Misunderstanding

Chapter 2 (Nathalie POV)

I collapsed to the sand with the slap, my ears ringing and blood rushing in my mouth. The vibrant yellow sand beneath me was tainted with a pool of crimson.  Despite the pain coursing through my body, I found myself being forcibly lifted by Chase, his grip tight on my hair. His menacing words hissed in my ear, causing my heart to skip a beat, "I'm going to call the police." Fear constricted my lungs, leaving me gasping for air, my face contorting into a mask of horror.

Desperation welled up within me as I attempted to communicate my plea through sign language begging him to spare me from his intended visit to the police. Had he found out about the truth already?

 "Stop waving your hands at me, you murderer!" he yelled. 

My eyes widened in disbelief, realization dawning upon me. Wasn't the reason Chase is treating me like this because someone had warned him that a mute girl was on a mission to end his life? Then how come he was surprised and puzzled that I wasn't talking?

Because I was born mute, I was abandoned by my own family and left to fend for myself on the unforgiving streets at a tender age. I helplessly scavenged in trash heaps, surviving on discarded scraps. But a man "saved" me, a man who I call Lord. 

He brought me to an underground refuge where boys who used to be homeless were kept and trained.  Despite being the youngest, only girl among them, Lord provided me with shelter and nourishment.

However, as I grew older, my purpose shifted, and he began instructing me in the art of assassination, like all the other boys. Every child who reached the age of eighteen would be assigned nefarious tasks, ranging from murder to theft.

If you failed to complete the task, you would be forbidden to return. That would make your lifestyle difficult, as we had never gotten a proper education.

Just last week it was my eighteenth birthday, I had been assigned the mission to gain Chase's trust before murdering him.

Fear coursed through my veins as Chase tightened his grip around my throat. Panic surged within me as I clawed desperately at his hands, struggling for precious breath. And then, in a sudden release, he let go, and I crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. As my vision cleared, I noticed Chase retrieving a phone that was dripping with water from his pocket.

Even if he calls the Police on me, I won't reveal Lord's identity or location! 

"You killed my mother! My mum! My only family!" he roared. What was this guy talking about? His mother, his only family, was dead, and he believed I was responsible? Was he clueless about my true mission, only mistaking me for someone else?

 A surge of hope flickered within me. I had a chance to kill him. However, I couldn't now. Chase was a powerful, muscular man, and I was no match for him. That was why I had to gain his trust before killing him.

Chase tapped his phone, letting out a string of curses when the screen remained unresponsive. The beach was empty, as it was current work hours and children were at school; no one that could lend him his phone.  With a firm grip on my wrist, he began dragging me towards a magnificent mansion looming in the distance. 

Rumors of Chase's wealth had circulated before, but as the grandeur of the mansion came into view, I couldn't help but be awestruck. The sprawling estate boasted a meticulously manicured garden and an abundance of windows that bathed the interior in sunlight. 

"Once I get ahold of my other phone, I'll have you arrested and locked up in jail for your entire life!" He hissed in my ear. My wrist was burning in pain. "Even if you aren't sentenced that long, I can bribe them with money."

He flung the door to his mansion open.