The Mix-up

Nora's POV 

"Let go of me," I screamed, struggling to break free even though I was squeezed between two men. 

Who the hell are they?

I doubted they were working for my toxic boyfriend. Where would he have gotten the money to pay them? He couldn't have told them to capture me. My heart thudded in my ribcage, threatening to leap out at the thought of going back home to meet Mark. I would rather kiss death on the lips than do that.

I stared at the road and noticed the car was heading in the opposite direction of my apartment, and my eyes widened with fright.

"Where the hell are we going?" I yelled, struggling to break free again though my attempts yielded no results.

My arms throbbed and sweats broke out on my forehead but I paid no mind to the pain except the nagging terror in my heart.

"Keep quiet, Sasha." One of the men hissed, spittle flying out of his mouth as he glared at me in irritation.

Sasha? Who the hell was Sasha?

"I'm not Sasha." I sighed and widened my eyes, hoping they would realize their mistake and let me out.

I didn't mind if they threw me out. As long as I was out of the car and not headed to where I didn't know. I feared that I wouldn't survive the crash if I was thrown out of a running car but I was ready to take my chances. I've been told to be stronger than I was, after all.

The men ignored me as if I hadn't spoken.

"Hello," I called, waving my hands before them. "I'm not Sasha. Can you let me go and focus on finding the right person?"

"Keep quiet, lady." The man at the wheels hissed at me, sparing me a glance filled with malice before turning to road.

One of the two men I was sandwiched between chuckled. "Ignore her, man. We've been told she lies a lot. This shouldn't be a surprise to you."

Lie? A frown twisted my lips as I narrowed my eyes in annoyance and focused on putting my brain to good use. I didn't know what use thinking would do for me in this situation though. 

I hardly lie. I detested lies and never did it. Everyone I had ever known and loved lied to me, and I had been determined not to be the same as the monsters who had given me traumas since I was five.

How dare they accuse me of lying?

"I don't lie."

"Another lie." The men chuckled all at once and I went red with embarrassment, feeling the blush creep up my neck.

"Where are we going? Who ordered my kidnap?" I snapped.

I wondered if it was right to call it kidnap since I've been left to run my mouth as carelessly as I could. Not that I have experience in kidnap scenarios but aren't they meant to make me unconscious?

I wondered if being left alone was hope or trouble for me.

"Kidnap?" The men laughed again as if I had said something funny.

Feeling the color rise up again in my cheeks, I decided to keep quiet and glanced at the rolled-up window, my gaze fixed longingly at the cars passing by and wished that I could shout to them for help.

I didn't like being mocked. I pushed down the hurtful memory trying to rear its ugly head and focused on the present, though it wasn't any pleasant as well.

"We are here," the man at the edge announced and pulled me out of the car, as roughly as I had been shoved in.

What a perfect gentleman he was. 

I raised my head up and couldn't help the squeak that escaped my throat as I saw the mansion. I felt a cold slither crawling over my skin and warning me that this wasn't a place I was likely to leave soon if I stepped in.

With impulsiveness taking a hold on me, I turned to run. As if he already predicted my actions, one of the men grabbed my hand and stopped me from escaping, pressing me down with a firm grip.

"You are hurting me." I cried out, wincing at the numbness in my wrist as he crushed it.

He snorted, his expression as blank as a wall. This was a man who hurt others for sport and definitely wouldn't get bothered if my hand gets crippled.

"Please," I croaked, begging him to let go of me as I realized my folly.

Even if I had succeeded in running from the house, I wouldn't have escaped. I glared at the huge gate which had closed immediately we drove into the mansion and wondered why I thought running was a feasible option for me.

"Be grateful the boss wants you back in one piece." He growled and pulled me forward, his strides eating the ground in fury and forcing me to gasp as I reluctantly tag along.

My brain whirled with the information I had gathered so far, struggling to make sense of what was happening. The boss? Anyone who was a boss to this hulky devil wasn't likely to be a good person.

I went still, the blood draining from my face as a thought formed in my head. Had Mark borrowed money from a Mafia lord and used me as his guarantor while lying that I was Sasha?

I groaned at the horrible implication and what was lying in wait for me. It wouldn't be the first time Mark would get himself in trouble and force me to clean his mess. I swore to myself that this was going to be the last time he would do that to me—if I survived this.

I was pushed into a room which got locked behind me immediately. I stared at the strange environment, wondering what was going to happen to me now. I checked the room, noting the absence of a window. 

Perfect. I wouldn't be able to escape anyway, except I wanted to meet my maker too soon. 

I sighed at the bulb, the dull light radiating from it as similar as how my life was. There was nothing in the house except a plastic chair. I should have been given a wooden one so I could end my misery faster before they came to end it slowly and painfully.

I didn't want to be alive anymore anyway.

The door opened and I gasped as I turned to check who it was. My heart thudded and blood roared in my ears as suspense thrummed in my veins. Was I about to die now? Would I be tortured now? Would I be asked to pay Mark's debts?

I didn't like any of the options. 

I ran my tongue over my lips, suddenly feeling how dry they were.

I watched with terror dancing in my eyes as a man walked—no, marched with fury—into the room. His eyes held mine with a hatred so dark it left me numb. 

Who was this man? And why was he looking at me like I offended him and he wanted to rip me apart?

I forced my throat to work. "I don't know what Mark told you but I don't have enough money to cover his debts." I pleaded with him.

"Who the fuck are you talking about, Sasha?" He roared, his eyes thinning with disgust.

Sasha? Not again. I groaned as I crumpled to the plastic chair I thought I would never sit in. 

Who the fuck was Sasha and why did everyone think I was her?