Chapter 31

An eerie feeling surrounded me and the room lacked oxygen. The grey bricks closed me in and what made it worse, it was utterly dark with no window nearby. Everywhere I looked, it was dark. Not a single ray of light streamed through inside the room I was in. I heard people could grow to gain a phobia if they were trapped in like this. It was so hard to breath and scary that I couldn’t move. My hands were bound to the chair I was sitting and so were my feet. Cold sweat was running down my forehead.

                Lexis, really, what did you get into? Are you trying to kill yourself? Getting involved with criminals because of your parents and than hiring a criminal. I really regret what I’ve done now. I lowered my head and stared down at the empty darkness below me. Who knew if the chair was hanging in mid-air. Oh, how great would it be if I was in the Wizard of OZ or wonderland instead of being kidnapped?  I wonder who kidnapped me. It could be my parent’s kidnappers. It could be someone looking for Demon’s money. It could be a psychopath. Who knew... I’ll play mind games with them, find which times they are gone and figure a way out of here or at least notify someone I trust about the situation.

My parents taught me well on how to handle being kidnapped or even perverts, cops and thugs. That’s the only reason I can remain more calm than the average girl in these situations. So, it’s been a couple of hours waiting here awake.

                I could hear faded voices behind the door, slowly becoming louder and approaching. I gently close my eyelids and hang my head onto the right side on my shoulder. I left my lips closed and relaxed. I could see light peaking in through my eyelids and hear the door click open.

                “She’s still asleep,” A male voice declared. I’ve never heard his voice before.

                “Then wake her up!” A female screeched as if he was stupid. Now, that voice sounded familiar. Who could it be? I heard movement and felt someone’s presence moving in front of me. I wanted to listen on to their private conversation before I ‘woke’ up.  A hand smacked against my cheek and thrust my head the opposite way.

                My eyes popped open and my foot give to its reflexes, and shot up to where the private male area was. He crouched down and I struggled to stand up as much as you could with a chair. I turned my back and stabbed the leg of the chairs into his chest, until I pushed him against the door. I snapped my head to the girl to order her to release me or I’ll somehow end his life with a chair. Not that I could... I arched an eyebrow.

                “Angelica,” I blurt out. Anyone else not surprised? Demon sure has a thing for dating psychopaths. The man groaned in pain. Serves him right for kidnapping me! Angelica, she ain’t an angel at all. Hell, Demon is more of an angel. Her golden hair was all just a sham.

                “Let go of him,” She grinded her teeth.

                “Ah, I don’t think so,” I shrugged and doubly blinked with a very icy tone “Be an angel, and untie me before I crush his lungs. Do you understand?” My words send a shiver down my own back. If all fails, act like you’re an actual psychopath. They don’t want anything to do with you. Hell, I’ll spit out gibberish and make it sound like a curse if I have to.

                “You ain’t an angel yourself,” She snickered.

                “I never said I was,” I dryly reminded and bitterly smiled “You have thirty seconds to untie me.” I can only hope this works. She rolled her eyes and walked closer to me, wearing black pumps. She slips her long finger tips into the back of her jeans and pulls out a knife. Oh shit... I did not expect that... That’s it. I’m going to die.

                “You have thirty seconds to let go of my brother,” She narrowed her eyes at me. Did I not tell you she’s not an angel? I was only acting like this to fool her into thinking I’m insane. She truly was insane! I licked my dry lips and shifted around, but ‘accidently’ crushed his foot with the chair while I was moving back.  Angelica helped up her brother as he scrunched up his face like he ate a lemon.

                “No wonder you hate her,” He muttered to his sister. I’m nothing compared to Angel here. I relaxed my muscles and slouched as much as I could in the seat. Were they going to tell me there diabolical plans now? This should be good.

                “So, why are you kidnapping me?  For the money?” I dryly asked. I received a glare from Angelia as if she already expected me to know. Well, I’m so sorry for not being a mind reader.

                “Because if that’s what you want, you’re not getting anything,” I forewarned them “Might as well let me go now. The demon will give you no money for me.”

                “Demon?” She arched an eyebrow.

                “Sorry, Damon,” I cleared and wiggled my hands “Can I go now?” She circled around me and leaned against my chair. I could even smell her breath, and it smelled like she’s smoked or something. I coughed out without even holding back.

                “Gees, Angel, why do you smell like a demon?” I cleared my throat. Her big brother didn’t seem to like my insults. It’s not my fault I can’t take them seriously. This is child’s play compared to the psychopath I’ve got trapped by once.  She flings her wrists and then pressed the sharp point of the dagger under my chin.  The cold touch of the dagger send a shiver down my spine. She’s serious...

