Chasing the Star

“It’s almost over? Impressive!” James mumbled in awe as he eyed one of his men. “Who’s winning?” he asked. Hyacinth moved away and positioned herself in the farthest corner of the couch, avoiding the attention of everyone. She only knew the man they call James, being the head of a human trafficking organization and the reason why she was tied up in a room of ravenous men. “Couldn’t see his face because the room was dark but he’s skilled,” one of the men replied with a smirk. “He joined the match with the name, Storm,” he added. “Then he can be our—” James stopped midway as the door flew open, revealing someone in a bloody white shirt. He dropped the pipe he was holding and ran his fingers through his hair as he entered the room and poured himself a drink. Everyone was looking at him but he didn’t care. He walked like he owned the place. “He must be Storm,” Hyacinth murmured under her breath. “So, where’s my prize? Don’t disappoint me,” Storm asked while sitting on the couch and casually sipping on his bourbon. James grabbed Hyacinth by the wrist and presented her infront of Storm. “She would be your prize. Fair enough, right?” Storm raised one brow. “Her? What would I do to her?” “Anything. What should a man and a woman do when they’re locked up in one room?” James grinned and patted Storm’s shoulder as he signaled his men to leave. “Let me show you your room,” he insisted. “What?! You can’t lock me up in one room with him!” Hyacinth wailed and pointed at Storm who seemed to don’t mind about the arrangement. “Hey, you have to say something!” she added and held Storm’s arm. “I need a rest,” Storm muttered, ignoring Hyacinth’s glare. He then grabbed her by the waist and carried her in bridal style while they walked out of the room. Hyacinth didn't want to look around but the blood was almost everywhere that she couldn't hardly notice. Her breath was getting heavier when she saw a lot of bodies just lying on the cold floor. Some were whimpering in pain but many were unmoving, they were neither unconscious nor dead. “You don’t have to look if it terrifies you,” Storm whispered but he didn't give her a glance. “I… I wasn’t looking,” she lied and he didn't buy it. James stopped infront of a cabin and eyed Storm. “I’ll go back to the mainland tonight but I have my eyes everywhere. You may have won the killing game but I need to consider things before letting you join the organization. You understand, don’t you?” Storm just nodded. Hyacinth had been staring at Storm for minutes but she couldn't tell what he was thinking. His face was void of expression, he never smiled but could definitely flash a devilish grin. “Both of you will be staying here until I summon you for a feast. My man, you have to ravish her tonight,” James leaned closer and whispered but Hyacinth heard all of it. Her cheeks reddened so she buried her face in Storm’s chest. “Shut up! I’m right here!” she muttered. “She’s quite shy. Leave us alone, will you?” Storm marveled in an icy tone which made James crack in laughter. “Fine! I would expect a result tomorrow,” James replied as he walked away. “Put me down,” Hyacinth whispered when James left. She didn't ask to be carried in bridal style by a stranger she only knew by name and nothing more. Storm didn’t say anything but he kicked the door open and walked to the bed. Only then when he put her down on the soft mattress and closed the door. He was unbuttoning his shirt which made Hyacinth anxious and moved further away until her back hit the headboard. “What a-are you d-doing?” she anxiously asked. Hyacinth hoped he wasn't serious about ravishing her tonight. “What do you think?” Storm moved so close to her that their nose was almost touching. His right hand was pressed against the headboard while the other was on her back. “I haven’t decided what to do just yet,” he whispered in her ear and trailed down to the crook of her neck. Hyacinth closed her eyes when she felt his warm breath on her neck. Storm blew some strands of her hair away from her neck and gently rubbed the tip of his nose on her shoulder blade. Hyacinth grabbed the sheets and held her breath because of the tension between her and Storm. His grip tightened as he pulled her close to him, her body was pressed against him but she was too weak to push him away. Storm grinned then he kissed her shoulder as he grabbed something on the bedside table and distanced himself. “Sleep,” he said before leaving for the shower room. “What was that?” Hyacinth still couldn't get a hold of what just happened. Storm knew what he was doing and yet he played his card right! He was teasing her. When Storm stepped out of the shower room wearing his pants and nothing on top, Hyacinth closed her eyes and pretended to be sleeping. She was secretly peeking at him moving around looking for something. He stopped when he found the first-aid kit in a drawer just beside the bed. Sitting beside her, he started tending his wounds. “Let me help you,” Hyacinth offered. He couldn't reach the wounds on his back because he was struggling with his injuries. The deep cuts on his back looked painful to even look at. “I was wondering how long will you fake your sleep,” he muttered with sarcasm. Hyacinth grabbed the cotton balls from him and started cleaning his wounds. “I can’t sleep. Not with you around,” she honestly replied. Storm scoffed. “Then try your luck to get out of here.” She knew leaving wasn’t easy but she couldn't stay here any longer. Santorini was her haven but she never expected things to take turns. This was supposed to be a short-term freedom for her but she was kidnapped and sold as a prize for some sick game. How was she supposed to buy her freedom back? “This will help.” Hyacinth started applying some calming cream on Storm’s wound but he grabbed her wrist and the next thing she knew, she was sitting on his lap facing him. She tried pushing him away but he encircled his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “You can put some on my other wounds this way,” he said as if he couldn't feel the tension building up. Hyacinth looked away, avoiding Storm’s gaze. “Stay still,” she timidly asserted. “You have to treat me well,” Storm leaned to her ear and whispered. She couldn't argue more hence she focused on applying the medicine on his wounds while giving it a gentle blow like what her mother used to do whenever she got wounded from playing back then. Storm was staring at her the entire time but she