SHE

Chapter 48: The Right Hands

Emily Wheelers

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"Run."

Just hearing those words brought my legs to life. I quickly turned to run and once I stepped inside the building, guns were fired.

I never knew gun shooting hurts the ears more than what I had imagined it would. I did as Rue instructed me to. I dropped my body to the ground and stayed low, covering my head with both of my hands.

My head was filled with the pounding of my heart beat that appears to be louder than the sound of those horrible shots.

Just this once for a long time, I was scared. Scared for my life. Scared that the people who tried to help me would die. What would happen to me-- To my parents if I die right now?

The cold metallic feel of the material Rue handed me earlier made it's recognition known to me by my hips. But I kept my head down, closing my eyes while trying to get used to the sounds of gun shots.

A few seconds later, the chaos tuned down to silence. I slowly relaxed and raised my head, only to feel a hand clasping my hair and pain jolted down to my whole body.

A squeal crawled its way from my throat and out my mouth as I felt my body getting pulled from the floor. I never thought I would ever let out that kind of sound in my life.

"You can't run away from me, Emmi." His voice reached my ears and his hot breath fanned down my neck.

I clung on his wrist as he clamped my hair in his grip to ease the pain in my head.

"Leonus..." I managed to breathe out, gritting my teeth in the process.

"Fuck." I heard Sheer curse in the background.

I squeezed my eyes shut because of the stinging sensation Leonus brought on each strand of my hair to my head but forced them open as he pressed the barrel of his gun on my temple.

"I'm not going to kill you just yet, Emmi. But I will strip you off your dignity one by one until you have nothing. Starting with these two." He pulled my back against his chest and placed an arm across my neck to keep me from moving away.

I gazed straight towards the two women, frozen in their steps with their firearms raised towards the man holding me hostage. My eyes fell on a pair of eyes and I immediately understood what she held.

Biting my lower lip so hard, it cut open and blood slowly poured out that I can taste them in my mouth.

"Drop your weapons. Or she drops first."

Hesitation was evident in their expressions but they both obliged.

Sheer dropped her gun first with a scowl on her face. I could tell she was thinking 'I can kill that motherfucker through that girl's shoulder but I won't get my money if she's not back in one whole'. It was clear in her face.

"You too. Drop it." Leonus ordered, referring to Rue who didn't let go of her gun yet.

She tossed her gun away, her eyes screaming to me.

Now.

With all my strength, I stomped my foot on Leonus's toes, loosening his hold on me. I grabbed the arm that was clutched across my neck and pulled it forward with me before forcing him back, my head hitting hard against his chin.

Once I got away, I bent down and watched as Sheer pulled her knife from her pocket and threw it across her towards Leonus. Successfully hitting him by the shoulder while Rue had grabbed her gun and shot him in the leg.