My Protector | Meliodas

27. Ransom

I tried to peer through the mesh separating the front and back seats, but it was too thick to make out what was beyond the front of the car. I could tell we had arrived at our destination, after what felt like hours of driving. But it was too dark to see where we had arrived. 

I had been quietly trembling the whole drive, my mind in overdrive at the possible outcomes of this abduction. 

The chances of Meliodas or anyone being able to find me were very slim. No witnesses, probably no cameras, and definitely no clues as to who had kidnapped me. 

I couldn't see the cameras inside the cinema being able to catch the number plates of this vehicle, and if I couldn't see the guy's face through the windows, grainy camera footage wouldn't be of any help. 

I gasped as the guy next to me forcefully grabbed my wrists and bounded them together with duct tape. Before I could react, a black sack of thick cotton was thrown over my head, leaving me feeling even more vulnerable than before. 

My seatbelt was unclicked before I heard the door beside me open and a large hand grip my upper arm. 

A loud cry left my mouth as I was ripped out of the car, my purse falling out of my lap onto the floor. I tried to regain my footing as the hand began dragging me away. My Converses scraped along the dirt in an attempt to resist the person's force, but they were too strong. 

I could barely make out the sound of several footsteps around me over the noise of my own struggle. Before long, I heard a loud metal scraping sound and was pulled inside a musky feeling room. 

The air felt grimy on my skin as the men lured me further into the space, which was larger than I initially thought. Tapping of boots on concrete echoed all around me, leading me to think we were in a shed or stadium of some kind. 

I tried to make out any light through the tiny holes of the fabric and relaxed slightly as the yellow glow brightened with each step. 

Eventually, we slowed to a stop and a foot kicked the backs of my calves, hurling me backward onto my ass. I cried at the impact of hard concrete on my tailbone, my breath trembling as my legs started going numb. 

"You finally got her," a man said with a chuckle, followed by footsteps. I could barely register the new company before the black material was ripped from my head and the bright light beamed into my eyes. I squinted and blinked to try and adjust to the new environment. 

"It took a little longer than anticipated," someone grumbled behind me. I turned my head upward to try and catch a glimpse of the new voice but realized they were standing outside of the light's range. 

"All that matters is that she's here now, has Bartra been informed?" The man said, his voice eerie. I felt a shudder crawl along my skin as his footsteps continued closer toward us. 

"We believe so, the bodyguard is on his way back now." 

My head perked up at that, hope blooming in my chest. These men were done for once Meliodas found out where they were keeping me. He would save me, I know he would. 

"Now don't get too excited there, princess," the voice called from the darkness. I squinted to try and get a glimpse, only for my eyes to go wide as he stepped into the spotlight. 

It was him. 

My attacker. 

I began trembling even more, slowly using the grips of my shoes to push my body along the concrete in an attempt to distance myself from him. 

He sported a smug smile as his blonde hair fell into his sinister eyes, which peered down at me. My mouth was parted slightly as I tried to fight off another panic attack, a hard task when you could feel your blood pumping faster throughout your body. 

I felt the bottom of a boot on my shoulder, holding me in place. I winced as the shoe put even more pressure on my skin. The man flicked him a warning gaze, and the shoe disappeared. 

"You can all leave now, thank you kindly for your work," he said, his eyes trained on me. I adverted my gaze to the direction that the men were walking in, but I couldn't see the exit even when it flung open and shut behind them. 

I was alone. With this man. 

My eyes trailed wearily up to his face, which was no longer amused. It confused me as he left the light and began walking to the left of me. I heard another scraping sound which slowly crept toward me. 

He came back into the light with a thin, metal chair, which he planted directly under the lightbulb, a cloud of grey dust erupting from the legs. 

"Sit," was all he said. I didn't move a muscle, too scared he would try something. But when he raised a dark eyebrow at me, I quickly scrambled to my feet with my bound hands limp in front of me. 

He nodded at the chair, which he still held by the back. My feet slowly dragged toward it, where I took a seat, my eyes never leaving his face. Now it was me and him alone, my nerves had somewhat decreased but were still sky high. 

His mood had changed. I bit my tongue as he let go of the back of my chair and walked to stand in front of me. 

"Do you have any questions?" His voice sounded strained as he reached a hand up behind his neck. My eyes widened a minuscule amount at his question. 

"...what do you want with me?" was all I choked out, my voice scratchy from crying. His purple orbs were darker in this lighting and watched me as I spoke. His face looked, intrigued. 

Like I was a rare animal in a cage. One he had never seen before and was trying to understand. 

I chewed the skin of my cheek. 

"Ransom, mostly," was his response, and my breath quickened as he took a few slow steps closer. The look in his eye was predatory, and I felt my nerves heighten more than when I had a gun pressed to my head. 

I was wrong to let my guard down around him. 

"But also, whatever I want," his fingers were rough as they grasped my chin and tilted my head up for a better view of my face. I felt more tears stream down the sides of my cheeks as his eyes glowered down at me, a gentle smirk on his lips. 

"Are you going to behave for me?" His voice came out kinder, which juxtaposed the meaning behind his words. 

I just blinked and slowly nodded, not wanting to end up in more trouble than I already was. I tried to peep behind his suit jacket for any weapons as I knew Meliodas stored his there, but even if he was unarmed, it would be a stupid idea to try and escape with several men waiting outside, at least one of them with a gun. 

I swallowed with difficulty before he let go of my chin and walked toward the left of me again, returning with some rope. I eyed him as he approached me and looped it around me, restraining me to the hard metal. 

I didn't disregard how he tied the rope so my breasts peeked out of the gaps, but I tried to put it to the back of my mind. 

I tried to convince myself that this man wasn't going to do anything to me, given I was being used for a ransom. If my father ever found out this man and those he worked with had degraded me more than they already had, they would all be dead. 

I just hoped they found me soon.