And then, darkness overpowers me, sending me into a spiral of despair.
Chapter 33
Naya
Something obstructs my view,tied up so that I have no possibility of seeing anything. As I move along, my body jolts up and down, the sound of wheels on the road rings in my ears, and I realize I must be in a vehicle.
A moving vehicle.
A sense of terror washes over me as I thrash against the bonds with no success. I can almost sense fear crawling over me, like an icy touch on my skin. With my hands firmly locked behind my back, I lie on the hard, uncomfortable floor of the vehicle. My heart pounds, beating rapidly several times per second, and I am completely lost, with no idea where I am headed. I recall the last thing I did was knock Emilio Ricci to the ground before I was put under sedatives. A tiny, helpless cry comes out of my throat as I come to understand the situation.
Oh my god, where are they taking me?
My body shakes where I’m lying, and the cold air entering from somewhere causes my body to quiver even though I’m wearing a hoodie.
His hoodie.
It’s the same hoodie I had on the day Grey and I attempted to flee but failed. I have been wearing the same clothes since then, and this hoodie no longer smells of Grey. It has a pungent odor, similar to a sweater that has yet to be washed, which fills me with melancholy. There is no longer a lingering smell of Grey, and I’m uncertain if I will ever see him again. The thought of it makes my desperation all the more evident, causing my breathing to become labored and strained.
Fuck, where are they taking me?
The vehicle continues to speed along at a rate that seems far too fast to be safe, indicating that we must be on a highway. When the vehicle swerves around, my body slumps to the walls, and the pain spreads like wildfire from my shoulder into my head. My body trembles with a loud groan of anguish.
A chill runs down my spine as I hear the faint sound of another presence in the same space I am in. Fear consumes me, becoming a tangible and living force that creeps over me like a predator, ready to devour its meal. As I hear the person’s breathing, I cannot tell whether I am in danger because I’m entirely immobile, my body slumped against the ground.
“Fuck.”
The voice doesn’t belong to me. It’s a dark voice full of pain and distortion, and in my terror-like state, my pulse beats in my ears. Someone else is in the space with me, and I feel all my muscles on high alert, waiting for the pain I know will come once the person attacks me.
I attempt to shift further away from the other passenger, but unfortunately, it is useless. Their movements echo in the space, and then suddenly, their breathing stops abruptly, as if they have ceased breathing entirely.
“Oh my God.”
The sound of a groan reverberates throughout the room, and then I can detect someone coming near. I instinctively pull my shoulders back and try to get as far away as possible from the person approaching me. I need to get away, the desperation is like a bitter taste. There’s no way for me to go.
Fuck!
A gentle touch on my shoulder causes me to jump in surprise, resulting in an involuntary whimper escaping my lips. I loathe being vulnerable.
“Don’t fucking touch me.” I try to make my voice sound as strong as possible, but it comes out as a broken whisper.
As I feel the hand touch the crown of my head before settling on my forehead, I try to move away but am unsuccessful.
I’m in a state of panic, feeling the unknown trying to claw its way into my life, leaving me unsure of where to turn or what action to take.
But then I feel it. As the blindfold cautiously removes from my eyes, I prepare myself for whatever frightening image may lurk before me, plaguing and tormenting me. In the vehicle, a beam of light shines in from outside daylight, and a man sits before me.
Since he’s sitting on his knees, and I’m lying down, his shoulders tower over mine. However, his stance slumps as if defeated. As I glance at him, I am able to make out the dark locks of his hair, the blackness of it blending in with the darkness around him. Although his hair is remarkable, it’s not the only aspect of him that causes me to take a sharp intake of breath. It’s how his eyes are framed by a strand of hair hanging in front, and the dark red highlights shine brightly.
And then there are those piercing blue sapphire eyes.
“G-Grey?” The words tumble out of my mouth as I look at him with shock, unable to believe that he is in front of me.
This can’t be real. It feels like the universe is playing a cruel game with my feelings and emotions. It wants me to suffer for all my sins, never once letting me catch my breath.
“Naya.” His tone is one of complete calmness, with no hint of shock, which only makes me more suspicious.
“You’re not real,” I murmur.
