Kidnapped to love

chapter 22

The forest air was thick and cold as Crystal’s lungs burned, her legs barely carrying her through the dense thorns and underbrush. Her heart pounded as if it would burst from her chest. The cuts on her feet stung fiercely, and with every step, the pain shot up her legs like fire. She could hear the guards behind her, their voices getting louder as they spread out, looking for her. She hid behind a massive tree, her body pressed against the rough bark, praying to be invisible.

Her breath hitched as the guards passed within inches of her, their boots crunching the leaves.

"If we don't find her, the boss will kill us," one of them muttered, his voice tense.

They began to scatter, searching in different directions. Crystal exhaled, barely daring to believe she hadn’t been found. But she couldn’t stay hidden. She had to keep moving.

Her legs screamed in protest, but she forced herself to run again, pushing through the pain. Her feet were slick with blood, her throat dry, and every part of her body ached. There was no clear path—only the endless, twisting forest.

She ran blindly, her vision blurring as exhaustion took over. Suddenly, she stumbled, her foot catching on a branch, sending her crashing to the ground. She gasped, the pain in her legs overwhelming, her body shaking. She couldn’t go on.

"Please, just let me out of here," she whispered in frustration, her voice broken.

A cold, mocking voice slithered through the air, making her blood freeze. "Let me help you, doll."

Her breath caught. No.

Dimitri.

Panic gripped her chest. She looked around, but there was no one—only the trees, the shadows, and the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

"Run, doll" he purred. His voice echoed in her mind, teasing, sinister.

She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the searing pain, and ran as fast as she could. His laughter followed her, wrapping around her like a noose. She couldn’t see him, but she could feel him—always close, always watching. He was playing with her.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground again, her body trembling violently from exhaustion and fear. Tears streamed down her face as she forced herself to stand, her entire being screaming in protest. She couldn’t stop. Not now. Not ever.

And then, like a lifeline in the middle of a nightmare, she saw it—a road. Relief flooded her body. She pushed herself toward it, her last bit of strength fueling her desperate steps. The road seemed so close, yet so far. She stumbled onto the pavement, her legs barely holding her up as she ran into the night, the cool air biting at her skin.

But the relief was short-lived.

“You thought you could escape me?” His voice was calm, cutting through the darkness like a blade. It chilled her more than the night air.

Her body froze in place, terror locking her limbs as Dimitri emerged from the shadows, his tall, imposing figure blocking the only way forward. His eyes gleamed with amusement, his lips twisted into a cruel smile.

"Keep running, doll," he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "You look so beautiful when you’re afraid."

Crystal’s breath came in short, panicked gasps. She tried to back away, but her legs wouldn’t move. She felt trapped, caged by his gaze.

"You’re a mess," Dimitri said softly, stepping closer, his eyes scanning her disheveled form with twisted pleasure. "Look what you've done to yourself."

His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and Crystal flinched, her entire body trembling under his touch. She felt sick, the weight of his presence suffocating her.

"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let me go."

Dimitri’s smile widened, his fingers trailing down the side of her face, cold and possessive. "Never, doll."

Her heart shattered at his words, the finality of it sinking in.

“Why are you doing this?” she choked out, her voice shaking with fear.

His eyes darkened, the amusement fading as his grip on her tightened. “Because you belong to me. And no one takes what’s mine.”

Those were the last words she heard before her vision blurred, her body collapsing from the overwhelming exhaustion and terror. Just as the darkness consumed her, she felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her close, and everything went black.