Chapter 4- Craving Bad

TWELVE YEARS EARLIER,

JUNE 1ST, 2008.

LAKEWORTH, CALIFORNIA.

"My beautiful blossom."

My mother strokes my cheek with her hand, bright blue eyes watching me with wonder.

I frown.

"But I'm not beautiful, mommy."

My mom gasps.

"What?! Who ever said such a thing, baby?"

"The boys in my class. Rachel and Diana only laughed...they didn't stand up for me."

My mother looks like she's at the verge of tears, lifting me from my blankets and cradling me in her arms.

"Mommy, why do you look so sad?"

"Don't ever say that of yourself. Don't ever even think that of yourself. They just don't see your beauty, baby. Trust me when I say this, but you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

I smile.

"Thank you mommy, but it's all you. You are very pretty."

My mom smiles down at me, her porcelain skin shining with fresh tears that fall down her face.

Her dark hair falls down her shoulders, and she tucks me back into my bed, a sadness lingering in her eyes.

"Why are you so sad?"

She blinks back her tears.

"It's nothing, honey. I promise."

She plants a kiss on my forehead, standing up.

"Have a good sleep, sweetheart. I love you."

"I love you too, mommy. So much."

She smiles before shutting off the lights and closing the door behind her.

I frown when I hear her immediately break down.

"Dimitri?!"

"Yes, mom?! Are you crying?! What happened?"

I hear my older brother's voice.

"T-They took him..."

"Who, mom?! Is it something—"

"Shh, Daisy's sleeping in there. Come with me."

I hear my mom and brother walk off, and curiously crawl out of bed, walking across the room and carefully opening the door, scrambling and hiding behind the wall that looks into the living room.

"Dimitri, they took Dallas."

My heart stops at my younger brother's name.

"What do you mean—is this something to do with—"

"Your dad's gambling addiction?! Yes. A really deadly gang this time. Dallas is gone and I don't know what to do. Because I know how to get him back...but I just don't know if I could do it..."

"Do what, mom?"

"They said they'll give me Dallas back if I give them Daisy."

Dimitri's eyes widen.

"Mom...what did dad get himself into?!"

"Something that made him deathly in debt with a gang...I don't know what to do."

"Get Dallas back, give them Daisy. I have a plan, mom."

Dimitri pulls out this large weapon looking thing.

My mom's eyes widen.

"Where did you get a machine gun, Dimitri?! Answer me!"

Dimitri opens his mouth to say something when banging on the door is heard.

"Open the door or we're setting the house on fire!"

I can't resist the urge to gasp, letting out a little squeak and dropping my stuffed bear on the floor that causes my brother to turn around, his mouth opening a little in shock.

He jumps up from the couch, grabbing my mom's wrist and dragging me and her towards a farther point in our home.

My mom is pale as a ghost, and my heart is beating out of my chest.

"I need you two to stay calm."

Dimitri picks me up, cradling me as I silently sob.

"Mitri, what's happening?!"

"I'm not entirely sure, but there are some bad people here."

He hands me over to my mom who's shaking, handing her a small pistol that she almost drops out of shock.

"W-What are you expecting me to do with this?!"

"Shoot. If it comes to it, shoot. I'm going to need you to take Daisy, go out the back door, and run. I'll get Dallas and deal with the rest of them. I'll meet you two at the gas station a few miles over. Please stay safe and don't get hurt."

"But Dimitri—"

"We're coming in!"

He looks at us frantically, practically shoving my mom out the back door when someone grabs his shoulders, dragging him back and sticking a needle in his neck.

Dimitri slumps over, and the scary man holds onto him with a smirk, watching as his gun drops onto the floor and his black hair falls over his face.

"No..."

My mom looks like she's about to crack, and the man looks at her with a dirty look.

"Katerina Saunders, pleasure to finally meet you."

"What did you do to my son!?"

Her voice comes out as a shrill shriek as she grasps onto me tightly.

