The knife plunged into Draven's abdomen with a sickening sound, and a searing pain exploded through his body. He gasped, his scream echoing in the dimly lit room, but the laughter of his captors drowned him out.
Peter's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "Bring her in," he ordered, his tone dripping with malice.
Two hulking men dragged Charmaine into the room. Her face was tear-streaked, her wrists bound with rough rope. When they released her, she staggered forward, her eyes finding Draven. A strangled cry escaped her lips.
"Charmaine," Draven whispered, his voice raw with desperation. She ran to him, collapsing into his arms despite the blood soaking his shirt.
"I'm so sorry," he said, his words trembling with guilt. "This is all my fault."
"No," she whispered fiercely, cupping his face in her hands. "None of this is your fault. I don't blame you for any of it."
Their lips met in a desperate, searing kiss—a final act of defiance against the cruelty surrounding them. For a fleeting moment, the world disappeared.
Then Peter's mocking laughter shattered their fragile sanctuary. "Enough of this romance," he sneered. "Time for the real show."
Two men wrenched Draven away from Charmaine, pinning him down as he struggled like a caged animal. His shouts of protest fell on deaf ears. Peter grabbed Charmaine by the waist, his cruel smile widening as she fought to break free.
"Get your hands off her!" Draven roared, his voice shaking with fury. But Peter only tightened his grip on her.
Charmaine's defiance flared like a dying star. When Peter leaned in to kiss her, she bit him hard enough to draw blood. He screamed and slapped her so viciously that she crumpled to the floor.
"Fight all you want," Peter growled, licking the blood from his lip. "It won't change a thing."
Draven strained against his captors, his voice cracking with desperation. "If you touch her, I swear I'll kill you!"
Peter turned to him, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "Bark all you want. It only makes this more entertaining."
He tore Charmaine's blouse open, exposing her to the cold air and their hungry stares. She thrashed and kicked, her voice rising in broken cries, but Peter was merciless.
"Stop this! Please!" Draven begged, his voice breaking. "I'll do anything—pay any price—just leave her alone!"
Peter chuckled darkly. "You think your money means anything to me now? I'll take what I'm owed—starting with your dignity."
Draven's heart shattered as Peter stripped Charmaine of her remaining clothes, leaving her vulnerable and trembling on the floor.
Draven felt his hurt crash into a million pieces when Peter squeezed Charmaine's breast mercilessly.
He died from the inside as he saw him loosen his belt and get rid of his trouser.
He yelled but it did not stop Peter from going into her. He was not gentle in any way possible.
Draven was helpless as he watched the love of his life getting violated. " I will kill you so brutally that even your soul shall quiver" he yelled.
" Come on now. Don't make threats that you can't keep" he said mockingly.
He screamed until his throat burned, but nothing could drown out her sobs as Peter descended on her.
The next moments were a blur of torment. Draven's world narrowed to the sound of Charmaine's cries, the leering laughter of Peter's men, and his own helpless screams. When Peter was done, he stepped aside, signaling to his lackeys.
They descended on her like vultures, one after the other, while Draven's pleas dissolved into raw, guttural wails. By the time they finished, Charmaine lay motionless, her broken body barely clinging to life.
Draven tore free of his captors and crawled to her side. "Charmaine," he whispered, cradling her trembling form. Her swollen face turned to him, her eyes dull with pain.
"Don't blame yourself," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Promise me you won't blame yourself."
Before he could respond, the crack of a gunshot rang out. Her body jolted in his arms, her blood soaking into his clothes. Draven's scream pierced the air as her lifeless eyes stared back at him.
Peter sneered, his gun still smoking. "You really thought you could escape me?"
Draven lunged at him, his grief fueling his desperation. He grabbed Peter by the collar, his face inches away. "Why?" he demanded, his voice shaking. "Why did you do this?"
Peter smiled coldly. "Because I could."
The knife in Peter's hand flashed, and Draven felt the blade tear through his flesh. Once. Twice. Three times. He staggered back, his body betraying him as blood pooled at his feet.
Peter raised his gun and fired three more shots into Draven's chest. The world tilted, pain radiating through his body as he collapsed to the ground. The last thing he saw was Peter's men dragging Charmaine's body away.
Draven crawled forward, his fingers clawing at the dirt. The headlights of an approaching car blinded him, but he didn't care. Darkness claimed him before he could see the driver.
The pain started to faint away.
After sometime he felt hands around him and he could tell that he was been carried. He tried to open his eyes but the darkness consumed him.
When he woke up he felt like he was wrapped in a clothe. He was feeling suffocated and struggled to break free.
He ran shot of oxygen and he slowly succumbed to the darkness.
It was dark and he felt nothing but peace. It was all silent. He had nothing to worry about.
All over sudden he felt a surge of energy run through him. He shot his eyes open and looked around him.
His eyes met with a girl in the room. He felt his eyes burn for a moment and it stopped.
" Who are you and where am I ?" he asked. The girl looked shocked and he thought she would remain silent.
" I am Valeria and you are in an hospital" she said.
He remembered that he had been stabbed. His hand went to his belly and chest and he felt the wounds had been stitched.
What surprised him was the fact that he was not feeling any pain.
Given to his condition he should have woken up feeling all weak and tired but he was feeling strong.
He felt a strange energy that he never had in his entire life. He was feeling as if he was in a new body.
He walked to the mirror and confirmed that it was indeed his body. His face was the same but his eyes were different.
Instead of being blue they were extremely dark. He felt heartbroken when he realized that he had not reincarnated as he had imagined.
His blood was boiling in anger and he punched the mirror.
" Is that your face" the girl asked.