Chapter 78

Lillian

I held my breath, trying to listen closely for footsteps before I made my move. I don't know how long it had been but I waited quite a while, just to make sure they were no longer on my tail.

The wooden ceiling above me creaked and then I heard soft footsteps. After a while, it faded away, and the only sound I could hear was that of crickets.

I looked over to where the piece of broken bottle lay. I just needed to move a few feet and I'll be able to reach for it.

My heart was beating so loudly in my ears that I couldn't hear anything else.

I was terrified.

I shifted my body weight, and the chair scrapped along the wooden floor, creating a loud but disturbing symphony.

I paused then took a deep breath and shifted my weight again. The chair creaked but it only moved a few inches.

Sweat pooled down my face and onto my gagged mouth.

I huffed and then shifted my weight to one side in the direction of the bottle, supporting the chair with my toe pressed hard on the floor. The chair scrapped against the wooden floor but it moved a considerable distance.

I did it again and the chair moved, this time making a very loud noise. I paused, listening for any movement and then I heard rushed footsteps above me. I heard it getting closer and closer to the door.

Quickly I closed my eyes, my whole body shaking with sweat slipping down my forehead.

I managed to remain as still as possible, pretending to be asleep, but the shaking of my hands behind my back was unbearable.

I felt Falco's presence. He stood in front of me for a few seconds before turning to leave and then shut the door.

" What was that?" Blox asked, his voice rough.

" Nothing, I thought I heard noise. She's asleep."

I breathed in a huge sigh of relief. I contemplated making another move but I might get caught. I should probably wait a little longer to make sure they had left the entrance.

And so I waited, my eyes were incredibly heavy. I needed to sleep. My back was beginning to ache and my stomach was roiling uncontrollably.

I began counting since there was no wall clock or window to at least tell the time.

I counted to a thousand and fifty, and finally, I made my move.

This time I pressed my toe to the wood and lifted my body weight to one side. The chair moved a little. I did it again and it moved further.

Just a few more push and I'll be close enough to reach for the bottle. I moved further, resting at intervals so as not to sound suspicious.

Finally, the bottle was just an inch away. I strained my ears and all I could hear were the annoying crickets.

My chest heaved up and down. I pressed my toe to the wood again and pushed my body weight forward forcefully. The chair lost balance and I landed on the floor with a thud. I remained as still as possible trying to listen for any footsteps.

There was none.

I dragged myself on the floor, trying to reach for the piece of bottle with my hand. I had to twist my head in a very uncomfortable angle to track the location of the bottle and reach for it with my hands behind my back.

The wooden backrest of the chair was another hindrance. Seeing it was impossible to reach for the bottle with my tied hands, I aimed with my teeth.

As soon as I had the piece of bottle in between my teeth, I placed it on my shoulder and pushed myself backwards, making the bottle roll to my back.

I groaned, my body was beginning to ache all over. I flipped my body backwards and my finger grazed the bottle for a second.

The gag muffled all my cries as tears rolled down my cheeks. I flipped my body backwards again and my finger grazed the bottle.

I did it again but it slipped past my fingers.

I took deep breaths, fighting the sob that threatened to escape my eyelids.

I can do this. I just have to grab it in between my fingers as soon as it touches me.

Closing my eyes, I pictured Zayden and our baby. I have to make it out of here and save this baby.

I flipped myself one more time and caught the piece of glass in between my fingers.

A triumphant cry left my lips but died down on the gag.

Slowly I began pressing the broken piece of bottle against the rope. Thank God Falco changed the rope or it would have been impossible to cut through it.

I used the strength I had left and kept grazing through the rope ignoring the sting from where the bottle cut through my flesh in my fingers.

I don't know how long it took but I could feel the rope loosen up a little. I kept going, and finally, it came off.

The first thing I did was remove the gag from my mouth and take in a huge breath

I reached for my legs immediately and untied them.

Getting on my feet, I wobbled. I groaned, feeling a sharp pain in my stomach.

Slowly I tiptoed up the stairs. Those bastards even left it unlocked. I peeked through the door.

Blox was lying on an old couch, snoring loudly with a bottle of beer on his belly.

He was probably drunk. I opened the door a little, closing my eyes as it creaked.

I looked around carefully. This was probably the living room, judging from the old couches and fading paintings on the wall.

The wallpaper was old and faded. Some were even peeling off. The ceiling was covered in dirt and cobwebs.

My eyes fell on a door with a window a few centimetres away from it. The window was open, it was dark outside. But I could still make out the moonlight.

Slowly and carefully, I opened the door only a little and forced my body through.