Dimitri lies unconscious on the floor, and all I hear is the thumping of my heart in my chest.

"Please, let him go! Let Dallas go! Where are my children!?"

"You won't need to know, and you won't ever know. Your husband messed with the wrong people. At the moment, my other members are currently dumping gasoline in and around your house. All we have to do is simply light it up, then you, Daisy, and Dimitri will simply die! Isn't that fun?!"

"Please don't hurt me. Please don't hurt my babies. I beg of you! Take me if that's what you please! I'm just begging you, please don't hurt my babies!"

The pleading and heartbreak in my mom's voice makes me cry.

I feel two arms wrap around me, lifting me out of my mom's grasp gently.

He looks to be about fourteen, with red hair and bright green eyes.

He looks at my mom concernedly, and he also looks extremely similar to the man that just knocked my brother out.

"Silas, pleasure for you to join us."

"Don't tell me you're planning to kill these people, dad. That's horrible."

"Stop being soft like your mother and bring that girl to the van. Knock her out even. I'll handle the mother."

I start wailing, and the guy frowns down at me as my mother desperately tries to grip onto me.

"Hey, it'll be okay. I won't hurt you."

I sniffle a few times, somewhat calming down.

The boy certainly had a soothing voice, and he grimaces at my mother.

"I'm really sorry, ma'am. I promise I won't hurt her."

She frowns down at the boy, tears running down her cheeks as the boy's father grabs her arms and drags her backwards, throwing her into a closet and locking the door, running out of the house.

"Silas! Get out! It's going to blow!"

He frantically looks at the closet, then my brother on the floor, then my panicked face.

"Listen to me. Run. You have to run as far as you can and don't let those men catch you. I won't tell them where you've went. This place is going to blow up, and I need to try and save your brother and mom, okay?!"

I nod, silently panicking.

"Okay. You promise they'll be okay?!"

He frowns.

"I can't promise. Go!"

I make a run for it, escaping right out the back door as I hear a loud boom, and turn back just in time to see my house go up in flames.

Where is my mom? My brother?

I frown.

Is that boy okay?!

I hear the men yelling, immediately realizing they see me and booking it into the trees.

As they chase me, tears burn in my eyes and blur my vision.

Because I already know they didn't make it.

I already know that my mom and Dimitri are dead.

**********

PRESENT DAY, MARCH 12th, 2020.

My eyes shoot open, and I'm in some type of abandoned place.

But I can't really tell because I'm upside down.

Hanging upside down.

I move my eyes, and they catch on my ankles which are tied onto a rope which is suspended to the ceiling.

I attempt to take a deep breath in and wheeze out of pain, just remembering that I was shot.

Ouch.

Whatever bastard did that will get my knife up their ass.

Also whoever decided to tie me upside down.

A large rope is tied around me, constricting me in a single hanging position.

I already feel the blood rushing to my head.

Very uncomfortable and unnecessary.

I hear whistling, and my eyes snap to another side of the room where I see that annoying ass celery stick walking in with a fucking machete looking thing in his hand. And handcuffs.

What kinda kinky hanging upside down shit is this guy into?

I glare at him, and he simply smirks.

"Let me go right now or I'll shove my fist down your throat, bitch."

"Well, Daisy. I would say yes to that, because that truly sounds very tempting, but it's hard to take you seriously when your eyes are on my crotch instead of my face. And you're hanging upside down."

"And who's fault is that?"

"You've got a point."

He crouches down, tilting his head to look at me.

"I'm getting very light headed down here. If you tied me to a chair it'd be better than this."

"Oh, sweetie, chair tying is for different circumstances."

I roll my eyes, giving him a death stare.

"Get me out of this. I'm begging you."

"Beg harder, baby."

"Can you please let me go?! I'll be extra good to you and won't run away again. Learned my lesson because you sure seem to have a fucking GPS attached to my ass or something."

