Beneath The Surface

Chapter 40: Chase of Desperation

--- Raven's POV ---

The doors opened, and the wedding march began, signaling it was time to walk down the aisle. These last few weeks had been hell on earth, a waking nightmare I couldn't escape. When I was kidnapped from my apartment that night, I never imagined it was orchestrated by my father. The realization hit me hard, he had planned this wedding, striking a deal with Ivan Volkov, my hand in marriage for a powerful alliance.

After being taken, I awoke to the brutal reality that my father was behind it all. Hope shattered. Marco had kicked me out, and I wasn't sure if Ace would care once Marco revealed my true identity. It felt like all the more reason to give up. They wouldn't care about me. Why would they?

My father had beaten me into submission, both physically and emotionally, forcing me to marry Ivan. Every blow, every harsh word had chipped away at my resolve until there was nothing left but a hollow shell. I had given up completely. There was no escape, no savior. Just the cold reality of my fate.

I took the first step down the aisle, feeling nothing. The grand hall blurred around me, the faces of the guests a sea of indifference. I focused on the ground in front of me, each step heavy with resignation. My father had won. He had broken me, and now I was about to be handed over to another monster.

Reaching the altar, Ivan’s iron grip closed around my wrist, pulling me closer. His touch was bruising, a cruel reminder of the life that awaited me. I barely noticed, lost in a trance of hopelessness. My mind was numb, my body moving on autopilot. This was my life now, and I had no choice but to endure it.

Then, suddenly, a shout broke through the haze. "Get down!" The voice was sharp, urgent. I looked up, dazed, and saw Ace. Before I could fully process it, gunfire erupted. Chaos ensued, and I dropped to the ground, trying to shield myself. The shock jolted me out of my trance, but hope still felt like a distant dream.

Everything around me was a blur of noise and movement. I couldn't afford to believe in rescue, not after everything I'd been through. But seeing Ace, even in the chaos, stirred something deep within me. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance to survive this. But first, I had to get out of here alive.

Following Ace's instructions, I moved mechanically, my body acting on autopilot as he led me out of the hall and into the glaring daylight. We reached a car, and I slid into the back seat, still in a daze. Marco got into the driver's seat, and the engine roared to life. As we sped away, I could feel Ace's eyes on me, concern etched into his face.

My body was trembling uncontrollably, and I struggled to process the rapid turn of events. Ace leaned closer, his voice firm but gentle as he called out my name. "Raven."

His hand gripped my chin firmly, forcing me to meet his gaze. The intensity in his eyes was something I hadn't seen in what felt like forever. He was really here. They were really here. My mind struggled to catch up, to understand that this wasn't a cruel trick.

"Ace," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I reached out, my hand shaking, and placed it over his, feeling the warmth of his skin. It was real. He was real. This wasn't a dream. My fingers tightened around his hand, and I felt a surge of emotions that I couldn't contain. Relief, disbelief, and the remnants of fear all mingled together.

Ace's grip on my chin softened, but he didn't let go. "You're safe now," he said, his voice steady. "We've got you."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded, trying to hold onto this fragile moment of safety. The car sped through the daylight, the cityscape blurring outside the windows. I couldn't yet comprehend everything that had happened, but for now, I allowed myself to believe in this fleeting hope. Ace and Marco had come for me. They hadn't given up on me. And for the first time in weeks, a flicker of hope ignited within me.

My moment of hope dies quickly when Marco's voice cuts through the air, tense and urgent. "We've got cars on our tail."

I turn to look out the back window and see them, several cars closing in fast. The first shots ring out, shattering the fragile sense of safety. My heart races, the fear gripping me anew.

"Raven," Marco's voice breaks through again, more urgent this time, "can you drive?"

I hesitate, still processing the chaos around me. He repeats the question, almost shouting, "Can you drive?!"

I nod, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Yes."

"Good," he says. "Climb over and take the wheel."

Without thinking, I tear the bottom of my dress off to move more easily, then I scramble over the seats, leaning over Marco to take the wheel. He shifts to the passenger seat, and I grasp the steering wheel firmly, focusing on the road ahead.

"Just keep it steady," Marco instructs as he rolls down the window, loading his weapon. In the back, Ace does the same. The tension in the car is palpable, but I force myself to stay focused, hands gripping the wheel tightly.

Marco turns to me briefly, eyes hard with determination. "Keep it steady," he repeats. Then he leans out the window, aiming at the pursuing cars. Ace follows suit, leaning out from the back window, both of them opening fire.

The sound of gunfire fills the air, blending with the roar of the engine and the shouts of the men in the cars behind us. I keep my eyes on the road, trying to stay calm and steady as the car jolts and swerves. The bullets fly, and I pray that we can make it out of this alive.

I drive on, pushing the car to its limits, navigating the twists and turns with a newfound determination. We won't let them take me back. We won't let them win.