I tiptoed, the wood creaking with each step I took.

I hate houses made from wood!

My hands trembled as I held the doorknob, hoping that it would be left open.

Blox suddenly moved, his eyes half opened. I froze, my eyes as wide as saucers.

He spoke some gibberish and then flipped himself on the couch with his face buried in the cushion.

Fear grilled my entire being and I twisted the door knob. I nearly cried, because it didn't open.

I pulled on the handle, but it didn't budge. A sob threatened to escape my lips. I was so close to getting out of here.

Keys!

I looked around, my eyes searching widely and they fell on the window. It was widely open and my body could fit through it, probably.

Without wasting time, I grabbed a stool, trying as much as possible not to make a sound and then climbed through the window.

I landed on the other side with a thud and tears of joy ran down my cheeks.

I used my hands to cover up my mouth to suppress a sob.

I began running; I could barely see a thing with so many tears clouding my vision. I didn't know where I was going and just kept running away from the wrecked building.

I had stepped on tiny rocks and twigs, some digging into my skin leaving bruises as I ran.

I had run only a few feet when a light so blinding was cast right In front of my eye.

I let out a yelp.

"Fucking bitch!" I heard a man's voice yell." Bastards, she's getting away."

No!

No!

No!

This can't be happening, I can't go back there.

I took to my heels immediately. My vision hadn't cleared fully but I kept running. There were trees everywhere and it wasn't helping. It was slowing me down along with the rough ground.

At first, it was just one man chasing me through the woods, then I heard more rushed footsteps approaching.

I didn't stop, I wasn't going to stop, not until I heard a gunshot.

I screamed covering my ears.

My legs were wobbly, and I collapsed on the muddy floor, unable to pick myself back up.

A man yelled. He wasn't Falco or Blox." If you move, I swear I'll shoot your legs!"

I didn't move; I was paralyzed by fear. I sat there like a coward and watched as they closed the distance and caught up to me.

He pulled me roughly by my hair and I screamed, the pain making my body go weak.

" You'll be punished and the next time you try to escape, you'll think twice about it." He yelled in my face and began dragging me by my hair back to the house.

Pain ripped through my skull, I could barely breathe." Stop!! You're hurting me! Stop, please." I whimpered but he didn't listen.

Before I knew it, I was back in the house and I. Could finally see his face through the lights. He had a burn mark that made half his face barely recognisable.

" Where the fuck is Krovak!" He burst through the door with his legs." You bastards were supposed to be watching her."

He dropped me on the floor in the middle of the sitting room roughly and my face connected with the wooden floor.

The metallic smell of blood filled my nostrils and I felt a thick liquid flow down my head.

" You fat pig! Wake the fuck up, moron!" He punched Blox with his gun in the head and he jumped up immediately.

" You're sleeping on duty, huh?" The man roared, his voice rough.

Blox remained in a daze, his eyes half closed. He earned another smack on the head before his eyes fully opened and he glared at me fiercely.

" You little, cunt!" He hissed.

Falco came running through the door the next moment with a couple of men behind me. His eyes landed on me on the floor and he gritted his teeth.

" I told you to behave!" He shook his head, snarling at me.

I looked around me. They were all men with big builds. If I counted correctly, they were up to twelve and my guts told me this wasn't all of them yet.

I'm just one girl! Why use this many men to keep watch over me? I could barely outrun one of them.

My blood ran cold, the possibility of what they might do to me sinking in.

" Now, listen up young lady. This would be your last warning. The next time you try to escape, better make sure you don't get caught. Because if you do." He chuckled, licking his lips.

" We wouldn't just lock you back up. We will take our turns having fun with that pretty little love hole in between your legs or probably this pretty little mouth of yours." He trailed his fingers on my lips and all I could do was quiver in horror.

He shoved my head aside." Take her back and this time, tie her up properly. We were preparing a nice comfortable room for you since you're pregnant but as punishment, you'll spend the rest of your days in that basement."

He smacked my head with the base of his gun and I groaned. If I get any more hits, I might lose consciousness.

Falco picked me up roughly and dragged me back to the basement.

I couldn't help it. I started sobbing, my whole body shaking violently.

My head hurts, my body aches. I hadn't had any food since I came here and I was scared for my baby.

These men had no empathy not even for a pregnant lady.

I want to go home.

I want to go back to Zayden.

He tossed me into the basement and switched off the lights.

" Wait here, I'll get another rope."

I brought my knees to my chest and rocked on the floor.

I guess I'll be stuck here till I get rescued. That's if anyone was even searching for me at all.