Chapter 5: Escape Into Chaos
1114 Words
Iriana POV
This world is wrong.
Everything here is so hurtful.
I asked for a room, and they gave me a cold space that felt like a cage.
Or maybe it was an actual cage.
There were a few humans inside with me, all bundled up and shivering.
What kind of place is this?
I sighed heavily and curled into myself, tucking my head toward my knees.
I was exhausted—down to my bones.
Isn’t this far worse than mating Alpha Kragnir?
The thought alone made my chest tighten.
I was freezing.
My body shuddered as goosebumps spread across my skin.
This was a different kind of hell.
As I lay there, my ears began to ring—a sound so sharp I had to yelp.
I opened my eyes, squeezed them shut again—and then I heard her voice.
“Iriana,” she called, appearing like a shadow inside my mind.
“Grandma Ivonne,” I replied in my head, tears pricking my eyes.
“My baby… it’s hard, isn’t it?” she asked gently.
“Very hard,” I cried. “They don’t like me here. I want to go home.”
She sighed softly, her voice sounding like the rustle of leaves.
“Please endure, my child. All this is fleeting. With time, you will learn to settle here. This place is chaotic—I won’t go into details because I don’t want you to worry—but your family is fine.”
“Grandma, I don’t think they’re fine,” I said desperately. “Alpha Kragnir won’t show them mercy.”
There was a long pause.
“Grandma?” I called out.
“Iriana… I have to go. He’s coming.”
Suddenly, a loud a roar echoed through my mind:
“IRIANA!!!”
I gasped and snapped my eyes open.
My body, once freezing, was now burning hot. Sweat clung to my skin.
“Hey,” someone called from outside the bars. A man opened the gate.
I looked up.
“Get up. Someone’s here for you,” the man said.
Here for me?
I stood up shakily and followed him out.
As I took a few steps, my necklace suddenly heated up, sending a sharp shudder through my body.
What was that?
I lifted my head—and there he was.
The handsome stranger.
The one who left me in that cold room.
He had a priceless look on his face—a mix of confusion and shock, like he had just seen a ghost. Or maybe something far worst.
As we got closer, his stare didn’t waver.
But he wasn’t looking at me.
He was staring behind me.
“Mr. Ashton,” the man beside me called.
So that’s his name.
Mr. Ashton.
He didn’t respond. Just kept staring.
I turned to look behind me—but there was nothing there. Nothing except this awful place.
“Mr Ashton,” the man called again, tapping his shoulder gently.
That snapped him out of it.
“I—I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “Can I take her back to the hospital she came from?”
Hospital?
The place I escaped from?
No.
No.
Not happening again.
“Oh okay, I just need you to sign this paper here and then you’re free to take—”
“I’m not going,” I cut in sharply.
They both turned to look at me.
“What do you mean you’re not going?” Mr. Ashton asked.
“I’m not going back to that place,” I said firmly. “They were doing bad things to me.”
“Bad things?” the man beside me suddenly got interested. “Can you explain what they were doing to you?”
“Jerry,” Mr. Ashton interrupted, giving him a look as he touched his head, and the Jerry guy seems to understand immediately.
“Oh—right!” He exclaimed. “Totally forgot. Just sign here.”
Sliding a book across the desk. Mr Ashton signed it, and handed it back.
“Thank you so much, Jerry,” Mr. Ashton said, grabbing my hand.
My chest tightened as he did that.
His hand was warm.
“Anytime, sir,” Jerry replied with a smile.
“Let’s go,” Mr. Ashton said, pulling me out of the building and toward his vehicle.
Once we were outside, he stopped, and let go of my hand as if it burned him. Then turned to face me.
“So I’ll take you home, and after seven days you’ll be out of my hair, right?” he said.
I stared at him, confused.
Huh?
Is he really helping me… or is this just another cold room?
“No,” I said.
“No?” He frowned. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“No. I don’t want another cold room.”
“Cold room?” he asked, then pointed behind us. “You mean that place?”
I nodded gently.
“I’m just trying to help,” he sighed loudly.
“I don’t even know why I want to help. But during your stay, I’ll look for your family, and then—what the f**k am I even saying?” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
I simply stood there, watching him.
“What’s your name?” he asked suddenly.
“Iriana,” I replied.
“Alright,” he said. “Here’s what will happen. I’ll take you home. Then I’ll check that hospital and look for your family so you can get out of my life. Okay?”
“I already told you I don’t have a family here,” I said calmly.
“What the f**k do you mean here?” he almost yelled. “Everyone has a family.”
He paused.
“Or… are you an orphan?”
“No,” I said. “I have a mother and a sister.”
“Then I’ll look for them,” he said firmly.
I stared at him.
This was the strangest human I had ever met.
He just wouldn't listen.
Well, if he wanted to hunt for an imaginary family while I stayed in his house, let him.
“Alright,” I said softly. “Thank you for your help.”
He exhaled, bit his bottom lip, turned around then opened the vehicle door and helped me in.
He got in after me and drove off.
I don't think he's bad.
I smiled inwardly—then my thoughts returned to Grandma Ivonne.
What is Alpha Kragnir doing to her?
I could already sense danger radiating from that world.
I hope my family is safe.
I prayed silently.
- Writer
