The Cruel King

chapter 6: Hell and Him

Evelyn had done everything she could to regain her strength. She had taken a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the exhaustion clinging to her skin. She had forced herself to eat, even though every bite tasted like nothing. She needed energy. She needed to be ready.

It was five o'clock. She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the golden glow of the setting sun bleed into the horizon. The world outside seemed so close, yet impossibly far.

Ms. Lily walked in, her warm, motherly presence breaking Evelyn's trance. "What's wrong, dear?"

Evelyn turned, forcing a smile. "N-nothing, Ms. Lily."

But then she saw it-just beyond the bushes. A blue van. Waiting.

Her pulse skyrocketed. Charles.

Her heart pounded as she calculated her next move. She needed a distraction. Something to get the guards away.

"Um... Ms. Lily?" Her voice wavered, but she plastered on her most innocent expression. "Can you... make fries? Please?"

Ms. Lily blinked. "Fries?"

"Yes. Please. I just really want some." She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, keeping her gaze steady.

Ms. Lily's expression softened. "Of course, dear. But it'll take some time."

"That's fine," Evelyn said quickly. "Take your time."

The moment Ms. Lily left, Evelyn grabbed the small bag she had hidden under the bed and crept toward the door.

Guards stood near the entrance-she had expected that.

She inhaled sharply, pressing a trembling hand to her chest. "Hey!" she called out, panting as if she were terrified. "I-I saw someone over there!" She pointed toward the bushes, widening her eyes for effect.

The guards immediately snapped to attention.

"Stay here," one of them barked before they all sprinted toward the area she had pointed at.

It worked.

Swallowing hard, Evelyn turned and bolted, She briskly went towards the gate. She was happy, that she's finally leaving this hell, that finally she's going to embrace freedom.

Her heart pounded in her ears, each step taking her closer to the freedom she had been aching for.

Don't look back. Don't look back.

She reached the bushes and carefully pushed the small door open. The van was right there. A man inside held the door open for her. "Shit... I forgot the guards will be outside as well" she grits her teeth.

Almost there.

But just as she stepped forward, the deep growl of an engine filled the air. But that car was different, it's not usual car for bodyguards, it's HIS car.

She froze.

Her stomach plummeted.

A sleek black Maserati pulled up, stopping directly in her path.

"No... no, no, no," she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief.

The moment she saw the car door swing open, pure terror flooded her veins.

A gunshot rang through the air.

The man holding the van door dropped instantly. Blood splattered the ground.

Evelyn screamed.

Charles shouted from inside, "Eve, get in! Now!"

Tears blurred her vision as she turned to him, shaking her head frantically. "Go! Please, just go! He's bad-really bad! He'll kill you!"

"Not without you!" Charles yelled. "Come on!"

Another gunshot. More screams.

Evelyn's breath came in frantic, shallow bursts. She knew she shouldn't. She knew this was a mistake. But fear clawed at her chest, and she lunged toward the van.

The second she stepped inside, the world seemed to explode.

Another black car crashed into the van's front, sending her flying against the seat. Her ears rang.

Then-before she could even think-an iron grip wrapped around her wrist and yanked her out.

A shiver of pure dread shot down her spine as she collided with a rock-hard chest.

"No," she gasped, trying to wrench herself free. "No, no, let me go!"

Hayden's grip tightened like a vice. He sees the man inside and his expression darkened as he realized that she was escaping him with the help of a man whom she doesn't even know. He felt a surge of anger and protectiveness rise in him.

His voice was low, dark, and absolutely unforgiving. "You really thought you could leave me?"

His fingers dug into her skin, his entire body brimming with lethal rage.

Charles leaped out of the van, gun in hand.

Hayden's expression remained unreadable as he tilted his head slightly. His men had already surrounded the van, guns drawn.

"That's a bad idea," Hayden mused, his tone almost bored.

"Let her go," Charles snarled, his hands trembling as he aimed the gun.

Hayden scoffed. "no chance in hell."

Charles' jaw clenched. "She doesn't want you."

That made Hayden chuckle. Low, cruel. "does it matter?" he raised his eyebrow.

A shot rang out. Charles shot towards Hayden.

Evelyn screamed, instinctively squeezing her eyes shut.

Hayden barely flinched, but his protective instincts kicked in, he quickly pushed her behind him, shielding her with his body.

