Chapter 4

The wind howled furiously around me as I stood in the middle of the field, lost and utterly drained. My legs felt numb, and when I looked down, they were a blur.

Where was I? My throat was dry and sore, each breath a struggle. The vast green field stretched before me, the grass swaying gently in the breeze. Sunlight bathed everything in a golden glow, making the scene almost surreal.

I tried to move, forcing my body to take a step, but nothing happened. My limbs refused to obey. Then it hit me—I had been on the brink of death. Had I really died? Was this heaven?

No… that couldn’t be right. Heaven wouldn’t take someone like me. If I wasn’t wanted in the human world, what made me think God would want me? I was nothing—just a pathetic loser with no one left.

Suddenly, the vibrant green of the field darkened, turning into an ominous black. The sky above twisted into swirling storm clouds. Then the voices started.

“Wake up.”

The words echoed in my mind, growing louder with each second. The ground beneath me trembled, my vision blurred, and just as I felt myself slipping away—

A sudden splash of ice-cold water shocked me back to reality.

I gasped, eyes snapping open.

“Will you get your sorry ass up now?!” A woman’s furious voice rang out, sharp with frustration.

But I barely heard her. My attention was locked on my surroundings—the extravagant room, the queen-sized bed I lay on. This wasn’t my tiny apartment. Everything screamed luxury, from the golden marbled walls to the ornate gilded bed frame.

Where the hell was I?

“Where am I?” I turned to face the middle-aged woman, who was already glaring at me.

My question seemed to irritate her even more, her scowl deepening.

“Will you shut up and get dressed immediately? You’ve already wasted enough time sleeping, and the boss won’t be happy.” She tossed a bag at me, and a piece of clothing slipped out.

I hesitated before picking up the bag, opening it to find a short, flared white skirt and a black crop top—both revealing far more than I was comfortable with.

“What the hell? There’s no way she expects me to wear this,” I muttered in disgust, shoving the clothes back inside the bag.

Determined to find something else, I stood up and made my way to the wardrobe, yanking it open—only to find it completely empty. A frustrated groan escaped me.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes drifting down to the clothes I was already wearing. That’s when I noticed it—the dark crimson stains smeared across the fabric. Blood.

A sharp chill ran through me as last night’s events came rushing back. The blinding headlights. The brutal impact. The man stepping out of the car, his cold, calculating eyes locked onto me.

“Time’s up.”

His chilling words echoed in my head, making my entire body tremble.

Oh my God.

Had I been abducted by that same man?

Without thinking further, I rushed out of the room, my only thought being escape. I didn’t know where I was going—I just knew I had to leave as soon as possible. That man… he was far from normal. He radiated danger, and something deep inside me whispered that he was responsible for my uncle’s death.

Panic surged through me as I searched desperately for an exit, but the place was massive, with endless hallways that all looked the same. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard approaching footsteps. Someone was coming.

To my left, I spotted a massive door. That had to be the way out.

“I have to get out of here before they catch me,” I muttered under my breath, throwing my weight against the heavy door. With a loud crash, it slammed open, hitting the wall with a force that echoed through the space.

I was ready to bolt—ready to sprint toward freedom—when my body froze mid-step.

My breath hitched as I took in the scene before me.

Dozens of eyes locked onto me, their stares sharp and assessing. The entire room was packed with women, all dressed in tight, revealing outfits. But it wasn’t just their appearance that made my blood run cold—it was what they carried.

Weapons.

Blades, whips, guns. Every single one of them was armed. Their bodies were marked with freakish tattoos, symbols I didn’t recognize but instinctively feared.

My legs refused to move. My mind screamed at me to run, but I was trapped in place, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of their presence.

Gosh, not now! My stupid legs decided this was the perfect time to give up on me.

As if on cue, the crowd of women suddenly shifted. They moved in perfect unison, splitting into two groups and clearing a path.

Something—or someone—was coming.

