Claimed Beyond Escape

Chapter Three

Men stepped out, their movements calm, controlled, like they had done this a hundred times before. Dressed in black, their faces unreadable, their presence alone enough to make the air feel heavier.

For a second, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t even breathe properly.

My heart skipped.

No…

No, it couldn’t be—

“Going somewhere?”

The voice came from behind me.

My entire body went rigid.

Slowly, I turned.

My father stood at the doorway, leaning casually against the frame like he had been there the whole time. A smirk played on his lips, his eyes watching me with something cold… something knowing.

Like he had been waiting for this.

The light from inside cast shadows over him, making him look like someone I didn’t recognize anymore.

Or maybe…

This was who he had always been.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t see this coming?” he continued, his tone laced with mockery.

My throat tightened.

“You said three days…” I managed, my voice uneven despite my effort to steady it. “You said they’d come in three days.”

“I lied.”

The words were casual. Effortless.

Like they meant nothing.

Like I meant nothing.

A hollow feeling spread through my chest.

“You think I’m a fool, Aria?” he continued, stepping closer. “You think I’d just sit back and give you time to run?”

My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into my skin as anger flared again, fighting against the rising panic.

“You’re giving me to them like I’m nothing!” I shouted. “Like I’m not even your daughter!”

For the first time, something flickered in his eyes.

Not guilt.

Not regret.

Just irritation.

“I raised you,” he said, his voice hardening. “Fed you. Kept a roof over your head.”

“At what cost?” I shot back. “So you could trade me when it suits you?”

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

Then he laughed.

A low, humorless sound.

“You’re not as important as you think, Aria,” he said. “You never were.”

The words hit deeper than anything else.

For a second, I couldn’t move.

Behind him, the men had already started moving closer.

Slow.

Unhurried.

Like they knew there was no need to rush.

Fear crept in again, stronger this time.

Real.

Fear crept in, slow and suffocating.

“No…” I whispered, shaking my head as I took a step back. “No, I’m not going with them.”

One of the men moved forward.

Instinct took over.

I turned and ran.

My legs burned as I pushed myself forward, my heart pounding violently in my chest as I tried to put as much distance between me and them as possible.

I didn’t care where I was going.

I just needed to get away.

Footsteps followed.

Fast.

Too fast.

Panic surged as I pushed myself harder, my legs burning, my lungs screaming for air.

“Stop!” a voice shouted.

I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

I ran faster, my vision blurring at the edges as fear took over completely.

Before I could react, a strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

A scream tore from my throat as I struggled, kicking, clawing, doing anything I could to break free.

“Let me go!” I shouted, my voice filled with desperation. “Let me go!”

But they didn’t even flinch.

It was like fighting a wall.

Another man grabbed my other arm, holding me in place as I thrashed wildly.

“No! Please don’t do this!” I begged, my voice cracking as panic fully took over. “I’ll do anything, just don’t take me!”

My father stepped closer, watching the scene with a calmness that made my skin crawl.

“Enough,” he said, almost bored.

“Please…” I choked, my eyes locking onto his. “Dad… please…”

For a second…

Just a second…

I hoped.

But whatever I was looking for in his eyes—

It wasn’t there.

“Take her.”

That was all he said.

And just like that…

Any hope I had left died.

I struggled harder, my body shaking as I tried to break free, my kicks growing weaker, my strength slipping with every second.

“Stop moving,” one of the men muttered, tightening his grip.

“No!” I cried, shaking my head violently. “No, I’m not going with you—”

Something sharp pressed against my neck.

I froze.

“What—”

A sting.

Small.

Quick.

Then—

Everything started to blur.

My movements slowed, my strength draining out of me like water slipping through my fingers.

“No… no…” I whispered, my voice barely audible now.

My legs gave out beneath me.

The world tilted.

Voices became distant.

My vision faded at the edges.

The last thing I saw…

Was my father.

Standing there.

Watching.

Unmoved.

Unaffected.

Like I was never his daughter.

Darkness crept in, pulling me under no matter how hard I tried to fight it.

My body went limp.

And just before everything went completely black—

One thought echoed faintly in my mind.

“I should have run sooner.”