Chapter 4

Chapter 4

All my body absolutely hurts like hell, I woke up a few minutes ago, but didn't move to avoid drawing attention to myself. I carefully checked around me and saw that I was the only one in the room, the kidnappers are no where to be found, but that didn't put me at ease because they can be anywhere. 

My stomach hurts so bad, I need to see a doctor. I know deep down that I've had a miscarriage. Stephanie did this to me and I'll never forgive her, she'll pay for treating my innocent child like this. 

After a few more minutes, I moved my body into an upright position, already weak from the pain. I tried to untie the rope around my wrists which was surprisingly loose and it was easy for me to free my hands. 

Next I untied the ones on my leg. I noticed a club not too far from me, I moved to carry it and hid it behind me. The sound of footsteps came and I immediately lied on the floor again. I waited, but no one entered the room, instead the sound continued till it faded away. 

With new determination, I stood up with the aid of the club and walked towards the door, it wasn't locked. I guess the kidnappers were confident that I wouldn't run away. I pushed it to see a small hallway. No one was in sight so I rushed out. 

My body in agony, I ignored it but kept moving as fast as I could. I saw a window at the end of the hallway leading outside to a bushy area, when I was very close to it one of the kidnappers saw me and alerted the others. 

A rush of adrenaline coursed through me as I jumped out of the window. I landed with a thud on the ground, luckily it was from the ground floor so I wasn't injured too badly. I stood up and started running into the woods. The moon is shining bright in the sky with the little stars glittering around it, beautiful but not for me who is on survival mode. 

I ran deep and deep inside the woods, the bushes cut through my skin, but I didn't feel much pain from that. I hear the kidnappers getting closer. The thought of getting killed by Stephanie doesn't hurt as much as the thought of being killed by my own brother. Although I was adopted by the Bruce family when I was little, I had always treated Jacob as a good baby brother. His betrayal hurts more. 

I ran with all my strength until I came across a huge lake. I'm not a good swimmer and I don't want to take the risk of swimming. I looked around and noticed a tree, then rushed to hide behind it, covering my mouth with my hands to not make any noise that would draw attention. 

The kidnappers came a few minutes later, all stopped in front of the lake. I saw Jacob with them, holding a gun too. 

“She couldn't have gone too far, maybe we missed her. With her injuries I'm sure she's somewhere close,” One of the kidnappers said. 

“So what? Big one already informed miss Stephanie of her escape, I'd rather kill myself than die by that crazy woman. We need to find your sister asap,” Another one spat out in annoyance.

“She is not my sister!”Jacob shouted and I flinched at his tone and words— so much hate and bitterness could be heard from it. 

I stayed still, hoping they'll go back which should give me the opportunity to run. 

“Enough both of you,” The kidnapper that spoke first said to Jacob and the second man. “Our main goal here is to look for her, if she gets help before we find her, you know how dire the consequences will be, so right now we should split up and keep searching, she couldn't have gone too far,” 

I saw them split up, fortunately for me, no one headed in my direction, I felt a few moments of relief but it was short-lived by a rustling sound behind me and that sound caught their attention. 

“Who's there?” Jacob shouted.

“Selena? Is that you?” He said again, but I just kept quiet and still. The sound came again, I turned to see a raccoon behind me. Raccoons just became my most hated animal. 

“There she is, behind that tree,” I ran immediately and realized I was spotted, but it seemed nature was against me as I tripped over a root and fell. The fall made the kidnappers catch up to me.

“Think you're smart right, running away,” One said as he pulled my hair. I look at Jacob with pleading eyes. 

“Why?” I asked with a sob. 

“You should have never been adopted,” He just said. They made an attempt to move me, but I kicked the one holding me on his shin and pushed him, I immediately started running towards the lake. 

“Son of a bitch,” I heard one of them say something and suddenly there was a loud sound.

Bang!

A gun shot, one of them shot me in my shoulder, the shot slowed me down, but I still kept moving. I turned my head back just to see Jacob pointed the gun at me, a second gunshot rang out and I fell into the lake, the second bullet lodged deep inside my abdomen. I tried to swim up, but my body refused to listen, I was either dying from the gunshot wounds or I was drowning in the lake. 

I hoped for help to come even though it won't happen, I thought of Darian, I wouldn't be in this condition if not for my love for him. Will he even be sad if I die, he'll probably be relieved. I realized how lonely my life was— my own brother sided with an outsider to kill me and I don't have any friends too

I hear sounds above me in the lake, probably the kidnappers arguing. I could be hallucinating, but I saw a child swimming towards me, a huge smile on her face. She seemed to be swimming close, but was getting farther and farther away. I closed my eyes to enjoy a rare moment of peace. A smile graced my lips, at the end of the day I'll be free from all these suffering. 

I started floating towards the surface of the lake, the kidnappers didn't notice me, it was then I realized I'm like one with the air, invincible to others, I'm a spirit. 

I watched them in anger, still arguing. 

“They will all pay,” I screamed even though no one could hear me.

“All of you will pay for doing this to me, Stephanie I will haunt you and ensure you live a restless life till you die,” I said with conviction. 

“You will all pay for killing my child,” I said, slowly, like a whisper. 

Just then things changed, when the kidnappers were caught up in their argument, another set of people showed up, led by one man that's oddly familiar. 

They immediately surrounded the kidnappers, when they tried to fight back, they got subdued easily.

“Where is she?” The man that looked familiar said to Joseph. 

“You're too late Lucas, she's in the lake,” Jacob said without any remorse.

Then it suddenly clicked, the man who came was Lucas, Darian's business rival. I laughed at my bitter fate, the enemy was the one who came to save me, before I could do anything, I felt my spirit being pulled up by a huge

force. And then everything, including me, faded into nothingness.