Alex pov The boy that had been staring at me throughout today. The strange elite. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice hoarse from crying. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he studied me. “I could ask you the same thing. Look around this place. I came to take a shot.” His tone was light, almost teasing, but it only fueled my frustration. But I couldn’t help but look around at the shed. There were rows of packs of cigars and lighters arranged on the desk close to the wall. The walls were filled with posters of rock stars and famous artists. The decor of the room was plain, but it was a hideout. But for who. Fear crept inside me. “Are you stalking me?” I snapped, rising to my feet. “Because if you are, you can forget it. I don’t need your pity or your fake concern.” “Whoa, relax,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not stalking you. I just happened to notice you running out of the school like your life depended on i
Alex pov The morning sun streamed into my room, mocking me with its warmth and brightness. I pulled the blanket over my head, wishing I could disappear. My chest still ached with the weight of humiliation, and the memory of yesterday haunted me. Andrian’s smirk, the crowd’s laughter, the whispers, they all played on a loop in my head. “Alex?” My mom’s voice drifted in softly, followed by a gentle knock. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to see anybody, especially my mother. “Alex, I’m coming in.” The door creaked open, and her footsteps stopped just inside. “You’ve been in here all morning. You’re going to be late for school.” “I’m not going,” I muttered, my voice muffled by the pillow. “Alex, you can’t just…” “I said I am not going mum, just drop it” “Alexi, what happened? Did anybody hurt you or bully you…” she was saying “Mom, please!” I snapped, my words sharper than I intended. “Just leave me alone! I don't need you breathing down my neck!!” Silence stre
Alex pov It wasn’t until 5 p.m. that the teacher in charge of our detention released us. I was already beyond frustrated. The day was slipping away, and I was stuck at school, staring into space, when I should have been at Amanda’s house cleaning. Today was payday, and missing it wasn’t an option, no matter how late it was. Not even when an annoying, frustrating boy like Luke was breathing down my neck. “What do you want, Luke?” I asked for what felt like the hundredth time since detention started. His response? The same infuriating smile. “I just want to escort you home. Chillax, man, I don’t bite.” “No! I can find my way home. I don’t need you for that,” I snapped, stepping back instinctively. There was no way I was letting him see where I lived. My thoughts spiraled with all the possible outcomes of him knowing. He was an elite, for Christ’s sake. His sudden goodness was suspicious. “You look cute when you’re angry,” Luke said casually, catching me completely off guard.
Alex’s POVI woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating against the wooden bedside table. My heart skipped a beat, part of me expecting it to be Amanda, or worse, Andrian. The screen flashed with an unfamiliar number. Frowning, I hesitated before picking up. “Hello?” “Good morning, boyfriend,” a familiar voice chimed, teasing and casual. “Luke?” I blurted out, my brain struggling to catch up. “What did you just call me?” “Boyfriend. You said yes yesterday, remember?” I frowned, sitting up. “What are you talking about? I don’t recall agreeing to anything.” “Oh, come on, Alex. Don’t play dumb.” I could hear the grin in his voice. “After detention yesterday, when I asked if we could give this a shot, you didn’t say no.” “Not saying no doesn’t mean yes!” I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. “Well, I’m taking it as a yes,” he said with infuriating calm. “And besides, you’re way too cute to say no to me.” I rolled my eyes, already regretting answering the call. “Luke, I…
Alex’s POV The bell signaling the end of classes rang, and I found myself lingering in my seat, nerves bubbling in my stomach. I was supposed to head to the school auditorium for the audition I’d applied for days ago, but now, doubt gnawed at me. What if I embarrass myself? What if Andrian’s cronies show up just to mock me? I was nervous, throughout my way to the auditorium. Many students were milling in and out to watch the audition. I became conflicted whether to enter through the door, or I should turn away and leave. But then I thought about that moment at Puppy’s Bar, the thrill of losing myself in the music, the way I felt like I belonged, if only for a little while. I wanted that feeling again. “Hey you are blocking the fucking damn door” an angry impatient student shouted at my back, jerking me out of my confliction. With shaky determination, I grabbed my bag and headed to the auditorium. The large hall was packed with students of all kinds, some clutching instrument
Alex’s POV The events of the past few minutes felt like a whirlwind. I was still processing everything as I stood at the door of my apartment, mouth agape staring at the back profile of Luke. He had escorted me to my house. I had no choice as I could not reach home by myself, not in my state of mind. and Luke being him took advantage of that. He had gisted and made jokes about him being the hero and the hero supposed to receive a kiss from the victim as thank you gift. I had laughed without paying attention to it. Surprisingly, he had called me back and pressed his mouth on mine. At the last minute, I had shifted my head, and the intended kiss became a peck. It was unexpected, out of character, and completely disarming. He had just dashed off afterward, leaving me stunned and standing in the cold night air. And surprisingly, I didn't feel violated or disgusted. My fingers lightly touched my cheek where his lips had brushed against my skin. It wasn’t much, a quick, fleeting gest
