ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵃˢᵏ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ˢᵉᵖᵉʳᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵘˢ | ᶜʰⁱˢʰⁱʸᵃ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ

Chapter 15: Shattered Glass

I struggle to catch my breath as Niragi's hand presses down on my shoulder, his weight pinning me against the wall.

My arms ache from trying to fight him off, but he's stronger, his grip relentless. Bruises bloom under his touch, pain radiating from each point of contact, but I grit my teeth, swallowing back the panic that threatens to take over.

"Let go of me!" I snarl, trying to twist my arm free, but he just laughs, a low, sick sound that sends shivers down my spine.

It's a game to him, a sick, twisted game, and he's loving every second of it.

"What's wrong, Leah?" he taunts, his face inches from mine, his eyes glinting with a twisted amusement. "I thought you were tougher than this."

My jaw clenches, anger flaring up despite the pain. I hate how he says my name like he owns it, like he owns me. "Get off me, Niragi," I hiss, channeling every ounce of fury I have left.

He only laughs harder, his grip tightening, fingers digging into my bruised skin. I thrash again, kicking out with everything I have, my body a bundle of raw adrenaline and desperation.

I refuse to let him win.

I won't be some helpless victim.

But my strength is fading. I can feel it, the energy seeping out of me with every failed attempt.

I'm exhausted, bruised, my limbs heavy.

My vision blurs, and I start to feel like I'm drowning. I won't let myself break, not like this, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out.

The room feels like it's closing in on me, the walls thick with tension and fear. I struggle to find a breath, any breath, and in that moment of suffocating helplessness, I hear a crash, a sharp, sudden noise that cuts through the haze.

A shower of glass rains down from the broken window, scattering across the floor like glittering shards. I blink, disoriented, and then I see her.

Elentya.

My best friend, standing amidst the shattered glass, her silhouette framed against the city lights outside. She's fierce, her stance low and ready, her gaze locked on Niragi with an intensity that's almost frightening.

"Elentya..." I breathe, relief flooding through me.

She barely glances at me, her eyes fixed on Niragi.
"Get your hands off her," she says, her voice low, a warning.

Niragi sneers, his fingers tightening on my wrist.
"You think you're going to stop me?"

Elentya doesn't answer.

She just moves.

Before I can fully register it, she lunges forward, her leg swinging in a powerful kick that catches Niragi square in the chest, knocking him back and forcing him to release me. I stumble to the floor, clutching my bruised wrist, my body aching but my mind racing.

But Niragi isn't down for long. He recovers quickly, his face twisted in rage as he lunges back at Elentya, his movements fast, dangerous.

They clash in a violent blur of limbs and fists, their grunts and sharp breaths filling the air. Elentya is agile, dodging and weaving, countering his attacks with a brutal precision. She's focused, her every move calculated, but Niragi's sheer strength keeps her on her toes.

I know I should move, that I should help her somehow, but my body feels like dead weight, every bruise and cut burning with fresh pain. But then I see Niragi shift, his hand reaching for the gun on his back.

"No!" I shout, adrenaline surging through me. Ignoring the pain, I force myself to my feet and lunge forward, throwing myself between them.
I grab Niragi's arm, wrenching it back with all the strength I have left.

He snarls, swinging his other hand to shove me away, but Elentya is there, catching his wrist in a fierce grip. Together, we fight him, our movements frantic and desperate, each of us barely managing to hold him back.

"You're not winning this," I spit, glaring up at him, defiance burning in my eyes.

Niragi smirks, his gaze flicking between me and Elentya. "Is that so?" His voice drips with scorn, and he lunges again, managing to shake us both off with a brutal twist of his body. I stumble back, catching myself against the wall, my vision swimming from the impact.

But Elentya doesn't back down. She dodges his next blow, ducking under his arm and slamming her elbow into his side. He grunts, his grip faltering, and I see my chance. I dart forward, aiming a punch at his jaw, but he catches my arm, twisting it painfully. I gasp, pain shooting up my shoulder.

"You're getting predictable, Leah," he sneers, his fingers pressing into my skin, sending jolts of pain up my arm.

But Elentya moves again, faster than I can follow, her leg sweeping out in a low kick that catches Niragi off balance. He stumbles, and I wrench my arm free, stumbling back to put distance between us. My whole body aches, each bruise and cut screaming in protest, but I can't stop now.

Not when he's still standing.

Elentya glances at me, a quick look of determination passing between us. Together, we lunge, attacking him from both sides.

I aim for his stomach, landing a punch that makes him grunt, while Elentya goes for his shoulder, slamming into him with a force that finally sends him staggering back.

He curses, clutching his side as he steadies himself, his eyes dark and furious. "You'll pay for this," he snarls, his voice dripping with venom.

"Maybe," Elentya says, her voice cold and steady, "but not tonight."

With one final glare, Niragi stumbles toward the door, clearly realizing he's outmatched. He gives us one last look of pure hatred before slipping into the hallway, slamming the door behind him.

As soon as he's gone, I collapse to the floor, my body finally giving in to the exhaustion and pain.

Every breath is a struggle, each bruise and cut throbbing in time with my racing heartbeat.

Elentya kneels beside me, her expression shifting from fierce determination to concern.

"Leah," she says softly, reaching out to steady me. "Are you okay?"

I manage a weak nod, though I know I probably look like a mess. "I... I will be," I say, my voice rough, barely more than a whisper.

She looks at me, her gaze searching, before she sighs, pulling me into a gentle hug.

I hate hugs.

But now, I lean against her, letting the last of my adrenaline fade away, leaving only exhaustion and relief in its place. For a moment, we stay like that, the room silent except for our ragged breaths.

Finally, I pull back, managing a small, shaky smile. "Thanks," I say, my voice hoarse but grateful. "I... I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up. I didn't know if you survived the last game. How.. How did you know I was here?"

Elentya gives me a faint smile, her eyes softening. "I didn't know you were here. Lyria told me that she told you to get the cards back, but you didn't return. You need to get out of here." she says. "But you don't have to do this alone."

I nod, swallowing hard as the weight of her words settles over me. She's right. I've been trying to fight alone, to prove I'm strong enough to handle this place on my own. But maybe, just maybe, I don't have to.

As we sit there, catching our breaths in the quiet room, a new feeling settles in my chest. Determination. This place, this twisted game, it's not going to break me. Not as long as I have people like Elentya by my side.

I push myself up slowly, wincing at the bruises that line my arms, but I refuse to let them keep me down. I glance at Elentya, a spark of resolve in my eyes.

"We're getting out of here," I say, my voice steady despite the pain. "Together."

She nods, a fierce glint in her eyes. "Together."