20. A blast from the past

[Trigger Warning: violence, mentions of rape]

Anastasia...

Gunshots!

Loads of gunshots erupted from nowhere, stealing the peaceful sleep I had encountered. Tania heard them as well because she was wide awake, rubbing her eyes.

The door burst open, causing Tania and I to jump in fright, only to see King hovering under the door frame. He was still in nothing but sweatpants as he rushed up to the closet and came out five minutes later holding what seemed to be vests and weaponry.

" Take," he said as he handed me a vest," wear it under your clothing."

I stood up immediately and took off the shirt I had been wearing, while facing the direction of the door since I wasn't wearing a bra. I tossed the shirt on the bed before I pulled the vest on, and I'm glad it was a silicon fit rather than the heavy one he was wearing. I then placed the shirt over the vest. King's gaze fixated on me.

Tania was wearing the customary vest for her. King pulled on the vest and then placed a black hoodie over his vest. He then started strapping holsters around his body and placed knives and guns in their designated places.

" Daddy what's happening?" Tania asked softly as she watched King prepare himself for a blood bath.

" Bad people want to take you from me," King said, and the innocent girl nodded.

I knew it was probably a lie, but there's always a truth to some lies. I glared at King when I noticed his gaze on me.

" Valentino is assigned outside. I need you and Tania to run out of this house because it's going to become deadly in a few seconds."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

" There are some people trying to enter the premises. We got alerted that a few did enter, so the task team by the gates are trying to do damage control," King said.

" But?" I said and he ran a hand through his curls.

" They came with brutal force," he said, and I immediately started freaking out.

" Will we make it?" I asked frantically.

" You have to," King said solemnly." We need to go now!"

He then handed me a little gun. I frowned at him and he nodded before rushing out of the bedroom and standing under the door frame, only to aim down the hallway and shoot rapidly. The gun shots pierced through my eardrums.

" Let's go!" King roared and I stood on my feet, not forgetting to grab Tania and run out while carrying her.

Three dead bodies were sprawled on the floor. An explosive went off downstairs, edging me to get out of this war-zone.

King was hovering behind me in a protective manner. I then peered down the staircase only to see three people climbing up. I turned back to King.

" Three of them are coming here," I whispered to him and he nodded.

Soon he now stood in front of me before shooting at them. I could hear the bullets penetrate through their bodies, sending them over the stairs. Heavy metal fell on the marble.

King ran down the stairs and I followed behind him. He was picking up some sort of long gun and prepping it for kill.

He then stood up and started aiming at any possible threat. I was following behind him when I heard the elevator ping open. I turned around and froze at what, or let's say who, I saw. He too froze and he seemed mortified.

" Andrea?" he said.

Calling me out by my mother's name. How stupid can this pedophile of a man get?

I started hyperventilating, and my hands were quivering. Tania looked up at me with a confused expression. The man that violated me is now seven steps away from me. His lips quivered into a smirk.

" Anastasia," he snickered evilly, causing me to flinch with fear.

I turned around but King was no longer on the staircase. He was probably in the lobby killing more invaders. It was only me and Tania against the man who raped me and three of his people. I glared back at the stairs, then at him.

" Anastasia, don't do it!" he roared, and then I was out. I was running down the staircase as fast as my feet could take me. I knew they had an advantage, but my legs were high in fear rather than advantage.

" ANASTASIA!" he roared out my name and I could hear him storming down the staircase.

We finally reached the lobby, nothing but a massive shoot out. Alberto was behind the kitchen counter and next to him stood Lorenzo. The invaders were standing not far from the door, my only exit.

I quickly raised up my gun, even though I was inexperienced, no one took into notice of my existence, and bang! Bang! Bang!

The paddling of feet down the stairs brought me back to life. I glared back, only to find the men slowly going down on the floor. Alberto and Lorenzo were shocked at my actions.

" ANASTASIA YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME!" his voice boomed and I started running.

Alberto and Lorenzo are not far from me. Ronaldo came out of nowhere, slicing people's throats. The splattering of blood would keep me awake for a long time.

An SUV was parked not far from us. I noticed how some soldiers entered other SUVs and started driving out of the building. Something major was to happen to the house, I assume.