Within seconds, his men had Charles on the ground, disarming him with brutal efficiency. He watched as his men took care of the man who had shot at him, they beat him but didn't kill him as Hayden shook his head, they took Charles with them. After they were done, he relaxed slightly, his eyes immediately turning to her. She was covering her ears and eyes closed due to many gunshot sounds. Her entire body trembled, her mind screaming at her to run, to fight-but she was frozen.

Then, everything went quiet.

She felt Hayden's presence before she even saw him.

A warm, rough hand cupped her cheek, tilting her face up. "Are you hurt?" His voice was softer now, but still laced with possessiveness. His thumbs brushed against her skin, a sharp contrast to the violence that had just unfolded around them.

She couldn't speak.

Her chest rose and fell in uneven gasps.

"Eve," he murmured, his tone deceptively gentle. "Look at me."

Her terrified eyes finally met his. He breathed a sigh of relief, his thumbs tracing gently over her cheeks, touch both rough and gentle at the same time.

"Good," he said softly, his eyes scanning her face once again "Don't be scared. You're safe now, I won't let anything happen to you" she was just looking at him, Terrified.

His eyes darkened as memories of her attempts to escape flashed through his mind. "I knew exactly what I had to do to keep you from trying that again" he said, his voice losing some of its softness "And you know what that means, don't you?" his sharp whisper sent the cold shiver in her entire body.

"You ran," he whispered, his fingers sliding to the back of her neck, gripping it just tight enough to send a clear message. "You know what happens when you try to leave me."

"Hayden," she whimpered, her voice breaking. "Please-"

He silenced her with a finger on her lips. "No more apologies."

A fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks.

Hayden sighed, shaking his head. "You knew the rules, sweetheart."

"Hayden... Hayden... I'm I'm Sor" she trembles. He silenced her with a finger on her lips, shaking his head slightly.

"No more apologies. You know the consequences of trying to leave me, sweetheart"

"Hayden I'm really sorry" he sighed as he heard her apology, his hand coming up to caress her cheek.

"I know you are," he murmured, his voice holding a hint of tenderness "But that doesn't change anything. You disobeyed me, and you know what happens when you do that" he saw the tears forming in her eyes, and his stern exterior softened slightly."Don't cry," his voice holding a note of gentleness "You brought this on yourself. You knew what would happen if you tried to escape"

"Hayden please I'm really sorry" she pleads.But he chuckled softly at her pleading, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Sweetheart, apologizing doesn't change anything. You knew the rules, you knew the consequences, and you still tried to escape" She started sobbing. But he ignored her sobbing plea, his hand moving from her cheek to the back of her neck, holding her firmly in place.He tightened his grip on her neck. "Don't even think about trying to run," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

"Hayden no... Please" tears are railing down her cheek as she protests, pushing her small hands on his iron chest, she knows that he won't leave this matter easily.

"Don't fight me," he said gruffly, his voice betraying a hint of tenderness "The more you resist, the worse it will be for you"

"Hayden please leave me... please"

"I said don't fight me," he repeated, his tone hardening "i don't give a f**k whether you like it or not. You're mine, sweetheart,"

She started to push him but he effortlessly picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, his hand holding her in place as he began to walk inside the mansion.

"Stop struggling, Eve" he said firmly "It's not going to do you any good. Just save your energy"

"Hayden.... Lea..Leave meee" she struggled in his arms.

"I already told you; I'm not leaving you, you're mine, and I'm taking you with me. You're not getting rid of me that easily"

He quickly tossed her onto the bed, his eyes roaming over her body as she lay there, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Are you done trying to get away?" He asked gruffly, his voice holding a mixture of anger and desire.

Hayden exhaled, running a hand through his hair before letting his dark gaze settle on her.

He saw her crawling away from him, and he chuckled darkly, his eyes flashing with a possessive gleam

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, his voice low and dangerous as he stalked towards the bed. He watched her continue to crawl away, a small amused smirk playing on his lips. "You're making this much more difficult for yourself, sweetheart," his voice holding a hint of mockery "You know you're not going to be able to crawl away from me."

When he saw her hop out of the bed an attempt to run towards the door, but he was faster. In a matter of seconds, his arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her back against him, her back flush against his chest.

"Going somewhere?" He growled in her ear, his grip on her waist tight.

A shudder ran down her spine.

She hated him.

She hated him so much.

But the worst part?

He loved it.