Between The Lines and YOU

Thirty Five

It was already dark when I finally reached the address written on the paper. The bus could not pass through the narrow road ahead, so I had no choice but to walk. I almost turned back because the path was too dark and terrifying, but my need for answers outweighed my fear. Good thing I had charged my phone before leaving the hotel. I used its light to guide me through the overgrown path. My chest pounded again in an erratic rhythm, but I forced myself to stay strong. I had taken only a few steps when I froze, blinded by the sudden glare of headlights from a car that stopped a short distance away.

I raised a hand to shield my face. Two figures stepped out of the vehicle, and a curse slipped from my lips when the streetlamps above flickered to life. Seriously? Couldn’t they have shown a little consideration for my pretty face? They had let me stumble around in the dark, and now they dared to blind me with headlights? If I punched them right now, they would see twinkling stars up close.

But the moment I recognized the faces of the people before me, I felt rooted to the ground. It was the woman I had once called my mother for years, and beside her, the man I had loved and considered a father. Both of them were dressed in elegant clothes, something I had always dreamed of seeing them in, but not like this, not in this kind of nightmare. My tears fell instantly. Everything Shane had told me was true. They had used me. Both of them were smiling, the very smile I could no longer bear to see on their faces.

“Mo—Mom, why? Ho… how—” She cut me off, mocking me by repeating my words, and I sobbed even harder. They had once been the people I ran to when I cried. They had failed me in so many ways, but never did I imagine that one day my life would turn into this kind of nightmare.

“Cut the crap, Pria. You’ve always been useless. You could have just stayed pitiful and pathetic while helping us earn money and grow rich. All you had to do was something so simple, and you couldn’t even do that.” Her words were so far from the mother I once knew. I lowered my head, crying harder as the painful truth settled inside me.

“Take it easy, Hon. If she runs off in fear, we won’t be able to use her anymore,” said the man I once considered my father. Secretly, I pressed the button on the watch Shane had given me. They would not get away with this anymore. They would not use the children I once thought of as my siblings again. I took a deep breath, wiping the last of my tears. My eyes burned from crying too much, and my head throbbed in pain.

“If you stop now and tell me where the children are, I’ll let you escape. I’ll do it as a gratitude for raising me, even if you only ever used me.” They both laughed as if what I said was the funniest thing in the world. More of their people stepped out from the shadows. I saw Weston with a bandage on his forehead, unable to look me in the eye. Beside him stood Aria, smiling mockingly as if to say, What are you gonna do now, freak?

“Our organization is vast, Pria. Even if you catch us, you cannot stop the others scattered across different places. We are like a virus, spreading everywhere. You can never stop us,” she declared proudly.

“You really are a virus. I feel sick just thinking about the disgusting things you’ve done,” I spat back, my voice steady with defiance..Aria stepped forward without warning and slapped me hard across the face. I tasted blood on my lip instantly. Fine. Hurt me all you want. When I get my chance, I’ll cripple her.

“Watch your mouth. Do you want to die already?” she hissed, pointing a gun directly at me.

“Do you? Do you want to die?” I shot back. Her kick landed in my stomach, knocking the breath out of me. That was foul.

“Aria! Stop it!” Weston’s voice rang out as he rushed forward to hold her back. But she didn’t stop. Blow after blow rained down on me until I collapsed to my knees, then sprawled helplessly on the ground. Every strike sent waves of pain through me, and I felt myself on the edge of passing out. All of a sudden, I wanted to run to the first person who came to mind, Knox. But the pain inside me only grew worse when I realized that no matter how many times I screamed his name in my head, I knew it was impossible for him to save me now.

"Stay out of this, Weston!"

"Aria, that’s enough." She only stopped when the queen of viruses herself spoke up. I felt sick whenever I remembered the times I used to call her Mom, when in truth, Demon would have been more fitting. It was fine if I died. I would just haunt them one by one.

Tears blurred my vision again. This was exactly what Shane meant. How could I possibly protect Knox when I was this weak? Damn it! My whole body ached like I had wrestled for hours. When I could no longer endure it, the darkness finally swallowed me whole.

___________________________

I woke up writhing in pain. What I felt earlier had doubled, and the darkness was so complete that I couldn’t see anything. I tried to stand, only to realize one of my legs was shackled. Fear, cold, hunger, and thirst pressed down on me all at once. I groped for my wristwatch, but it was gone. Was this the end for me? Was there no Batman out there to rescue me? I sank back down onto the cold floor, shivering, until memories of everything they had done to me came rushing back. They had better make sure I never escaped, because the moment they were caught, I would never forgive them.