"Hah. So funny I forgot to laugh."

He stands up, circling around me once while running his fingers up and down that very sharp looking blade.

"Aren't you afraid that you'll chop your finger off doing that?!"

"No. Because I'm not stupid enough to touch the actual sharp part, honey."

"What're you planning to do with that?!"

"So many questions, maybe I'll sew your mouth shut."

"Answer me. I'm going to bother you until you let me go."

"Fair enough. I'm planning to do my very own fruit ninja game, but with your body parts instead of fruit."

My eyes widen out of concern and fear.

"I'm only kidding, babe. Don't look so mortified."

"I have a feeling you weren't kidding, Zane."

I glare at him and he smiles in return.

"Maybe I wasn't. But I'll just do a little something like this."

He moves the giant weapon in a sleek motion, just missing my fucking neck and slicing the rope, watching as I dangle from only my feet now, swaying back and forth.

"You look like a ghost."

"Well, Zane, you almost just fucking chopped my head off! That was not okay. Not one bit. Don't do it again."

"Too bad!"

He slices the other rope, watching as I fall with a painful thump on the hard floor.

"Ow! What the hell, man?!"

He hovers over me, grinning.

"I want to tie you up all over again just to do that. So funny."

"Not! Could've cracked my head open like an egg you dumb bitch!"

I grab onto his shirt, lifting myself up painfully.

"My stomach hurts thanks to you shooting me."

"Nope. Thanks to Trevor."

"But you told him to do it, so technically it's you."

"You just have it out for me, don't ya, babe?"

"Maybe I do, bitch. And you better get used to it."

I turn around to leave, then immediately turn back around.

"I was about to make a dramatic exit, but I realized I have no fucking clue where we are."

Zane chuckles slightly.

"That isn't a problem for me, babe. Come this way."

********

I'm now laying flat on his bed for the second time, tracing the lines on my palm out of boredom while Zane sharpens knives at his desk.

"What's that for?"

"For our mission later tonight."

"Again with this mission shit?! This isn't Grand Theft Auto."

"So funny Daisy."

Zane rolls his eyes.

"If I'm not going to kill you, I might as well have my fun with you." He shoots me a look. "And make you useful."

"And I thought I was supposed to be your grand distraction."

"Sometimes you are."

I stare at the ceiling blankly, a bad feeling settling in my gut.

I start to hear laughter in my head, and I frown.

Dismay...

*********

(DISMAY'S POV)

Time to have some fun, Daisy.

What do you mean Dismay?

I fix my eyes on Zane.

"You'll know what I mean."

I walk over to him, sitting right in his lap.

Zane looks up from sharpening knives, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Yes...?"

I smile, stroking his sharp and smooth jawline.

He looks at my hand then me, raising an eyebrow before smirking back.

"I see, Dismay."

He continues to sharpen his knives, when I take his chin, directing his attention on me.

"Did you ever know..."

I slide my other leg over Zane so that I'm facing him.

I gently kiss him, pulling away.

"That your lips are so, kissable?"

He smirks at me.

"Of course I did. And coming from Daisy's split personality it really means a lot. Such a tease, Dismay. Really know how to use Daisy's looks to an advantage." He gives me a sly grin. "I'm not falling for this you piece of shit."

"Oh really, Zane?"

I lean even closer to him, discreetly picking up a knife and stabbing it harshly into his stomach.

"Well just fell for that one, didn't ya? Freshly sharpened too...guess who is in control now, bitch?"

He smirks, still holding the part of his stomach that just got brutally stabbed with no expression on his face but amusement.

Does he not feel the...the pain?

"You belong to me, babe. Forever and always, remember?"

"Oh, yes, maybe in hell. See ya, loser!"

I told you he would pay for it.

I grab a gun and a knife, admiring myself in the mirror.

"Weren't lying when you said I had looks."

I pause, immediately loading the gun.

"Zane...?"

Confused, I slowly turn around, my eyes scanning the room.