                “Shut up,” She spat. If angel says so... I locked my lips tight and attempted not to stare her down. What was this all for? It obviously had something to do with Damon. Who else...?

                “If I  even so much suspicious of your thoughts insulting me, I’ll cut off your tongue,” She hissed. Ouch... Even so, my thoughts has nothing to do with my tongue. Okay, obviously, it’s time to turn into survival mode. I faded my half amused expression into a cold and lifeless one. She obviously wanted this to be treated like a real threatening kidnapping. I’m not willing to pressure her to do this for real.

                “This has something to do with Damon, doesn’t it?” I calmly asked. She fluttered her eyelashes and stared at me as if I was truly an idiot “What else could it be? You’re the reason he dumped me. You’re the reason my image fell. Even when we were together, he thought of you, he called your name while we slept, it’s always about you!”

                He slept with her!? He thought about me when he slept with her!?  

“I’m tired of you Lexis. You’re always getting in the way!” She continued.

Yes, because it’s my fault I’m saving others from heartbreaks. Seriously, why am I always the one that has to deal with the crazy people? They make me seem normal.

“We were even going to get married! Then you showed up to that club and he came running back to you, you slut!” She screamed. Ma, ma, mia!  The girl is crazier than the slaughters. A player...? Marry...? MARRY? I’d rather take my own life than be married if I was a player. Where is the game? The game is all gone! Marry, eesh, no wonder Demon found the words so scary, Angelica was part of it! Oh, and did this girl just call me a slut. Yup, delusional, crazier than the slaughters. I would ask her ‘have you’ve been to that special place too?’ but I’d rather keep my tongue.

“Do you want to know what’s going between us?” I respectfully asked.

“Like I don’t know! You’ve probably seduced him into bed like your prostitute sister!” She scowled. Where in the world did she hear about my sister? What in the world possessed her to compare me to my sister?

“Actually, I was paid to be his girlfriend by his parents to stop him from dating so many girls,” I blurt out the secret. It’s not like it mattered. Who’d believe this lunatic? She stood stunned.

“He probably was probably scared to death that I’d come back and drive a wedge between him and other girls. Angelica, this is all for nothing. I don’t like him and he only fears me,” I fibbed. My top priority is to escape and nothing else. I received a hard smack over the face again. I lowered my head, shut my eyes and clenched my jaw. How dare she hit me?

“Liar,” She claimed.

“Believe me or not but it’s better not to waste your effort on me and get yourself in trouble,” I reasonable explained and rose my head with confidence.

“He loves you!” She cried with tears streaking down her eyes. She may think that but I think otherwise. Nathan claims to love Karen, and he still plays around with other girls. Seth claimed he loved me and then lies to break up with me. My parents said they love me and they left me alone. Love, is just a word from a fairytale. I live in one of those Shakespeare tragedy plays. 

“Angelica, he doesn’t and even if he did, it doesn’t matter because I won’t accept,” I assured.

“Yes it does!” She yelled “As long as you’re alive he’ll keep chasing after you.”

                                ...I don’t like where this is going.

“He should love me because I love him. With all his money, we can do so much!” She exclaimed. That’s it. I had enough.

“You love him?” I scoffed and narrowed my eyes “What in the world makes you think you love him? Truth is Angelica, you’re a selfish bitch only in love with his money. You’re went as far as murder to killing something he loved. If you loved him, you wouldn’t kill what he had. You have no idea what love is and frankly, I don’t know either. Whine about as much as you want but don’t involve others in yours twisted screwed up fairytale. You ain’t the princess, you’re the witch. Check the mirror, even it will say you aren’t the fairest of them all. Do you think he’ll love you if he kills me? He’d hate you more. In fact, he’d try to kill to you. ”

“Shut up, as if you’re princess type either! He won’t know it was me. He still doesn’t know that it was me. I’ve never been found out!” She warned. It was her. She was the reason she killed–

“You made his ex-girlfriend kill herself?” I swallowed.  Her lips trembled as her brother send me a threatening nasty look. A nasty look that seemed protective of Angelica and that would do anything for her, even as far as murder. I know that look. I’ve seen it at the place my parents owned. That killer instinct stare.

“They never dated,” She sniped “She wasn’t an angel herself anyway. Three days ago before she died, she shot someone and killed them. The evidence of her killing was lost. She was deep into the gang because two of her siblings were part of it. All the sudden, she said she wanted out of the gang the day later. The only way out is to die. They said they’d harm Damon! She put Damon in danger because  she wanted out! All I had to do is make her feel more guilty and tell her she didn’t deserve to live the life that she took from someone else. So, she took her own life and Damon is safe and I could be with him, until you came.”

