𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 || 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟕 : 𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲

The darkness of the night enveloped me like a warm blanket as I stepped into the cozy home I shared with Toji. The soft glow of the lamp in the corner casts a comforting light, illuminating the familiar contours of our living space.

I made my way to my bedroom, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet was the only sound that broke the stillness of the night. I slipped into bed, feeling the softness of the blankets envelop me like a warm hug. The mattress cradled my weary body, and I let out a contented sigh as I settled in for a well-deserved rest.

But my peacefulness was short-lived. Suddenly, a loud thunderclap burst through the night air, making me jump. The sound was like a crack of a whip, sharp and sudden, and it seemed to shake the very foundations of our home. The windows rattled, and the roof creaked in protest as the storm unleashed its fury upon us.

And then, the rain began to pour down, drumming against the roof and walls of our home like a thousand tiny fingers. The sound was almost deafening, a relentless beat that seemed to match the pounding of my heart. I snuggled deeper into my bed, feeling the warmth and safety of my cozy little sanctuary. But despite the comfort of my bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that the storm raging outside was somehow mirrored within me, a turbulent sea of emotions that threatened to engulf me at any moment.

The sudden knock at the door shattered the cozy silence of the night, making me sit up in bed with a start. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table, the soft glow of the numbers illuminating the dark room. It was late, much later than I had expected anyone to visit. Toji was working out late, and I hadn't invited anyone over, so I couldn't imagine who it could be.

The knock grew louder, more insistent, and I reluctantly threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cold floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I made my way to the front door, the sound echoing through the silent house. I approached the door cautiously, my heart beating just a little bit faster with anticipation.

As I reached the door, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the cold doorknob. I called out, my voice firm but was cautious, "Who is it?" The knocking stopped, and for a moment, there was silence. I strained my ears, listening for any sound that might give me a clue about who was on the other side of the door.

"Pizza delivery," the unfamiliar voice called out, the words muffled by the thick door. I frowned, my mind racing as I tried to recall if I had ordered pizza. But I was certain I hadn't. I hadn't even thought about food, too caught up in my own thoughts as the storm raged outside.

"I didn't order any pizza," I said, my voice firm but polite. There was a pause, and then the man's voice came again, this time with a hint of uncertainty.

"Sorry, ma'am. The delivery address clearly says this, " He rattled off our address, and I felt a spark of recognition. "And the customer's name is Toji." My eyes widened as I realized who must have ordered the pizza. Toji often worked out late at night, and pizza was his go-to fuel.

I let out a soft sigh, feeling a mix of relief and annoyance. Without thinking straight, I reached out and turned the doorknob, pulling the door open to reveal a tall, lanky man holding a pizza box. The bright light from the porch lamp illuminated his features, and I caught a glimpse of a friendly smile before my gaze drifted past him, out into the stormy night.

Suddenly, another footstep echoed through the night air, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. The pizza delivery man stood frozen.

That was when I saw him - Ryan, standing in front of me with a charming smile spreading across his face. The pizza delivery man was standing right next to him, his eyes cast downward, his face expressionless.

My eyes widened in shock, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Fear crept up my spine, its icy fingers wrapping around my throat, making it hard to breathe. I tried to step back, but my feet seemed rooted to the spot. Ryan's smile grew wider, and he took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

"You've got a lovely place here," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. I tried to speak, to ask him how he had found me, but my voice caught in my throat.

"How did you find me?" I managed to stammer, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryan chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "That's a secret," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say it took me a while to track you down."

I tried to pull away, but he was too strong. His fingers closed around my face, his palm pressing against my mouth, silencing me.

"Leave me alone," I muffled against his hand, trying to struggle free.

Ryan's grip only tightened. "I don't think so," he said, his voice was low and menacing. "We have unfinished business, you and I."

The pizza delivery man stood silently, his eyes fixed on the ground. I wondered if he was in on Ryan's plan, or if he was just an innocent bystander.

"Please," I tried to beg, but Ryan's hand muffled my words.

He leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "You're not going anywhere," he whispered. "You're going to stay right here with me."

I tried to break free from Ryan's grasp, but he was too strong. I attempted to run away from him, but he was too quick. He lunged after me, his long strides easily keeping pace with mine. I could hear his angry breathing, his footsteps pounding the floor behind me.

"You can't run away from me!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. "You're mine!" His words sent a chill down my spine, and I knew I had to keep running.

But Ryan was relentless. He grabbed me harshly, spinning me around to face him. His eyes blazed with a fierce possessiveness, and his grip on my arms was like a vice.

"You belong to me," he snarled, his voice low and menacing. "I don't want anyone else touching you. You had the guts to live with another man?" His words dripped with venom, and I could feel his anger radiating off him like heat.

I tried to struggle free, but Ryan's grip only tightened. I felt a surge of fear, my heart racing with panic. I was trapped, and I didn't know how to escape. Ryan's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I knew I was at his mercy.

I summoned every last ounce of strength and yelled at Ryan, "Leave me alone! I'm not scared of you!" But my brave words were short-lived. Suddenly, I felt a sharp, searing pain on the side of my neck. I tried to pull away, but Ryan's grip was like a vice.

As I struggled to break free, I saw the glint of a needle in Ryan's hand. My mind recoiled in horror as I realized what he had done. "What did you do?" I screamed, trying to push him away. But it was too late. The drug was already coursing through my veins, spreading its dark, numbing influence.

My vision began to blur and distort, like a painting smeared by a wet brush. The voices around me grew muffled and indistinct, as if I was underwater. I felt myself becoming disconnected from my body, my limbs growing heavy and unresponsive.

Ryan's voice was the last thing I heard, his words dripping with sinister intent. "This will calm you down," he said, his voice low and menacing. And then, everything went black.