" ANASTASIA!" He roared yet again, causing all of us to come to an immediate halt. We slowly turned around and saw him standing on the patio. " I WILL FIND YOU! YOU ARE MINE!"

All eyes were on me, and I didn't like that.

A tear escaped my eye before I continued to run towards the SUV. I jumped in and afterwards the rest of the guys followed. I'm not sure where King was, but I knew he was safe.

" Where's Storm?" Ronaldo asked and I frowned.

Whose Storm now?

" He said he would meet us by the walls," the person in the passenger seat said, and the rest nodded.

Soon all the SUVs were racing on the driveway. I had to press Tania's tiny body towards my body and wrap a seatbelt around both of us.

A huge explosion, caused my heart to pump up real fast. I turned around to find the mansion exploding. Each and every section takes its delicate time to get damaged by the flames.

The car came to an immediate halt and soon the doors flew open and closed before we were now in the highway, leaving the premises really quickly.

Our car was the first out, while seven more followed behind us. I couldn't dare remove my eyes from the exploding mansion.

I felt someone staring deeply into my soul and I turned to face them. Ronaldo was staring at me like I was hiding a secret that could help destroy the world. My body was still shivering, so I knew Tania was uncomfortable on me. I unbuckled Tania but jumped up in fright when, out of nowhere, one of the SUVs blew up.

" Shit!" Lorenzo roared out.

" We need to get out of these cars now!" King's voice boomed and then suddenly the doors flew open. Everyone turned to face both Tania and I. I frowned at them.

" Hell no! I'm not jumping out of a car with a baby in my arms! " I roared; my voice still strained.

" You have to," Lorenzo said, and I frowned.

Suddenly, the car came to a halt.

" Get out now!" The driver roared before jumping out of the car himself.

Everyone followed on; Tania and I being the last ones. I noticed that even the other SUVs were emptied out and the men were stalking towards us now.

Lorenzo, out of nowhere, started running. Tania fell out of my hands and was now in Ronaldo's arms while I was tossed on King's shoulder. I lifted my head to see that everyone was running and we were running into the woods.

In fifteen minutes, we started slowing down and now they were walking.

The driver was busy on his tablet and typing really quickly while the other one was on his phone. King set me down on my feet before taking my hand in his. We were now standing in front of a fenced gate.

Ronaldo walked up to a keypad and said, "Ronaldo Xavier Fayez".

The gate buzzed before it slid open. We started walking into the premises slowly. My hands became clammier in King's hand. I looked up at him and saw how serious his face was. I swear he doesn't realise he is holding the hand of his hostage.

In less than five minutes, I could hear tires screeching, making everyone stand on alert. King nodded and with a swift movement, everyone was running again. Soon three jets came into sight. One of them was matte black and the others were white.

" You all know where to go!" Lorenzo said before he headed up towards the matte black jet.

King, Ronaldo, the driver and the passenger were rushing towards the black jet.

Soon they were ascending the stairs and rushing inside the jet. Even in the inside, the jet was black. Soon, the shuttle doors closed and a voice erupted from the intercom.

" This is Johnathan Philips talking and I'll be your pilot. Please put on your seatbelts and prepare for a rushed lift off," he announced.

Soon, King strapped me to the seat. Tania was lying on Lorenzo. I noticed how our jet flew in a different direction than the other two. I glared at King wondering what was happening.

" Where are we going now?" I asked him.

" New York," he said, and I felt my chest clog up.

I'm leaving my home town and going into a different city. King noticed how tense I became at the answer and sighed aloud. I turned to face outside the window before a clearing of throat grabbed my attention. I turned to find Lorenzo and Ronaldo standing over King's seat.

" What the hell?" King groaned.

" Storm, we need to talk to her," Lorenzo said, and I frowned.

So, King's real name is Storm?

He didn't even introduce himself to me.

" Talk about what?" King said, annoyed.

" How do you know Velenski?" Ronaldo said and I frowned.

" Who's that?" I asked dumbfounded and they both, as if planned, laughed evilly in unison, sending the coldest of chills down my spine.

" Don't play dumb with us!" Lorenzo roared in frustration.

" What are they talking about?" King asked, glaring at me.

" I don't know!" I yelled out, frustrated.

