentor and saviour.

I booked a cab to school and arrived early. I made it through three classes without any incident but peace, once again, was a fleeting illusion.

I was halfway through lunch when I saw her.

Mia Collins.

Once my high school rival, now my college tormentor. She hadn’t changed a bit. She still wore envy like perfume and gathered her sycophants like a queen assembling her court.

She approached with a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Hello, Elena,” she purred, her voice cunning and false. “You seem… lonely.”

One of her minions giggled. “Of course she is. Jasper dumped her for her sister. That’s gotta hurt, right?"

I clutched my fork but didn’t raise my gaze.

“I see you guys enjoy taunting others,” I said quietly. “But I’m not in the mood to entertain your insecurities today so kindly get out.”

Mia’s smile dropped and her eyes flared. She slammed her palm onto the table, drawing eyes from other students.

“You’ve got guts, Elena but you just messed with the wrong people.”

I looked up at her, calm and tired.

“Oh please,” I said, rising to my feet. “Take your empty threats, your circus crew and your high school bitterness somewhere else.”

She clenched her jaw, her composure cracking for a split second.

“Careful,” she whispered. “You’re making enemies in places you can’t afford to escape from.”

She spun on her heel and stormed off, her entourage fluttering behind like fabric in the wind but there was something in her eyes… it wasn’t just pettiness anymore.

It was intent.

......................

After my last class, I walked to the street corner and booked a cab.

The sun was low, casting long shadows along the sidewalk. I got in the car and gave the driver my address.

At first, everything seemed normal. We turned onto familiar roads but then…

He took a left where he should’ve gone right.

The neighbourhood shifted. Shops turned to warehouses. The sky seemed to darken, even though the sun was still out.

My heart began to race.

“Excuse me,” I said, forcing my voice to stay level. “This isn’t the way to my house.”

The driver said nothing.

I glanced at his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing sunglasses and a cap pulled low, I couldn’t see him clearly.

“Sir?” I tried again.

Still silence.

My fingers trembled as I reached for my phone, keeping it low near my thigh.

I opened my messages and typed with shaky thumbs:

"I’m in danger, Nathan. The driver looks suspicious and I don’t know where he’s taking me." Then I hit send.