V

The car stopped in front of a luxurious mansion. That was her hideout. Waqas came out and Delilah followed him after. The guards bowed before him in respect and Delilah walked nearer to him, her left foot hurting the most.

As soon as she stepped inside, Waqas led her toward a room upstairs. Delilah examined the place with her eyes, finding it larger than hers and shining as it was made up of white marble and tiles. A chandelier hung in the middle of the white ceiling, spreading a glow. Delilah marveled at the view as they walked through the corridor and finally, he stopped in front of a door.

He clicked it open, saying, "This is your room."

Delilah peered inside, finding it pleasant. The walls were painted beige and the glow inside the room was excellent. The way she favored. She didn't like darkness.

"Thank you," she said. He stepped aside with a nod so she could enter the room.

She walked inside, inhaling the woody fragrance stuck within the walls. Waqas watched her from behind, his gaze stuck on her messy hair as it was twisted into a bun. Tendrils hung through her cheeks and he saw the cuts on her feet. He refused to inspect her further.

"Uh, Waqas," she turned around, expecting him gone but he was at the door to her surprise. She fell speechless for a moment at his silence and the dead look he gave her.

"Need any help?" He asked when he noticed she had no words to continue.

"Yeah," she nodded, "I want to take a shower and the clothes are muddy, you see." She glanced down at her white top which was dirty and her jeans felt comfortless all of a sudden.

He hummed, nodding his head. "I'll ask my sister to help you here."

"Okay."

"Anything else."

"I'm hungry. I haven't had breakfast."

"Come downstairs after the shower."

"Okay."

"Is that all?"

"That's all."

Waqas left and Delilah closed the door. She went to take a shower and it felt refreshing. She also dressed where they put a knife on her. She felt safe in Salazar's mansion and she was glad about it. After she came out, wrapping a towel around herself, she found a girl in her room and the doors closed, to her comfort.

She was on the bed, and she got up, looking at Delilah.

"Hi, I'm sorry to walk inside without your permission but you were in the bathroom and I don't like to wait," she said with a grin that was pulled up on her lips. Her teeth were in full view and the fangs shone brightly, letting Delilah catch a glimpse of real gold on their edges.

She ran her gaze down the girl. She was tall and tanned. Her legs were long and she was wearing a pretty blue sundress that reached her knees. Her eyes were big and Delilah didn't notice the color because never in her life, had she an interested person about others' appearance.

For her, everybody was made beautiful. But there was someone whom she used to admire from the bottom of her heart. However, he didn't deserve it.

"It's okay," said Delilah with a small smile.

The girl blinked cutely. Delilah noticed she was a sunshine girl, unlike Delilah who spoke less but when she spoke, it was fire.

"Well, I brought you dresses. Wear whatever you like and tell me. I'll take back the rest. My brother only told me that you need a dress but I didn't know your taste so..."

"I understand. Don't worry, I'll return the rest."

"Hey, it's not about returning."

"I didn't mean that." She chuckled, shaking her head. She pushed herself off the door and walked over to the bed. She grabbed the dresses. They were all sundresses. Long and short. The colors were light and pretty. The dresses carried small imprints and Delilah liked them all. However, she chose the white one with small flower patterns. It was an ankle-length dress and Delilah liked it the most.

"This one," she said, holding the dress up in the air.

"Okay. It's really pretty!" She uttered, getting up as she grabbed the other dresses. Delilah only smiled in comeback and Waqas' sister left, closing the door behind her.

Delilah got ready and walked downstairs as Waqas called her. She was invited to the dining table and it was large. She sat in a corner, being served by the man who wore a uniform.

She first thanked and ate as she filled her stomach. Waqas came out of nowhere and dragged out a chair opposite Delilah.

It got Delilah's attention but she said nothing. She wasn't uncomfortable or threatened around him even though he was tall and scary. Eyes told everything and she believed it. Waqas' eyes only held blankness but at least, not madness. She feared it somewhere in her heart; madness.

"After you eat, have the first aid kit for your feet."

