Unlike Any Pain

The pain in his neck was becoming hard to ignore. He couldn't move because her hand was tightly gripping him. It felt uncomfortable. In the mirror, Keira held on without much effort; her hands were tense but lacked real strength.

Silas noticed the anger burning in her eyes, and her long black hair was brushing against his back.

Why was she so furious? Why is she bitter? Why is she easily provoked into a rage?

He bit his lip, his mind racing with uneasy thoughts. He needed to free himself from her grip before she snap his neck.

She wanted his obedience. She wanted power and control. She wanted him beneath her fingers.

He decided to give in for now, hoping for an opportunity to escape later. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Alright. I understand. Let go of me before you break my neck."

Her grip tightened to the point of pain.

As he groaned, her grip finally released. He stood up shakily and turned to face her. His heart was racing until he could finally calm his nerves.

He still saw that simmering rage within her eyes. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and she glared at him with clenched teeth, saying, "Never say no to me. You don't know have a clue you're dealing with."

He nodded, even though resentment burns within. He realized keeping his feelings in check was crucial; revealing his emotions could get him killed for being too defiant.

She scanned him up and down, her nose wrinkling distainfully. "We're leaving."

She turned, her hair swaying with her movement. Silas sighed and rubbed his sore neck as he followed her out of the bathroom. The restaurant noise filled his ears, and he pushed the bathroom scene from his mind. Dwelling on it would only make him more anxious.

Suddenly, he noticed they had stopped by the cash register. Keira was talking, but he could see the cashier's eyes were vacant and empty, like she was in a trance. Her movements were eerily mechanical, like a puppet on string.

Keira seemed to be telling her things that didn't make sense, almost like she was casting a spell.

The voice was sweetingly sweet, but the words were ominous. "We weren't here."

A horrifying realization hit him, causing his heart to race again. The driver, the waitress, and now the cashier—they were all under her control.

His throat constricted, and a wave of nausea rolled over him as he tried to digest this terrifying revelation.

A cold grip tightened around his arm; he glanced over to find her icy fingers entwined with him. Her eyes held a knowing glimmer. "Let's go."

But none of it brings any comfort, making his skin crawling. As they pass through the door, the sounds fading into background, the fresh of cold air hitting him in the face, yet the grip on his arm lingers like a cold-blooded snake that ensnares their prey.

He didn't resist her, knowing that would only upset her. Letting her pull him to the car, they jump in the car, sitting in the car seat, the cushion sinking beneath his weight.

With a thud, the door slammed shut, then Keira let go of him, causing him to sigh in relief. He kneads his arm, the area that aches from the tight hold.

The car lurches to life and pulls out of the parking lot. He looks around, through the window glass.

Nervously biting his lips, he asked. "Where are we going?"

He could feel the intense stare by the side of his face, which made his neck tingling, but he ignored it. He didn't want to give her anymore attention, so he just watched the scenery passing through - cars, houses, and buildings.

The silence reigns throughout the car. The silence drags on and on, until the soft, feminine voice breaks the silence.

"You'll find out soon."

Silas was bored, he was clicking his tongue. Annoyance was simmering beneath the surface, he just wanted a straight answer.

He sighed before turning around.

He was startled, she was still staring at him, although there was no simmering rage within her eyes.

Just a curiosity and interest lingers, so he asked, "What?"

She shrugs nonchalantly, "I was curious."

Arching an eyebrow, "About?"

In a soft voice, "Where are you from?"

Suspicion lurks at the back of his mind. Why does she want to know that?

"Why do you want to know?"

She grins mischievously, but the look behind her eyes held something unfathoable.

"If we're stuck together, I should at least know a thing or two about you."

A mocking smile curls across his lips, "Or you can let me go. I'll be out of your hair in no time."

Her eyes gleam dangerously, he shakes his head, "I was just joking. Uhh, let me think. I like to read and I love to eat strawberries."

Her eyes flicker with something, "Is that so?"

He nods his head, he said with a wry smile. "Yea, my mom had to beat me with a stick because I keep eating her strawberries while she's at work."

A chuckle burst out of her, to the point, she wipe imaginary tears from the corner of her eyes, "Phew. That's so funny. I would love to see that."

She was a small figure, a mere wisp of a woman, yet her frail appearance was a deceptive veil, concealing a tempest of power that simmered just beneath the surface. Those who dared to underestimate her would find themselves ensnared in a web of misfortune, their lives spiraling into chaos.

She arches an eyebrow after witnessing him shaking his head with a sigh.

Her eyes express its inquiry, he shakes his head. His pulse started to race, a sense of wrongness creeps upon him, making him swallow nervously.

There was something flashing dangerously within her eyes, her iris became dark blood red, giving her a demonic appearance, yet he could see a bright light behind her, upon the window.

He turned, his heart thundering in his chest, only to be met with a sight that froze his very soul.

A black car hurtled toward them, a dark harbinger of doom, its speed rendering escape impossible.

Panic surged through Silas as he instinctively shielded his head, convinced that death was imminent. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the chill of icy arms encircled him, a strange comfort amidst the terror.

When he opened his eyes, he found Keira's cold form shielding him, but the question of why gnawed at him.

She had thrust him to the floorboard with a force that left him breathless, her body a protective barrier above him.

The impact of the car was a violent jolt, pain radiating through him like wildfire, consuming his consciousness until darkness claimed him.