NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: Pay me
The sharp crack of a gunshot pierced the air. Our vehicle skidded to a halt as the tire blew out. Carl pulled over abruptly, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Before we could react, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, walking toward us with deliberate steps.
A gun glinted under the pale moonlight, pointed directly at Carl and me.
"Out. Now," he barked, his voice cold and unfamiliar.
Terror gripped me, stealing my breath. My heart pounded in my chest as if trying to escape. This was it—this was how my life would end.
The man jabbed the gun toward me, his expression unreadable. "Get in the car," he ordered, his voice sharp and unyielding.
I froze, but Carl's panicked voice snapped me out of my daze. "Do as he says."
The man turned to Carl. "You, too. Get into that one," he gestured to another car that had pulled up behind us. Without warning, two men appeared, grabbing Carl and throwing a blanket over his head.
"No!" I shouted, struggling against the fear that paralyzed me. "Carl has nothing to do with this!"
But the man ignored my pleas, his icy gaze locked on me. Who was this man? What did he want from me?
I was shoved into a car, my hands trembling uncontrollably. The man followed, tying my hands behind my back with brutal efficiency. My protests fell on deaf ears as he knelt to bind my legs as well.
"Help!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "Somebody, help me!"
The man smirked, his tone dripping with menace. "Do you wish to visit your mother this instant?"
His words froze me. "Who are you? How do you know my mother?"
He leaned closer, his cold eyes boring into mine. "You ask too many questions."
With a curt gesture, he signaled to someone outside the car. Another man entered, holding a syringe. I thrashed in my seat, but the first man held me still.
"No! Stop!" I screamed, my voice hoarse.
The needle pierced my skin, and a cold, burning sensation spread through my veins. My vision blurred, and the world around me dissolved into darkness.
When I woke, the air was thick and foul, the stench of mildew filling my nostrils. I was tied to a chair in a dimly lit room, the faint sound of dripping water echoing around me. My throat was dry, my voice barely a whisper.
"Water," I croaked, weak and desperate.
Footsteps approached, steady and menacing. The man from earlier appeared, holding a bottle of water. He dangled it in front of me, tied to a string.
"Thirsty?" he taunted, lifting the bottle higher as I struggled to reach it.
"Please," I begged, my voice breaking.
He sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "Struggle. Life is full of struggles."
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling but defiant.
He crouched in front of me, his expression unreadable. "Skip the questions. They're not important right now." He tilted his head, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "What's important is how you'll pay me back."
My heart sank. "Pay you back? I don't even know you!"
"Oh, you know me," he snarled, leaning in close. His voice was a low growl. "You may not remember, but I remember you, Reina. I remember your wretched face."
He tossed the water bottle onto the floor, watching as I struggled to reach it with my mouth. My hands were tied, my dignity stripped away. I bit down on the bottle cap, trying desperately to open it, but it slipped further away.
The man returned, his patience clearly worn thin. He grabbed my head roughly, forcing the bottle to my lips. Water spilled down my chin as I drank greedily, my thirst momentarily quenched.
He yanked my hair, pulling my head back. "This is the last thing you'll ever get for free," he spat, throwing the empty bottle across the room.
As he stormed out, I slumped in the chair, my body trembling. Who was this man? Why did he hate me so much? My mind raced, but no answers came.
I prayed Alex or Nath would sense my absence, that they would find me before it was too late. But I had no idea how long I'd been here or how much longer I could endure.