Delilah hummed, chewing the food. Waqas nodded his head, staying where he was sitting. Delilah didn't mind his presence. She didn't even like to eat alone. She was glad inwardly about his presence around her.

"By the way, can I talk to Dad?"

"No."

She sighed, grabbing a glass of water. "Why not? Is he in any danger if we talk?" She sipped the water, waiting for his response.

"Yes, he is. They're crazily behind your Dad and now, me too."

She swallowed, nodding her head as she put away the glass. "Because of me?" She dared to ask, being careful not to sound curious but deep inside, she was guilty about it. She had this realization that it was all because of her.

"Yes. Because they've realized that you're your father's weakness and a way to him. He'll submit to them through you." Delilah listened to him silently, not wishing to cut in and a shiver ran up her spine. It sounded creepy. Now the men were behind her and the reason made her remorseful for something that wasn't even her fault.

She was Judas' daughter, it couldn't be her fault.

"So I'll have to remain caged and hidden?" She concluded and Waqas nodded his head, not saying another word.

Her jaw clenched. "Are you all criminals or what? What's happening? Who are they and why are they behind my dad?" She couldn't remain silent after she got to know that a huge and luxurious cage was written in her destiny after the struggle of hours.

In simple terms, she hated being confined. Especially like this.

"It's better if you don't know about it," he said and got up to leave.

She scoffed and left the table. She went inside the room and sat near the edge of the bed, facing the balcony through which she saw the blue sky. Her grip pulled taut on the edge and she felt heaviness building on her chest.

To fight the heaviness, she had a solution and she followed it; prayer.

It was peaceful. At least she could get freed from the binds of uneasiness, and that's what she wanted for the moment.

She prayed until she fell asleep. Though it went on too long, she didn't regret it. She knew something and she didn't want to be defeated in the battle.

Jesus said, keep praying so that you fall into temptation. And by temptation, he meant tests and problems. Delilah knew that prayer was the key and she could handle situations well if she kept her spirit awake and petition going on.

She tried until her eyelids went heavy and she fell asleep, leaning against the headboard.

Hours passed and when darkness fell heavily upon the city that it went into silence until the sun would rise, a knock followed by a loud bang was heard in the background that forced Delilah to wake up.

Her eyes shot open and her heart skipped a beat. The bang in the air wasn't ordinary. It was as if...

"Delilah!"

Her head snapped in the direction of the door of her room. She leaped onto her bandaged feet and hurried to open the door.

She pulled the doorknob, finding a very frightened Ashley, Waqas' sister, on the door. She was panting and her face was pale as if she had seen a ghost.

"Delilah, hear me—" Another heart-wrenching sound made the atmosphere tremble along with Delilah. She gasped, her grip becoming tight on the door. She was baffled even though somewhere her mind warned her that once again the men were there and this time, with much force and good strategy.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't be afraid!" Ashley swallowed, pushing Delilah back into the room and she closed the door behind herself. Ashley was pale but not as afraid as Delilah. The girl was ignorant of such things and that made her more worried.

Getting stuck in chaos wasn't normal for her. She wasn't from their world.

"Look, some men attacked the mansion and my brother said they're here for you," Delilah gasped, palming her mouth as she shook her head in disbelief. It was too soon. She didn't know they would locate her this easily. Just in a few hours? But whom she was even kidding? She just realized this morning that they weren't normal people.

They'd hunt her down as soon as possible.

Ashley pitied the girl because she was aware of everything, unlike her. And the truth that they were here for her was even more troubling to her.

She stepped ahead, holding her shoulders to comfort her. "So, Delilah," she looked into her eyes, "You have to leave the place."

There in her dark brown eyes was raw restlessness. They were wide in disbelief. The tiny and furious movements of her eyeballs stared straight into Ashley's calm olive green eyes but there was no rest for her.

"Where—"

"I'll be coming with you and don't worry, I'll protect you."

"You?"

Ashley couldn't mind Delilah's questioning because she was a girl and it was obvious that Delilah couldn't trust her easily but Ashley had the skills which even men craved to have.

