It failed...everything failed
1200 Words
Even without seeing his face clearly...
She knew who it was.
Lucian.
He stepped out from between the headlights and walked towards her at an unhurried pace.
His footsteps were calm, measured, almost lazy against the gravel.
The cold night breeze that had greeted Raine moments ago seemed to have disappeared.
Raine's body refused to move. The adrenaline that had kept her running disappeared instantly and her legs finally gave out beneath her as she dropped to her knees.
A sharp sting shot through the fresh scrapes she'd gotten while climbing the fence.
Blood slowly trickled down her knees, staining the dusty ground beneath her, but she could barely feel any of it.
The pain was nothing compared to the weight settling on her chest .
'It failed...
Everything failed...'
She had been so close.
So unbelievably close to running away from here.
Tears gathered in her eyes and rolled silently down her cheeks one after another.
Lucian stopped in front of her.
His polished shoes came into view first.
For a few seconds...
He simply looked down at her without saying a word.
Then he reached down and caught hold of her arm and pulled her effortlessly to her feet roughly.
The sudden movement sent pain shooting through her scraped palms.
A quiet whimper escaped her lips.
She just let him do whatever he wanted to her,she was tired, tired of everything.
Lucian's hand remained around her arm just long enough to steady her before he released it.
His eyes settled on her bruised knees, then her bleeding hands. But he didn't care,
There wasn't an ounce of sympathy in his expression.
"Did you really believe you could escape from me?, even if you got out of this place..."
He took one slow step closer.
"Did you really think there was anywhere I couldn't find you?"
His voice was cold and he sounded a bit angry.
Raine lowered her head.
She couldn't answer.
"While you were busy with escaping...I was watching you."
She gasped, her breathing caught, So he had known all long, this isn't just some coincidence.
But how? Was there cameras hidden in this old dump?.
"I must confess you're one clever Arden ain't you?... just like your father."
Raine clenched her bleeding trembling hands. She hated that comparison
Lucian turned he's head slightly
"Marcus."
"Yes, sir."
One of the men immediately stepped forward.
"Put her in the car."
Raine's eyes widened.
"No..."
She shook her head frantically.
"Please... I don't know anything."
They ignored her cries
"I don't even know where he is!"
Her voice cracked.
"Please... let me go, I don't know him..."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
"He's not my father!!"
Those words caught Lucian's attention for the first time...
He looked directly into her eyes. His expression remained unreadable.
Whether he believed her or not...
He gave no indication.
Marcus firmly held her arm and led her towards one of the waiting vehicles.
Raine struggled weakly.
Not because she believed she could escape again...but because her body refused to accept defeat.
The car door shut as raine continued to shout and struggle inside the car as the engine started again to signify the car pulling as way.
Raine leaned her head against the window, she was quiet now just looking at the blurred lights through the window.
Everything she'd endured over the past four days crashed into her all at once.
'My father...' A bitter laugh almost escaped her.
The man who had never truly accepted her as his daughter, as far back as she could remember...
His affection had always belonged to her sister.
No matter what she did it was never enough and now...
Look who's paying the price for a man who had never chosen her.
She closed her eyes tightly she thought of her dead mother, To the ordinary life she'd been living before this torture
She thought about her dreams and school, even her upcoming project that will mark the beginning of accomplishing her goals.
She didn't know if she'd ever see any of it again.
For the first time...
A frightening thought crossed her mind.
'Is he going to kill me now? so this is how my life ends'.
The thought settled quietly inside her as she simply stared out of the window.
Nearly an hour later, the car slowed before a pair of towering wrought-iron gates.
The gates opened automatically and beyond them stretched a vast private estate.
The driveway curved through perfectly trimmed gardens before stopping in front of an enormous villa.
Warm lights glowed through tall glass windows.
Everything about the place spoke of wealth.
Marcus opened the door gently dragging raine out, her legs were still sore from the fall.
She lifted her head, taking in her surroundings.
it was so beautiful and elegant almost like a night in heaven.
But it felt colder than the abandoned warehouse.
Marcus led her inside.
inside the big mansion, the marble floors reflected the soft golden lights above.
Every piece of furniture had been carefully arranged.
Not a single thing appeared out of place.
Then the front door opened fully.
An elderly man in a neatly pressed black suit stepped forward immediately.
"Welcome back, sir."
His voice was respectful, without another word, he accepted Lucian's coat.
Lucian gave the faintest nod before continuing inside.
Only then did the elderly man allow his eyes to drift towards Raine.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before disappearing quickly as it came.
He silently stepped aside.
As raine was being guided deeper into the villa.
Everything looked so peaceful and relaxing.
It didn't feel like the home of a man who kept people chained in abandoned buildings.
Raine stood at the corner dirty, tired, all bruised and out of place.
Lucian sat down slowly on the couch in front of her he crossed his legs.
Lucian sat down on one of the sofas and crossed one leg over the other.
His cold gaze settled on her once again.
"Why did you try to escape?"
The room remained silent.
Then he asked again.
"Or...were you simply following your father's example?"
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Raine stared at him.
"I asked you a question."
He raised he's voice in annoyance.
"Tell me ...do you really not know about Joe Aden?"
The silence that followed felt heavier than the question itself.
- Writer
