The Devil's Thirst Trap

Chapter 4

She kept walking the dark lonely streets that had a couple of drunk people, but that didn't bother her. She was not scared of anything except someone new who popped into her life. She went to a nearby payphone and dialed the number on the card.

"Hello?", she called."Yes, it's me, Zoey. We need to talk as soon as possible face to face please."

"Where are you right now? I'll be there.", Alex on the other side of the phone questioned as he started to dress up in casual clothes.

"How do you know I am not at home if you knew my home address before?", she questioned.

"I can hear the background noise, just tell me where you are, I'll be there as soon as possible.", he stated as he got into his car.

"I'm at a payphone opposite the catholic church in street X.", she said as she cut the call and fell down into a cramped position.

"Hello?Hello?Zoey, are you there? Can you hear me? If so, respond right now.", Alex questioned frantically."Shit!", he started to swear as he took the car out of his mansion with great speed.

He reached there to see a fragile-looking girl clinging to the payphone and curled up in a ball. He picked her up as soon as he saw that and brought her to his car to warm her up. He took out her jacket and put on his coat around her. Her lips were so blue as the frost that covered the edges of his windscreen.

She grabbed his hand tight as she said," Don't go please..."

Alex smiled warmly at her and started to play with her hair." What do you mean princess? Don't ever do something so stupid again as to waiting inside there in the cold.", he said scolding her and grabbing her hair tight in his hands.

"Mom....I feel cold...I miss you", she muttered as she tossed and turned in an unconscious state in the car.

He put on the heater in the car and drove her to his house.

A few hours later

Zoey woke up to beads of sweat on her forehead, she became fully conscious and confused about where she was. Just then she remembered how the policemen came to her house in search of her. Luckily her father covered up for her.

"Dad!", she exclaimed as she jumped off the bed and then yelped in pain. She look at her hand to see that had an IV drip on it.

Suddenly, she felt strong arms around her waist picking her up, Zoey wanted to fight back but she had no strength to, instead, she turned around to see Alexander Griffin.

He blew air in her ear as he whispered softly," Easy."

Zoey felt comforted but could also feel the thin icy aura between them and then she remembered his threat.

"You...you did this. Didn't you? YOU TURNED MY LIFE INTO A LIVING HELL!!!", Zoey screamed at him as she started to punch him.

He stared at her coldly," So what if I did? You're already a suspect because you did not appear home."He then whispered softly as he told her," Mark my words, you'll have no choice but to run back to me and me only Zoey" and he started to play with her hair so gently that it brought shivers down her spine.

She pulled out the drip as she spat at his face and started to run out of the house to see nothing but snow. Everywhere.

"What....what the hell....where am I?", she questioned herself.

"You are on my property, Miss Smith.", Alex answered her coldly.

"Please...please...just let me go home, please Mr. Griffin.", she begged with mercy as she started tearing up. The person she was worried about was not her, nor was it Lily or Alex. It was her father. She needed to know that he would be okay and if he is safe, after all, he knew nothing about her vigilante secret.

"And who was the girl who spat at the person who fed her and gave her clothes?", he queried as he folded his arms indifferent to the cold weather." Come inside Zoey. It's cold here. Let's talk about the agreement inside.", he stated as he led her to the living room.

"I know you have a lot of questions, so you can just ask one at a time.", he stated with a warm smile planted on his face as he poured a fine cup of tea for her.

"Who are you and why would you target my dad and me?", she questioned with no time to waste.

"Well...For starters, my name is Alexander Griffin. I am a businessman"

"Does my father owe you anything? If so, let me pay it off-"

"Absolutely no, you are my guest. And I don't even know your father. But you, I have picked an interest in you." he said cutting her off from talking and trying to touch her hair but she turned her face away looking in another direction.

"I have a proposition for you.", he said as he sat back down and crossed his legs.

"And if I don't want to sign it or have anything to do with you? What then?", she snapped back. Zoey was the type to always fight back. She was never the type to take a no for an answer.

"Your reputation as a vigilante will be exposed and above all...your father will die at your hands. All because of your stupidity and selfishness of taking up a mask to wear at night yet you don't even think about the consequences"

"What is the proposition?", she muttered under her breath gently.

"Oh well, you will stay here with me, in this mansion with me."

"Why do you want me to stay here?!", she questioned in confusion.

"Do you remember the night before? On the alleyway, you killed my cousin."

She choked on her tea as she heard this and tried to hide her laughter."Oh....I'm sorry...but on a serious note, he was not a nice person. He kidnapped and murdered children."

He sat next to her and started to talk," You're right, he deserved it", he chuckled.

"Please consider the proposition."