WOUNDED HEART

PROLOGUE

The night was cold, and the wind howled mercilessly, whipping against my fragile body as I ran down the endless road. I had no idea where I was, no recollection of how far I had come, only the burning sensation in my legs and the sharp sting of the cuts on my bare feet. The pavement was harsh and unforgiving, each step slicing into my already torn skin. My breath came in ragged gasps, chest heaving as I pushed forward, further and further into the unknown. My clothes clung to me, damp with sweat and stained with blood, my hair tangled and wild like the storm brewing inside me.

I knew I couldn’t stop. If I did, the demon chasing me would catch up. And I couldn’t let that happen.

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but I forced myself to move. The silence of the empty road was deafening, broken only by my uneven footsteps and the erratic beating of my heart. My body screamed for rest, but I ignored its pleas. Fear had overridden exhaustion, terror replacing every other sensation.

Then, out of nowhere, a sharp sound sliced through the night.

Screech.

The piercing sound of tyres skidding against the pavement sent a jolt of fear through my spine. My body stiffened, my instincts screaming at me to run faster, but I was already at my limit. My heart slammed against my ribs as I turned my head, just in time to see it—a black Range Rover skidding to a halt right in front of me, its headlights illuminating the road in an eerie glow.

I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body refused to obey. The car door swung open, and my worst nightmare stepped out.

He was here.

His towering figure emerged from the car, his presence consuming everything in its wake. The air around me turned heavy, suffocating as if the night itself had surrendered to his darkness. I felt my knees weaken, my body trembling uncontrollably. He took a step forward, and I saw nothing but red.

Without thinking, I turned on my heel and ran in the opposite direction, my legs moving on pure adrenaline. But I had barely taken a few steps before I felt it—the brutal force of his grip around my waist. In an instant, I was lifted off the ground, my body weightless as I was yanked into the air. A scream lodged in my throat, unable to escape as my lungs seized in terror.

His grip was like steel, unyielding and merciless. My arms and legs thrashed violently, desperate to break free, but it was useless. He was too strong, his hold like iron shackles binding me to my fate. I gasped for air, but his grip tightened, pressing against my ribs until I could barely breathe.

"Let me go! Please!" I sobbed, my voice breaking with desperation. "Please! I—"

I didn’t get to finish my plea.

His grip on me didn’t falter. He didn’t loosen his hold, not even when my tears soaked into his shirt, not even when my body shook uncontrollably against his. He was completely unmoved, his expression unreadable as if my suffering was nothing but a trivial inconvenience.

And then, he spoke.

"You think you can run from me?" His voice was low, lethal. It sent a shiver down my spine, making my body tense.

I shook my head furiously, tears spilling over my cheeks. "Please... don’t do this."

His jaw clenched, his patience clearly wearing thin. Without another word, he turned and strode towards the car, carrying me effortlessly despite my struggle. He opened the passenger door and shoved me inside with force. My body hit the seat, and before I could react, he loomed over me, his face dangerously close.

His fingers grasped my chin roughly, forcing me to look into his cold, merciless eyes.

"Listen carefully," he growled. "If you make a sound, if you try to escape, I swear I will make you regret it in ways you can’t even imagine. You will die a slow, painful death. So be a good girl and keep your mouth shut."

Terror swallowed me whole. My breath hitched as I nodded frantically, my throat too tight to form words.

Satisfied, he pulled back and slammed the door shut before moving around to the driver’s seat. He slid in, his movements sharp and aggressive. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white, the veins in his neck bulging with restrained fury. The car roared to life, and within seconds, we were speeding down the empty road.

My hands trembled in my lap, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to suppress my sobs. My mind raced with questions—where was he taking me? What was he going to do to me? Was this the end?

I wanted to scream, to fight, but I knew it was useless. He was too powerful, too dangerous. Resistance would only make things worse.

So, I did the only thing I could.

I wept silently, my tears falling like rain, unnoticed and unimportant.

The road stretched ahead of us, dark and endless, mirroring the abyss I was falling into.

The only sounds were the hum of the engine and my quiet sniffles. I dared a glance at him, my stomach twisting at the sight. His jaw was clenched, his eyes focused on the road, but his entire body radiated fury. He wasn’t just angry—he was seething.

The speed of the car increased. My fingers dug harder into my lap, my heart hammering.

He was dangerous. More dangerous than I had ever realized.

Memories flooded my mind—his cold stare, his merciless grip, the way his presence alone made my blood run cold. I had tried to escape, and now I was paying the price. I had been stupid to think I could outrun him.

I turned my head toward the window, my blurred reflection staring back at me. My face was pale, my eyes swollen and lifeless, my lips quivering.

What was I going to do?

Tears pricked at my eyes again, but I fought them back. I had to be strong. I had to think of something, anything. But the fear was too consuming, the weight of my fate pressing down on me like an anchor.

I was trapped, with no way out.

And as the car sped into the unknown, I realized something chilling.

This wasn’t just about escape anymore.