FREEDOM AT LAST.

✓ Riya

“Leave me alone! I refuse to be a pawn in your chess game!”

My body shook, and I was filled with rage, so much so that the intensity made my very heart burn.

Asides from my resistance, and acting as though I was tough, I was hoping my stepmother would have a change of heart and let me stay. Resilience breeds victory, right?

“Keep quiet, you fool!” My stepmother sprang to her feet, her voice shaking with frustration. She had clearly had enough, but I wasn't finished.

“No! I will not be quiet!” I stared into her eyes, the forever threatening tears in my eyes now pouring down my face with no restraints.

“You both need to calm down. Child, you need—” Brandon began to speak, but I was too angry— angry at how useless I was to them— than to give him a chance for a piece of his mind.

“Shut it, old man! Your opinion is not in any way needed here!” Immediately the words were out, the husky bouncer, whom Brandon had came in with, rushed at me and landed a punch on my face.

I groaned, holding my face as I dropped to the floor, my head spinning and aching, while I curled up, waiting for another hit which didn't come as I had expected.

“That's just the tip of the iceberg! Speak to him in that manner again, and see what I would do to you!” The husky bouncer said seething with anger.

“Howie, there's a limit to pretty kids. Don't ever do that again.” Brandon cautioned and stood up, coming to grab my hand, but I jerked it off, and drew to the back.

“I'm not going to hurt you, kid. Now, give me your hand.” He cooed.

I shut my eyes, and continued laying on the floor, disregarding him. There's no way I would fall for a clear pretence!

Brandon cleared his throat, and went silent— everyone also did. However, his silence raised fear within me, and I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts ran through his mind.

Then, he picked up the envelope he had dropped on the table upon his arrival, and gave it to my stepmother. “That’s your part of the deal, Mrs Wolfsong. I'll be taking my leave now.”

“But you have just arrived. Why don't you stay a bit longer?” My stepmother’s eyes sparkled as she opened the envelope, halfheartedly persuading the man.

He started leaving, then paused, his eyes now fixated on Ama, whose legs were crossed, while holding her book up to her face. “Who is she?”

“Oh! She’s my daughter, Ama,” my stepmother replied and added hastily. “She’s already betrothed to the Alpha.”

I arched my brows, as I listened to her lie, utterly disgusted. The alpha, not even someone of less authority.

Ama had never been engaged to anyone. All she does is read books which obviously are not reflecting on her, and with no plans of having a life of her own.

“Hmm. She seems like she’d make a fine wife. So much composure with an aura of brilliance. She’s so beautiful, what a shame.” Brandon puffed on his tobacco, glared at me, and exited the room.

Grabbed by the arms, the bouncers hauled me out, following suit. I fought and struggled to loosen their grips on me, but it was futile. What could a frail hand like mine do, anyway?

I looked back over my shoulders at my stepmother, and she couldn't have been less happy.

We arrived at Brandon's car parked at the parking lot and I was thrown into the back seat with him. The drive was quiet, and Brandon’s eyes were closed most of the time.

Hope seeped in, and I thought he must be a God-sent in disguise. I stared at his face, and he looked peaceful.

However, As the car sped down the road, my mind ran through different escape strategies, because I just couldn't trust him.

After a couple of hours of waiting for what was to come, the car halted in a secluded place, encircled with bushes. My heart started beating against my rib cage, so loud, I could almost hear it,

Brandon eventually opened his eyes and alighted the car.

“Follow him out, now!” Howie ordered, grinning from ear to ear.

As soon as I stepped out, Brandon didn't wait a second, for he thrust me against the car, his breath stinky and raspy. I tried to push him off me, but he slapped me.

He leaned in again, but I grabbed his blonde scanty hair and took his head under my armpit. The source of my newfound strength was a mystery, but at that point, I couldn't ask for more.

While he fought, his screams muffled, I kneed him in the groin. He rolled over, groaning like a wounded cow.

I bolted past the bouncers, who immediately leaped out of the car, as soon as they heard Brandon's noises.

“Get her!” Brandon’s voice roared behind me as I ran, heart pounding, lungs burning. I could hear the bouncers’ thudding footsteps nearing, syncing with the sounds of the chirping birds in the distance.

A couple of minutes passed, and I was almost onto a tiled road.

Finally, maybe a miracle will surge.

Then, I glanced back, almost tripping on my torn dress that had caught a branch as my chest began to rise in a fast falling and rising motion due to my racing heartbeat. The men were closing in on me.

I ripped off my dress from the branch with urgency, my heart thumping with haste.

Then, I dashed to the road, preparing to cross to the other side, but oblivious to an oncoming car.

As soon as I entered the road, the car gave a screeching sound that pierced into my ears.

I paused, my breath caught in my throat and my heart ceasing to beat for a minute as my head snapped towards the car, while it came at me, its headlight casting eerie shadows on my face.

But, it was too late to run, for the car has neared and didn't take a pause to hit me. I gave out a wrenchingly loud cry, just as a very sharp pain assaulted my body, making my stomach churn, and my body cold.

I stumbled to the ground, while air slowly knocked out of my lungs, and the world heavily slipped away into darkness, as I muttered incoherently. “I'm. . . free.”