"Yes, you can trust me! My brother will try to hold them back until you land somewhere safe!" She wasted not a second and held Delilah's hand. It was sweaty and cold.

Without a warning, she started taking her out of the room and the walls of the mansion shook with terror. The sharp shrieks of metal scratching against the walls made her hiss and every time her body shook, Ashley's concern heightened.

Ashley wasn't like Delilah. She was trained not to let her mind believe that she was a coward. Rather she believed and spoke through her tongue as a confession to fool her mind but according to her strategy, she always prepared herself like that. It was all a game, after all. And nothing else. A game of mind.

"Where?" Delilah questioned, following Ashley who led her through the back door to the underground area.

"We have connections. Through them, you can reach your father."

"And your brother can hold them back?"

"Do you think he's a baby?" Ashley scoffed, not liking how Delilah was underestimating her brother. "Besides, we have guards."

They reached the parking area where Ashley grabbed a car. She got inside and Delilah followed her after, hastily. She fastened the seatbelt and ran a palm down her face with a deep sigh.

"Why are you putting your life in danger because of me?" She asked while Ashley took a device out of her bag which Delilah couldn't notice until now.

As it opened, the blue screen opened before her eyes shone brightly. Ashley's hazel eyes twinkled like stars, neon blue spreading on her pretty face.

She grinned, casting Delilah a simple glance. "Trust me, Delilah, it's not something dangerous for me. It's you alone who's in danger. They want you and according to our world's law, we don't interfere in each other's matters until there's cheating. It is your father who cheated and the sword is on your throat. Waqas and I may get injured in the midst of it all, but as I repeat, we're not in danger. We just want to save you."

Delilah breathed deeply, looking away from Ashley who started typing on the device.

The information she acquired was harsh. One thing she realized was that nobody was selfless here but she wasn't ungrateful to Ashley and Waqas. At least, they were fighting for her. That was enough. Not everyone is like Jesus who would give their lives for her. She did not even want one.

Darkness met her eyes as she stared out through the window. Soon, it too, rolled up and the car started moving.

"Why even want to save me?" She asked, absent-mindedly, "Though I'm grateful to you."

Ashley clicked her tongue. "Our father owes your father. If we can't save you, our father won't be able to bear it." The car caught its speed and they crossed the doors.

Rarely someone would realize that someone just broke out but the goons were on high alert. As soon as one of them realized that someone had gone out of the mansion from behind, they wasted not a second to spill this information.

For a while, it was going smoothly. The road was empty, lightened by the orange street lights and Delilah thought they were leaving under their nose. So easy.

She peeked behind through the rearview mirror and her eyes widened when she found a black car behind them. Another car emerged from behind and soon a few bikers received her alert.

"Oh, they're here," Ashley mumbled, chewing her bottom lip. "Cool, right?"

Delilah frowned, glaring at Ashley who released a nervous chuckle. "Okay, okay, I was joking!" She murmured, swallowing. Delilah could see she was also afraid but she knew she wasn't as afraid as her. Her heart was in her mouth.

Shaking her head, she looked back again and she held her chest. "Don't worry, my speed is faster," Ashley tried to assure her, but it couldn't help Delilah. She lost courage. She was so afraid that she even forgot how to pray. Her heart was shivering inside her chest. Human nature.

Delilah nodded her head to Ashley and she took a turn. Delilah kept stealing glances at the cars, trying not to freak out. The speed increased and the dust laid on the road got disturbed along with dainty leaves that grew up without any attention. However, the city was still sleeping.

Ashley grabbed her gadget as they reached an intersection. Delilah looked at her. She typed a few words, handling the steering wheel skillfully on the other hand. They crossed the way and the automatic retractable bollards began extending.

The men behind them had no idea about it and got tricked by the girl. One of them crashed against the bollards furiously and flew into the air, flipping twice before falling right in front of their car. Another one collided against the bollard and crashed into a pillar.

"That's my baby!" Ashley muttered, giving a flying kiss to her gadget before setting it in the front.

Delilah's heart trembled, watching the ruined car. Ashley made a turn, having asked a question by Delilah, "It was you?"

