EPISODE 5

KEILAH

The man straightened, towering over the others around him, his movements deliberate, slow, like a predator sizing up his prey. His glowing eyes locked onto mine, and a deep growl rumbled from his throat, echoing off the alley walls. The others—seven, or even more of them—turned to face me as well, their gazes as cold and merciless as his.

Panic seized my chest, but I didn’t back down. My legs felt like lead, trembling, but I stayed rooted to the spot. The stone had barely fazed him, only seemed to amuse the others. One of them—a tall man with a scar running down the side of his face—stepped forward, his lips curling into a sinister grin.

"You've got some nerve," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Throwing rocks at us? Little girl like you should know better."

I clenched my fists, trying to keep the fear from swallowing me whole. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure they could hear it. But I wasn’t here to run. I was here for answers. So bring it on.

The man's grin widened at my silence, and his eyes glinted with dark amusement as he took another step forward. He looked like a cat playing with a mouse, toying with me.

“What are you gonna do about it, huh?" My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Hit me too?”

The scarred man’s grin widened, his amusement shifting into something darker, more dangerous. He took another step closer, towering over me like a shadow that blocked out the fading light of the alley. “Little girl,” he spat, his voice dripping with condescension, "did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Or are you just begging for an ass-kicking today?”

I stared up at him, my heart racing, but my eyes stayed locked on his. I could see the smug satisfaction in his expression, the way he thought I was scared out of my mind. But I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.

“Death wish? Please,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You’re all just a bunch of cowards, standing around like sheep waiting for someone else to tell you what to do. Or are you too scared to hit me without permission from your boss?”

The smirk faltered on his face, just for a split second. I saw it—the flicker of irritation. Good.

“You got a lot of mouth for someone who’s clearly out of their depth,” another thug called out from behind him, his voice gruff and full of mockery. He started toward me, but the scarred man held out his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“No, no," the scarred man said slowly, his eyes narrowing in on me. "Let’s hear what the little brat has to say. She seems to think she's untouchable.”

“Untouchable? You think I’m scared of you?" I tilted my head and gave them a withering look. "You’re nothing but a bunch of overgrown bullies who get off on intimidating people who are weaker than you. Pathetic. But I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have the brains to do anything else with your lives. Am I supposed to be impressed? You can throw a punch—congratulations.”

The alley grew tense, their gazes hardening as my words sank in. The scarred man’s grin vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. He stepped closer, his hand twitching at his side, as though resisting the urge to strike me down where I stood.

“You’re walking on thin ice, girl,” he hissed through clenched teeth. His hand shot out so fast I barely had time to react, smacking the air just inches from my face in a move meant to scare me. But I didn’t flinch, not this time.

I glared at him, meeting his furious gaze head-on. “Go ahead," I said, my voice dripping with challenge. "Do it. Hit me. I dare you. Is that all you’re good for, smacking around someone smaller than you? Must be tough, huh? I’m sure your mom’s really proud.”

The guy clenched his jaw so tightly I could practically hear his teeth grinding, his fists balled as if he were battling some inner demon just to keep from hitting me. But I didn’t want him to win that battle. I didn’t want him to hold back. I came for a beating—not out of desperation, but to confirm what I already suspected. I needed to know if the mark would shield me.

But before he could decide, a voice rumbled from behind him.

“Step back.”

The guy’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, he obeyed, retreating like a scolded dog. My gaze shifted past him, landing on a man who stood at the far end of the building entrance. He was a man who made the others look like children. He was broader, taller, and more dangerous—a leader, judging by the way the others instantly deferred to him.

This was it. I tugged on a mocking smile, certain that he would do the job for me, that this was the one who would give me the beating I came for.

But instead of the violent reaction I expected, he shut me down with a calm, almost patronising tone.

“Listen, woman. I know what you’re trying to do here. But we don’t hit women. So collect yourself and disappear from this zone.”

His calm, measured tone was like a bucket of cold water thrown on my hopes. I blinked, stunned by his response. That wasn’t how this was supposed to go. He was supposed to lose it, to hit me, to give me what I came here for. I felt a surge of frustration rise up inside me.

“You’re joking, right?” I scoffed, taking a step forward, daring him. “You don’t hit women? Is that supposed to make you better than the rest of them?” I glanced at the others with disdain. “You’re all the same. Hiding behind your little code of honour, thinking it makes you noble. But you’re nothing but a bunch of weak, spineless thugs. Can’t even throw a punch when you’re challenged. Pathetic.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw, but he didn’t move.

The thug's eyes darkened as he started marching toward me, his heavy steps echoing in the alley. My heart pounded in my chest, but I tugged on a smile, a twisted sense of satisfaction curling in my stomach.

Yes, make it happen.

I closed my eyes as he drew nearer, bracing myself for the blow. I could almost feel the impact, the magic I was waiting for, ready to burst through my skin, to remind me why I was here. But instead of a punch or slap, I felt rough hands clutch my sweatshirt. My eyes flew open in confusion just as the guy lifted me clean off the ground. My body dangled from his grasp, the rough fabric of my sweatshirt bunching around my neck as he strode toward the edge of their territory. And then, just as easily as he had picked me up, he set me down on the other side of their zone.

"Get moving," he ordered, his voice cold and final.

Without another word, he turned his back to me and walked away, back to his men.

I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, before letting out a long, resigned sigh. So much for that plan. My shoulders slumped as I leisurely began walking back, already plotting my next move. I needed a different approach, something to get what I wanted, to get under their skin. Maybe I could—

A car caught my eye, cruising down the street. For a brief, reckless moment, the thought of throwing myself in front of it flashed through my mind. Maybe that would do it—maybe that would make someone finally react. But I shot the idea down just as quickly. Too deadly. And besides, I wasn’t sure if it was the mark that had protected me from that possessed glowy eyed man or if I’d just gotten lucky.

As I crossed the boundary of the thugs’ zone, stepping onto neutral ground, a hand suddenly clasped my wrist. I spun around, startled, to find another thug grinning at me. “There’s some business you’ve gotta finish,” he said, his voice dripping with malice.

Before I could respond, he hoisted me up over his shoulder like I was a sack of potatoes, carrying me back into their territory. My mind raced, panic starting to bubble up. This wasn’t part of the plan. I tried to struggle, but his grip was ironclad. He carried me into one of the rundown buildings, pushing through a door where I was greeted by the sight of the guy I had insulted earlier. The one who’d retreated when their boss stepped in.

When the thug finally set me down, I barely had time to find my footing before the man from earlier barreled toward me. His hand moved so fast that I barely saw it coming. The slap landed hard across my face, a sharp, burning pain spreading instantly across my skin. My vision blurred as I staggered back, blood trickling from my lips. My head rang, and for a moment, everything was spinning.

The thug stood over me, his lip curling into a cruel smile. “Let me tell you something about myself, little girl. I’m not like my boss. I do hit women. And if you’re unlucky enough, I’ll kill ‘em too.”

I blinked up at him, dazed, as his words sank in. Fear started to creep up my spine, cold and suffocating. The mark didn’t shield me. The reality of the situation hit me like a brick wall. I had wanted a beating, but this... this was more than I had bargained for.

"You wanted a beating so badly?" he taunted, his voice low and menacing. "Well, you’re gonna get it."

Before I could react, his boot connected with my stomach in a vicious kick, and the force of it sent me flying across the room. My back slammed into the wall with a sickening thud, the pain radiating through my body as I crumpled to the ground.

I gasped for breath, my vision swimming as the fear settled deep in my chest. What the hell have I gotten myself into?