Ruthless

19

A gasp of incredulity escaped me, and I found myself gaping like a fish, completely taken aback by his statement. I struggled to process his words, still unable to believe he could be serious.

"I won't let you do it again," I declared with determination, grappling against his imposing figure. His response was a mocking cackle, but his eyes held a menacing gleam. Fear gripped me, a genuine dread of reliving yesterday's ordeal.

I've always been one to take the easy way out, avoiding problems like the plague. Perhaps that's why I hadn't summoned the courage to look at the brand I had acquired. I couldn't bear the thought of what I might find, and I despised myself for what I perceived as weakness.

"What won't you let me do?" he taunted after a minute of silence, his tone filled with teasing mockery.

"Please," I implored meekly, shaking my head, my breath escaping into my short pants.

His hands, which had gripped me harshly, slackened. They lingered for a moment before releasing me completely.

"Please, let me go," I pleaded, gaining a bit of confidence.

"Go," he responded tersely.

Despite the opportunity, I found myself rooted in place, cautiously staring at him. My hands were clasped in front of me, and I was certain confusion was written all over my face.

Aside from the confusion, another emotion overwhelmed me: suspicion. There was no way he would let me off the hook so easily. What was brewing in his mind?

"You wanted to go, right?" Hades asked when he noticed I hadn't moved from my position.

I could only nod, lacking the confidence to utter a single word.

"Then move before I change my mind," he added.

This time, I paid no attention to the what-ifs. Inhaling deeply through my nose, I turned on my heel and began making my way to the door. After taking just a few steps, I was abruptly grabbed by my elbow and spun around.

A sense of unease settled in my gut, but I maintained a calm expression and asked him, "Is there something wrong?"

"I forgot to tell you that if you can leave this room in 5 minutes, I'll set you free. If not..."

He didn't need to finish; I knew my fate would be in his hands forever if I failed.

Now tense and worried, I understood that I couldn't overpower him with strength alone. I needed to be clever, a trait I wasn't particularly known for.

Despite my usual lack of brilliance, I had an idea, though its success was uncertain. With limited time, I gathered all my strength and pushed him away from me as forcefully as I could. He staggered back a few steps.

Without wasting a second, I dashed across the room. Once again, a bulky arm grabbed me from behind, halting my escape halfway.

"Let me go!" I kicked with my legs, dangling in the air. My hands were hitting, scratching—doing everything within my power to break free from his grasp.

The next few seconds, I found myself in a bewildering haze, completely unaware of the events that had transpired in the time. When I finally regained my senses, I realized Hades had loosened his grip, but was holding my shirt. Before I could understand, he roughly tore away the shirt I wore, leaving me exposed.

Reacting on instinct, I struck his left cheek, only to be met with a swift and painful retaliation when he sent me flat on the couch. As I straightened up, nursing my stinging cheek, I saw Hades approaching. In an attempt to create distance, I crawled backward with the help of my elbow in the limited space, but he quickly seized my ankle, pulling me back into my original position.