The pain in her voice gave Ashley a hint. She regretted their death or injury but Ashley didn't mind it. For her, it was a survival game. Meanwhile, the men who rode the bikes limped away from the damaged thing, groaning. Their partners ignored them, chasing the girls.

"Yup," Ashley mumbled, her grip becoming tight on the steering wheel.

Delilah sighed. "Is that how you're going to save me? By killing them?" Anybody could think of her as anything but lives were too important to ignore like that or put on stake this easily.

"They're giants. They can't die just because of an accident."

"It was huge! Are you crazy?"

Ashley's jaw clenched. "Shut up! Be grateful that we're trying to save you, okay? Don't be a goddess here. If you don't kill them, they'll catch you and I don't know what they'll do to you."

Delilah lost her words. She pursed her lips and looked away from Ashley. Tears formed in her eyes and she wondered how she'd be able to forgive herself if it kept happening.

"You won't understand," she mumbled, trying to calm her heart.

"I don't even want to," Ashley scoffed and focused on her driving.

Delilah remained silent, just watching her drive faster than before. It was too fast and even if she was scared of it, she couldn't say a word to the hothead girl.

Soon a biker arrived right beside them and faced Delilah. Before he could do something, Ashley banged the car into him, sending him flying into a corner. His partners came along and one of them shot the window.

Delilah flinched back, hiding her face in her palms but she was safe. Her heart was almost in her mouth the moment he shot at the window.

"Don't worry, my car is bulletproof. To break the window, they'd have to aim at least ten times. That too, at the same place. It's not easy." Ashley ran the car ahead and used the same technique of bollards which gave her some time to recover with speed. The bikers had only left some scratches and a cracked window.

Ashley turned by a pole and aimed at the level crossing. Her goal was to cross it before the tram could arrive but the men behind her guessed it and slammed into the back of the car.

"Too bold to aim for it," the man muttered, slamming into the dicky once again, forcing the car ahead.

Unfortunately, too, the barrier arrived and Ashley uttered a row of profanities under her breath. Delilah, with bated breaths, waited for the next. However, when she saw the barrier rising again, she gave an amazed look to Ashley.

She raised the barrier even though the tram was on the way.

The men behind her had no idea why the barrier was raised again but knowing that it was under the control of the workers, they didn't debate upon it.

One of them sped down while the other was behind the girls like a mad dog.

"Do you still want to hold back?"

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. Pushing back the roof, he got up to set the target. Cool air slashed through his sharp features, troubling his raven hair. With squinted eyes, he stared at their car first, his grip becoming lethal on his weapon. He raised it, determined to use it on them. Looking through the lens, he aimed at the front tire and shot it.

Ashley was taken aback while Delilah's heart skipped a beat. The control was snatched from her grip when the front tire stopped working. The car lost its track and the tires screeched against the dark pavement, rubbing up fire and getting forced to the other side of the crossing bar.

The commotion fell asleep for an entire minute as their car turned a bit. The dicky crashed into the pole while it faced the chasers.

The girls inside sucked greedily once the car stopped. Ashley forgot what to do next as she experienced a sharp pain shoot through her shoulder because of getting slammed into the door. She groaned, leaning back.

Meanwhile, Delilah's big eyes stared at the black cars approaching them. One was after the other.

She realized that they were going to get caught and tears welled up in her eyes while her limbs trembled. Beside her, Ashley was in pain, and more important for her was the girl whom she didn't even know clearly.

"Let me see," she hurriedly removed the seatbelt and inclined closer to Ashley who was unable to touch her shoulder.

"Run away!" Ashley uttered instead, trying to take deep breaths.

Sweat coated her honey skin and she glared at the cars approaching. To Delilah, it wasn't more important but the moment she heard the loud horn of the tram, her attention was seized.

What missed Delilah's eyes was how the first car crashed against the tram and was pushed back, but damaged. She wondered if someone was even alive. Only because Ashley removed the barrier and they thought it was a mistake.

But Ashley watched it all.

"Finally," she breathed and began to remove the seatbelt, hissing due to pain.