Chapter 8

That very moment, it felt like I was with some arrogant jerk than an armed kidnapper. I wasn't fantasizing over him as though I couldn't deny that he was definitely a good-looking badass.

"I'm sorry," I apologized anyway. He could still kill me whenever he wanted if I tried to make an argument. But I wasn't really drooling over him!

"Why?" he mused. "Are you wondering why am I not wearing any mask?"

Among the men inside, he was the only one who bravely revealed his face to me. Who would he fear anyway?

"No." I shook my head and tried to avoid his gaze. "I'm really sorry—"

"Hey, woman!" 

It was not long before a guy in the passenger seat suddenly butted in. "Aren't you scared?" he asked, laughing with others, except Thalem.

"Yeah? She seems like comfortable," someone at the back announced.

"Aren't we scary?" another man asked teasingly.

I glance at Thalem and to the rest of the boys inside the van before giving him an answer.

Stuttering, I said, "I've been living with a soldier for like five years, so I'm used to seeing guns and knives, but I'm kidnapped, of course I'm scared—"

"Everyone, shut up!"

I startled as Thalem's loud voice suddenly boomed. His command was immediate. I knew the moment I saw how they reacted to him, he was more dangerous than the rest of the men.

"Stop talking to her!" he added, same tone, same pitch.

Thalem later tapped my mouth as well as my hands. Under the dim light, I saw his soft features as his face was an inch away from mine. He was too angelic to be evil. 

But I was a little surprised when he let my eyes still uncovered. He knew I could see the road outside in which usually a kidnapper like him wouldn't allow, but I guess he didn't mind since everything was blurred due to the heavy rain.

But nothing concerned me more than who were these guys, where were they going to bring me, and my safety. I swallowed hard and breathed. It was slowly suffocating me. Trying to be brave, I patiently waited where these guys would bring me.

To my calculations, it almost took us an hour before the vehicle finally stopped so as the rain. Even before they could drag me again, I managed to take a glance at the digital clock and it read ten-thirty. 

We arrived in a house that was more likely a mansion. The surroundings were lighted with different colors as if I was in a party than a kidnapper's hideout. The house was at least three stories and there were a lot of armed men scattered in the area.

"Ugh! I'm tired!"

"Finally here!" a hoarse voice cheered as guns kept clanking as everyone walked.

"Where are we?" I tried to ask as though my mouth was covered, but they didn't pay any attention to me.

Couldn't speak because my mouth was shut by tape, I tried to roam my eyes around more as we slowly inched inside the big house.

The cold wind blew softly and it literally made me shiver again. I looked forth and I saw Thalem's broad back. He was walking ahead of us, gun laying on his shoulder.

A huge door opened for us and when we reached the living room, another pack of armed men were all around. They were holding different kind of deadly weapons and they really looked dangerous. I couldn't help myself, but to let out a sigh as my chest pound hard once more.

"It's a good job, I guess?" a man with big accessories said as he comfortably laid his back against the couch.

"For you, boss."

He was a big guy. Tattoos were all over his arms and neck. He had a big rounds eyes, thick purplish lips, and big nose. He was too bulky enough to be fear with, so I felt it.

He stood up and slowly made his way towards me. He was a person who you would stay away with because of his threatening looks.

As a guest of this unknown men, I received a really warm welcome. His big rough hand suddenly cracked across my face as soon as he drew near me, snapping it back with the force of his blow, causing my head to reel sickly as it slammed into the wall behind me. All I could do was to moan in pain.

A second after as I felt he wasn't satisfied at all, he forcibly removed the tape from my mouth and he pulled my hair. The slap I got from this man was as loud as clap which for sure had left a welt on my face. I was badly hurt, but I managed to stand again. I staggered backwards, eyes watering.

"Who are you?" I asked stammering. I could feel my body turned into ice as I felt shiver because of fear. "Why am I being kidnapped? What have I done wrong for you guys to hurt me?"

Instead of giving me an answer, they just laughed their ass out all together.

I gritted my teeth as I felt anger. But I knew I couldn't do anything enough to escape from them so as my anger didn't make any sense. They were hundred and I was only with myself. Tears just escaped from my eyes.

"You're beautiful than I thought," he said, smirking. "Welcome to my territory."

He was in a terrible reak of alcohol and I could clearly smell the stinky cigarette from him. As he slackened the grip from my hair, he grabbed the gun and pointed it on my forehead. 

My body trembled. Adrenaline flooded my system at once as my eyes widened with fear. My heart started to pound heavily again as if it were trying to escape from my body.

Not to my knowledge that I would be kidnapped. I couldn't think of anything or any reason who were they and why they wanted me. Did I make a terrible mistake from the past to be in this kind of situation right now?

"It's too early for her to die, Dominique. Put that gun down," Thalem suddenly voiced out.