The room was silent, yet Ava's breath echoed like thunder in her ears.
She sat still for a moment, steadying her nerves. She couldn't rely on anyone. Not now. Not when she didn't even know whom to trust. Not even him.
Her fists clenched. No more waiting to be saved. No more playing the helpless girl.
Ava stood up, her knees slightly shaking from whatever chemical Raiden had used on her earlier. The scent of Lillith flowers lingered in the air, mingling with the cold, polished aesthetic of the mansion—a twisted contradiction. It reeked of memories she couldn't place. Familiar but fragmented.
Her hands were cuffed, but her legs were free. The window wasn't an option—they were on the third floor and it was too dark to gauge what lay beneath.
Her eyes scanned the room again.
And then she remembered it—the hidden passage.
Ava quietly made her way to the far wall and gently pressed against the carved panel. A soft creak echoed as the door opened, revealing a narrow corridor. Her heart pounded. She didn't know where it would lead, but it was the only risk she could take.
With one last glance over her shoulder, she slipped inside and closed the panel behind her.
The secret passage smelled of dust and old wood. Her bare feet made soft thuds on the wooden floor as she walked cautiously.
It opened into another room—different from the last. Lived-in. Warm. Personal.
Clothes were scattered. A half-filled cup of coffee sat on the desk. The room radiated someone's presence.
It didn't matter.
She walked straight toward the windows. Two of them. But again, third floor.
She slid open the balcony door. The night air hit her face like a splash of cold water. Blackness stretched around the estate like a maze. No roads. No landmarks. Just darkness.
Ava steadied herself.
"You can do it, Ava. Get out. You don't need anyone to save you," she whispered.
She turned back toward the secret passage, determined to play it smart. She'd pretend nothing happened, get more information, wait for the right chance.
But just as she stepped into the corridor—a sharp cloth pressed over her mouth.
Ava's eyes widened.
She struggled, arms flying wildly.
A man in a mask.
No sound. Just her gasping.
The chemicals hit her fast.
Her thoughts slowed, her limbs heavy.
She cursed herself.
The last thing she saw before the darkness swallowed her was the open door she should've locked.
---
She woke in a car.
Everything ached.
Her hands were tied.
Her eyes covered.
She shifted slightly—and felt an arm wrapped around her waist.
She froze.
Ava grimaced at the warmth that clung to her skin like rot.
"You're awake," came Raiden's smug voice.
He shifted close, whispering near her cheek. "I knew you'd try to escape. Did you really think I'm that stupid?"
His fingers brushed her hair, tucking it behind her ear.
She growled, low and venomous.
He laughed.
"Feisty. But it's cute. Someone was eager to meet you, but now they won't get the chance. We're headed to our private island. Just you and me."
Ava shuddered.
She pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Remove the blindfold," she said stiffly. "My eyes hurt."
He smiled against her skin. "Sure. I can't see you in pain, Ava."
When the blindfold came off, the dim car lights stung her vision. She blinked rapidly, her gaze landing on her wrists. The rope was back.
Only this time, her skin had bruised and torn.
Blood oozed from an open cut, a cruel reminder of her earlier restraints.
She looked down and noticed something else.
Her dress was different.
She didn't remember changing.
She felt nauseated.
But she kept her expression blank.
Not now. Not yet.
She took a slow, painful breath.
Then she noticed him glancing at her again. Watching her.
Ava subtly twisted her wrist in the rope. It stung—agonizingly—but the blood flowed faster.
Raiden's gaze snapped down.
"Damn it!" he cursed. He grabbed her wrist. "You're bleeding . What the hell is wrong with you all? Can't you tie a rope properly?"
He barked at his driver, "Do we have a medical kit?!"
"No, sir!"
"Then drive to the nearest pharmacy, now!"
He pressed a folded handkerchief against her wound. She tried to pull away, but he held her tightly.
"Not now, Ava," he said, soft and strange.
She let out a mocking breath. "And whose fault is this?"
---
The car stopped.
They were outside a pharmacy.
Raiden climbed out. "Don't take your eyes off her," he barked to the man seated beside her.
Ava waited.
And then she began.
She knocked on the window glass.
Tap. Tap.
The guard ignored her.
She knocked again.
"What?" he snapped.
"I'm having stomach pain," she whispered. "I need something."
He frowned. "What pain?"
She gritted her teeth, holding her belly. "I'm on my cycle. I need a pad. Please. It hurts like hell."
The man blinked, awkward and stunned.
He turned around, clearly panicking, and ran to his partner inside the pharmacy.
Now.
She unlocked the door.
Her bare feet hit the ground.
She ran.
The cold night air was harsh, the city lights far too bright.
Up ahead, a crowd. A rally. Firecrackers. Music. People shouting and dancing in unison.
She bolted into them.
Everyone wore the same jackets, same caps. Ava quickly pulled her hair loose and requested a young girl nearby for her spare jacket and cap.
"Can I get this? " she whispered.
The girl nodded and handed it over.
Ava pulled the jacket on, adjusted the cap, and blended into the crowd.
Her feet carried her through the celebration as she weaved past lanterns and drummers.
She stole a look behind.
The men were searching.
She ducked into an alley.
Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away.
Where to now?
She couldn't ask help from her family. Her brother.
They'd worry.
She couldn't go to Dominic.
Could she even trust him?
Her fingers tightened into fists.
She didn't know what was true anymore.
But she knew this:
She wasn't getting caught again.
---