Breaking the Cinderella Rules

❁ WAKE ME UP when it's all over

60++ votes and a new rank on 223# humor and 412# Teen fiction?! :D I LOVE YOU ALL <3 I'm very sorry for the long update :( But here's the next chapter to breaking the cinderella rules :) Thank you so much  everyone for the love and the care :) I really appreciate all reads and votes and also the comments that you give to me. I'm sorry that I can't thank you personally, but I'm really thankful to have you readers as my readers <3 I love you all. Stay tuned for more :) I love you all, and I surely can't be anything without you guys <3

-Ast :)

Chapter 17—WAKE ME UP when it’s all over

ASH

For some reason, I drove my truck towards my apartment. I was debating with myself whether to knock, but then, my fear took over, making my knees buckle. Restlessly, I paced the hallway of my family’s apartment door. My hand brushed against the wooden surface of the door, and my hand trembled as I reached out for the door handle.

A sigh escaped my lips, and with all the energy and willingness left in me, I collected the courage to open the door of my own home, the only place where I felt welcomed in this bitter world full of pain.

I pressed the handle down and tried to push the door. It refused to shift open, and my heart shrunk in disappointment. The same pain that hit me last night came to torment me. I heard the voice of my own mother screaming how pathetic I was, and an image of my Dad appeared into my mind. A memory of my childhood flashed upon me, making my head spin as I remembered the agony.

Shivers ran down my spine as I reminisced the sound of broken glass. Sweat dribbled down my neck, and I begged for the memory to disappear. Just when my vision turned clear, a hysteric cry exploded out of nowhere. Its high intensity deafened my ears. My eyes turned blurry as I recognized the voice.

Something cold was pressed behind my head, and I froze.

“Good evening, Mr. Martinez,” she greeted lazily. “Long time no see, correct?”

I said nothing in return. My hands had turned into fists, and my blood pressure was tempting me to punch her on the face. But the gun was also provoking. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the Boss glaring at me with her gun pressed against the back of my head. Behind her, a man was holding Sierra’s hand.

My world crumbled when the man pushed Sierra to move forward. Sierra yelped and fell forward, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Mason? Ash?” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

I tried to form my words, but as far as I analyzed the situation, nothing could be done to comfort her. Instead, I said, “I’m here. Don’t worry.” I was being the worst brother in the whole universe, and I meant that.

The Boss chuckled behind me and told me to turn around. I tried to use the opportunity to turn and escape her gun, but she had calculated my movement. The second I tried to push the gun off me, the Boss pushed me with one hand, pinning me on my apartment door. My head hit the wooden surface, and her gun was suddenly pushed against my forehead.

Sierra screamed, but before she could scream louder, the man placed his large hand to clamp her mouth. She struggled to get the hand free off her mouth, but she was weak.

A new regret flowed through me. You’re a cancer. You hurt everyone around you. I was supposed to protect her, and now, I was failing her.

The Boss’ green eyes met with mines. She gave me one of her menacing smile before slapping me with her gun. I barely had enough time to breath before she hit the side of my face. My guts told me to escape, to fight back, but with Sierra in danger too, I was unable to do so. I was stuck, too helpless.