Ivy's Pov:
"What's your name?" I asked, my voice soft yet unwavering, studying the man who somehow struck me with less fear than the others. His eyes held a curious gleam, like an old penny touched by time, with a hint of rust that made him seem both weary and wise. I couldn't help but think that, with the right guidance, that rust could be replaced with a resilient shine.
"Luka," he replied, his voice firm, matching the unwavering confidence in his gaze.
My mind flickered back to the man from earlier—Dom. Power radiated from him shamelessly, as if daring anyone to challenge it. His power is not something he demanded; it was a given, and disobedience felt almost impossible in his presence. Each word that left his mouth carried an unspoken threat, one that felt like a blade gliding too close to my skin, cutting me over and over with a hatred I couldn't quite understand. Argh… Just thinking about him left an unsettling heaviness in my chest.
But there was something else, something undeniably captivating about him. It wasn't just his piercing gaze or his god-like features. It wasn't even the way his muscular frame exuded a silent promise of both pleasure and danger. No, it was his touch—a touch that was unkindly gentle, a contradiction wrapped in a storm. It was the fire in his eyes, that unapologetic hunger, that hurt me so good. Like a flame, he was both my danger and my fascination.
"And that man who was just in here... he's Dominic Ivanov, right?" I questioned, my voice a mix of rebellion and apprehension. Though I already knew the answer, a part of me held on to a sliver of hope that I was wrong. If Luka confirmed it, nothing good could come from this. Ugh... My chest felt tight as dread curled around my thoughts. I'd seen their faces; I knew their names—it wasn't hard to imagine what that might mean for me.
Luka freed me from the restraints, and although my wrists felt a dull ache, I couldn't bring myself to look away from him. From the details I'd gathered about Dom, I knew exactly the kind of man he was. Dom wasn't just powerful; he was ruthless, capable of going to terrifying depths to extract information from someone. He didn't stop at threats—he thrived on control and on bending others to his will. People whispered about him, about how mercy was a concept foreign to him. If he set his sights on breaking someone, they were as good as broken.
No one on the outside had ever seen Dom and lived to tell the tale. So here I was, bound in this destiny that felt both unavoidable and inescapable. Ah... a cold realization settled over me; it was only a matter of time before fate tore me from this world at the hands of a man like him.
"Dom," Luka grumbled. "He doesn't like being called anything else other than that."
I messed up big time with my clumsy attempts at lurking. A sharp chill ran down my spine. The mafia wasn't just dangerous; it was a living, breathing beast, and I had foolishly walked right into its den—Dom's den. Ah... What was I thinking? I was just a 21-year-old with no family physically present for now, hiding my true identity. The only protection I had was my own wits, and even those seemed useless now. Argh... The hopes had blurred into recklessness. I'd pushed open the wrong doors, too curious for my own good, stepping straight into the heart of danger.
Even as I sat back, poring over every detail about the most feared man I could find, I never imagined I'd end up in the very place where he ruled. His name whispered in fear and bloodshed. I thought I had my bases covered, but I was wrong. I got too caught up in my mission—finding my twin brother, Ethan—that I didn't see the mistakes piling up around me. I thought I was on the verge of a breakthrough, but now I was further from my goal than I ever could have been. Huft... The realization stung, sinking deep into my bones.
My lips won't move. Maybe exhaustion from struggling against his men left my words trapped, stuck in my throat. Or maybe my logic had given up, every thought spinning into emptiness. Ugh... Even forming a coherent plan seemed beyond my reach now, leaving just silence as my answer.
My gaze changes to the tiny particles of dust lazily in the air, catching the faintest sliver of light. Somehow, I can't pull my eyes away from them, like my focus wants to tear something inside. It felt easier to stay lost in that small, meaningless distraction than face the reality of where I was.
"We are leaving, but I expect you not to run or scream. If you do," he warned, voice cold and unyielding, "I will have no choice but to put the gag back in your mouth and tie you up again. Understood?" His tone had the sharpness of a scolding parent, though his gaze held no warmth.
I swallowed, my throat tightening. Hmph... The humiliation stung, but I wouldn't let it show. "If you plan on killing me..." My voice wavered, but I forced it to stay steady, "just do it."
A glint of something unreadable crossed his expression, softening his voice just slightly. "No one is going to kill you." His words were firm, leaving no room for doubt, yet I couldn't trust them. Hmm... I watched him pull open the door, his movements deliberate. Dom Ivanov wasn't known for mercy. Why would he spare me?