I don't see anything but a large pile of blood and a note.

How'd he do that that fast?!

Alarmed, I bend down, ripping the note from the pile of fresh blood.

"Sneaky fuck..."

I mutter as I unfold it.

Hello, Dismay, darling. Isn't it a wonderful day to go on a walk in the streets? I'm bleeding out. And I'm extremely pale. There goes my beautiful tan skin I mean jeez, I look like a polar bear, L-O-L. Props to you for tricking me though, got me good right in the stomach. If you actually do come over here I won't hesitate to run you over, stanking bitch. You'll probably be able to find me considering I'm leaving a bloody trail behind me. Looks like a murder scene. See ya soon, babe!

-Z♡︎

I crumple the note and throw it, cursing under my breath.

"How the fuck—you know what? Never mind."

I look directly at the open window with a smirk, looking out to see the bloody trail heading towards the bad side of town.

Time to finish you off, Booker.

I jump out the window, following the blood soaked trail with a loaded gun.

*******

(ZANE'S POV)

Bitch.

Stabbed me in my stomach.

But it's okay, I just love pain anyways.

The only thing I'm not really loving at the moment is the fact that I'm so pale I look like a Tic Tac Fresh Mint.

I'll run that rat over with my sports car and won't feel bad about it.

Should've shot that hoe in the head rather than the stomach.

Could've killed her than ate her for dinner.

L-O-L.

JK, I don't promote cannibalism.

I mean...if you eat human flesh it's not really my business, but I assume you get some nasty stomach aches on the toilet.

Am I right? Or not?

I don't know...I never tried it before...definitely not...

And yes, I'm calling it it.

Okay I'll stop now.

Maybe losing like a whole entire gallon of my blood is making me delusional.

What am I saying?

I've been delusional.

The more people I walk past, the more concerned looks I get.

I don't blame them.

A dude just casually walking down the sidewalk while bleeding out is not something you see on the daily.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I'm just trying to find that charcoal haired brother of mine.

I start to feel weaker and weaker, seeing two of everything.

That's not good.

I continue walking, soon feeling like I'm going to collapse like a drunk guy onto the sidewalk.

But I think I'm getting closer?

Maybe?

I come across a dark alleyway, where my lovely little brother lives.

Great.

I stumble across the place, basically collapsing when I reach his door.

I hear footsteps then someone opens the door, and I hear a high pitched shriek.

Definitely not Xander.

"Zane?! What the hell happened to you?! Xander! Xander come your brother is going to die!"

Aura holds onto my shoulders, trying to keep me upright.

She looks behind me, at the large trail of blood I've been leaving.

Xander runs over, and his eyes widen.

"Ohhh shit."

He grabs my arms and Aura does too, and they basically drag me into the house.

******

I wake up to very loud and annoying breathing, and smack the closest thing.

Which was Xander's face.

"Ow. What the fuck?!"

"Back up or I'll cut off your legs and feed them to hyenas."

"Wow...that's my thanks?!"

"Yes. Deal with it."

I look at my skin, which is so pale.

"Ew. I look like Snow White. And that's not a good thing."

I sit up, and immediacy get light headed.

"Be careful. You lost a lot of blood."

"You don't think I know?! I walked around the town painting it a lovely red with my blood."

I roll my eyes, seeing Aura in the corner.

"Are you okay?!"

"Just peachy. Lovely Daisy's split personality decided to stab me in the stomach. And she thinks she's getting away with it?"

I attempt to laugh, and end up wheezing.

"Be careful with that too. You can tear the stitches."

"What're you trying to say to me?! That I can't laugh?!"

"Exactly that, Zane."

"Fuck this shit."

I stand up, wobbling a little before walking to the front door.

"When I see that eggplant looking bitch again I'm going to—"

"Going to what?"

I look down, and right in the doorway is that annoying little flower ass she-devil.

"Speak of the devil. Dismay."

