Chapter 5

“Stop!” a voice yelled.

I panted heavily, my own ragged breathing echoing in my ears. As I looked up, my gaze landed on a sharp knife—its tip hovering dangerously close to my eye. The girl holding it had frozen mid-motion, her blade mere inches from my face.

Panic surged through me. Forcing my numb legs to move, I scrambled back, my heart pounding.

The girl remained perfectly still, her expression blank—unfeeling. She looked less like a person and more like a lethal, robotic creature wielding a knife.

“Position!” Anthony’s voice rang out.

At his command, the girl flipped backward with flawless precision, landing seamlessly in a straight line among the others.

Under different circumstances, I might have been impressed by her skill. But right now, fear overshadowed everything else.

Confusion clouded my mind as I took in the stares directed my way. Why was everyone looking at me?

Then, I felt it—a presence behind me.

Slowly, I turned.

Three identical men stood there, their eyes locked onto me.

“Why don’t we all introduce ourselves to the new Wild Cat member?” one of them said, his voice smooth yet unreadable.

I frowned, eyeing him warily. Wild Cat? What the hell was going on?

Wild Cat?

What did he mean by that? I had no idea what was happening, but I knew one thing—I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

I pushed myself up from the ground, my body still trembling with unease. I needed to get out of here. Now.

Just as I turned to run, a guy stepped in front of me, blocking my escape.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Before I could react, he shoved me backward. I stumbled, landing directly into the arms of one of the triplets. His grip was firm—too firm.

“Why is she still in those filthy clothes?” he suddenly yelled, his voice sharp enough to make me flinch. But he didn’t release me. Instead, his hold tightened, as if daring me to move.

“Someone explain!” he barked, his patience clearly running thin.

At his command, a few guards rushed out of the room. Moments later, they returned, dragging in the woman who had brought me the clothes earlier.

She barely had time to steady herself before they pushed her forward, forcing her to stand in the center of the room.

“Forgive me, Master Lucas,” the woman stammered. “I gave her the dress, but she refused to wear it.”

Her words sent a ripple through the room. Some of the girls standing in line shot me sharp glares, their expressions unreadable.

I swallowed hard. I hope this ends soon because it feels like I’m about to lose my life.

Lucas scoffed, his gaze darkening. “So, you’re blaming the triplets’ Wild Cat?”

The murmurs started immediately.

“The triplets’ Wild Cat? How?”

“She didn’t even compete.”

My pulse pounded in my ears. Compete? For what? And why did it feel like I had just been thrown into something I had no control over?

I caught snippets of the girls’ whispers, their hushed voices filled with curiosity and judgment.

“Silence,” another voice commanded, sharp and unwavering.

I peeked back and froze.

Another man was approaching—the spitting image of Lucas. But this one carried a gun in his hand.

“You didn’t answer Lucas’s question,” he said coldly.

The woman’s breath hitched. “Master Armani, I never said she was lying,” she defended quickly. “But believe me, I did give her the clothes.”

Her gaze shifted to me, filled with a desperate plea.

“Will you say something, you brat?” she suddenly snapped, making me flinch.

That’s when I realized—I was still trapped in Lucas’s grip.

I hesitated, my heart hammering. Should I say something? She had, in fact, given me the clothes. But there was no way I was going to wear something like that—especially in a place filled with freaks.

“She—”

My words died in my throat.

A sickening sound filled the air, and warm liquid splattered across my face.

I blinked. My breath caught.

The woman collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around her lifeless body.

I stared, horror paralyzing me.

Armani had pulled the trigger.

No one reacted. No gasps. No shock. Nothing.

A piercing scream ripped from my throat, raw with terror. I thrashed, desperately trying to break free from Lucas’s hold.

“Let go of me, you monsters!” I shrieked, struggling against him.

Annoyed, he shoved me away. I hit the floor hard, my palms stinging from the impact.

I barely had a second to think before two massive men grabbed me, their grips like steel as they hauled me up.

“Where are you taking me? Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and twisting in their grasp.

But they didn’t stop.

And deep down, I knew—whatever was coming next would be far worse.

When I came to, my body felt like lead. My wrists and ankles were restrained, cool metal biting into my skin.

I thrashed harder, my screams echoing off the walls. But the men dragging me forward didn’t even flinch.

The girls in line stood eerily still, their gazes locked on me. Not a single one moved to help. Some looked indifferent, others almost… amused.

Panic clawed at my chest.

“Stop! Let me go!” I screamed again, kicking out wildly.

One of the men grunted in annoyance. “Keep fighting, and we’ll make this worse for you.”

Worse?

What the hell could be worse than what I just witnessed?

My body trembled as they dragged me through a set of towering double doors. The room was dimly lit, the walls lined with weapons—knives, swords, guns. My stomach twisted at the sight.

A single chair sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by chains.

No.

I dug my heels into the ground, struggling with everything I had. “Please, I don’t belong here!”

Lucas and Armani followed behind, watching my desperate attempts with eerie amusement.

“You’re making too much noise,” Armani sighed, rolling his eyes. “Someone shut her up.”

Before I could react, a sharp pain exploded against the side of my head.

Everything blurred. The room spun.

And then—darkness.