Thunder clapped in the sky followed afterwards by a streak of lightning in the night sky which temporarily helped to illuminate the path ahead of me. I made a quick sharp turn just as I heard the roar of a vehicle in the distance which made my heart race in fear.
The street was empty and the only sound that could be heard was that of my feet slapping on the wet pavement. My lungs burned as I ran, my chest heaving as I ran. The rain plastered my hair to my face, stinging my eyes as I squinted ahead.
My whole body ached from exhaustion but I didn't dare stop, I just couldn't. I hiked up my gown, the fabric heavy and sodden, as I splashed through puddles of cold water. Adrenaline coursed through my veins just as the sound of the car's engine grew louder, the headlights flashing through the rain-slicked streets.
They were gaining in on me! I thought as fear pushed me to run faster and I almost wept with relief when I saw the bridge overhead. All I have to do is just try and get to the bridge, once I get to the other side I'll finally get the one thing I crave for the last twenty years, freedom!
Just the thought of it pushed my legs to run faster towards the bridge. Almost there, almost there, almost….
I chanted in my head my breathing ragged as I ran to the bridge but immediately skidded to a halt, my feet slipping on the wet ground.
Right on the bridge were two black cars, sleek and menacing , their headlights looking like pairs of eyes that were watching me. Breathing heavily, I wasted no time in turning back to look for another escape but there were already two more blocking my path of escape.
"No!" I wheezed as I stumbled backwards.
The car suddenly opened, the sound causing my heart to skip a beat. The first thing I saw was a black cane followed by sleek black shoes stepping into the rain.
Holding my breath, I watched the shoes touch the wet pavements, his presence suffocating me before he even emerged. One of the men stepped forward, holding an umbrella up as the man in the car finally rose to his full height.
Time seemed to slow as the umbrella rose, revealing two pairs of cold dark eyes boring into my soul. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as if he found the whole thing amusing.
"Well, well, well, that was quite a chase you gave us little mouse!" The man spoke and as if on cue thunder clapped followed by streaks of lightning causing me to whimper as I saw his face clearly.
Edward De Niro, one of the top most powerful and ruthless businessmen in the country and also my husband or was at least supposed to be but I ran away.
How I came to be in this situation is a funny story but also a pathetic one. My parents died when I was little, I could barely remember but I knew it had something to do with a fire and I was the only survivor.
The only family I had left was my dad's brother, Uncle Jacob, who was nothing but a sorry piece of excuse. Uncle Jacob had a gambling problem which was how he got mixed up with Edward De Niro, apparently owed the man fifty thousand dollars. I guess that's how much I was worth because next thing I know I was drugged on my way from work, shoved inside the backseat of a car, opened my eyes only to see some women painting makeup on my face and shoving me in a wedding dress.
I decided there was just no way I was going to be getting married to him. One, I barely knew the man and I know age is just a number but the man is forty years my senior, not to mention that he is Edward De Niro, a man known for his ruthlessness and there's a reason why he isn't still married, because he can't keep his wives alive!
"You know I paid good money for this dress and this_" Edward stated his eyes raking up and down my body, "This wasn't how I imagined seeing it!"
Yeah, I can imagine it must be expensive because I heard the women saying it was custom made from Dior, pretty sure they would have a stroke if they saw how it looked now.
"Look, let me go!" I said my voice steady, a stark contrast to what I was feeling on the inside.
"You are in no position to make demands, little mouse, you belong to me now!" Edward's tone was dry, almost bored.
His sentence set me off as I glared at him, "I belong to no one."
"That isn't what our agreement says Rainelyn!"
"I made no agreement with you!" I said firmly, hating the way he spoke my name, "Whatever deal is made is between you and my uncle, leave me out of this!"
Edward De Niro released a small laugh that had absolutely no humor in it, a sound that caused a shiver to race down my spine.
"You do not know anything sweetheart, nothing at all! You belong to me now, your life belongs to me! Now come here!" He ordered his voice rising and as if the heavens agreed with him the thunder sounded again.
Curse my rotten luck! I thought to myself as I tried to look for an escape route.
"Go get her!" Edward suddenly ordered.
His men wasted no time in heading towards me while I shuffled backwards.
"Stay back!" I ordered but they didn't listen and continued to advance towards me instead, "Stay back or I swear I'll jump!"
That seemed to do the trick because the men stopped, then turned back to look at Edward who scowled at them.
"Are you really going to take her threat seriously? Grab her and bring her to me, I don't care if you even have to knock her unconscious to do it!" Edward ordered and it was at that moment I knew I was doomed.
I moved backwards till there was no where to move to anymore. The cold railing of the bridge pressed against me causing me to gasp. The metal was icy against my soaked clothes and I could feel it biting into my skin.
"Stay away from me! I'll jump and I mean it!" Even I could hear the slight tremor in my voice. My eyes darted to Edward who was now busy smoking a cigar, as if he couldn't care less. He had me cornered and he knew it.
I turned to look down at the bridge, seeing nothing but dark waters that churned and crashed violently against the pillars. A whimper escaped me as I turned to look at the me who were now advancing towards me.
I gripped the railing tightly, my knuckles turning white as I peered down at the water again.
Could I really do this? End it this way? I asked myself still staring at the water. I can't swim and the water wasn't calm enough for me to even try and stay afloat till I get help.
So could I really do it? I asked myself as I turned to stare back at Edward De Niro who now watched me with a slight tilt of his head as if he was now curious as to what I would do as well.
It was either I do this, or spend a lifetime with Edward De Niro, a life I wouldn't be able to control and wish for nothing but a faster death.
But at least, this…this, I could control. So with the wind blowing against my face, I made my choice. Closing my eyes, I leapt over the railing.
People shouting and cursing was the last sound I heard before I plunged straight into the darkness, allowing it to slowly lead me away!