The door suddenly opened, and the sight of light gave me a momentary relief. But disappointment quickly replaced it when I saw who entered. He switched the lights on. I did not know what to feel when I caught the pity in his eyes as he looked at me. He carried a tray with food and medicine. I shot him a glare as he came closer and sat down beside me.

"Stop acting, Weston. You can’t fool me again." My voice was laced with disdain. He said nothing, only silently picked up a piece of cotton. When he reached for my cheek, I slapped his hand away harshly.

"I’m sorry." I could feel the sadness in his voice, but I would not let myself be swayed.

"Sorry? For deceiving me? Do you think your apology can cover everything?" He tried to touch my cheek again, and once more I shoved his hand away. My anger burned hotter than ever, so strong I felt I could truly hurt someone.

"I didn’t want this either, Pria. We’re the same. The only difference is that you come from a wealthy family that will do everything to find you. Us? Every corner of this room, even outside, no one will protect us if we ever try to escape. Aria? She’s truly brave, but believe it or not, she’s just a child terrified of being locked up and left behind." This time, his hand remained on my cheek, and I let it stay there while my mind tried to process his words. I allowed him to tend to my swollen lips, the sting of the ointment almost unbearable.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, referring to the way he was treating my wounds.

"Because you still have hope. I don’t want you to end up locked away like us." He paused briefly to grab another cotton ball and dabbed more ointment, making me wince in pain.

"From the beginning, we were ordered to watch you closely. The problem was that you were hard to approach, especially with your friends constantly by your side. You might not realize it, but they are everywhere, Pria. They protect you. Their families have connections to the upper clans, to legal organizations. That’s why we laid low for a while, searching for the right timing. When you saw us at Wintersea, that was supposed to be the day we took you. Rojien, the woman you called Mother, believed they were wrong to let you travel to City alone. They thought Shane would never find you, but they were wrong. Aside from your friends, someone even more powerful has been protecting you. That night, our plan failed. We were intercepted, beaten, and left on the road. We also spread the fake news that you were the chairman’s mistress, which caused that student group to target and assault you. But things only became harder. Your friend Kael, we don’t know how, but he managed to shut down all the credit cards given to us. When you saw us again at V.C.U., we were intercepted once more, this time by your professor, Professor Sandoval. He told us that if you disappeared from there, or if we did anything to harm you, he himself would deliver us to death. Do you understand my point now? They were protecting you even back when you had no idea. And now that you know everything, do you think they’ll stop?" I could not respond immediately. My mind kept replaying the events, trying to piece everything together.

So Knox had known me even before we met? But why? Don’t tell me he had always known who I truly was. What if his feelings were only part of his plan? What if everything he did was just an act to draw me closer so it would be easier for him to protect me? My thoughts tangled into knots. Why would he do all of that? For what reason?

"Why would he do that?" The question slipped from my lips, echoing the words that had been repeating in my head. Weston froze and gave me a puzzled look.

"Professor Sandoval, why is he protecting me?" I clarified. He only shrugged.

"Maybe ask him yourself? We don’t really know either. What we’re sure of is that he’s one of the people watching your back. Or you could ask your sister. From what I know, they’re friends." After finishing the treatment on my wounded lip, he reached for the tray and handed me food.

"Eat. You need your strength. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to stop Aria. I’ll convince her. You won’t die here, Pria. Live, not just for yourself, but in behalf of us who want to escape. I’ll free the children. You’ll live freely with them." He gave me a bitter smile, then pulled out a key and unlocked the shackle on my foot. I obeyed his advice and ate, realizing he was right. I needed to be strong. He also handed me bottled water.

For reasons I could not explain, I hugged him. I wanted to tell him that if I managed to escape, I would save him too. That I would never forget him. That even though Aria had nearly killed me with her kicks, I still wanted to save them all. Like me, they deserved to live freely. He hugged me back, patting my back gently. It was brief, and I was the first to let go.

"Stay here. It’s dangerous if you go out. There are too many of them, and you won’t get far. Rojien will do everything to run away, and she’ll take you with her. Her hatred for your family still runs deep, and she won’t let you go that easily. Even if you hear gunshots, don’t come out. Your sister is on her way." I grabbed his hand just as he was about to leave.

"What about you? You and Aria?" He gave me a faint smile.

