A Break Apart

CHAPTER 37. Relapse

"Hey, sweetheart, long time no see," he said, looking like the devil in his all-black outfit, and a vengeful smirk.

"David..." I drawled, in disgust and hate.

"Yeah, we meet again." He took a step forward, and I took two steps back.

"You won't get away with this. You're a wanted criminal and the police are after you," I threatened, masking my fears.

He scoffed. "You shouldn't have come out here alone"-Goosebumps rose on my skin-"not even William," his face hardened, "can protect you now, sweetheart."

I pierced his unapologetic eyes with a sharp glare. "Stop calling me sweetheart, you monster."

"I'd be careful what I say if I were you. Like can't you see how helpless you are?" He removed his hands from his trouser pockets and gestured at the environment.

"You're such a bastard," I growled. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my arm, pulling me towards him.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed my lungs out as I struggled with him, but his face only turned stiff, and his grip tightened. I kept screaming, tugging my arm and pleading, and then he let go, causing me to stagger backwards.

"Please, don't do this..." I pleaded in hush whimpers, holding my arm that was hurting. "It's not too late for you be a better person, to go back to that sweet guy I once fell in love with." My strategy seemed to work because his face softened, as if he truly wanted to believe he still had a chance to live a better life. But I was driven into shock when he snorted and began laughing like a psycho, and then his laughter seized, as if orchestrated by the hands of a choir master, and his face turned to stone.

"Still that blind... naive... innocent... little girl, who knows nothing about life." The words slowly crawled out of his lips, unimpressed by my ignorance. "You see, life is a survival game, sweetheart, and there ain't no rules. Lucky enough, some of us are predators, while others like yourself are just, well, preys."

"David, please..." I cried. "My mum would die if she finds out that I'm gone..." I trailed off, sobbing and regretting why I left the house without a trace.

"You should have thought of that before coming out here alone. But don't worry, I'll make sure to put her on the phone so you can say your goodbye"-I felt a sharp pain in my chest as more tears gushed out of my eyes-"And I promise you, sweetheart," he whispered, with a venom of vengeance, his eyes the darkest shade I had even seen, "this time, you'll wish you were never rescued."

My heart fell into a hole of despair. He then blew a whistle using his fingers, and I shrieked when two men jumped out of the bushes, the both of them dressed in black and wearing a mask.

"Take her," he said in a cold voice and walked away, and the men advanced towards me.

In the midst of my screams and struggles, my feet took a flight, and I fell on one of the mysterious man's shoulder like a sacrificial lamb.

"Put me down!" I kept hitting the back of my captor, and then gasped when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

The day was still bright, the sun was still setting, and a few people were still hanging around in the park. My head made a sharp turn to the side, and I saw William.

"Sorry." He drifted back, holding out his palms. "I didn't mean to scare you."

I heaved a sigh of relieve as I looked ahead.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said, sitting next to me.

"How did you know I'd be here?" I asked calmly, admiring the golden sun.