CHAPTER FOUR
1164 Words
The car sped through the darkened streets, the world outside a blur of headlights and shadows. May's body shook, not from the cold night air, but from the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, echoing her desperate need to put miles between herself and Zane.
She glanced at the man driving, his face set in concentration, his hands firm on the wheel. He didn’t ask her questions, didn’t try to make conversation. It was a relief, but the silence made the reality of her escape sink in even deeper. She was free for now. But for how long?
Her mind raced with the image of Zane, his cold smile, his promises, and that suffocating grip he seemed to have on her life. The way he’d said she’d be his wife by morning… As if he owned her.
May's fingers clenched into fists. She wasn’t going back. Not to him. Never again.
The car swerved slightly as the man in the black cap navigated a sharp turn. She gripped the door handle, forcing herself to focus. She couldn’t afford to zone out now, not when she was so close to freedom.
"Where are we going?" she asked finally, her voice hoarse from everything she’d been through.
The man glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to the road. “I’m not sure,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “But we’ll get you somewhere safe.”
Safe. The word felt foreign on her tongue. Safe wasn’t something she’d felt in a long time. The mansion. Zane. The wedding.
None of it had ever felt safe.
As they passed through the empty streets, May’s mind flickered back to her sister, Mia. The reason she was even in this mess. If Mia hadn’t run, if she hadn’t left Zane at the altar, none of this would have happened.
But Mia was gone. And May had been forced into the role she never asked for. Forced into Zane’s world.
She turned her gaze back to the man driving, wondering if she could trust him. She had no idea who he was, where he was taking her. Could she trust him?
Her instincts screamed at her to be careful, but right now, she had nothing. She couldn’t afford to be choosy.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The man’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer immediately. After a long pause, he spoke, his voice steady but laced with something unreadable. "I’m not the type of man to ignore someone in need."
May’s gaze flicked to his face, trying to read him, but his features remained impassive, his eyes focused ahead.
The car rumbled through the night, weaving in and out of dimly lit streets until they left the city behind. The landscape shifted, the buildings giving way to trees and open fields.
May leaned back in her seat, her thoughts turning inward. She should have been grateful, should have thanked the man for
helping her, but her mind refused to settle. She had to keep moving. Zane was relentless. He wouldn’t stop until he found her.
And when he did…
She shook her head, trying to clear the thought. She couldn’t think like that.
"Where are we going?" she asked again, her voice trembling slightly.
The man didn’t reply immediately. He took another turn onto a narrow, deserted road, his grip tightening on the wheel. Then he spoke, his voice low but firm.
“There’s a safe house up ahead. It’ll be a good place to rest for now. You need to get some sleep.”
Safe house. The words felt like a small flicker of hope in the overwhelming darkness that surrounded her.
The car rolled to a stop in front of a modest, unmarked building nestled among trees. It wasn’t much to look at, but it was hidden. And for now, that’s all she needed.
The man parked the car and turned to her. "Stay here. I’ll make sure the coast is clear."
May nodded, her mind still spinning. She wasn’t sure what would happen next. She wasn’t sure who this man was or how long she would be safe here. But for now, she couldn’t think too far ahead. All she could do was keep her wits sharp and her guard up.
The man stepped out of the car, leaving her alone in the silence of the night. She watched him walk toward the door of the
house, disappearing behind it. She kept her eyes trained on the shadows, waiting, her heart still racing.
She had to get away from Zane.
She had to.
Minutes passed like hours. Her skin prickled with the feeling of being watched, even though she knew there was no one around. The quiet was deafening. But then, a noise. A distant thud. Footsteps.
Her stomach flipped.
The man returned to the car, his face set in a hard line. “It’s clear. Come on.”
May hesitated, her mind churning. She wasn’t sure if she should trust him, but she didn’t have a choice. She opened the door
slowly and stepped out of the car, her legs shaky beneath her. The exhaustion from the chase, from everything she’d endured, was catching up to her.
The man led her to the door, opening it with a soft click. Inside was dimly lit, furnished simply but comfortably. There was a small kitchen, a worn couch, and a few chairs scattered around. A table in the corner was covered with papers—files, she assumed.
He motioned for her to sit down. "I’ll get you something to drink."
May sank into the nearest chair, her body aching from the hours of running, her mind reeling with everything that had happened. The man returned with a glass of water and handed it to her. She took it without hesitation, gulping it down as if her life
depended on it.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The man nodded, but his expression remained unreadable. He stood there for a moment, as if debating something, then finally spoke.
“You’re safe here for now. But you’re not out of danger. Zane won’t give up easily.”
May’s stomach twisted. “I know.”
He hesitated, then added, “You don’t have to do this alone. There are people who can help.”
May looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of sincerity. But there was nothing. He was a stranger. A mystery.
But right now, he was her only lifeline.
“I can’t go back,” she said, her voice low, almost pleading.
He gave a small nod. “I know.”
May felt a weight lift from her chest, but the heaviness of the situation was far from gone. Zane would come for her. She could feel it in her bones.
The door to the house slammed open behind them.
May's heart stopped.
Zane was here.
- Writer