"Hello, Zane. Doing better, I see? I was hoping to finish you off."

"Well I'm going to finish you off when I run you over. Or choke you to death."

Dismay snickers darkly.

"Funny you still are stupid enough to make threats when I almost killed you."

I want to punch her cute little face so bad.

"Hmm...think fast."

"Wha—"

I punch her across the face, watching as she falls to the ground with a loud thump, rolling down Xander's front stairs and onto the pavement.

I try to hold in my laughs.

You can't laugh Zane. You can't—

I burst out laughing, immediately wheezing and coughing, holding onto my stomach and calming myself down before I tumble down the stairs with her.

I blink a few times, looking down at her with a smirk.

"Told her she would pay for it. Now, should I run her over?"

I turn around, and Xander and Aura are staring at me wide eyed.

"You just—"

"Punched her—"

"Across the—"

"Face." They both finish.

I shrug.

"I did. And I'll do it again."

Grabbing her off the floor by her waist, I wink.

"See ya later!"

"But—"

"Bye, losers!"

I walk off with the grape under my arm, hearing her moaning and groaning.

Weird ass bitch.

Shows her what'll happen when she decides to stab me.

Probably ruined the look of my fine ass abs...I'll definitely have a scar.

Her favorite lunatic?

I'm honestly offended.

But then again...it was her ratchet ass split personality.

Hmm...she'll pay for it.

Maybe this time she won't get away with a simple punch to the face...

We all know I can cause much more harm then that.

I'm so hot.

And cool.

*******

(DAISY'S POV)

I wake up with a throbbing pain in my jaw.

And a hot dude with lime hair looking over me.

"Hello, babe."

"Hello. Did something happen?! Why do I feel so bummed out?"

I sit up, rubbing my jaw.

"Why does it feel like someone punched the hell out of my face?"

"Because someone did. And that someone was me. Are you going to pretend like you didn't just stab me four hours ago?!"

"I stabbed you?!"

"Oh...I forgot. That was Dismay."

I frown.

"Sorry..."

"Whatever."

I give him a look, standing up.

"You're looking pretty pale."

"Of course I am. Blood doesn't just come out of thin air. And I lost a bunch of it thanks to your stupid split personality."

"Oops."

He rolls his eyes, looking at the large blood stain on his floor with distaste.

"I can't even laugh anymore. So that's oops for you, bitch. I'll get my payback."

I frown.

"Whoops."

"Enough of that. We have to go get ready."

"For what?!"

"You've forgotten already?!"

He grins with mischief, and my eyes widen when I realize he's holding up a small black top and mini skirt.

"Today your mission is to be a stripper. And kill someone while you're at it."

********

I look in the mirror, grimacing.

I hear Zane whistle behind me.

"Looking good, babe."

"Thanks."

I make a wry face.

"I look like a prostitute."

"Basically the point, babe. We're trying to get a certain someone's attention."

"Who's attention? I'm concerned."

"Ryland Lenox." He smirks. "An old acquaintance who stole some of our weapon cartels...it's your job to seduce his friends and kill them discreetly, get yourself back to his house, and find them. Capeesh?"

I nod uneasily.

"Capeesh."

*******

We arrive at the dark stripclub that goes by the name of Baby Belles Strip Teasers.

My heart pounds in my chest, and Taylor looks at me.

"You good? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I look at him, a large coat covering my indecent outfit.

"I'm just nervous. And terrified. I don't think I'll be able to do it. What if they catch me while I'm trying to get inside?!"

"Zane's coming with you around the back to help you in if you have trouble."

I roll my eyes.

"Great. He'll probably end up making out with me before any of this "business" happens."

Taylor chuckles.

"You're funny. But remember, you aren't Daisy, you are Jade Velvet. That's your...I don't know...stripper name?"

"Ohh...okay."

I open the car door, and Taylor winks.

"Good luck."

"Thanks. I'm sure I'll need it."