Alex POVThe words on the crumpled piece of paper haunted me, a cruel whisper at the back of my mind. “Meet in the abandoned shed.”Andrian's message had been straightforward, but it carried a weight that made my chest tighten. He hadn’t specified the time, which only added to my frustration. Throughout my classes, I was a hollow shell, staring blankly at the board. The teacher’s voice was a meaningless drone. My classmates probably noticed my unusual silence, hence their rare mercy in refraining from taunts today. The bell signaling the start of sports blared across the schoolyard. Most students hurried out, their excited chatter filling the air. I, however, walked against the crowd, heading toward the music room. With the auditions just around the corner, practicing seemed like the logical choice. My only chance to qualify rested on proving myself, especially to the so-called legendary judge who had crushed my automatic qualification last time. The memory of his unimpressed gaze
Alex POV The cafeteria buzzed with life, the hum of conversations blending with the clinking of utensils. The smell of roasted beans wafted through the air, reminding me of how much I’d skipped lunch the past few days. “So… where have you been all this while?” I asked Linda, finally spotting her as she slid into the seat across from me. Throughout the day, she’d been scarce, and as a friend, it bothered me. “It’s nothing, Alex. Just busy with school stuff,” she replied quickly, her voice light. But her fingers betrayed her; they played nervously with the hem of her sweater. “School stuff? Since when are you the diligent type?” I teased, trying to draw her out, but she avoided my gaze. “Alex, just drop it, okay?” Her tone was sharper now, defensive. I wanted to press on, to ask what was really going on, but before I could, Luke’s voice interrupted. “So, you guys actually stay here to eat?” he asked, flashing his usual mischievous smile as he sat down beside me, uninvited as alwa
Alex’s POVThe most beautiful work of nature was just in front of me. I stared, mesmerized at the large expanse of water that stretched endlessly. The air was cool and moist. I could not resist taking a deep breath, marveling at how fresh and good the air was.The shallow part of the water sparkled with golden sand that felt soft under my feet. It was beautiful.No, almost magical, with the calm and quietness of the whole place.A small gasp slipped from my lips before I could stop it, and I felt Andrian staring at me while curving his mouth knowingly. "Like it?" he asked, his voice softer now.I turned to him, unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "It’s perfect."Andrian’s gaze softened. "I knew you would."For a moment, we just stood there, letting the ocean breeze wash over us. Then, before I could react, Andrian started removing his clothes.“Hey…what are you…?”My voice trailed off, as he now stood only in his boxers. I suddenly felt hotness spread throughout my c
Alex’s POVAfter freshening up, Andrian told me to get dressed. From his tone, he was sounding very optimistic about this outing.. Saying we had someone to meet. He looked way too excited about this mysterious person, and his mystery was a fine place he would love to show me. Which only made me more curious.When we stepped out of the room, I was instantly hit by the fresh ocean breeze. Even though I had come out of the house before, I was too engrossed in my emotional drama to not notice the nice otherworldly scene. The house, no, the villa, was nestled perfectly on a cliff overlooking the sea. It was breathtaking, small and cozy, for couples. I blushed profusely when the couple came to my mind. Andrian noticed, “why are you flustered?” he pinched my cheeks, which annoyed me the most, and made me blush the more. “Nothing” I answered, looking away as I aired the surroundings. my attention snapped back to reality when I heard a soft, feminine voice call out from the open patio“Andr
Alex’s POVI grudgingly opened my eyes, unwilling to wake up because I didn't want to cut the feeling I was feeling right now. The warmth washed over me despite the closed binds of the curtains.For the first time in so long, I had slept very well, with no nightmares or bad dreams of being tied to the table like a lab rat. For the first time, I enjoyed my sleep.I blinked slowly, trying to regain my body's mobility, but discovered that I couldn't. It took a moment for my brain to register what the problem was.Andrian.His arm was draped over my waist, and his legs were tangled with my leg. I held my breath. Stopping myself from moving again so as not to wake him. Strangely, his rhythmic breathing calmed my racing heart, somehow ticking the base of my neck. He was close, too close, that there was barely any space between us. I could feel his semi hard length poking at my entrance. I didn’t move.I didn’t dare.Because if I moved, if I broke the moment, reality might come crashing