“Angel!” Her brother yelled “Don’t tell her everything!”

She’s the cause to his misery. This girl is worse than my sister. At least my sister didn’t go tell me to die in a ditch. I couldn’t remove the feeling of hatred for her. The hatred I felt for her was strong enough to make another assassination order, but killing makes me no better than her. The fact that I ordered the assassin to kill my parent’s kidnappers was wrong. If the kidnappers got caught, they’d probably get death penalty anyway because they’ve probably have done much worse.

“Bitch,” I spat “You’re the reason he’s like this.”  She clenched her teeth and slapped me again. I raised my head again with full tolerance of simple slapping. I glanced over her brother, he was older than her, yet allowed her to do this or supported it.

“You allowed her to go as far as murder?” I asked and watched his eyes look away from me. What kind of family does she have? I may had a messed up family but I was nowhere screwed up enough to convince someone to kill themselves because they feel guilty.

“You both should know that if I’m found dead, you’ll go down with me. I know people from the FBI and hard core criminals,” I informed. She cracked a smile as if it had no effect on her.

“Lexis, what’s your parents name?” She arched an eyebrow, taking a step back, twirling the knife with her fingers. That damn bitch! She knows a lot more than I know about my parents doesn’t she!? She’s been stalking me!

“My parents?” I spat.

“They really must hate you for not being around when you were younger. They left your sister to watch over you but even your sister could care less. And now, where are they? Putting you in more trouble,”

“Angelica, you can’t make me question if my parents love me,”

“If they loved you, they wouldn’t put you in danger,”

“Bitch, shut up, you don’t know anything,”

“I know more than you. You’re still oblivious!” She burst out laughing “They don’t love you, just like they didn’t care for Daphne either.”

“Shut up,” I said through my teeth. The more she spoke the more frustrated I grew. I honestly felt like shattering her head into pieces! I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to manipulate me with lies.

“Lexis, were your parents at your birthday? Did they ever do anything for you, except keep you alive? They’re criminals, and you’ve already started to turn into one. The apple doesn’t fall off from the tree,”

“Angelica,”

“Yes...?”

“You better pray that I don’t break out of this chair or I’ll show you how right you are,” I threatened. My torment is a little different from others. I’ll make her run around the streets, nude, place a video for the whole world to see and find other ways to make her so hated by society that she won’t be able to live. That was only if I couldn’t get her to jail first. She scoffed and this time gave me a punch. She couldn’t punch correctly and it was weak. Not that I’m complaining for her to punch harder. Then the big bro came closer and I received a well strong firm punch. Yup, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I squeezed my eyes and felt the pain spread. I was mostly punched over the mouth because I kept on moving my head so they didn’t hit my nose or eyes or something. I groaned quietly and wondered if there was anyone else outside. Would they be stupid enough to trap me somewhere where I could be heard? They continued to hit me and there was nothing I could do. Then, it was about time Angel took out the knife and gave a cut on my arm. Is she trying to set me up for suicide!? This bitch wants to die!

“You’re both cowards. You can’t beat me unless I’m tied up,” I scoffed and held the fact I wanted to scream. They looked between each other and her brother smirked confidently. Yet, they didn’t know I was fully well trained on how to fight. The brother untied me and I stretched out my arms first and faced them.

Angelica attempted an attack, I grabbed her punch and bend her arm in an uncomfortable position and pushing her against the ground. I span around and gave her brother a direct, proper punch to his nose, sending him to unbearable pain. I quickly rushed to open the door knob. It easily opened. I escaped into the hallway, heavily breathing and shut the door behind me, and switched the lock on the door to close.

                I have to get out of here! 

I took a deep breath and turned to face my freedom–never mind. There were about three guys in front of me. It looked like they were just passing by the long hallway. Guess what...? One of them was Mike.

“Lexis,” he called.

“Hi,” I replied. What in the world is he doing here?

“Wasn’t she the girl that Angelica caught?”  One asked. Shit... I looked between them “No, we’re friends. The other girl is still in there with Angel’s brother,” Yea, big lie...but it should work–for a minute. I quickly start moving down the hallway, unaware where the actual exit is. Angelica began to pound on the door screaming angrily to catch me. I didn’t even dare to look back. I ran ahead and start hearing loud party music. It grew louder and louder the further I went, until I arrived at the end. At the right side of me was a large club. People were dancing, lights were flashing. I could hide myself through the crowd and escape.

