THE HEARTLESS ALPHA

Episode 13: Five Minutes Before My Run

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

It was six in the morning. A cool, gentle breeze was blowing.

Jorje left his house for his morning walk as usual. The lane was still empty, filled only with the sound of birds.

As soon as he reached the corner of the lane, his steps froze.

Two police cars were parked outside Miss Rose's house. A yellow tape had been cordoned off around the entrance. Ten to twelve people from the neighborhood were gathered outside, every face marked with fear.

Jorje moved forward in confusion. Miss Rose was their kindest neighbor. She used to smile at him every morning and say good morning.

"What has happened? Why is the police here? Where is Miss Rose?" he asked anxiously.

A neighbor replied with a trembling voice, "Miss Rose was killed last night by some animal."

Jorje's heart sank. "What do you mean?"

Then a police officer came out, looked at everyone and said, "Last night Miss Rose was attacked by a wild animal. Her body was found half eaten. This does not look like an ordinary animal."

A heavy silence fell over the lane. Women instinctively pulled their children closer.

The officer continued, "We request everyone not to step outside unnecessarily, especially at night. Such incidents have been happening very rapidly in the city. This is the third case in three days. Do not panic. We will catch this animal soon."

Jorje glanced toward the open door of Miss Rose's house. A faint smell of blood was coming from inside. His heart started pounding. What kind of animal could eat half a human being?

He ran back home. His face was covered in sweat and his breathing was heavy. He called out anxiously for Alen and Zooi.

Both of them came into the lounge. Jorje closed the door and told them everything. Miss Rose had been killed in the night, her body was found half eaten, and the police said it was the third such incident in three days.

As soon as she heard this, Alen's face turned completely pale. Her hands went cold and she instinctively clutched her crystal tightly.

"What kind of animal eats a human being?" she whispered in fear, her eyes filling with tears. She could not stop thinking about Miss Rose, who had been such a good neighbor.

Zooi also lost her color. The smile vanished from her lips. She looked toward the window in panic, as if the animal was standing right outside.

"Are you telling the truth? What did the police say? Has the animal been caught?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Jorje shook his head. "No, but they said they will catch it soon. Until then we must be careful. That is why I am saying we should postpone the wedding. How can we send Alen away in such fear?"

As soon as she heard this, Zooi came to her senses. Her fear turned into greed in a second. If the wedding stopped, she would lose Robert's five million.

She forced the fear from her face and said with fake sweetness, "Do not talk like a child, Jorje. The police will handle it. What does that have to do with the wedding? Mister Robert just called. He will come at night with his friends, perform the ritual and take Alen away. We also have to get rid of Reyan. The parlor lady will be here soon. Get ready quickly. There is no point in being afraid."

Then she glared at Alen.

Alen said nothing. She was listening to the sound of the police car outside. She had two fears in her heart, one of the animal outside and one of Robert who was coming at night. She could not understand which fear was greater. But she knew one thing. An animal might spare you, but when a human becomes a beast, he is more dangerous than any wild creature.

ALEN POINT OF VIEW

It was the day of my wedding, but there was no celebration, no joy around me. A deep and icy silence hung everywhere, as if it was not a house of a wedding but a house of mourning.

A veil of sadness hung on the walls. Loneliness and darkness had taken over everything. The lights were on, but they could not erase the darkness inside me. Even though I wanted to, I could not make myself feel happy. My heart and soul felt completely dead.

I was sitting in front of the mirror, wrapped in my red bridal dress. Inside this expensive dress, the body that was breathing was nothing but a living corpse. The red lipstick on my lips and the kohl in my eyes could not hide the marks of my crying. When I looked at myself, I felt broken from within. My dream prince was far away. Tonight I had to go into the captivity of that fifty-year-old man, Robert.

I moved my lips slowly and a tear broke through my eyelashes and rolled down my cheek. "Mother, your Alen is going to be handed over to this darkness forever today," I whispered.

The silence outside was tearing me apart. It was the kind of silence that comes before a great storm. I was completely ready. Now I was only waiting for Robert.

Every tick of the clock on the wall was cutting through my heart like a dagger. I wished time would just stop there. Every passing moment was taking me closer to that pit of death. My body was trembling inside this heavy red dress like a wounded bird. My hands and feet had become so cold that it felt as if there was no blood left in me.

My stepmother Zooi was peeking outside again and again. Her restlessness was for Robert's money and wealth. But for me, that wait felt like my last breath.

I closed my eyes in helplessness and thought, come, Robert, just end this game. My conscience had made me numb. When life itself is over, what is there to be afraid of? I was mentally ready to surrender myself to this darkness, but my heart was still hoping for some unknown miracle.

At that very moment, the heavy sound of several cars stopping together came from the lane.

Four to five black cars had stopped together and the whole neighborhood started peeking through their doors. No one had ever seen such expensive black cars in this small lane.

Inside the house, Zooi's eyes lit up. She rushed into my room. I was sitting in front of the mirror in my red dress like a stone.

She closed the door loudly and said with a sarcastic laugh, "Congratulations, Alen. Your groom has arrived. Look how grandly he has come to take you. Now you will become a queen."

My heart sank. My cold hands started trembling even more. My own mother had also said I would become a queen, but I wished I would never become such a queen. I had no greed for money.

Zooi turned and ran. She quickly put a sweet smile on her face and hurried toward the door.

The driver of the biggest black car at the front opened the door. Robert stepped out in grand style, wearing an expensive black coat, rings shining on his fingers, his neck held high. He glanced at the surprised people standing in the lane, then looked toward Jorje's house with a cold smile and walked inside.

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

Only five minutes were left for the wedding.

A strange restlessness had made Jorje uneasy. Even though he tried, he could not calm himself. It felt as if some precious treasure was about to be taken away from him forever.

While buttoning his sherwani, he was coming toward the lounge when he heard a voice from the half-open door. He stopped. Inside, Zooi and Robert were standing.

Robert said, "Here is your five million, as we decided, and Reyan's debt is also cleared. The girl is untouched, right? The result of betraying me will be terrible."

Zooi quickly hugged the black bag to her chest. "Do not worry, Mister Robert. She is completely untouched. I told Jorje you are a decent man who wants to marry her. That fool does not even know his daughter has been sold."

Robert laughed and took out a pistol and placed it on the table. "I am the Mafia King, not an ordinary man. Nothing moves in this city without my permission. This wedding will happen. Consider this money your reward for giving me the girl's address. I do not want any more drama. Bring the girl quickly and finish this ritual, or you know what will happen." He showed the gun to Zooi and then slipped it back into his pocket.

Jorje's hand froze on the door. His whole body started trembling. He was about to save Alen from a small gangster only to hand her over to a bigger one. His heart started beating loudly and his eyes turned red. He remembered Alen's innocent face, wrapped in her red dress, sitting in front of the mirror.

He wanted to scream, go inside, grab Zooi by the collar and push Robert away. But he covered his mouth with both hands. He had seen Robert's pistol and he understood that if he went inside now, Robert would harm Alen.

He quietly stepped back and stood leaning against the wall. His knees were trembling and tears were flowing from his eyes, but no sound was coming out. He quietly took out his phone. His hand was shaking so much that he almost dropped it.

Standing in the dark corner, he looked toward Alen's room with tear-filled eyes. Now he had only five minutes to save his beloved daughter. An idea came to his mind. This was the only way he could save her. He quickly moved toward Alen's room.