The Beast and The Scared Beauty

Chapter 1

Bella

My body is trembling as I have not eaten any food for the past ten days, and for not having enough warm clothes to cover my body in the cold night. I shiver as the air nips at my skin and

I try to curl my hand around my arms trying to get as much warmth I can get. People mock and laugh at me as they walk past me, threatening me about how I feel: worthless.

That night changed everything in my life. I was never like this and like that, I mean sad, miserable, worthless.

I was once very happy. I used to love my life, I used to love myself the way I am. But then came the person who changed everything in my life, the person I used to love with all my heart, but for him, I was just an obsession, he never loved me nor did he really care about me. I was a memento that he liked to display to everyone. And I was fool enough to think that he loved me, he cared about me, even when he cheated on me, even when he abused me physically and emotionally whenever he pleased.

But I finally found enough courage to leave him when his friend forced himself over me and he was standing there admiring the show of his friends harassing me.

On that day, I decided that I had enough and that day, when he was heavily drunk and drowsing, I took it as my one and only chance to run away as far as I could from him and start hiding my identity and doing odd jobs to earn my living, not having anything to do but drowning down in my own misery. I have nothing to live for. No family, no friends, I have nothing. God knows how I managed to survive this far. But this was where it was and there is one good thing about living like this and not having that Devil in my life.

Putting my hands in front of me, placing my back on the wall behind me, I tried to doze off on this cold night. But before sleep can take over me, a man's feet stop near my foot and that's when I feel him stroking the top of my head. Pulling back my head I looked up at the man. Those leering eyes that haunt my dreams every night are staring right at me.

I stiffen, strengthening my body for a run and scoot my butt as far as I can move away from him.

"Oh, my Bella, you know how many days it takes me to find you" my body flinches hearing his voice after so long.

He moves his hand over my cheeks, touching it gently, but even a merry touch makes my skin crawl, giving rise to all my senses cautious "And look what? You have done to yourself and what you are wearing. You will freeze yourself up in this cold weather. Here, take this". He mocks me and his eyes roam my body, a body that is dirty and covered with clothes that are four times gigantic on a body which is only skin and bones. Disgrace fills in me because of what I've become.

And it's like just now I have realized that what I have done with myself, I had all my life ahead of me. Here I'm now just surviving, pushing myself each day for my existence. My new life is filled with being hungry and feeling cold.

Lost in thoughts, I was taken off guard when he opened up his coat, placing it over my shoulder. I know why he is being all sweet and caring, it's all his actions to take me with him by hook or crook and once I go with him, he will again start to harass me, there is fury in his eyes, he is like a lion and I'm his prey once he fetched me he will destroy me.

I have to find a way to escape him anyhow. I'm tired of being afraid of it now or never. I'm not going to let him win this time.

"Be brave, Belle, be brave. You can do it."

I chanted the mantra under my breath as I moved my hands around his waist, hugging him."I'm so sorry. I promise I will never run away from you again. Could you please take me with you? I don't want to live like this anymore, please." I said my words, which were filled with lies, but my face showed my true emotions. I wanted to go away from here, but not with him, but far away from him.

He chuckles deviously, gripping my hair tightly, making me whimper in pain.

"So now you want to come with me now. Why are you tired of running? You know this is how I like you helpless, vulnerable, begging in front of me."

That is when I snatched an opportunity and, without thinking anything else, I kicked him blindly in between his thighs. He groans and his hands leave me. Seeing him groaning on the ground cupping his junk makes me smile for the first time in months. But it, not the right time for celebrating or feeling strong and empowered. I have to run while he is suffering.

And without wasting any seconds, I moved my feet as fast as I could, running away from him as far as I could and that's when I heard a car coming towards me fast, very fast and before I could shift my direction, everything blurred in front of my eyes. I guess this is the end of my existence. The end of my life, the end of miseries, the end of being feeling worthless and I can live free even if I die. I'm happy because the end is a new beginning and I'm happy for the end of my existence.

*****

Jake

There's one thing in the whole world that I hate the most and that is violence, but no matter how much I try to separate it from myself, it is the only thing that can ever be separated from me. And even though I hate violence, I can't hide myself from it, because it is a part of my existence. Being someone who has faced the cruelty of this world and experienced all different shades of it, I know that to fight the cruelty of this world, I have to be cruel like them. You can't fight a war holding a white flag, you need to hold a gun, not to kill but protect the weak and vulnerable and that is what I am doing. I don't care how anyone describes it or me. All I care about is the safety of my people, even if it costs me to be the villain of the story.

"Boss, what should we do Elliot once he is caught," asked James while driving the car.

"Do I need to explain it too, after all these years," I replied, ending the conversation for once in all.

Silence surrounds the car, and my hands unconsciously start playing with the chain around my neck. The only thing that has been the reason for my happiness both in the past and in the present. The only thing that is always close to my heart, along with memories of the real owner of this chain.

"Boss, there's someone lying on the road," James said, stopping the car, looking at me.

I step out with James following me in behind until we are standing beside the body.

"James see if she is dead or alive," James nodded at my words, turning the woman on her back, checking her pulse and breathing.

I don't know what might have happened with her but it seems to be a hit and run case and maybe the woman is homeless. How messed up she looked, even her clothes don't seem right for this harsh weather but I can't see her face, it is hidden behind the veil of her messy hair.

"She is still alive but...,"

"No, but carry her to the car." James nodded, removing the veil of her hair away from her face.

Belle

One glance at her face was enough to make my legs noodle, with all my senses numbed, but I can't lose control not now.

"James start the car, " I said, taking her in my arms and taking long steps towards the car.

"No again, not this time." I mumbled, placing her head on my lap, my coat around her body. "James drive to the headquarters fast, "

Eight years for f**kng eight years I stayed away from her only to protect her but look what happened to her, she is on edge fighting to live. I don't know who did this but they messed with the wrong person and every single one is going to pay for hurting what's mine. A devil never forgets nor forgives, all he does is kill in the worst painful way possible.