Kissed by my Enemy

The Escape

Helen’s POV

The moment I entered the room, I shut the door and leaned against it. My hands were shaking, and my heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Why was I feeling this way? When he touched me, why did I keep wanting more? When his hands brushed under me, why was... Oh, goodness!

I walked straight to the bathroom and turned on the shower. The cold water hit my skin, but it didn’t help. It didn’t wash away the heat that still burned on my body or the memory of how close he had been, the way his voice had brushed against my ear and his breath against my skin.

I pressed my palms to the wall, breathing hard.

“Get a grip,” I whispered to myself.

But I couldn’t. I didn’t even know what was wrong with me.

I should be angry. I should be terrified.

Instead, something else was crawling inside me, something I didn’t understand and didn’t want to name.

I stepped out of the shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and sat on the edge of the bed. The room was too quiet, and I could hear only the faint sound of the rain outside.

Then, suddenly, I heard a deep rumble of engines, like cars passing by suddenly.

I moved to the window and looked out through the curtain. Headlights glowed faintly through the rain, and a few cars were leaving the compound.

Was he leaving too?

My heart skipped.

If he was gone… this could be my only chance. I hesitated for a moment as my mind ran wild.

If I stayed here, I might never see the outside world again.

If I left, I could die trying.

But when I heard the next sound—it was a loud, sharp gunshot, and then a sharp cry rang through like someone had been shot.

The sound came from somewhere inside the mansion.

My whole body froze.

I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew one thing: I had to leave. Now.

No, I couldn’t stay where killing people was a normal thing to do.

I grabbed the first thing I could find—a small jacket—and ran to the window. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still wet. I opened the latch quietly and pushed the window up.

I looked down. It was higher than I thought. My legs shook.

“This is crazy,” I whispered, but staying was worse.

Who cares about breaking a leg while jumping? I could limp with the other and have my freedom, rather than stay as a prisoner with two legs.

Before I could lose my courage, I climbed onto the window frame, closed my eyes, and jumped.

The impact hit me like fire as pain shot through my leg and arm as I rolled onto the wet grass.

I gasped, biting back a scream. The fall had scraped my knee and torn the skin on my elbow, but I was still alive. That was all I needed.

I forced myself up, limping toward the woods behind the mansion. Every step hurt, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

It was very cold outside, and the drizzling rain still fell on me, making my clothes stick to my skin.

I could still hear faint shouting from the direction of the house. Men were yelling, and lights flashed across the yard.

They’d found out that I had escaped! Oh, how quick of them.

“Find her!” someone shouted in the distance.

I froze for a moment, then ran faster. The mud splashed up my legs, and branches tore at my hair. The forest felt endless as I kept running. Everywhere was dark, and I didn’t even know where I was going.

My breath came in short, sharp gasps. I didn’t even know where I was going. I just knew I had to get far, far away.

A branch snapped under my foot, and I stumbled, catching myself on a tree trunk. My leg throbbed painfully, and then, suddenly, something metal bit into my ankle.

“Ah!” I cried out as I fell forward, pain exploding through my leg.

I looked down. It was a metal trap!

A sharp, rusted iron clamp had locked around my ankle. I tried to pull free, but it only cut deeper.

My breath hitched as I was in serious pain.

“No, no, no…” I whispered, trying to pry it open with my hands, but it wouldn’t move.

After trying and trying for a few minutes, I stopped and just rested my back against the tree. Then the grasses rustled. I turned sharply as I could hear footsteps now. Like it was getting closer. Soon I heard voices too.

They were coming!

Tears stung my eyes as I struggled harder, ignoring the pain. My heart was beating so loud that it drowned out everything else.

Then I heard a branch snap behind me. I froze.

Someone was already there.

The moonlight shone just enough for me to see the person moving toward me. My whole body went still, and I couldn’t run. I couldn’t even breathe.

The figure stepped closer until I could finally see his face. It wasn’t Dante, and it wasn’t any of his men either.

I recognized that they all had a scorpion mark on their neck.

This one was tall too, dressed in black, and his face was half hidden under a hood. He had a scar that ran from his temple to his jaw.

“Who are you?” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He didn’t answer. He only tilted his head slightly, staring at me like he had gone through so much just to get me.

“Are you one of Dante’s men?” I asked again, though I already knew the answer.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

“No,” he said quietly. His voice was rough and low.

“I’m here to take what belongs to him.”

My blood ran cold, and when he raised his hand, I saw the gun.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Please…”

He c****d the gun, and I covered my head with my arms and squeezed my eyes shut.

Then, there was a loud bang, and then… nothing.