"We’ve been part of things that should have been corrected long ago. Only now have I found the courage to fight back. Aria and I will do everything to set things right and place them where they truly belong." He picked up the medicines, placed them back on the tray, and gathered the empty food container.

"Weston," I called before he could step outside. He paused and looked back. "Thank you. Please stay alive."

He smiled and nodded softly before finally leaving. This time, he left the light on, which brought a small smile to my lips. I leaned against the cold wall of the long-abandoned room. My body still aches, every breath is difficult to take.

Remembering my phone in the pocket of my hoodie, I quickly reached for it, only to feel my heart sink at the sight of the shattered screen. I tried to power it on, but it was useless. Furious, I threw it aside. It was brand new, something I had taken such care not to break, and now they had destroyed it so easily. Did they think money grew on trees? Of course, for soulless people like them, it probably did. Then the door burst open violently, and Weston’s body collapsed in front of me.

"Weston!" I cried out in panic. Ignoring the pain in my body, I forced myself to run to him. He was bleeding, a wound gaping on his stomach. Moments later, Aria’s body flew across the room, slamming against the opposite wall, bloodied as well. My fists clenched tight when Rojien entered with ten of her men.

"You never learn your lesson, Pria. And now you’ve gone so far as to win their sympathy, dragging them both into helping you." She shook her head with mock disappointment.

Fury overtook me, and I lunged at her, my hands wrapping around her throat. But she only laughed. Then, once again, I cried out in agony as one of her men kicked me hard in the stomach. Damn it. Cowards. Grown men hurting a girl as small as me. The pain forced me to my knees. I coughed, gasping for breath, my chest burning as though the air itself refused to enter my lungs. Rojien sat across from me, and all I wanted was to rip that smug mouth of hers apart.

"Why can’t you just do as I say so you won’t have to suffer anymore? You grew up without your real family, so what are you still clinging to? Stop resisting and accept your fate, because we are the only ones who truly care for you." I met her gaze with unflinching defiance.

"Even if you kill me, you will never deceive me again!" Her fury sharpened, and she grabbed my lower face with cruel force.

"What’s with that spirit, huh? Do you think some superhero is going to save you here? There is no—" She never finished. Gunfire erupted outside the building, one shot after another. I smiled faintly, a soft mocking laugh escaping me right in her face.

"I suggest you run while you still have the chance, because any minute now you’ll be walking with handcuffs on." Her grip on my mouth tightened painfully. She forced out a laugh, shaking her head.

"Stop provoking me! I can kill you right here!"

"Run, coward," I hissed back.

The gunfire grew louder, more relentless, until she had no choice but to storm out with her men, slamming the door behind her. Suddenly the weight of fear pressed on me. My body trembled, my strength ebbing as the terror I had been holding back finally sank in. I forced myself to stand and rushed to Weston. Relief washed over me when I found him still breathing. Then I turned to Aria, but panic struck the moment my hand touched her head and came away drenched in blood.

"A-Aria! No, this can’t be! Aria!" My tears spilled as I cried out her name. Moments ago I had wanted to punch her for everything she had done, but now I understood why she had acted that way. I could do nothing but cradle her bloodied body, sobbing helplessly as more and more of her life slipped away, while the gunfire outside continued to rage. The door suddenly burst open, and there was Shane, worry etched deep in her eyes.

"S-Shane, A-Aria..." I whimpered like a child, still crying. She came to me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"I’m really glad you’re safe. I’m sorry it took me so long, and that this happened." I kept crying, unable to tell whether it was grief, relief that she had saved me, or something else altogether. My emotions swirled into chaos.

"Shh, stop crying. I’m here. You’re safe now."

"Aria, Shane... we need to take her to the hospital, and Weston too." She looked at them both, her expression hardening.

"We’ll go first. I’ll send my men for them. Right now, we need to get you out of here. You need medical care as well."

"Save them, please... Weston..."

"I promise, they’ll be saved. Can you still stand?" I nodded, but as soon as I tried to rise fully, pain seared through my stomach and forced me back down.

I had no strength to protest when she lifted me onto her back. The firefight downstairs raged on, echoing through the walls. I clung tightly to her, terrified of slipping, burying my face against her neck as if it were the only place safe enough to hide. The gunfire and screams slowly began to fade. I even heard Rojien’s furious voice before another barrage of shots rang out. After that, everything dissolved into nothingness as darkness claimed me.