Alex’s POV Warmth. For the first time in weeks, I woke up feeling warm. No cold, or sweat clinging to my skin like a second cloth. No racing heart. No echoes of the different nightmares, especially the nightmare of the man in my dream trying to do some things to me. All of it was gone. Just… peace. I blinked rapidly, my vision trying to adjust to the bright light of the sunlight coming through the curtains. The room smelled clean, like fresh linen and something faintly familiar, something safe. The aroma was so pleasing that I had to continuously take deep breaths. It's different from the usual smell of my room… And then it hit me. I wasn’t in my old room. The ceiling above me was different, the walls painted in a deep shade I didn’t recognize. The bed beneath me was smaller but softer than anything I’d ever slept on before. This wasn’t my house, nor my room. It was a different place I don't know about. Does it mean this is still part of my nightmares…, maybe after a few sec
Andrian povTwo weeks ago.I had almost been caught by my father.I had thought that he would not come back, but the bastard came inside right after going outside to answer call. My heart pounded as I heard him coming up the stairs. I could see the outline of his shadow, almost reaching the corner.There, I know I have only one choice. Jump.And that I did. I did not waste a single time. It's not time to think of the consequences of my actions. The thought of something bad happening to Alex drove me to Jump from a one story building like a ninja. Thanks to my acrobatics and fitness classes, I barely landed perfectly with my legs slightly bent before I had to break in a sprint. “Catch him”, I had heard my fathers angry voice from behind, but I was already in my car, speeding past the security before he could understand what was happening. Adrenaline pumped through my body. I hardly register the pain from the glass breaking. I might have had cuts from shards of glass falling o
Alex’s POVDarkness. Cold. Pain.That was all I felt throughout my body. I couldn’t move my body. I was back in that room.The putrid smell of blood and sweat in the air was choking. The rooms suddenly became suffocating, everything becoming blurry in my eyes. I was tied from head to toe, I struggled to move my body, but it was as if my whole body was paralysed, my wrist was tied down to a table, holding me in place.And then he was there. The man. The monster.His stinking breath was hot against my skin, his rough hands bruising my body. No matter how hard I thrashed, how much I begged and screamed, he didn’t stop. Not for once.He continued to flog me with the whip in his hands.“You’re just a weak little whore.”I screamed.I screamed so loud that the entire world should’ve shattered, but no one came. No one ever came.Until…BANG!The sound of gunshots rang in my ears. Suddenly the pain stopped. The man was on the floor, in his own pool of blood. My body was trembling, torn bet
Alex’s POV)I woke up to the cold biting into my skin.By now, I could barely feel my fingers that were already becoming stiff.I propped myself against the wall, staring at the dark, as if waiting for a monster to jump out.I was barely dressed, just my boxers, and my body ached from the blow that had knocked me unconscious before they took me.I have woken up to see myself in this situation. It had taken a moment before every sink into my head.I have been kidnapped.I didn't know how long I had been here. In the dark room, it's not easy to keep track of time.The room was dark. No windows. Not even the faintest hum of sound can be heard.Fear crawled through my veins, tightening my chest.I was scared.No, terrified.My breath came in shallow gasps as I pulled my knees to my chest, trying to steady myself.I was alone.Afraid.Lonely.And in that loneliness, my mind betrayed me, wandering from one sinister thought to the other. I could feel myself trembling with dread.In my desper
Andrian’s POV I arrived at the secluded VIP hotel at exactly 10 PM. The place Viper had said we should meet up. He had sent the location immediately I had debated telling Enzo about it. But for some reason, I didn't. This wasn’t something I wanted anyone interfering with. No matter what. It almost felt sacred and personal to me. The hallway was dimly lit, and the guards at the entrance barely spared me a glance before letting me in. It was clear that this place belonged to the Davidsons. At the far end of the room, seated in a leather chair with an air of absolute confidence, was Viper. I had never met him before, but his reputation preceded him. Dark suit. Sharp eyes. A presence that demanded attention. He gestured for me to sit, and I complied, my muscles coiled tight with impatience. "Andrian." His voice was smooth, controlled. “Dominic” I asked, not showing weakness for a moment. I could see it in his slight shift of expression that he was caught off guard by me sa
Andrian’s POVThe morning shine looked so dull. The surroundings look so gray. I stood by the window, admiring the ants that were walking on the window frame, each busy with its task. Waves of regrets. Different what ifs kept on piling on my head., likeWhat if I had not shouted at Alex? He would have still been in the ceremony without going out by himself. Or What if I had come a little too early, that I had come. What if I had acted on time, like telling Enzo about everything earlier, before I reached the site.Would there have been a different outcome?Different emotions were running through me.The cold locket between my fingers was the only thing that kept me from losing it all.Just like the photograph ash, it kept me from l falling off the edge ìn the dungeon.A wave of memory came over me. I remembered the night I had given Alex this locket.**********************Memory"If you value our friendship, then keep this safe."I remember the night I had given it to him.We were le