"Make sure you keep your ear piece on and hidden."

"Yep."

I walk out, Zane following after me with his bodyguard looking outfit.

"Why do you have to look like my bodyguard again?"

"They aren't just going to let me back there, babe."

"Yeah, are you sure you don't wanna just get it on with me?"

I smirk, and I can sense his bright eyes on me even through his dark aviators.

"Who ever said I wouldn't?"

I blink a few times, looking at him.

"You are you much, sir."

"I like to think so, miss."

I look at the floor, trying to think of something to say.

And all of a sudden, holding me against the wall by his strong arms, Zane looks down at me with a smirk.

"Why do you look so nervous, baby? Is it me this close to you? Naughty little Daisy you are."

My eyes are wide like two full moons, and I struggle to get words out.

"I—no—wait—ugh!"

I lean my head back against the cold brick wall, meeting my eyes with his.

"I make you all hot and flustered, don't I?"

"Well, you're certainly making it all hot for me, aren't ya?"

"Well maybe I am."

My eyes widen when I feel his hand on my leg, trailing up it towards my upper thigh, causing my tight skirt to ride up.

I look around, grabbing his hand and pushing it down along with my skirt.

"Zane! Someone could see us!"

I release his hand, giving him a warning look with my eyes.

"When you wear that tight little skirt with that tiny top and fishnets you really test my area of self control, darling."

I smirk at him.

"Maybe that was the point, big boy. Control those wondering hands until we get back to the house. We both have business to do."

"Business that I'm not too excited about. But then again, considering you're going to pretend to be a stripper, I just get to watch you."

"Very perverted, my friend. Very."

"But you love it."

"True."

I turn my head back to face him, lifting my hand and pushing some of his green locks from his face.

"Now look who's getting all touchy."

I roll my eyes.

"Shut up."

I drop my hand, crossing my arms across my chest.

"There. Better?"

"Worse."

He grabs me by the jaw, pulling me towards him for a pretty aggressive kiss that's full of lust, passion, and hunger.

I move my hands to the back of his neck, tugging him closer.

I let out a small whimper, as a smirk spreads across his mouth and he pulls my bra strap, and I feel it snap back against my skin.

My hands explore the ridges if his abs, moving back to his hair before he breaks away for a second, leaving me panting.

"You just can't seem to get enough of me, can you, sweetheart?"

I wipe my smudged lipstick, breaking eye contact.

"I just can't get enough."

I get out breathlessly, and I look at him one more time before slipping my jacket over my shoulders, and pulling my mask over my face.

"I should go...definitely. See you inside,"

I quickly rush away, and I hear Zane chuckle.

"Might wanna fix your bra, babe." He whistles, making me flush a pink shade. "Then maybe the people in that club will get more than one thing to look at."

********

I slide in through the back door, and someone grabs a hold of my forearm, making me tense up.

I turn my head, becoming face to face with a guy with dark auburn hair.

"Who are you?"

"Jade Velvet."

"Ohh...sorry, Jade." He winks, causing butterflies to erupt in my stomach. "Have fun on the stage. I'll see you up there."

He releases my arm, and I hurry towards the back of the club, and into the back room where I see a bunch of beautiful girls getting ready.

"Oh my god, and he was all like, aren't you going to come home with me? And I was like, no!"

All of them start laughing, and the blonde girl turns to look at me.

"Oh hello!"

"Hey."

I remove my coat, placing it down on a small dressing table.

"I'm Scarlett."

"Diamond."

"Angel."

"Roxie."

"Isis."

"Raquel."

I smile.

"Jade."

"Well, Jade, this club is known for its crazy hot dudes. And just crazy dudes in general." Isis says, and Raquel leans forward in her chair.

"Do you guys remember that time when a guy got murdered here?!"

All the girls start whispering, and I awkwardly sit down.

This is embarrassing.

"Jade! Roxie! Angel! You guys are up."