I had no idea what was happening, but it was starting to feel like I had stumbled into some kind of illegal operation. Normally, I’d find things like this thrilling—but only when I was watching from the safety of my bed, not starring in the scene myself.

“Is that the new member?” I heard some girls whispering as I unknowingly continued walking through the pathway they had cleared.

“Disgusting. What is she wearing?” another sneered.

Seriously? These girls, dressed like they had walked straight out of a dystopian nightclub, were judging my outfit? Sure, my clothes were stained, but at least I was more covered than they were.

Wait.

Why was I still walking forward?

Oh my God. I must have a death wish. Why wasn’t I stopping? Panic surged through me as I tried to halt my steps, only to realize—

A force was pushing me forward.

I turned slightly, just enough to glance over my shoulder—only to see the cold, metallic barrel of a gun pressed against my back.

“What the hell?” The words escaped me before I could stop them, my voice louder than intended.

The entire room fell silent.

A shiver ran down my spine as a figure stepped up behind me. His face was obscured by a curtain of dark hair, but the menace in his presence was unmistakable.

The gun at my back slid upward, pressing firmly against the side of my head.

“Will you move, or would you prefer to rest in pieces, darling?”

His voice was dangerously cold, sending a chill through me. If I weren’t the one he was threatening, I might have even found it attractive.

But right now?

I was shaking.

I didn’t move. I didn’t speak. I just stood there, bracing myself for the inevitable. Maybe this was it—maybe I had been calling for my own final moment all along.

The man behind me sneered, then cocked the gun, pressing it harder against my head. I flinched, my breath catching in my throat.

Then—

“Are you trying to take a life that belongs to me?”

A voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding.

Everyone, including me, turned toward the front of the room.

A man stood on a raised platform, his back to us. On either side of him were men dressed in casual clothes, while others—clad in suits and face masks, guns in hand—were stationed throughout the room. The girls remained in their lines, motionless, as if bound by some unspoken rule.

“I asked a question, Anthonio,” the man spoke again, his voice colder this time.

Anthonio. So that was the name of the man holding a gun to my head.

The moment his name was spoken, Anthonio lowered his weapon and took a step back. “I’m sorry, boss,” he muttered before walking away, heading toward the stage.

Boss?

Slowly, the man turned to face me.

My blood ran cold.

“Time’s up.”

The chilling words echoed in my head as fragmented memories surfaced—his face flashing before my eyes. Even from across the room, I recognized him instantly.

It was him.

The same man who had chosen money over life. The man who had ordered my uncle’s death without hesitation.

“Ladies,” he spoke, his gaze locked onto mine.

There was something in his eyes—something dark, dangerous. Even from a distance, I could feel his presence, suffocating and powerful.

“Yes, Master,” the women replied in perfect unison. Their voices rang through the room, echoing like a haunting chorus.

I was in deep trouble.

“Shall we test our new wild cat member?” the man asked, his voice laced with amusement.

The entire room erupted in excitement. The girls screamed and chanted, their voices blending into a deafening roar.

Wait—what did he mean by test?

Before I could process what was happening, a sharp force hit me from behind, shoving me hard to the ground. A wave of laughter and boos filled the air as I winced, my hands scraping against the cold floor.

“What’s happening?” I muttered, turning my head just in time to see a girl step forward.

She stared down at me, her face unreadable, but there was something unsettling about the way she stood—calm, poised, and completely unfazed.

“Ladies,” Anthonio’s voice rang out.

“Prepare for battle of the rank.”

The room erupted into cheers as the girl in front of me shifted into a fighting stance. My stomach dropped when she reached under her skirt and pulled out a knife, her deadly gaze locked onto me.

Wait—what?!

They expected me to fight her?!

Before I could fully process the situation, someone in the crowd screamed—

“Die!”

My head snapped up just in time to see the girl charging straight at me, her knife gleaming under the light.

My eyes widened in terror.

I was so screwed.