"Why?" The question slipped out, laced with distrust and curiosity.
He didn't hesitate. "You are of more value to us alive than dead." I tried to make sense of his words, my mind racing. They needed me, but for what? The possibilities chilled me to my core, none of them leading anywhere good. Ugh... My shoulders slumped under the weight of his answer, my head lowering as despair crept in.
"What is it that you want from me?" I managed to ask, the emptiness of my tone betraying my exhaustion.
Viktor didn't bother answering me as he grasped my arm, pulling me along the dimly lit hallway. Ugh... I clenched my teeth, keeping my gaze fixed on my shoes. The air was thick, smelling of blood and secrets, sending a cold shiver down my spine. It hit me like a punch; Argh... a place I'd seen in files, in images marked with grim stories of Dom's victims.
Every step wasn't my own. Luka dragged me forward, steady and unyielding. My curiosity burned—I wanted to see more, to uncover every dark secret that lingered in these halls. Were there others trapped like me, captured in silence and hidden in shadows?
Suddenly, the doors swung open, and Aaah... sunlight pierced my eyes. I squinted, a small gasp escaping as I was pushed into the backseat of a car. I barely had time to process the shift from darkness to blinding light before Luka joined me, holding a blindfold. I should've expected it—he didn't want me to know where we were, and he certainly didn't want me to know where we were going.
I glanced back at the house we had just left, my expression filled with a lingering frown. It looked so ordinary, the kind of place where a middle-class family might live—the kind of house that would have two kids, a Golden Retriever, and maybe even a swing in the backyard. Instead, it was a safe house where a murderer lurked, steeped in secrets and cruelty. Ugh... The thought churned in my mind, painting a dark image over that ordinary exterior.
Luka reached for my glasses, sliding them off my face with a cold efficiency. My vision blurred as he wrapped a thick fabric over my eyes, pulling it tight enough to block out every hint of light. My lips pressed together in silence, my thoughts racing but my mouth refusing to utter a single word.
"Go," Luka commanded sharply, his tone carrying a chill that matched the icy grip of his hand on my arm. His words were still the same language I had heard from those who grabbed me earlier, an ominous reminder of the world I'd been pulled into.
My body trembled despite my attempts to control it, sweat pooling on my skin as my heart thundered within my chest. I could feel every nerve in my body on edge, preparing for whatever lay ahead, yet unable to shake the fear gripping me. Despite the fear twisting inside me, my mind remained alert, braced to defend myself if—or when—the need arose.
As the car sped down the dark road, I could feel my nerves prickling with unease. I wished I could see where we were headed, not just to plan an escape but to lose myself in the view of the world outside, to grasp at any sliver of calm amidst the chaos. Sigh... My hands trembled slightly, the anticipation coiling tighter with every passing second.
Luka's promise were still in my mind—no one planned to kill me. Yet the reassurance felt thin, like a flimsy shield against the sinister undercurrents in the car. Just because death wasn't in their plan didn't mean the pain wasn't.
Luka let out a low, amused sound. "You look like a scared little kitten," he taunted, the smirk audible in his voice. Hmph... My head turned towards the sound, my expression guarded, unwilling to give him any satisfaction by responding.
"Relax," he murmured. "I told you there's no intention to kill you, Zero."
A pause lingered in the air before I managed to voice the question gnawing at my mind. "Will you hurt me?" I asked, my voice quiet but steady, challenging him despite the fear simmering beneath.
His chuckle grew darker, twisting in a way that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Uh-oh... The amusement in his expression sent a fresh wave of unease through me. Was he laughing at my fear? Did he enjoy this twisted game?
I swallowed hard, steeling myself against the disturbing thrill I suspected he got from my discomfort. His silence said it all: whatever awaited me was far from harmless.
"No. At least, I won't," Luka said with a smirk, his words drenched in cold honesty. "But Dom…." He paused, his gaze hardening. "I can't make any promises about that man. He has a temper that is unpredictable and fierce." Hmph... He let out a low chuckle, watching my reaction as if savoring the anxiety flickering across my face. "But if you listen to him, stay on his good side, you should be... fine."
His words did little to calm the growing knot in my stomach. Instead, they only reminded me of my precarious position.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice steady despite the storm churning within me.