We nod, and venture out into the booming music and irritating strobe lights of the club, heading to our designated stages.

I've never done pole dancing...perhaps there's a first for everything.

I'm probably going to fall on my ass or kick someone in the face with these weapons they call high heels.

They are certainly high.

As I walk onto the small little platform, stage type thing I find myself looking around for Zane.

I spot his bright hair, and see him hidden in the shadows near the bar, smirking at me.

He winks, and that alone almost makes me fall off the stage.

Clumsy bitch.

Here goes nothing.

I drop it, basically attempting to do whatever the fuck those other girls are doing without falling on my ass.

I get smacked with a bill, and steal a look behind me, seeing Zane now underneath me with some cash.

"Work it, babe!"

I resist the urge to burst out laughing, continuing my little strip tease or whatever the hell this shit is.

******

After twenty painful minutes, my time is finally done when I get called down for a private dance.

Eek.

I come down, walking across the way and catching eyes with the mysterious red headed stranger, who gives me a smug smile as I walk by.

I recognize him, even through his mask...those green eyes are too familiar.

Do I know him?

I can't...

I frown a little, walking to the back as one of the people opens the door to the back room, and I walk in, being trapped inside.

With three of them?!

Welp...not what I was expecting. At all.

"Daisy, can you hear me?"

"Yes...I'm in the room now so shut the fuck up."

"Rude ass bitch."

I tune out Zane in the ear piece, looking over the three men with a smirk.

"Hello, boys."

They all look at me like hungry sharks.

I walk towards the one in the middle first, snaking my hands in his hair and kissing him, smirking to myself when I realize he's falling for my tricks.

He'll feel the poison soon enough.

I crawl over to the one on the left, doing the same thing.

Now that they're done...it's time for him.

Ryland Lenox.

I do my little sexy dance, or whatever I'm doing, sitting right on his lap and nibbling on his ear lobe.

"What do you say we go back to your place, darling? Much more fun can happen there..."

He grins.

"Come with me."

Yes...he's falling right for my trap.

So oblivious he doesn't even notice his friends are dead already!

Oh, the fun of cyanide.

********

He pushes me against the wall, kissing me hungrily.

I would barf, but that would totes ruin the whole act, you know?

I sneak a little needle out of my pocket, raising it towards his neck when he grabs me by the throat, holding me against the wall.

"Well, well, well. Daisy Saunders, a pleasure to see you."

The needle clatters to the floor, and I pry at his hands around my neck.

"P-Please, you're choking me,"

"And you were just planning to poison me, Princess. I think this is quite fair for killing two guys in a row...almost a triple kill. I'd say you have some bravery."

"H-How do you know my name?!"

"I know a lot of people, especially you. You know how much I want you six feet under?!"

I struggle to figure out what to do, as his grip gets stronger and stronger, crushing my air pipes.

My vision blurs as he laughs, and then it happens.

I hear a large boom, my ears ringing from the gunshot that just went off.

My eyes widen as I sink to the floor, blood splattered across my chest.

Someone's arms wrap around me, lifting me up.

I'm eye to eye with the mysterious red headed man with the bright green eyes.

He stands me up on my feet, removing his mask to reveal—hold up.

"Silas?!"

He smirks mischievously.

"Hello, angel face. I'm glad you remembered me. I think I deserve a thanks for saving your life there."

I roll my eyes.

Cocky bastard.

"I had it under control."

"Sure you did. And Jade Velvet? Such an unoriginal name, dear."

"That was also you?!"

"Why would it not?"

Silas pauses to the sound of running footsteps.

"Hmm...seems that you have some visitors."

He smirks, opening the window and sticking his legs out.

"Oh...and don't worry, sweetheart."

I make a face.

"This isn't a goodbye. Only an until we meet again."

He slides out the window just as the door opens, Taylor and Trevor rushing to my side.

But my eyes are stuck on the window, stuck on him in the distance, stuck on the one that got away.