Chapter 3 - Damsel In Distress

The tears in Sophia's innocent eyes made the man freeze in his spot for a second even in his drugged state.

He had never intended to hurt anyone, let alone take advantage of a helpless woman. The gravity of the situation hit him hard, and he knew he had to do something to make things right.

With a clumsy effort, he crouched down as began to reach out his trembling hand to a trembling Sophia, making her look at him with eyes wide. His warm hand gently stroked Sophia's hair, making her relax under his hypnotic gaze.

"Kitty, don't cry. Okay? Listen to me. This is Room 182. Room 128 is just across this one on the right side. Do you understand, little kitty?" The stranger gently coaxed Sophia as started to gain control over his senses as he was taught in the army.

He clenched his free hand tightly as he dug his nails into his palm, making blood drip on the floor. Though pain coursed through his nerves, the gaze with which he looked at Sophia never once changed.

It was as gentle as the first snow falling in the middle of November.

Sophia nodded slowly, her tears now drying up as she tried to comprehend what was happening. The man continued to stroke her hair, whispering soft words to her, trying his best to calm her down.

"Okay, now listen to me carefully. You need to get out of here, and you need to do it quick. I don't know how longer I can hold my senses. The aphrodisiac is quite powerful. Can you do that?"

Sophia nodded again, her big eyes fixed on the man's face. Despite everything that had happened, she felt safe around him. His words and his touch gave her a sense of security that she hadn't ever felt with Marvin or anyone else that she could remember.

"Good. Listen, when you get to the door. Open it. The key card is right there on the table. Shut this room's door and make your way to Room 128. Knock on the door three times, and if your companions are in, they will let you in. You understand, kitty?"

Sophia nodded for the third time, her eyes now filled with gratitude and trust. The man smiled gently, his hand still stroking her hair.

"Good girl. Now, go. Hurry. And remember, don't turn around."

Sophia nodded one last time before turning around and running towards the door. She picked up the keycard from the table and opened the door, shutting it behind her quickly. She made her way to Room 128, knocking on the door three times just as the man had instructed.

Seconds ticked by as Sophia waited with bated breath, unsure of what would happen next. Suddenly, the door opened, and she was pulled inside roughly before her mind could even register who had opened the door.

As for the man, he slumped to the ground in a daze, his mind reeling from what had just transpired. He had never felt such a strong urge before. He knew he had to find a way to get help, to overcome the aphrodisiac since it was very potent and could harm his veins.

But for now, he remained there, slumped against the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling. A single tear rolled down his cheek, a silent apology to the innocent woman he had unintentionally hurt who had nothing to do with his current state.

"Let me go! Who are you!?" Sophia struggled against the two drunkards as they laughed at her futile attempts to free herself.

How? How did she land up in this situation? How did she run from a tiger only to serve herself to two hungry wolves on a silver platter? Weren't Rachel and Alissa supposed to be here? What were these men doing here?

Tears streamed down Sophia's eyes as she struggled to protect herself from these wolves. But, to no vain.

The tower of her hopes come crashing down, when the drunkards forced wine down her throat making her body start to heat up. Sophia's mind became foggy, and she could feel herself losing control over her body. Her vision blurred, and she heard their laughter fading away as she started to drift into a sea of unconsciousness.

She would have lost. Her innocence would have been lost. Everything could have been lost if not for the little knock on the door which brought her back to her senses as she bit the man holding her close and made a run for the door, only to find it locked.

As she noticed the grin on the men's faces, she knocked on the door from the inside furiously. Before a scream, left her lips.

"Help me, please!" Though the words left her lips, she never excepted anyone to go against these goons to help her but the voice which came in reply to her screams made her erratic heart, calm down.

"Kitty, move away from the door. I'll knock it down."

Sophia recognized the voice immediately. It was the same man who had helped her before. With a renewed sense of hope, she quickly moved away from the door.

The man's powerful knocks echoed through the room as the two drunkards stumbled back, taken aback by the sudden sound of such heavy force. Within seconds, the door broke down, and the man burst into the room like an avenging angel.

Sophia's heart swelled with gratitude as she saw the man take down the two drunkards with one swift punch. She wanted to run to him, to hug him and thank him for saving her. But her legs trembled beneath her, and she could only stand there, watching as the man made sure that the two men would never hurt anyone again.

After securing the room, the man turned to Sophia, who was now slumped into a corner, still dazed by everything that had happened.

"Are you okay, kitty?" His gentle voice reached her, and she nodded, feeling another wave of gratitude wash over her.

"I-I don't know how to thank you…" Sophia's voice trailed off as she looked up at the man, her eyes filling up with tears once again.

"You don't have to thank me, kitty. Besides, you helped me snap out of it earlier. We're even now. I shouldn't have done what I did earlier." The man's warm smile reached his eyes, making Sophia feel safe once again.

Sophia smiled back, a real and genuine smile, one that she had not felt since before she had ended up in this strange place.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much." Sophia's voice was soft, but her words conveyed everything she was feeling.

The man nodded and reached out his hand, helping Sophia to stand up. "Let's get out of here. We can go back to my room."

Sophia nodded, as her hand held the man's reached out one, trying to stand up but falling back to the ground.

"I can't. Can't stand up. It's too hot."