-9:30 pm-
Creak. The sound of an old, rusty metal gate swinging open was followed by another. "No. 78, get ready. You are bailed," yelled a woman in her late forties, dressed in a jailer's suit.
"Tsk…" her mouth twitched as she heard no response from the other side. "No. 78, are you dead?"
Raising her eyebrows, she walked inside the prison that was quiet and dark; the dim light in there flickered all the time. Halting her steps inches away from the person crumbled to death on the icy floor, the jailer hissed.
A piercing cry escaped Claire's lips after being kicked in her abdomen. Holding her stomach, she tried sitting up straight but failed.
Grabbing her hair, the jailer forced the lady to look at her and shouted. "You retarded bitch! How dare you be egoistic with me?"
The flickering light illuminated the intense depression her face carried, dragging her by her hair. The jailer got her out of the cell and pushed her away, making her back collide with the metal bars of the jail.
"Hey! Where are you taking her?" Beth panicked. Holding onto Claire, fear was clearly visible on their pale faces.
"Didn't you hear me? This bitch has been bailed. What? Do you want her to stay here forever as you are?" Beth looked down with utter sadness. Biting her, she whispered as she let go of Claire's hand.
"Take care, Claire. Don't forget about me." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Claire wondered who could possibly have bailed her out. She wondered how. And why? Brushing her thoughts, she turned towards Beth, and, holding her hand, Claire muttered softly.
"Beth, trust me. I have no idea about this, but you have to believe me that once I step out, I'll definitely come back and take you with me. You are the most wonderful friend anyone could ask for. I won't abandon you."
"Get up and walk, you wimp," said a masculine female from the opposite cell. Her body had creepy tattoos, and one among them spelled Verica. She smirked and continued, "Maybe an old geezer on his deathbed bailed you to satisfy his desires. A normal person in his right brain wouldn't do that otherwise."
As though her words were the funniest in the world, all the prisoners laughed and repeated the same. Gathering herself, Claire tried to stabilise her feet on the ground. Taking baby steps, she walked her way.
Rain was pouring down, making the gloomy night even darker and perilous for the lady walking out of her cell to the exit jail. The dark and stormy night made it difficult to see her appearance.
The only reprieve from the darkness were the flashes of thunder that lit up the gloomy way for her to walk further. Looking up at the murky clouds, she closed her eyes as the drops of rain touched her cheeks. She let out a long sigh, as though of relief from an intolerable suspense.
Ten minutes ago, she was still living her worst nightmare in the dark cell that she was out; shouldn't that make her happy?
Instead, her heart was ready to explode anytime soon. To her, the jail where she was humiliated and violated with every ticking moment felt safer than the outer world.
In the distance, she could see a figure walking at her with an umbrella. The closer the person got, the harder her breaths heaved. The man paused his steps inches away from her and said in a concerned tone, "Let's go, Ms Claire. Young Master is waiting for you inside the car."
The word 'Young Master' sent shivers down her spine. Her hands started trembling, the rain soaking her to the bones. It was hard to interpret if the cold and rain was making her shiver or fear of the man inside the car.
With each step, she felt close to her death. When she finally reached the car, she gulped down the lump of fear that had formed inside her throat. The man beside her gave a touch of assurance on her shoulder and opened the door for her.
Inside sat a man with his legs crossed; his suit was well-tailored and fitted him perfectly, resting his chin on his knuckles. The man didn't care to even throw a glance at her. Guided by the driver, Claire stepped inside the car and sat as far from him as possible. She let herself stick to the door, making her existence as minimal as possible in his presence.
Looking outside through the window, Claire could see the jail she spent her worst days fading away in front of her as the car picked up its speed. Breaking the silence, the old Sebastien politely questioned, "Young master, should we let the lady change her prison uniform since we are attending a funeral?" An indifferent "no" shoved the question into thin air.
"Funeral? For whom?" Claire's mind wasn't at peace now. "Where…. ar…are….we going?" she shuttered.
As expected, no response from any soul present inside the car. The silence made her go crazy, and the palpitations of her heart made her freak.
"Whose funeral? And where?" She cried again, making the man beside her break his posture. As he directed himself towards her, Claire realised the mistake she made seconds ago.
Her heart made its way up her throat, her breath hitching. Whoevers funeral it was, now it was going to be hers. Gritting her teeth, she clutched the ends of her uniform tightly.
The moment she entered the car, it was the first time the man looked at her. Claire didn't dare to even blink her eyes. Cain's gaze cut through her pale skin like a sharp razor and penetrated deep into her soul, making Claire shudder as she felt his hand approaching towards her.
Cain held her by her throat and forced her to look up straight into his eyes. Only then Claire realised how divine the man in front was; his pearl blue sharp eyes could captivate any living soul. A sharp, pointed nose gave a divine touch to his artistic face; the black stubble on his jawline enhanced his incomparable masculinity.
No, it wasn't the time to appreciate his features. No person in his right mind would do that when their life was at stake.
But Claire? Only she had a strong heart to appreciate him, even at times like these.
Because he was the man she had lost her heart and soul to. Yes! She loved him, and her love towards him was entirely responsible for her current situation. Cain tightened his grip around her neck, bringing her back to the cruel reality.
"Never raise your voice in my presence." Sensing the tension in the situation, the driver stepped on brakes for no reason, making them lose their balance and making him release her neck. Cain positioned himself in his previous posture as though nothing had happened a few seconds ago.
Moments later, the car was pulled up in front of a huge mansion that was familiar to Claire.. Without moving an inch, Cain sneered.
"It's your grandma's funeral. And yes, you'll attend it as a prisoner. Let her be ashamed of you even after her death."
Claire's eyes widened in disbelief, and a buzzing vibration grew in her brain, making her vision hazy. She felt as though her soul was forcefully pulled out of her body without giving her a moment to process or even breathe.
"One more minute inside the car and you will lose the chance to see her for the last time." He warned. "Get out!" Cain yelled at her
Her grandmother was dead? And she was supposed to make an appearance in front of her family in her prisoner's uniform? Well, it didn't bother her. All she could think was that the last person on this earth who loved and cared for her was dead. Just like that, leaving her to survive a worse hell than her life? And she was supposed to do it all on her own?