Dahlia's Point Of View
The rain hammered against the car windows, a relentless
drumbeat that matched the pounding in my chest. I was roughly shoved inside,
huddled against the seat, my heart pounding in my ears. The men, their faces
etched with menace, spoke in clipped tones, their anger barely contained as
they drove off into the unknown.
After what felt like an eternity, the car lurched to a stop,
the headlights illuminating a sprawling, imposing building that stood in stark
contrast to the warm familiarity of my own home. I was dragged out of the car,
the cold, damp air chilling me to the bone. The building loomed over me,
casting long, ominous shadows that seemed to swallow me whole.
I looked around, trying to familiarize myself with the
place, searching for a way to escape. But the building was a labyrinth, its
corridors twisting and turning, leading to dead ends or more menacing rooms.
"Move!" a gruff voice barked behind me as I was shoved
forward, sending me tumbling face-first into the hard floor. It hurt like hell,
and I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.
Spitting out the blood, I yelled angrily at the man who had
pushed me. "What the hell is your problem, birdbrain?" I wiped the blood from
my lips with the sleeve of my shirt.
Rough hands grabbed my shirt as I was lifted from the floor.
Looking up, I met the eyes of the man who had pushed me earlier. "What did you
say to me?" he growled, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
I bit my already bruised lips, trying to hold back the
insults that were swirling in my mind. I wasn't dumb enough to make him
angrier. Looking at how enraged he was, I knew the moment I said something he
didn't like, I'd receive a beating. And honestly, I'd had enough for one day.
"Did you lose your tongue, huh?" he yelled out, his voice
laced with venom.
Who was I kidding? I couldn't keep my mouth shut in
situations like this, even if it meant getting another beating. "Fu*k you, ugly
birdbrain," I muttered, defiance bubbling within me.
He let go of my shirt with such force that it sent me flying
into the wall behind me. Pain shot through my skull as my head made contact
with the hard surface. He took two strides forward and raised his fist to punch
me, but someone caught his hand midair and threw it to his side.
"Stand down" a deep voice order, calm but firm, carrying authority that made Birdbrain hesitate. I liked this guy, or more specifically, I hated him less.
"Follow me," the voice commanded, and the man started
walking away. Wait, was he referring to me? Well, I had no interest In finding
out where he was taking me, so I stayed rooted to the spot.
Birdbrain shoved me forward, and I unwillingly followed him.
He led me through a labyrinth of corridors, the oppressive silence broken only
by the echo of our footsteps. Finally, we reached a heavy oak door, its dark
surface gleaming ominously.
With a sickening thud, the door swung open, revealing a
dimly lit room. A single, imposing figure sat behind a mahogany desk, a
half-smoked cigar casting wisps of acrid smoke into the air. His face was
shrouded in shadow, an aura of power radiating from him that sent shivers down
my spine.
He got up from his seat, one hand in his pocket and the
other holding his cigar as he walked towards me. His eyes locked on mine,
allowing me to get a good look at him. He was dangerously handsome, with the
physique of a Greek god, standing tall at 6'3" and very muscular. I could see
his hard chest and six-pack through his slightly unbuttoned shirt.
But I didn't have time to appreciate his appearance. I was
terrified and had no time to be checking him out like a fan girl. I was brought
back to reality when he spoke in a language I didn't understand as he dragged
his gaze away from me. His voice was a low rumble, like thunder preceding a
storm. The man who stopped Birdbrain stepped forward and responded in a similar
language.
The boss's lips curled into a humorless smirk as he spoke
again, this time in accented English. "Why is this one here?" he said, looking
up at one of his men, a cruel glint in his eyes.
"We didn't find him there. We searched everywhere. Maybe
this girl can lead us to him," the man replied, making the boss scoff.
The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
Pleading would be futile, that much I knew. My only hope was to be strong, to
navigate this dangerous situation with whatever cunning I possessed. This
wasn't a bedtime story monster under the bed. This was a horror movie, and I
happened to be trapped in the demon's lair.
The boss turned to look at me. "Little dove," he said,
pinching the top of his nose. "Your father," he began, then paused, letting the
silence hang heavy. "He owes me something. One that seems to have grown…
inconvenient legs and your father is nowhere to be found. So tell me, kid," he
breathed out, his piercing gaze holding a question I understood all too well.
A tremor of fear ran through me. "ad wouldn't just leave.
"H-he wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't what, kid?" he leaned forward, his cologne, a
cloying mix of power and something sweet and sour, filling my nostrils. "Run
away? Leave his little girl to answer for his sins?"
Tears pricked at my eyes, blurring the already intimidating
scene. He wouldn't, he wouldn't leave me to face these scary criminals alone. I
was hurting at the realization that I was utterly alone in this world, with no
parents. I refused to believe that.
"My dad wouldn't! He must have… something happened." My
voice was barely a whisper.
He didn't reply. He just stared, his gaze piercing me like a
drill. Every fiber in my being screamed to run, to fight, but I was trapped.
"You see, kid," he finally said, his voice surprisingly
smooth now, "we need information. Where is he?"
"I… I don't know," I choked out, a sob catching in my
throat.
A sudden surge of defiance rushed through me, refusing to be
a pawn. Fear wouldn't paralyze me. With newfound determination, I locked eyes
with him, my voice small but steady.
"I don't know where my father is, but I can tell you one
thing. Hurting me won't get you any closer to him."
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, a fleeting emotion
quickly replaced by a cruel smile. "We'll see about that," he rumbled, his
voice toying with me.
This was just the beginning, I knew. The night stretched
before me, filled with uncertainty and peril. I may not have been physically
strong, but I wasn't helpless. I would fight, for myself. A flicker of hope
surged within me, a quiet strength that burned bright within me.
Trapped in the opulent cage of this building, I was a lone
sparrow facing a hawk. Yet, the storm outside echoed the defiance brewing in my
heart. The tears that had flowed freely earlier had dried, replaced by a steely
glint in my eyes. I may not have had physical strength, but I had my mind, and
my will to survive.