Fear

48 • X

The world spun around me as I was violently yanked out the car, confused and petrified. Strong, rough hands dragged me by my arms.

The world was black, my vision denied by the blindfold.

My screams were stifled by a hand as I was dragged, kicking and fighting, to another vehicle. They shoved me inside and sped off.

It all happened too fast.

I heard the sound of tape and then I understood why. My mouth was taped by someone sitting on the seat next to me, and then my arms were forcibly pulled behind me, tied up with rope at an awkward angle, causing excruciating pain in my shoulders.

I began to sob, crying quietly as I tried to process what had just happened. We were ambushed. Ty, Jack, and Nate fought to protect me. I felt Nate's grip on my arm slip. I heard the sickening sound of the bullet go through him...
I can't forget that sound.

Wait... What happened to Tyler?

He did so much to protect me. My heart dropped to my stomach as a terrifying thought crossed my mind. What if...

The blindfold pressed against my eyes, making everything around me dark and suffocating. I tried to control my breathing, but terror gripped me, each breath shallow and ragged. My stomach churned with a mix of fear, anxiety, confusion, and dread. The car swerved through the streets at speed, jolting me from side to side.

The voices of two men in the front seat cut through the darkness. I froze and strained to listen, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Boss wants her in one piece," one of them said, his voice gruff and impatient.

The other hummed in response. "Why does he care so much? She's a pawn."

Where are they taking me?
What do they want from me?

The journey felt endless, minutes stretching into what felt like an eternity.

The constant motion of the vehicle, the cold seeping through the metal, the tightness of the ropes, all added to my growing apprehension.

Eventually, the vehicle came to a halt.

I was dragged out, my legs barely supporting me as I was led through a cold open space. A cacophony of footsteps echoed off the walls and reverberated. The air was damp and freezing, the scent of concrete and rust filling my nose.

The blindfold was ripped away, and I blinked against the sudden light. The place was imposing, desolate, shadows deep and menacing.

My heart raced as I was pushed into a chair by two masked men dressed in full black gear.

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

X.

He was tall, with cold, calculating eyes that seemed to pierce through me. He smiled - a cruel, menacing smile devoid of warmth.

"Welcome, Emily," he said, his voice smooth and chilling.

I tried to remain defiant, but I trembled with fear.

"Do you know why you're here?"

My heart pounded in my chest, and I tried to speak, but the tape over my mouth stifled any words. Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared up at his dark, merciless face, struggling against the ropes behind me.

"You're part of a game that's much bigger than you realise, Emily," X continued, his voice echoing in the empty space around us. "A game that's been played for years. Your little boyfriend, Tyler, owes me a debt."

Confusion and terror mingled inside me. Tyler had never spoken much about his history with X or why they were at war, but now the pieces were beginning to fall into place, revealing a dark legacy of blood and revenge.

"His father," X's voice turned venomous as he spoke through gritted teeth, "killed mine. And now, I'm here to collect what's owed."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. Now I finally understood. It was a blood war.

"You think you're safe, don't you?" He stepped closer, making me freeze. "You think he'll burst in and save you?"

His crooked smile widened, and he crouched down to my level, his face inches from mine. "I don't know," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin. "But until then, you're mine."

"Also, I think you'd like to know," he continued, his voice laced with malice as he dealt the final blow that sent me reeling,

"He was shot in the ambush."

My world shattered. I screamed behind the tape, desperate, agonising. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I thrashed wildly against the ropes, my body convulsing with sobs of despair.

I've never felt pain like it in my life. The horror of finding out someone you loved more than anything else is dead. I can't describe it.

X watched me, his eyes filled with cruel satisfaction. "He didn't make it," he continued, his voice cruel and mocking.

"He's dead, Emily."

He stood back, his eyes cold yet filled with sadistic delight as he watched me completely unravel. He took pleasure in my pain, revelling in the power it gave him.

"Stupid girl," he sneered, "He's not dead... yet. If he was, I wouldn't be doing this, would I? The debt would be paid."

He walked behind me, his rough hands squeezing my shoulders in a mockery of comfort, and spoke in my ear, his voice grating.

"This is just the beginning," he said calmly, almost enjoying the chaos he'd caused,
"If Tyler wants to see you again, he'll do exactly as I say, and I know he will. Wouldn't want his precious little princess hurt now, would he?"

The pain was overwhelming, agonising. My head spun, and my heartbeat pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. The room seemed to close in around me, the walls pressing in, claustrophobic, as my world crumbled.

X's voice was a distant murmur, lost in the chaos of my mind. I could barely breathe, each gasp for air was a struggle. I felt myself slipping into darkness.

With that, he turned and walked away, callously leaving me bound and broken.

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