THE DEVIL'S PREY
CHAPTER THREE
Sarah's eyes fluttered open, her mind disturbed and a sharp pain radiating from the back of her head.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her head in an attempt to make the headache better but it didn't help much as the pain even made opening her eyes hard.
"I really need some painkillers." She thought slowly, raising her head up and taking in her surroundings.
She was met with an unfamiliar ceiling- a dull, gray metal. She looked to her left and realized she was in a car. Raindrops slid down to the car's window, blurring the outside view.
A car?
What is she doing in a car?
Her heart thumped as she tried to remember where she was and how she got here.
She was in the car with Aubrey coming back from college, Aubrey dropped her at home, she walked in and then- it hit her like a tide.
The memories of her parents' death flooded her mind, making her stomach churn and her heart race widely.
The sound of her father's last words lingered in her thoughts
Rule-5, Sarah. Do not Forget.
Sarah knew she had been abducted by the masked man. She reached for the door but it wouldn't budge, she was locked in.
Sarah rapped aggressively on the car window while pulling on the door handle. "Somebody help!!!"
"Is anyone there?!." she screamed, hoping someone, anyone could hear her.
A chuckle echoed through the vehicle, making her heart skip a beat.
"Trying to escape, huh?" Xavier's voice sent shivers down her spine.
Sarah slowly released her grip on the handle and looked up, meeting Xavier's gaze directly across from her.
The gaze was so intense and she wondered if the icy blue eyes behind the mask were not some contact lenses because the blue was too beautiful to be real. The gaze was so potent that Sarah felt like he could see right through her.
Though his face was hidden, Sarah knew - she knew - this was the man who had pulled the trigger on her parents. The man who turned her whole world upside down. A shiver ran down her spine as she held his gaze.
Xavier's eyes twinkled with a sinister light as he watched the girl in front of him, she was so innocent that he could see her thoughts without much effort.
"No one can help you baby girl. You're stuck with me." He grinned.
Sarah's eyes faltered, breaking the intense connection. She cowered back into the seat, the soft cushion enveloping her like a cold embrace.
The darkness of the car seemed to close in around her, and she couldn't help but wonder what her fate would be in the hands of this terrifying man.
"The next time you think of escaping, angel." Xavier whispered, his voice low and menacing, "You will be punished." His eyes rested on her pale face.
She looked innocent, pure. Even Xavier had to admit it. Her eyes were clear and she gave off a sense of purity. However, she had Alessandro's blood running through her veins. That alone made her guilty.
It made her a sinner.
"Do you understand?" He asked, holding her gaze..
Sarah slowly nodded, her heart racing widely.
"Your words!"
Sarah jumped as he raised his voice. "Y..yes." She fearfully replied as a tear rolled down her cheek. She knew crying was a sign of weakness but she wouldn't deny this man made her weak.
She wouldn't deny the fact that she was terrified. A part of her wanted to scream out and throw her fist in his face but she knows better.
Her fear turned to ice as she realized she was completely at his mercy. She had no idea where he was taking her or what he wanted from her.
A sob escaped from her mouth gaining Xavier's attention again
Xavier's eyes flashed with anger, and he swiftly moved towards her, his fist clenched. Sarah flinched, anticipating his hard hit.
But instead of hitting her, Xavier's fist connected with the seat beside her head, making her jump
"Nothing will change no matter how much you cry. You're coming with me and that's final.." he growled.
Xavier's hand came down on the back of her neck and before she could react, she was already out cold.
********
The car moved down a deserted and rough road, soon a sign board came into view: "Havens Airport - Abandoned".
The words seemed to whisper a haunting goodbye song to the unconscious Sarah. The driver's voice came from the front seat, his tone detached. "We're here boss."
Another car pulled up, And Damian, Xavier's second man stepped out, his eyes fixed on the helicopter. The remaining gang members followed suit.
Xavier opened the door, the driver carried Sarah out like she weighed nothing.
Xavier faced the other gang members "Mission accomplished. Time to leave."
The men walked towards the helicopter, its blades whirring to life.
Sarah was fastened to a seat and others took turns in taking their seats as well. Damian threw a ticking bomb towards the car and in less than two minutes the two cars erupted in a fiery explosion.
The helicopter's door slammed shut, and they lifted off into the sky.
As they soared above the burning of cars, the city lights twinkled below a distant memory of the life Sarah once knew.
Hours later, the helicopter descended onto the airfield's helipad, its blades whipping up dust. Xavier, still masked, gazed out at the waiting private jet, his eyes reflecting a hint of tiredness.
Damian held Sarah's limp form and followed Xavier out of the helicopter.
