Running from Him by YH Yohi

Run I

Her hands were sweaty as she left lumps forming in her throat, her legs wouldn't move and her eyes fixed at the reddening fist crashing into the man's face. A tall built figure towered over the crouching man. The man begged him to stop, but his lean muscles wouldn't.

Wafts of smoke hung like a thick fog that slowly revealed this god-forbidden place. It was a hidden hall, dark with flickering lights. The furnishing was luxurious and pleasing to the eye, that was the only thing pleasing to the eye. Apart from it, this place was...vulgar.

Everything she detested- violence, intoxication, drugs, escorting and more plagued her surroundings. Her temples ached as she felt lightheaded, yet her eyes remained glued to the familiar back. He finally receded, giving a satisfied huff before roughly grabbing his shirt from a brunette who seductively hugged it against her nearly bare chest. In place of that innocent smile, he simply smirked at the women who instantly gathered around him, leaching onto his toned arms, refusing to budge. Nonchalant, he lazily strutted to a corner with other men as the bloodied man was simply dragged away. 

Those men didn't seem normal, something about them screamed danger, maybe it was the way they looked at others, like prey. They spoke as if they knew for ages, chugging the dark sombre alcohol sniggering at the broken man.

A waitress nearly crashed against Pari. She turned back to curse but just looked at Pari bewildered. She clearly didn't belong there. She was modestly draped in a simple cotton cloth, hair pulled back, without a taint of darkness in her eyes. She seemed like a lost puppy amid the dungeon of big cats.

"Look here." she demanded snapping her claw-like hands to shake Pari off her daze, curiously eyeing her.

Pari jerked as she tried to find her voice, with panic she asked, "What is this place?"

"This?" the waitress asked mockingly waving her finger round, seeing Pari silent, she added "Is an exclusive club for the elite and powerful people. What is a little kitten like you doing here?"

"I..I..." nothing came out.

"Whatever, got a busy day. Turn to the left, walk straight you will find the exit door. Gosh...Joe must be dozing off again, seriously how did you even end up here?" she softly added as she turned around muttering curses. 

"Wait!"

"Spit it, quick."

Timidly she lifted her quivering finger and pointed at the man she was staring all along. "Who is that?"

"Why do you care?"

"Please just tell me" she pleaded, her voice broke to a soft whimper

The waitress studied her for a minute, let out a sigh and replied as if it was obvious

"If I were you I would run far from him honey. That is Mr. Arin, an elite member of this club, no one likes to get on his bad side, and those are his buddies, sons of politicians, businessmen, lawyers and whatnot, some are those themselves...and this is their playground"

"Oh God"

"Babe, it gets worst...gangsters and the mafia infest this place. I wouldn't be surprised if someone dies one of these days"

"Ma..mafia"

Sniggering at the naivety of this woman, "Of course, who do you think does all their dirty work?" she said pointing at Arin and his buddies, their sickening laugh caused bile to rise from the pits of her stomach.

It was all a lie! Everything! 

She thought he was a good person. But in place of that innocent sheepish smile was an arrogant smirk, as his eyes had darkened, aggressive and violent. Everything was an act, and it frightened her.  She had enough, she couldn't stop herself from shivering like a leaf, she wanted to get away...far away from this devil who wore the mask of an angel.

But as she was about to move, a bulky stick of meat snaked around her waist.

"What's a baby doll doing here?" a man whispered into her ear. She gasped as she saw the pervert, close. She struggled, "don't touch me with your filthy hands!"

He snorted "Ha...don't call my hands filthy, the thoughts I'm having is worse". 

Disgust.

Pari crushed his toe beneath her wedges and shook off his hand. His colorful curses began to draw attention. This was too much for one day, everything she thought she knew crumbled before her. She was lost, tears threatened to fall. She had to get away.

But as she moved, that filth grabbed her arm again, yanking her towards him.

"DON'T TOUCH HER" a deep, tense voice roared through the place. Everyone froze. The man seemed to instantly regret his deed, as he backed off, quickly disappearing into the still crowd.

Pari timidly turned to face the owner's voice, well aware that it belonged to the person she was desperate to run away from. She met the dark brown eyes, Arin. He stood facing her, his brows scrunched with worry as he slowly stalked towards her, holding her helpless in his gaze. Breathless, and tensed she heard that soft familiar voice moving dangerously close...

"Pari"

Tears rolled down, she couldn't. This man himself, was a lie. From what she saw and heard about him she knew he was dangerous. She instinctively, took a step backward. Arin seemed hurt as he saw the fear in her eyes, but he continued, slowly reaching out to her.

Pari panicked, her heart thumped against her chest as her temples hurt. Shivers ran along her body as she tightly clenched her fists till, they were white. 

Arin was too close, an arm's length away, as he slowly stretched out his hand, Pari did the only thing she could think of....run.