“You’ll never catch me,” I sang and dived into the crowd. A hand grabbed me back and I screamed out loudly. I struggled to pull my injured arm back but it wasn’t working. Instead, I turned around and kneed the person in the stomach but others came. My hands were trembling, I then shrugged off his grip and continued to dive more into the crowd, until it became difficult for them to catch me in a crowd. The further I went, the saver I went.

Then two hands roughly grabbed me back, pushing me into the ground I was pushed out of the crowd with three people surrounding me.

“Move,” Mike declared, pointing the direction that I woke up to. I’d rather die fighting than die not trying. Why do I sound like a solider!? I’m not in war! Angel is right about one thing, my parents are putting me through hell. They pushed me back into the hallway. I attempt to run but got grabbed, span around and then punched into my stomach. I collapsed into the floor in pain and crawled to get up but then got kicked. I screamed loudly, hoping I could be heard. I only scream when I want to be heard, not because it hurts.

For a second, I stopped and raised again, yelling out “You’re going to hurt a girl!?” My body was trembling. My back was facing them. I rose to my feet and turned to face them and my world crashed again, but this time, it involved my life. The color drained out of skin and my eyes grew wide, focusing on the gun at Mike’s hand. His eyes had no life or mercy in them, he seemed ice cold.

“You’re going to kill me?” I blinked and held my worries inside.

“What else can we do with you?” Another chuckled. I looked between the guys and heavily breathed out. My eyes grew hot.

                I’m scared...

                                                Damon! I’m so scared. I don’t want to die...

Lexis, stay strong. It’s not over yet.

                “The FBI knows I’m here, they’ll come and you’ll be charged with murder if you kill me,” I fibbed. Mike scoffed “No they don’t!”

                “Yes they do! Everything that happened to me was videotaped. They’re watching right now,”

                “She’s bluffing!” Mike declared but the others was unsure.

                “You’re going to prison,” I pressured and Mike shrugged as if he could care less. The second I saw his finger touch the trigger, I shut my eyes. Even if I somehow did dodge the bullet, they’d shoot again. The sound of the trigger set my heart to pound so hard that it ached my chest.

                Wait! I didn’t feel that. I thought bullets hurt or kill you? Either I’m bulletproof or I wasn’t the one that got shot... Who did then...? Please don’t be Damon!

                I popped my eyes open and felt arms wrap around me, covering me from the sight. I was staring into darkness. I doubly blinked in confusion and looked up to face the person.

                “Javier,” I whispered and glanced up at the assassin I hired. What in the world was he doing here!? He flinched over the bullet slamming into his shoulder, drenching his black leather jacket in his own blood. He sighed as his pale green eyes met mine. Then he gently whispered in my ear “Leave, now.” He released his hold and quickly turned to face the three guys.

                Mike dared to try to fire a second bullet. That very second, Javier grabbed hold of his hand and twisted it the other way. He grabbed Mike’s gun away from him and pointed at him.  My feet was glued to the ground. I couldn’t move them! My heart couldn’t stop pounding. He took it like he got hit by a pebble!

                “I have business to attend with her. Leave, or I will be forced to get rid of everyone that was involved in harming her,” He calmly explained. It didn’t sound like a threat. It sounded like a statement. What do you expect Lexis? He’s an assassin. A very hot Assassin. A assassin that you should worship now considering he saved your ass! Built a shrine or something!

                The three guys exchanged looks and decided to turn around while they had the chance. Javier turned around with his heel to face me again.

                “Are you okay Lexis?” He asked in monotone. Am I okay? Am I okay? My jaw dropped at the stupid question. He’s got a freaking bullet in him and he asks me if I’m okay!?

                “Am I...!? You’ve got a bullet in you!” I yelped and he leaned forward and gently put his hand over my mouth. He carefully met my eyes and whispered “Don’t speak too loud. Follow me and don’t cause attention.” I nodded and he released his hand from my mouth. To think Damon would be the one to take a bullet for me. I’m glad he isn’t but...I still kind of expected him to find me first. Was that wrong to think?

                Javier caught my hand, slightly tugging. I winced and he looked back at my arm with a cut over it.

                “You want me to carry you?” He asks.

                “It’s my arm, not my leg,” I dryly reminded. He smirked and agreed that I was right. He lead me down the club, into the crowd and out the door to his car. He opened the door for me, closed it and took the driver’s seat. I didn’t like the thought that someone with a bullet in there arm was driving. I convinced Javier to switch spots with me and suggested the hospital and he calmly told me that I shouldn’t. How in the world is he going to get that bullet out of him?

