LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 32 : LURE

A shiver creeps down my spine in a mix of coldness and something eerie I can't put my fingers on; all I know is that it's the complete opposite of what I've felt this morning when I've woken up in Alex's arms. Unfortunately, I've had to leave the warmth of his embrace to go back home because of a family reunion at lunchtime. Fortunately, I will soon find Alex's arms again, and the rest of his body. I've just had a little work to put the finishing touches on here at school, and now I can go join him.

As I close and lock the back door of the elective and extracurricular activities building, I still have this strange sensation. It's probably because I'm not used to see this place empty; usually, it's teeming with people, parked cars, and the background sound of school life. But now, it's deserted. There's not a single soul out there, which is normal for a Sunday late afternoon, yet actually a little creepy like a deserted theme park or a ghost town, the cold wind and the foggy weather not helping.

Though maybe I should trust my gut more...

Because as soon as I pass the school gates, someone is waiting for me behind the wall, and I'm caught by two large arms gripping me in a tight hold. My heart stops. I want to scream, but a hand is pressed over my mouth. My heart resumes beating in a restless pace, spreading an adrenaline rush in my veins that makes me react almost instantly, applying Alex's lessons. I stomp hard on my attacker's foot, who by the way, rapidly becomes the victim when I elbow him hard in the stomach and aim to kick him again. Though I'm stopped by another guy attacking me. I dodge him – I don't even know how, but I guess Alex's lessons are paying off. Then, I kick him in his most sensitive part, where the sun doesn't shine. I trip my first attacker and kick him hard in the same area.

A surge of pride and power seizes me as I see them both bent double on the ground. Though it doesn't last long as I lift up my head, ready to run away, and realize I'm encircled by about ten guys, not looking really friendly, with big arms, tattoos, and sadistic smiles.

The surge of pride and self-confidence drains away from my body as quickly as the blood drains from my face.

Paralyzed, I watch a raven-haired guy with a quite beaten face enter the human circle.

In an ultimate survival instinct, I open my mouth to scream.

"If I were you, I wouldn't," he silences me, pointing a sharp knife to my throat as another guy immobilizes me in a tight hold from behind.

My heart jumps against my ribcage, trying to break free, while the rest of my body is unable to move. I can't even swallow the lump forming in my throat in front of the sardonic smile forming on the guy's face.

"What do you want? I don't have any money on me," I manage to say, my voice tight.

"Oh, I don't want your money." The guy holding the knife – probably the leader since he's the only one talking and they're all watching him, seemingly under his command, even though they're all around the same age, around my age – leans closer, and I can catch sight of an evil glint in his black eyes.

Fear creeps up all my members as the realization of what he might want from me freezes me.

I try to retreat, but I'm trapped between the bulky guy holding me and the knife under my throat.

"Don't worry, I don't want anything from you," he adds as if reading my mind, and his vile gaze travels up and down my body, bringing the exact opposite sensation Alex's tenebrous eyes can arouse under my skin. "You're hot, but I'm not one to get distracted from business by a bitch." His evil smirk widens. "You're just a lure."

My stomach knots in a sour sensation as it all clicks: their bad boys looks, his beaten face, and the 'lure'. They are gang members, and not just any gang, the rival gang of Alex's one, and the guy threatening me with a knife is the rival gang leader whom Alex has told me he's taught a 'nice lesson' to.