wasn’t brave enough to meet his eyes and drown in them. Hyacinth can’t even tell if she can trust him because after all, he’s mysterious and his eyes alone are enough to harbor tons of secrets. “You should feel better by tomorrow,” Hyacinth broke the silence. She was done tending his wound but Storm was still holding her waist. He wasn't planning to let her go, he was too occupied with the sight of her. Uncontrollably, Storm buried his face in Hyacinth’s neck and took a long sniff. “You smell like roses,” he whispered. Hyacinth was taken aback by the sudden compliment. “Can you let me go now?” “Later,” he mumbled under his breath. Their position was too intimate for strangers and Hyacinth needed to bail out but she was stunned when Storm started putting small kisses on her shoulders up to her neck. She nearly screamed when he sucked a portion of her neck and licked it afterward. His movements were clean and Hyacinth found herself lying on the bed underneath Storm. “You—” It was a protest but Storm cut her off. “Shh…” He kissed her instead. His kisses were getting hungry as his lips traveled lower and Hyacinth bit her lip to avoid unwanted sounds. Her dress gave his hand access to caress her thigh and she was close to losing it but he suddenly stopped and fixed her dress. “Sleep,” Storm muttered as he lay beside her. “Sleep on the couch,” she argued and kicked him out of the bed. His gaze turned sharp then he wrapped his arm around her. “You have to behave yourself tonight,” he whispered and bit her earlobe. Hyacinth couldn't move freely because his strong arms were wrapped around her tiny waist and her back was pressed against his bare chest. She might as well try to sleep than argue with him more. “Why are you staring at me?” Storm’s black orbs were the first thing Hyacinth saw as she opened her eyes the next day. He was casually looking at her without any expression on his face. “Tidy up. James wants to see us,” Storm informed her. Hyacinth frowned and raised one brow. “I thought he went back to the mainland last night?” “He did but his men would be watching us. We should give him something he’d been expecting,” he replied with his eyes fixed on her neck. “What do you mean?” She was clueless. James was expecting something? “He wants proof.” And with that, Storm was already on top of her, sucking and biting every part of her neck. “Stop!” Hyacinth pushed him but he grabbed both of her arms and pinned it above her head using just one hand. “This is the proof he’s looking for,” Storm was grinning while wiping the corner of his lips. “Hickeys?!” Hyacinth’s eyes nearly popped out when she saw the marks on her neck. She was glaring at Storm who looked unbothered while leaning on the wall next to her. “I can’t go out looking like this!” she shrieked. “Stop complaining and get yourself ready.” Storm carried her to the shower room and left her alone. “Your dress and everything you need is on the paper bag just beside the vanity. Don’t worry, I didn’t touch it,” he added. Hyacinth rolled her eyes and opened the door. “Then how’d you know it was a dress?!” Storm was leaning on the doorframe with a smirk pestered on his lips. “I just guessed.” “And you want me to believe that?” She has the right to doubt him because he’s too cunning. “I’m running out of patience. Get inside and do your thing.” He gently pushed her forehead away before closing the bathroom door. “Look at me! The concealer couldn't do anything about your mess!” Hyacinth was mad as she was checking herself out in the mirror. The concealer won’t even work because he sucked too hard. Storm was silently looking at her as she complained about his mess. He couldn't sleep last night because he was busy keeping his sanity to avoid ravishing the beauty sleeping soundly beside him. It was past three in the morning when James’ men delivered their things so he had to put all of them in place until it was dawn. “It suits you quite well,” he muttered as he gently grabbed her chin. Both were standing in front of the mirror and Storm was having sinful thoughts when he saw Hyacinth’s swollen lips. He did that and he was a madman for wanting more. “I never looked messy as I am right now. This is a disgrace to my image,” Hyacinth stressed out. She always looked good because people would always have their eyes on her. “I look terrible,” she added. “James’ men would think otherwise,” Storm shot back as he fixed her hair. “I’m not someone they can easily prey on! Don’t let them touch me.” Hyacinth almost sounded like she was pleading. She was afraid of moving around those men because they were looking at her as if they were stripping her naked. Storm chuckled and traced his fingers on her bare shoulder without breaking the eye contact. “They won’t because you’re mine. I just hope they won’t disrespect their asset.” Hyacinth gulped and looked away. “We should leave.” “Yeah, we should.” He held her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles before heading out. “Where to?” She didn't know which way to go. It was already dark when James showed them around. “Don’t you think it’s a little bit unfair?” Storm asked instead of showing the way. “What?” Hyacinth stopped walking and turned around to face Storm. “We spent a night together and I haven’t got your name yet,” he muttered. She took her sunglasses off and pointed it at Storm. “Excuse me, we didn't really spend the night together. You know what I mean, right?” Storm paused and stared at her for a second. “Hmm… We shared one bed and—” “Shut up, Storm! Let me tell you this, it’s so rare for you to fish out someone like me in this rabbit hole! I was kidnapped and wasn't supposed to be sold as a mere prize!” she explained loudly. The situation is really stressing her out! “This is a human trafficking organization, what can you expect? They treat women as an object of desire for men. They sell women like you.” His tone was dead serious and icy. It made Hyacinth think he hated the organization but she might be just overthinking things. “And I shouldn't be here.” She had to leave and fly back home as soon as possible. “Are you a president’s daughter or something?” Storm asked with both of his arms folded infront of his chest. He didn't even bother to hide the sarcasm in his tone. Hyacinth flashed a fake smile. “I don’t really show off but I model things and do movies for a living.” “And your name?” he posed another question. She extended her hand as she mentioned her name, “Hyacinth Gray Park.”