ALPHA RYDER'S LUNA

Episode 2

Amelia's POV

“If you try pulling off any stunts with those men, you might not live to see their reaction,” the stern warning from one of my father's men made me shiver in fright.

I was in the back seat of the car, seated in between two stern-looking men. My body was weakened from the beatings and the crying. I was sure I had cried my tear glands dry at that point.

Not a single sound had escaped my lips since the journey began. The men were silent as well, the driver sped on into the darkness lit by the headlights. The scary warning was the first set of words to be said in the entire journey.

“We're almost there,” the man at the steering wheel broke the silence, as he glanced at the map below his dashboard.

A new kind of fright came over me as he said those words. My mind was going crazy with many ideas of getting myself out of there, even after the stern warning from one of my father's men.

The top of the list of ideas was making a run for it the moment those doors went open. It seemed to be the best thing I could attempt. Sweat trickled down from my crown as I awaited the right moment.

“Right… here,” the driver said, bringing the car to a stop. The two men beside me opened the door as the vehicle stopped in front of what looked like a black van.

I couldn't see the faces of the men standing outside the van, but I was sure that they were Alpha Ryder's men. I took note of their positions, as I was beginning to plot my escape route.

“Get out,” one of the men ordered me.

I looked to my left and my right to see which of the men was more likely to stop me if I made a run for it. Right turned out to be right, as the man on my right was of a greater stature and looked like he would be slower in a foot race.

“Don't make me come in there and get you…” he barked angrily at me as I slowly made my way out of the car.

The cool breeze of the night blew gently on me as my bare feet touched the ground. I realized that we were on a lonely highway, with woods on either side of the road.

Without warning, I shot myself out of the car and pushed the man aside as I began the long run to nowhere. Anywhere but the back of that van was where I wanted to be.

“Get her…”

“What the f**k were you doing…?”

“Don't let that b***h get away…”

I could hear them curse and swear behind me as the chase began in earnest. I didn't know how long my legs could carry my body, as I made that run with the last bit of strength I could muster.

Soon enough, I was in the deep darkness of the woods. I could hear footsteps coming from behind. There was no time to look back to know how far away they were from me.

I just kept running, even though there was no telling where the path I was treading would lead to.

As I tried to take the next step, I felt a sudden sharp pain in my foot. Then on the other foot, and then again on the first one.

The thorns pierced my feet mercilessly, but I kept on running, as it was better to be marred by the thorns than to fall into Alpha Ryder's hands.

I knew I was bleeding badly, but I kept running anyway. The pain made running a challenge, but I couldn't tell how I still had the will to continue, despite the mental battle going on within me to stop.

As I got carried away by my thoughts, I suddenly tripped on what felt like a tree's root, which sent me crashing to the ground immediately.

“Over there…!”

I heard one of the men signal the others, as I crawled my way behind a large tree trunk in a bid to hide myself.

There was nothing else to do but to say a prayer, as I could hear their footsteps heading my direction. I couldn't help but wonder what they would do to me if they got their hands on me.

I held my breath as they got closer. Unexpectedly, the sound of their footsteps came to a rather abrupt halt. They didn't make a single sound for almost a minute, as they seemed to be looking around for me.

After a while, the heavy sound of their footsteps began receding. I decided not to celebrate too early until I heard the very last of their footsteps. It had to be a miracle that they hadn't found me out.

Just as I was about to breathe out a sigh of relief, a thick, heavy hand came on my throat, stopping the flow of air. From his familiar scent, I could tell that he was one of my father's men.

“Your blood wreaks your weakness,” he said, landing a heavy slap with his right hand, as he held me with his left hand. “I told you not to pull off any stunts…”

He landed yet another slap which had me teetering. Immediately he hurled up and placed me on his shoulder like a hunter carrying his catch.

“Let me go…” I still tried to resist, as I tried wriggling free from his heavy arm, which clasped me down on his shoulder. “Please…” my eyes hurt, as I felt tears coming out from them.

He said nothing as he carried me out of the dark woods, all the way to where the rest were waiting impatiently. I could hear them cursing and swearing under their breaths as I was being brought to face the music.

Suddenly, the man let me fall from his shoulder like a sack of salt. I landed painfully on the hard concrete on my back.

I could barely move a muscle as I lay in between the two vehicles, which shined their headlights on me. Besides the pain, I felt a demeaning feeling of embarrassment, as my escape plan had not only backfired but had me badly injured as well.

“Seems like your scapegoat nearly escaped,” an unfamiliar voice from the side of the van said, as other unfamiliar voices chorused in laughter. “Quite an audacious young woman.”

My father's men were all silent, as the others laughed.

“Take her to the van,” the unfamiliar voice ordered, and I soon saw a strange-looking face hovering over me.

He dragged me to my feet, causing me to groan in pain from the wounds from the thorns. Immediately, he struck me forcefully at the back of my neck.

I instantly blacked out.