Chapter Four: The Rails Of Betrayal

Ian's POV

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the first thing that greeted me was the harsh sunlight pouring in from my left. It pierced my sight, forcing a wince as I hurriedly squinted.

Wait. Morning already? Where am I? Last night… I was attacked. Brenda… she-

My mind was still foggy, disoriented. Each attempt to recall what had happened only worsened the throbbing ache in my head.

As I turned my head to the side, a hammer of pain pounded into my skull.

"Hmmm…" I groaned, raising a hand instinctively.

But my hands wouldn’t move.

Panic exploded in my chest. I looked down, and my vision cleared just enough to see him - a hefty, cloaked man.

A flash, like a clock’s pendulum, jolted my memory.

It was him. The man from the alley. The one who attacked me. Only now, he was unmasked. His face was a map of horror - taut, unforgiving skin etched with grotesque scars.

And he was strapping me into a wheelchair.

"What are you doing?! What the hell are you doing?!" I screamed, hysteria rising in my throat.

I bucked wildly, every fiber in my body struggling against the ropes biting into my flesh.

"Let me go! Fucking let me go!"

But he ignored me, calmly securing the straps.

"I said let me go, you monster!"

I bent my head, aiming for his hand on my chest. When I caught it, I bit down hard.

"Hmmm!!!" he grunted, then swung a heavy fist into my face.

CRACK.

Pain exploded through my jaw. I felt something loosen. Then it hit the floor - my front tooth.

"Bastard," he muttered.

Blood flooded from my mouth, painting my white shirt with thick, crimson ink.

I raised my head, glaring at him through tears and fury. "You monster! You dare hit me? You dare-"

His fist struck again, this time with brutal force. The blow toppled both me and the chair.

I cried out. Pain seared through my ribs and cheek. Bound, helpless, I writhed in the chair.

"Look who's awake."

That voice - icy, familiar.

I turned.

Brenda.

She stood there, arms folded, lips curled into a smirk.

"Get him up," she commanded.

The brute obeyed, lifting me and setting me upright before her.

Brenda stepped closer and crouched to meet my eyes. "Oh my! Did Figo do that to you?" she cooed with a mock gasp, her eyes twinkling with dark amusement.

"But you could've just complied. Figo doesn't like troublesome little pests like you."

Rage bubbled inside me.

"Untie me, you sick freak! You’re insane!"

Brenda's smile faded. She turned to Figo, irritation flashing in her eyes. "I told you to break him. Why is he still flapping his lips like a goddamn parrot?"

"I'll fix it," Figo grunted, stepping forward.

Brenda raised her hand, stopping him. "No. But just know there’s a deduction coming when I pay the rest."

Her words struck me like lightning.

She… hired him?

My breath caught. The realization was swift and suffocating.

She orchestrated this.

Brenda caught my expression. "Oh, poor Ian. You're just figuring it out?"

More blood slid from my lips as I stared at her, disbelief and sorrow roiling inside me.

"Why?" I whispered, voice hoarse. "Why are you doing this to me, Brenda?"

Her smirk dissolved into a bitter frown. "Don’t act clueless."

"Because I am clueless! What the hell did I do to deserve this?!"

WHAM!

Her hand lashed across my face.

"You ruined everything!" she screamed, seething.

I flinched, pain slicing my already throbbing cheek. My voice broke. "If this is about the hundred thousand-”

Another slap, this one even fiercer.

"You sabotaged my plan! I would've been in Bellaham by now, spending that money. But no! You, Ian, you ruined everything. You even slapped me!"

Tears blurred my vision. "You tried to ruin my name. I only defended myself."

"Defended yourself? You exposed me! I lost my job because of you! Everyone thinks I’m a thief now!"

I choked on a sob. "I lost mine too."

She laughed coldly. "Lost it or ran away like a coward?"

How did she know? How did she know that I resigned?

I opened my mouth, but she cut in.

"Enough games. It’s time you die."

"W-what? D-die?"

She wheeled me around, pointing. "There. That’s your stage. That's where you'll spend your last minutes of relaxation."

My eyes followed.

A railway track. Just a few feet away.

My heart stalled.

Then I heard it.

"PONNN PONNN PONNN!!"

A train horn. Distant but fast approaching.

Vibrations rumbled beneath us.

Click. Click. Click.

I froze.

"Please, Brenda! Don’t do this!" I begged.

She smirked. "We’re in Kumasa now. Miles from the city. Took a boat ride. You might wonder how I escaped the station? Touched a few heads, sucked a few cocks. Got me favors."

She leaned in, voice like poison. "Did you think I’d let you ruin me and walk away?"

"Brenda, please! It hasn’t come to this-”

"It has!" she exploded.

"You’ll die here. No trace. No body. Just meat and bones under a speeding train."

Terror ripped through me. Tears poured freely.

"I’ll fix everything! I’ll tell Mr. Barry I took the money! Just pleaseee. Don’t do this!"

She leaned in, her breath cold on my ear. "You want to do something for me?"

"Yes! Anything!"

She straightened and spat her answer.

"I want you to die. Die, Ian! Fucking die!”

She turned to Figo. "You know what to do."

And like that, he shoved the wheelchair onto the tracks.

My blood turned ice.

The rails shook beneath me. The train was coming.

"PONNN!"

I screamed. I bucked. I pleaded.

"Brenda!! Brenda, please!! We can fix this! We can talk!"

She looked at her watch. "Time’s up. Say hi to hell."

Then she walked off.

"Let’s go, Figo. I don’t want to see his limbs flying."

I screamed after them, raw desperation in every word.

"Brenda! Brenda!! Please! Don’t leave me here!"

They disappeared.

"PONNNN!!"

I turned to the oncoming train. It blazed forward, unstoppable.

"BRENDAAAA!!!"

But it was too late.

GBOAA!!

The train hit.

Silence followed.

No pain. No sound. Nothing.

Just… silence.

Just death.