"We're offering you a job." Luka's tone was casual, almost as if this whole situation was a friendly proposition. "Your skills… let's say, they could be quite useful to us." Hmm...
I narrowed my eyes, my mind racing. "As in, my computer skills?" I muttered, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it anyway.
"Yes."
"And if I don't want the job?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, defiant and tinged with an edge of challenge. But deep down, I already knew the answer. I was being cornered, pushed into a cage where freedom was no longer an option.
Luka's gaze darkened, his smirk fading. "Well, it's simple," he replied with a hint of finality, "you take the job or..."
"Or I die?" I finished my voice barely above a whisper. Ahem... The silence that followed was deafening, a heavy reminder of the danger that lurked in every unspoken word.
Suddenly, it was as if my quivering came to a halt. I had prepared myself for this—the possibility of death. An odd calm washed over me as I wondered if this was how my twin brother felt when he had to face his fears, his strength woven deep into her life, and the words urging me to be strong were in my mind. I felt a pang of connection, an understanding, perhaps, of the weight he must have carried in his own battles. Was his fear as gripping as mine? Had my twin, too, swallowed it down and found a way to stay brave?
Luka didn't respond to my unspoken questions, but I don't need him to. I already knew my odds of walking out unscathed were slim. I was just clinging to a shred of reassurance, hoping for something—anything—that wouldn't lead me down a path of death or torment.
When the car jerked to a stop, I knew we'd reached wherever they intended to take me. The sound of car doors opening and slamming shut rattled my ears as a gust of wind swept through the car, chilling me to my core. The door creaked open beside me, and before I could react, I felt a rough hand close around my arm, yanking me from my seat with little patience.
I inhaled sharply as the unmistakable scent of pine filled my lungs, grounding me for a moment. Though the blindfold denied me the view, I could sense trees surrounded us. My curiosity fought against the confines of my blindfold, yearning to absorb the rich green I could imagine around me, but all I had was the muffled darkness.
"Come on," Luka muttered, his tone flat and unyielding. My feet dragged, moving forward only because his grip demanded it, pulling me along like a puppet through what felt like a large, unfamiliar building—a home, perhaps. My thoughts scrambled, barely piecing together any details.
Before I could make sense of my surroundings, he shoved me through a doorway. My body collided with the floor, the impact jolting a gasp from my lips. "Ugh…" (upset) I groaned, instinctively reaching out to steady myself. As quickly as I could, I scrambled towards the door, only to hear it slam shut with a loud clangg, the sound vibrating in the hollow room. Desperation clawed at me as I grasped the doorknob, but it was locked—sealed tight like a prison taunting me.
"No! Get me out of here!" I screamed, my voice shaking. Silence. No response.
With shaking hands, I reached behind my head, tugging at the fabric blindfold still pressing into my temples. Relief flooded over me as the blindfold slipped away, my eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room.
I took in my surroundings—a bed positioned in the center of the room, a large lamp hanging above, casting soft light over the space. I noticed a door to my left, likely leading to a bathroom, and another to my right, perhaps a closet. A dresser stood against the wall, a mirror on top reflecting a weary, tear-streaked version of myself back at me.
Tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill as I gazed at my own reflection. Every line of stress, every trace of fear stared back at me, reminding me of the reality I couldn't escape. "Please… hic," I whispered, my voice barely a breath, as I pounded against the door once more. Bang! Bang! My fists met the wood in a helpless sound, a plea to anyone who might listen.
After a while, my back slowly slid down the door until I plopped onto the cold, unforgiving floor. My gaze drifted, settling on the window where tall trees gathered in clusters outside, their green richness mocking my trapped soul. Aah… (sigh of longing), I thought to myself, if only this beauty were not part of my prison.
Hugging my knees to my chest, I buried my face, feeling the familiar weight of loneliness settle over me. My mind wandered to Ethan, my twin, who had been taken from me so many years ago. The reality struck hard, raw as an open wound: I had vanished into the dark just like he did, only this time, no one would notice my absence. There would be no frantic search, no calls of desperation. I was alone.
The thought broke something inside me. Hic… hic… (sobs escaping), tears started pouring, each one heavy as rain, falling relentlessly. My tears felt like they had a mind of their own, blurring the line between reality and hope. The world looked harsher with every drop, stripped of any comforting lies I had clung to. In the end, I was another girl lost to the dark. Just like my brother, just like someone's lost child, I was a statistic, fading from the light.