Chapter 28

(28)

"We need to leave, Now!!!" Mateo shouted bringing me back to reality.

My head was more like a bulk of the fire... blazing... burning away my sense along with my brains... Everything was spinning around.

I broke down onto the floor and sobbed. This couldn't be real.

Mateo was practically rushing around to clean the area. I was sitting in the backseat in a blank state.

I could see Mateo and Sam were in serious conversation while Lizzy was packing her belongings. Their attention wasn't on me.

I got out of the car and looked back at them.

What if Dad was dead? If so, then it was their fault. Dad was my everything. He was really gone? I ran out of tears and my throat started to dry.

I went into the forest obliviously. I couldn't care anymore I started to run deep into the forest. It was already evening. I felt nothing and ran as my legs carried me away.

I ran and ran till I was so panting. I stopped as I saw a lake. Thousands of emotions and thoughts ran through my mind. I dropped down near the edge as I felt limp. "I'm so sorry, Dad," I fisted and hit the ground.

All I knew was that I didn't want to live anymore. I was so pathetic and useless. I had been a mess, a mess that threatened the beloved lives. My mere existence was a threat to them. I shouldn't have been born.

I never had a choice instead I was being told what to do... to obey my kidnapper... to submit..., including Mateo, Lizzy, or Sam.

I was so sick of all these shits. What more?

I got into the lake. The water wasn't shallow either. I was walking till the water level was under my chin. Oh yes, I couldn't swim. That Damien fucker abducted me while I was planning to learn swimming.

Every detail about my loss flashed to me as a movie. My life, my youth, my time, and my father? And what was next? My mother or my sister? I was chattering with coldness in the lake.

I felt all of my energies drowned with me as I let go of the very own lake floor that was providing me to float.

Coldness stroke my head and soon I felt the water was entering my lungs slowly and painfully. But no, this pain was nothing to be compared with what I was feeling right now.

It was like flying in space. I had no worries for now, at least. The very low air in my lungs completely left me giving me unbearable pain. I guessed now, it's time to say 'bye'

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'Stay. Stay. Wake up.'

'Stay with me.'

'Vivan? Vivan?'

'Come on, breathe!'

I heard those voices. Was I in hell? I felt continuous pressure over my chest. It was hurt like hell.

The whole bulk of air entered my lung roughly bringing me back to life.

"Fucking breathe!!!!" I heard Mateo's voice booming through my eardrums. The water inside my lungs was thrown up as he held me sideways.

Damn...I was still alive then...

Then I felt a bone-crushing hug. Mateo cupped my face with his palms and kissed my forehead harshly.

"Thank god," Mateo said shaking lightly. He rubbed all over my back while letting my chin rest over his shoulder.

I was coughing water, furiously. Then I blacked out.

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I felt the pain in my back as I started to wake up with a half-sleepiness. Mateo was carrying me in bridal style while walking with a straight look on his face.

"Put me down," I mumbled. He continued walking as if he couldn't hear me.

I reached out my hands to his jaw and pushed his head to the sideway. "Put me the fuck down," I seethed. That caught his attention. He only tightens his grip on my thigh not enough to hurt me but enough to keep me in place.

I tried to struggle but he didn't even pay attention to me.

I managed for him to put me down as I leaned in and bit down his chest hard. I pry off his hold and tried to get away from him as possible. But, my leg and back were betraying me.

Somehow, I managed to grab a hold of a tree and stood miserably. I glared at him and he was looking at me with an unknown expression but he quickly recovered with his straight face.

"Leave me alone!" I snapped at him.

He sighed and slowly approached me with his arms outstretched. I could see his pistol was tugged near his waistband.

I slowly back up to the tree and gulped as his stare made me uneasy. As he was about three feet away from me, I got the idea to distract him and grabbed the gun.

"What is that?" I said and pointed at his back. He turned around and I quickly snatched the gun from him. He was fast too but not as fast as me.

I was pointing at him with the gun. I didn't know how to use but somehow I saw how Damien shoot people around. Yea.

"You don't know how to use that, do you?" Mateo raised a brow.

I unlocked the safety and back off as he stepped a step.

He sighed and said, " of course, you do know,"

"Where's my mom?" I seethed.

"I saved your life and you're here threatening me?" He folded his hand.

"I won't hesitate to shoot you, Mateo. I've lost my father," I whispered.

Mateo furrowed his eyebrows and turned his back on me. "You don't know that for sure," he mumbled.

"Take me back to Damien. I'll kill him by myself," I snapped with determination in my soul.

"You know? He's- dammit.." he said and slowly turned around at me. "Calm down, okay?" He mumbled and tried to approach me again.

"Stay where you are or I will shoot your head," I threatened.

But he didn't listen and took intimidating steps at me. I screamed and reluctantly pulled the trigger.

"Bang!!!!!" A loud noise went off and I stumbled back with a hell of a pain in my hand. I doubted if my hand was broken already. The restrain was so strong.

Oh my god. Did I kill Mateo? I was panicking...

But, I knew...he missed that bullet the moment I felt the tight grip on my nape. He furiously inhaled as he observed my broken hands.

He quickly carried me in bridal style and took me into campus and laid me on the mattress. He was cursing under his breath and bandaged my injured hands.

I was sobbing so hard to the point of suffocation.

I looked at Mateo who was with a sad and angry expression on his face. He kneeled to my level and wiped my tears. I was surprised he didn't seem to care that I tried to kill him.

"Hush, " he said and placed his fingertip over my lips. I cried out more. Did he expect me to shut up???

"I-It h-hurts," I sobbed. Actually damn hurt.

He ran his hand through his messy hair and got up grabbing a box. What he pulled out from the box made me freeze, a syringe.

Fucking syringe!!!!!

"No, please, don't, " I mumbled with pleas.

"Hey, hey, Vivan, do you trust me?" He asked looking dead in my eyes.

However, he didn't wait for my reply and injected the syringe into my wrist despite my pleas.

"Believe me, breathe slowly," he said while rubbing my forehead.

Somehow his words affected me and I calmed down as I couldn't feel the pain anymore right now. I couldn't move my hands either.

Mateo suddenly got up and pulled out a handcuff quickly tugged my leg at a post. I struggled and looked at him with disbelief.

"I'll be back, okay?" He smiled and leaned forward. His breath fanned against mine as his lips softly landed on my cheek. It stayed momentarily but I couldn't stop the fluttering feeling in my abdomen.

With a short nod, he just walked out, leaving me alone in the tank, being tied.....

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The plethora of deceits had taken a toll on her sense of reality. Denial...anger...and confusion.