CHAPTER 003
1370 Words
CHAPTER 003
Elias’s POV
I don’t do heroes. I never have and never will. Many people believe they need rescue because they want someone to rescue them from their difficulties. The actual situation proves to be more intricate than what they could possibly understand. The majority of individuals do not seek genuine rescue. People believe they need saving, but they will resist any attempt to rescue them from their current state of suffering. The path of staying the same proves simpler for them than taking on the challenge of transformation. Easier than the unknown.
And I’m fine with that. I will not become the hero who rescues others. I will permit them to stay in their darkness if that is their choice. I don’t need to fix anyone.
But Sofie Lauritzen? She’s different.
I observe her from hidden spots because her circumstances have captured my attention. The media tracks her downfall with the same interest as a popular television drama while reporting her every action. Her misfortune provides the tabloids with a unique daily meal as they feast on her suffering with fervent enthusiasm. The media follows her every move, but she possesses an element that distinguishes her from typical wealthy, privileged individuals. Something deeper. I cannot stop paying attention to her because something about her situation draws my attention.
I stand on the balcony of this high-profile event while holding a glass of champagne while I watch the people below. The dim lighting creates gentle shadows while music drifts through the air and expensive perfume scents surround me. People in the crowd create a lively atmosphere through their laughter and drinking while they mingle with each other. Everything seems fine. My purpose at this event extends beyond entertainment and social activities.
I’m here for her.
Sofie stands out prominently when surrounded by others in a crowd. Her presence stands out so strongly that no one can overlook her. Her attempts to fit in fail because her exposed vulnerability reveals itself to everyone. She attempts to blend with the wealthy elite, but her every action reveals she does not belong in this environment. Her eyes move frantically across the room as she searches for anything that will provide her with comfort. Her body remains rigid while her face shows visible signs of stress. She does not join in the laughter with the others. She attempts to hide from view while trying to blend into the crowd, yet her presence remains visible to me.
Many people observe her at this moment.
I spot Jonas’s men immediately. The two guards stand near the distant wall in darkness while keeping their eyes on Sofie. The men stand guard while watching her because they are prepared to move in. She waits patiently for any mistake that would allow her capture during the perfect opportunity.
I know how Jonas works. He doesn’t give up easily. His attention-seeking behavior has never included letting anyone walk away after he notices them. Sofie's strength and pride make her nothing more than a target to her hunters. She serves as a game piece for a contest she fails to comprehend.
She remains unaware that hunters still pursue her. The city views her as worthless merchandise that deserves only contempt and sympathy. The men under Jonas view her as nothing more than a target.
She thought she could escape. Sofie believed she could evade her past, but wolves remain hidden until they choose the perfect moment to attack. People like them exist throughout the streets while wearing pleasant expressions, yet I can detect their true nature beneath the surface. The predators view her as their prey.
Sofie continues to survey the room while I watch her from across the party as danger approaches unnoticed. Her eyes move rapidly between different faces without spending any time looking at one person. She fights to manage her panic while remaining visibly tense throughout the evening.
I’ve seen it all before. I understand the path this situation will follow. Jonas continues his relentless pursuit to eliminate everything she represents.
I will not permit this situation to unfold.
I navigate through the crowd effortlessly while ignoring both the mindless conversations and meaningless greetings of the guests. None of it matters. These people mean nothing to me. I care about Sofie.
She stands at the bar with her back facing me while she scans the room before turning to look at me. She hasn’t noticed me yet. She continues to fade away while maintaining her defensive walls that shield her from the world.
I move forward until I reach a position only a few feet away from her. She still doesn’t notice me.
I’m not in any hurry. She’ll notice soon enough.
I move my face closer to her ear while speaking softly enough for her ears only. Your current situation suggests you need to find a way out.
Her posture turns rigid when I speak to her, and she glances at me briefly before turning her face away while uncertainty passes across her expression. Her surprise is evident because she didn't anticipate anyone would speak to her in this manner. The protective barriers she has constructed cannot stop me from reaching her. Breaking through barriers is something I have mastered.
She speaks with defensiveness when she declares, "I don't need help."
Her eyes reveal everything, although she attempts to conceal it. The hesitation. The vulnerability. She’s been hurt. Betrayed. She has learned to distrust everyone in the world, including me. She believes I belong to the same category as other strangers who seek something from her.
Jonas has not given up on you. My voice barely reaches a whisper as I ask the question. My words reach her as I move my face near enough to her ear. “He’s only just begun.”
Her complexion turns deathly white as her cheeks lose their color. The words create a visible tension in her body. She knows I’m right. She understands that Jonas has only started his pursuit of her. He’s never done. She will remain in his grasp until he destroys her completely.
I notice Jonas's men approaching before she has time to speak. Jonas’s men. The approaching figures are narrowing the distance between our positions. I have been observing their movements to reach this precise moment. They’re almost on us now.
Sofie hasn’t noticed yet. She remains fixated on me, but she will eventually understand the truth. She’ll understand that she’s surrounded. The possibility to escape has been completely eliminated.
I can’t let that happen. Not on my watch.
I act quickly. I seize her wrist to pull her body against mine with great strength. Shock and fear transform her face as she fights to break free from my hold while her body remains paralyzed with fear. She fights to escape, but her efforts prove futile. She understands I am stronger than her because she can see it.
I speak with a deep, threatening tone as I tell her, "This is your last chance." You have one last choice: Do you want my assistance, or do you want to see Jonas's men return you?
She stands motionless as she weighs her options between two possible directions. She glances back and forth between me and the approaching men while her fear intensifies. She’s trapped. And she knows it.
I hold Sofie tight while drawing her nearer to me as I declare her final opportunity. Choose between returning to him or taking flight.
From my embrace, I sense her heavy heartbeat pounding through the delicate material of her dress. She’s scared. Terrified. A single instant passes when I question whether she will choose wisely.
A Jonas's man approaches us while remaining within reach of our position. The moment has arrived.
She pauses for a brief instant. A split second. During those few seconds, the approaching men draw nearer. It’s too late. She’s not getting away.
Her face shows everything. She’s caught. She knows it. Her eyes show panic because she understands she has lost control of her destiny. I see the fight leave her.
And then she gives in.
She’s mine now.
She’s not going anywhere.
Will she ever allow herself to believe in my intentions?
- Writer