" Yes, you do know! How could Velenski know your name and then yell out the fact that you are his?" Ronaldo hissed and the death stare I received from King, almost made me pee my pants.

" The only person that said I was his today was Eric!" I roared in frustration and King froze for a bit, like he was remembering something.

" Eric?" Ronaldo asked confused.

" Eric Velenski," King said like he was remembering something. "That's his full name."

" How do you know him?" Ronaldo asked, his face so scary and deadly.

It was so odd seeing him look at me in that way. I was so accustomed to him looking at and treating me softly, so I was obviously caught off guard. I stared at him for a while before I turned to face Lorenzo. He, too, held the same expression. The only person who wasn't giving me a deadly look was King. It was like he had some sort of idea about what was really happening.

" Andrea Tory," a voice erupted from behind our seat. It was the driver. " Hi, I'm Valentino and you are Anastasia Cataleya Tory, Andrea Tory's daughter."

I nodded at him, a tear not forgetting to escape my eye at the remembrance of my mother.

" Andrea Tory was involved in the mafia?" Valentino asked and I frowned.

" No, she wasn't!" I roared, defending my mother's name.

" Yeah, well explain the situation on why Velenski knows you," Ronaldo seethed and I felt tiny since I was under everyone's gaze.

" I... I... he...," I managed to say but I ran out of words as the memories played back and my eyes became watery.

My chest became too tight to even breathe and I felt myself hyperventilating. I heard someone calling out my name but then I was locked back into a nightmare.

The day I was raped.

I flew from the seat I was in and somehow managed to push the giants from my way before heading at the back of the jet into a room.

A sob escaped my throat as I entered the room. I screamed out loud and suddenly I started throwing everything on the floor. The door flew open and they all stood there, looking at me like I had just lost my fucken mind.

Yes, I have lost it!

" ANASTASIA, STOP IT. YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF!" King roared and I shook tremendously.

From fear, from pain and mostly rage.

" I'm tired," I finally said before feeling my knees give in and I was on the floor surrounded by the sheets I dragged down on the floor.

"Tell us what are you tired of?" Lorenzo said, and I just stared at him.

I stood up and walked over to the bed. I leaned my head against the wall and stared out at the night sky. I was tired of everything and for some reason the men in the room with me repulsed me. They reminded me of the pain and traumas that I experienced because of them.

" When am I going home?" I asked coldly.

" How do you know Velenski?" Ronaldo roared and I flinched.

" THAT'S ENOUGH! " King roared. "Everyone out!"

They all then followed the order like the little minions they were. It was only me and King, yet again and I felt like throwing up, which he noticed and suddenly a bucket was stuffed in my face as I threw up. I threw up all the pain, adrenaline and anger that I felt. I handed the bucket of vomit to King and he gladly took it.

" I hate you," the words came out softly. For some reason, the reaction I received from King was unexpected. He looked beaten and sad, like he had given up on life.

" I hate all you men! I hate you especially! You are no different from Eric. "

Soon a chuckle rasped out of my throat.

I was losing it.

After chuckling, I started laughing. Laughing out loud like I was free spirited before I started sobbing.

A sniff after a sniff.

I was now crying and my hands were covering my eyes as I was shivering. King though, all he did was stare at me.

" He raped me," I whispered. " I was young and he...he raped me. He used to beat up my mom, just like you did to me. But he beat her up every day till my mother had enough and stabbed herself in the stomach. She was pregnant with Andrea and she died in front of me. Somehow, they saved Andrea, but not my mother. He raped me in front of my dying mother. Saying he wanted me to have his child since my mom killed his."

" So, Andrea is Eric's son?" King asked and I nodded.

" He doesn't look anything like him though, and that makes it easier for me not to hate him. I hate Eric! I hate every man that violates me. I hate you as well as Lorenzo."

The bed dipped and I lifted my head to face him. He was hovering over me. I flinched when I saw him raise his hand and he growled.

" WHEN WILL YOU STOP FLINCHING AWAY FROM ME?" He roared.

" I... please leave," I said, shaking.

" Anastasia!" he roared and I started crying.

" Leave please," I said softly and he groaned out loud before storming out the room and banging the door shut. I cried, silently so that no one could hear my pain. Only I and the darkness should know of my pain. Everyone else, except for Tania and my brother, I hated them.