"Sir, the Gulf stream is ready." The pilot called out.
Xavier nodded, his voice low. "Thanks, Mark. Good flight."
As they boarded the jet, Damian adjusted Sarah's position, ensuring her comfort.
Xavier removed his mask, revealing chiseled features and a hint of tension in his jaw. He rubbed the weariness from his eyes.
"Damian, what's the feedback from neuro spark?" Xavier asked, buckling into his seat.
Damian handed Xavier a cup of black coffee. "Negotiations are progressing. The CEO is willing to sell, but wants a higher stake in XTech's upcoming project."
Xavier took a sip, his eyes scanning the financial reports on his tablet. "Offer him 5%. We can't let them dictate terms."
"Already done, sir. He's pushing for 7%," Damian replied, his brow furrowed.
"Cap it at 6%. We need to keep our edge." Xavier leaned back, his gaze drifting to Sarah.
The flight attendant approached, offering refreshments. Xavier declined, lost in thought.
"Any updates on the Xtech production delays?" he asked Damian.
"Manufacturing issues in Shanghai. I've scheduled a call with the factory manager tomorrow," Damian replied.
Xavier nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Resolve it quickly. We can't afford delays."
As the jet soared above the clouds, Xavier's gaze fell on Sarah.
"What's the plan for her?" Damian asked, noticing Xavier's gaze.
Xavier's expression turned solid.
"You'll know when the time comes," he said softly.
The jet leveled out, heading toward its destination, leaving Xavier's intentions shrouded in mystery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~SIN NATION EMPIRE~
A line of cars drove down onto the dirty roads of the empire.
As usual, it was bubbling with different people going about their business. Some trainees on the training field as they practice with their swords. In every corner, you could see couples making out and almost going naked.
Welcome to the Sin-Nation Empire, a city where immorality and darkness reigns. Here, Survival is luxury.
The cars slowly came to a halt in front of the big mansion which stood out in the whole surrounding. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they all bowed in respect towards the car.
Just in time, the driver came out and opened the passenger door and there Xavier Adrian came out looking dashing as ever. His brown hair perfectly styled matched his always handsome face.
~Welcome boss
~You're welcome boss
~Welcome boss
The mobsters kept bowing and greeting.
He nodded in response, dismissing them with his hands. Just like that, everyone went back to whatever they were doing.
Damian stepped out of the car, lifting Sarah's limp form into his arms. "Where to, boss?" he asked Xavier.
"Take her to the east wing," Xavier replied, his voice low and detached. "Drop her in a room there."
As Damian moved to follow Xavier's orders, Eva approached them, her heels clicking on the concrete.
Her boobs almost popped out from the clingy dress she had on. She had been expecting Xavier's return, but the presence of the unconscious Sarah caught her off guard.
"What's going on, Xavier?" Eva asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Xavier turned to face her, his expression indifferent. "It's nothing, Eva."
"That looks like something to me." Eva's gaze shifted to Sarah. Her eyes narrowed. "Who is she?"
"A guest." Xavier replied, his tone was dismissive.
Eva's eyes flashed with disgust. "You know the rules, Xavier. No outsiders without clearance."
Xavier's stance remained the same. "I make the rules here. Not you."
Eva's eyes lingered on Sarah before shifting back to Xavier. "I don't like it."
Xavier's voice took on a warning tone. "You don't have to."
The tension between them was unnoticeable, but Eva backed down, her eyes never leaving Xavier's face. "Fine. As you wish." She muttered, draping her two hands on his shoulder. She slowly pressed her lips on his.
Xavier nodded. "It's best to keep it that way I expect nothing less."
As Damian carried Sarah away, Eva's gaze followed them, her mind racing with questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~EAST WING - Dark room-
Sarah's eyes slowly opened, but she was still met with darkness suffocating her.
She lay still, disoriented.
Where was she now How did she get here?
As she slowly sat up, her head spun, and her body protested and she dropped back to the bed. She waited for the dizziness to pass, her ears straining to pick up any sound.
Silence.
The silence was scary.
Her hands trembled as she felt around her. A bed, cold and unfamiliar.
A room, small and confined. No windows.
Memories flooded her mind, and a scream lodged in her throat. Her parents, lifeless on the floor.
The masked man's cold voice, "I won't kill you... I'll make sure you wish for death every single day."
Sarah's breath came in short gasps. No, no, no. This can't be happening.
She collapsed back onto the bed, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down her face as grief overwhelmed her. Mom, Dad, why did this happen? Why did they have to leave her?
Flashes of her childhood danced in her mind: laughter with her parents, family vacations, and warm bedtime stories. The contrast between those happy memories and her current reality was agonizing.