                “Lexis, there is no need to worry for my health. Follow my directions, I have tools to get rid of the bullet. We’ll inform Damon as soon as we arrive to my apartment and your own wounds are treated,” He explained. Damon, I’m sorry but he makes a better player than you. I mean, come on...? Who can beat a hot assassin with a nice attitude?

                “–No,” I jumped all the sudden “You can’t tell him. Don’t call him. He can’t know...not yet.” I had to find the right moment to tell him Angelica was the reason his life turned to shit. If I told him Angelica tried to also get me to die, well...I’m afraid he’ll do something stupid.

                Javier instructed me to park inside and get out the car. I couldn’t help but help him out of the car, no matter how he insisted that he was fine. Who the hell says their fine after getting shot!? I almost cried thinking I was going to get shot! Is it wrong to be happy it was him and not me? We took the elevator to the fifteenth floor and stopped by his apartment, and he instructed me to go sit by his bed while he got out medical equipments.

                I waved my feet back and forth at the edge of the bed. The door opened and he walked in, and lay a tray down at the night stand. He pulled over his white shirt and all his muscles showed, with slight scars on them. Even with the scars–oh my, my! I watched him pull out the bullet out himself. My eyes almost rolled at the back of my head form the blood and the hole. I’m not even the one that’s shot and I feel like fainting...

                “What were you doing there?” He asked as he finished himself up.

                “Um... I and Damon was staying at a hotel and I thought he snuck into my room but it turned out it was someone else and–” I began.

                “–You were kidnapped,” Javier continued “Do you know why?”

                “One of Damon’s ex-girlfriend claims to love him and wants to get me out of the competition. She apparently knew him longer along with the dead girl Damon used to love,”

                “Angelica?”

                “Yea... How do you...?”

                “Angelica and Damon’s first love were best friends. She saved Angelica’s life by shooting Angelica’s kidnapper. I suspected that Angelica had something to do with her death,”

                “What were you doing there than?” I arched an eyebrow. He turned to me and pulled out my slightly cut arm. It wasn’t a deep cut, and not as much as blood as you’d think there would be. While he started to speak, he started to rub something into it that made it even sting more, and bandage things up.

                “That place is owned by the gang. I was doing research. It turns out that the members of the gangs are from the same families. If their parents are part of the gang, they are forced to take part of it. As in, they don’t allow strangers to join,” He furthered “As you probably expect, Angelica is part of the gang. From the conversations I’ve been hearing around being around them, they know something about your parents. I’ve threatened a quiet few to talk but they only know the rumours.”

                “Angelica knows a lot about my parents. You mind if you question her? Oh and, did you kill the others that you threatened answers out?” I carefully asked.

                “I only kill when it’s necessary. If you don’t desire me to kill others than I won’t,”

                “Don’t... I only need my parents alive. I don’t even care if the kidnappers somehow manage to stay alive either. Just as long as they’re save,”

                “A girl like you hiring an assassin is very odd,”

                “My parents are criminals, it’s not that odd,”

                “True...” He sighed. I winced at the terrible stomach ache. I forgot that they kicked me over the stomach and probably rips. He looked down over my stomach and was careful to ask “Can I look or you won’t feel comfortable?”

                “Only if you’re not a pervert,” I condition.

                “Pull up your shirt enough that I can see if there’s bruising,” he instructed. I bit my lip and did as he asked. I gazed down and there was purple bruising over my ribs.

                “Damon will have to take you the hospital,” He informed and pressed on the burses. I winced and he cracked a very faded smile.

                “Lexis, I didn’t think you could fight,” He spoke.

                “What makes you think I can?” I asked.

                “How did you get out of the room they trapped you in?”

                “Oh... I, tricked them into releasing me and yea, I guess I do but not good as you,”

                “Of course not... Shall I call Damon now?”

                “No,” I replied “I’m going to a friend’s house instead.” How could I face Damon after knowing what Angelica has done? I’ve discovered the mystery of who really was behind the reason she died. No wonder he was so defensive the first time I encountered that gang. I would have probably raised a gun to them too. Mike almost killed me.

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ANSWERS:

I upadate once a week, for everyone who'se been keep on asking :) Help me get more people to get reading this story if you think it's that good and vote ;) 

The second book is almost finished! Maybe about one to three chapters more. Than I'll try to start the third book...which I already know the title of but I can't say because it would be a huge spoiler to the ending; unless I decide to change the title.

I may not continue it as soon as I finish the second book. Though, if there are a lot of people that want to keep reading and can't wait, I'll do my best to get straight on it :). 

 I have also another idea for a story coming up. It's based on a classic fairytale with a modern twist. It's not cinderlla, snow white or sleeping beauty or something like that. Hopefully I'll get to put it on ;). Promise it won't be typical.