Would she ever see the sunlight again? Would she ever find freedom?
Her mind raced with questions, but the darkness offered no answers. Fear gripped her, making it hard to breathe.
She curled into a ball, her eyes shut tight, as if blocking out the darkness could erase the horrors she'd witnessed. But the images stayed, haunting her even more.
Why did this happen to her? What did she do to deserve this?
Her parents' laughter, her father's warm hugs, her mother's soothing voice – all gone.
As she lay in the darkness, Sarah's body began to tremble. Her fingers instinctively searched for comfort, grasping at the empty air. She curled into a tighter ball, desperate to hold onto something, anything.
But there was nothing.
Her eyes strained to adjust to the darkness, but it was absolute. No hint of light.
Sarah's breathing quickened, her chest constricting. Panic clawed at her throat, threatening to suffocate her. She forced herself to inhale deeply, trying to calm her racing heart.
As she exhaled, a sob escaped, shaking her entire body. Tears streamed down her face, hot and relentless. She wiped them away with the back of her hand, but more followed.
She shifted, trying to find a comfortable position.
She tossed onto her side, her shoulder throbbing. The darkness seemed to engulf her, a living entity that wrapped itself around her like a dress.
Sarah's hands stretched out searching for a pillar. Her fingers brushed against the wall, and she held onto it, desperate for stability.
As she held onto the wall, memories keep flowing back :
Her father's words, "I love you, Sarah."
Her mother's smile, warm and contagious
.
The family breakfast, laughter and arguments and...
The masked man's voice, "I won't kill you..."
Sarah's grip on the wall tightened, her nails digging into the cold surface. She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being trapped.
Her body trembled, her mind reeling.
How would she survive this?
How would she escape?
And in the midst of her ordeal, she whispered a single word:
"Mom..."
The sound echoed in the darkness, a heartbreaking plea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~5PM, NEXUS TECHNOLOGIES
A sleek and black Rolls Royce rolled to a gentle stop before Nexus Technologies Company.
Not waiting any second, paparazzi swarmed as if they've been waiting for this moment. Cameras flashed as each reporter struggled to get to interview Xavier Adrian, the CEO of Nexus technologies.
Xavier emerged, his piercing gaze glancing through the swarm of reporters. Cameras flashed like fireflies as the reporters shouted questions.
"Mr Xavier, what's brewing at Nexus Tech?"
"Any partnership with Aurora companies?"
"Who is your mysterious lover, Mr Xavier?"
"Are you single?"
Xavier's eyes only remained on the skyscraper before him with the big name NEXUS TECH, pride flickered across his face. This was his domain, his legacy.
Damian, his trusted right hand-man, moved closely to next him. "Smooth exit from the clan, sir. The border is secure"
Xavier nodded curtly, his attention drifted back to the building before him.
With the large numbers of bodyguards they had, it was easy to get into the building. As they entered, employees and onlookers turned, drawn to Xavier's aura. Women's eyes lingered on his physique and well structured face but he didn't even spare any of them a glance.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning, boss."
"Good morning, Mr. Xavier."
The employees kept bowing and greeting. He nodded curtly before going into his office, Damian following him in.
There was silence for the first two minutes.
Xavier moved to the window, his focus on the reporters who were still by the gate.
"Eva was right, you know?" Damian said behind him.
"What do you mean?"
"Xavier, I don't understand," Damian said, turning to face him. "Why spare the girl? Why leave her alive?"
Xavier's expression remained solid, but his eyes flashed with anger.
"It's none of your concern, Damian," Xavier replied, his voice low and even.
Damian approached him, his brow furrowed. "I'm making it my concern. You know as well as I do that leaving witnesses can be deadly. What's so special in keeping her alive?"
Xavier's jaw clenched, his fingers drumming against the desk.
"Let's just say...she has a purpose," Xavier said, his voice dripping with deep hatred.
Damian's eyes narrowed. "A purpose? What kind of purpose? Killing her was supposed to make you feel better. So what's the f**king purpose man?"
Xavier's gaze locked onto Damian's, a warning glinting in his eyes.
"Drop it, Damian. This conversation about her never happened."
"Sarah." Damian said, earning a questioning gaze from Xavier. "That's her name."
"Fuck it, Damian! I don't care about her or her name. Don't go beyond your boundaries. I can handle my shit."
Damian's expression turned skeptical, but he nodded. "Fine. But mark my words, Xavier: sparing Sarah will come back to haunt you."
Xavier's smile was cold and fake. "I'm counting on it."
As Damian left, Xavier's gaze lingered on the door, his thoughts consumed by Sarah. Not fascinating or romantic thoughts, but thoughts on how to consume her completely.