Chapter 4: The Big Chase

The car roared through New Verona's dark streets, tires screaming on the wet road. Bullets banged the back—ping, ping, ping!—making the metal shake. Isabella curled up tight in the backseat, her hands over her ears, crying loud. Her white dress was a mess, torn and sticky with blood—her dad's and now her own from scraped knees. Her arm throbbed where Dante had yanked her, a big purple bruise blooming. Her tummy growled so loud it hurt, empty since yesterday, making her head spin. She was cold, her bare feet numb, her dark hair tangled and wet with tears. She was scared, hungry, and hurting, a little bird caught in a storm.

Dante sat in front, his gun out, yelling, "Faster, Marco!" His voice was mean, his gray eyes wild, like a wolf ready to bite. Marco gripped the wheel, driving hard, his sneaky smile gone. "They're close, boss!" he shouted, pushing the gas. The car jerked, throwing Isabella against the door. She yelped, her shoulder banging hard, and sobbed louder, "Please, stop!" Her voice was tiny, breaking apart, but they didn't hear—or didn't care.

Lights flashed behind them—bright, angry headlights chasing fast. More bullets hit—crack!—shattering the back window. Glass flew everywhere, sharp bits cutting her arms. She screamed, high and scared, bending low. "Help me!" she cried, but nobody answered. Her hands shook, blood dripping from little cuts, mixing with the mess on her dress. She was so helpless, so alone in this nightmare.

"Who are they?" Dante roared, twisting to look back. His scar looked uglier in the flashing lights, his face red with anger.

"Don't know!" Marco yelled, turning sharp. The car slid, tires squealing, and Isabella rolled, hitting the seat hard. Her head banged, stars popping in her eyes, and she whimpered, dizzy and sick. Her tummy twisted worse—she needed food, water, anything—but all she got was pain.

The car sped onto a big road, tall buildings gone, just dark trees and rain now. Headlights kept coming, closer, brighter. Dante shot out his window—bang, bang!—the noise so loud Isabella covered her ears again, crying, "No more!" Her whole body shook, every bang making her jump. She wanted her dad, her warm bed, her old life—but it was all gone, stolen by Dante.

Then—crash! Something hit the car hard, a big jolt throwing them forward. Isabella slammed into the front seat, her nose smashing, blood running hot down her face. She screamed, sharp and loud, holding her nose. It hurt her so badly to the point she couldn't breathe right, tears mixing with the blood. "Ow!" she sobbed, rocking back and forth. She was bleeding, bruised, and so scared. It was hurtful to watch.

"Keep going!" Dante shouted, grabbing the wheel to help Marco. The car swerved, bumping over rocks, the engine roaring loud. Isabella slipped again, her hands covered in blood sliding on the leather seat. She left behind red marks. Her knees hurt badly, her nose was hurting in pain, and her stomach felt empty and sick. She felt like she was falling apart.She was a total mess, physically and emotionally. Every part of her body hurt, and she felt weak and tired. She didn't know how much more she could take.

Suddenly—bam! The car hit something big, spinning fast. Isabella flew, crashing into the door, her head banging again. The world spun, dark and blurry, and she screamed, "Stop, please!" The car stopped hard, rocking, stuck in mud. Smoke came from the front, stinking bad, and rain poured in through the broken window, soaking her more.

She curled up, crying loud, her whole body sore. "I can't," she whispered, so weak, so lost.

Dante kicked his door open, jumping out, gun ready. "Marco, check it!" he yelled. Marco ran to the front, cursing loud. Isabella sat up slow, her head pounding, blood dripping on her lap. She saw something—a picture, fallen from Dante's pocket, stuck in the mud outside. It was old, wet, but she saw faces—two grown-ups and a kid. Dante as a little boy? With his mom and dad? And… a strange man, tall, with dark hair, smiling creepy. Her heart jumped—who was he?

She reached out, her hand shaking, grabbing the picture quick. Her fingers slipped, muddy and bloody, but she held it tight, staring. "What's this?" she whispered, confused, scared. Another secret, and poor Isabella found it in the middle of all this mess.

Dante turned, fast, seeing her with it. "Give me that!" he roared, walking heavily over. He yanked her arm, pulling her out into the rain. She fell in the mud, crying out, the picture dropping. He grabbed it, his face mad, then slapped her hard across the cheek. The sting burned, her head snapping to the side, and she fell again, sobbing loud. "Don't touch my stuff!" he yelled, kicking mud at her. She curled up, her cheek red and hot, her body shaking in the cold wet. She felt little, so hurt, and he wouldn't stop.

Marco ran back, yelling, "Boss, car's busted! They're coming!" Headlights glowed close now, engines loud through the trees. Dante cursed, grabbing Isabella's hair, pulling her up. She screamed, her scalp on fire, stumbling as he dragged her. "Move!" he shouted, shoving her toward the woods. Her feet slipped, mud sticking, her bloody nose dripping down her chin. She cried, "I can't! Please!" but he pushed harder, rough and mean.

Then—BOOM! A huge noise, like thunder but worse. The car exploded behind them, fire shooting up, heat hitting her back. She screamed, falling again, her hands burning on the hot ground. Dante yanked her up, running fast, dragging her into the dark trees. Bullets flew—pop, pop!—hitting bark, so close she ducked, crying louder. Her legs shook, barely working, her tummy so empty she felt faint. She was trapped, bleeding, scared.

The woods swallowed them, dark and wet, branches scratching her arms as she walked. Dante pulled her along, his grip bruising, her cries echoing. The fire glowed behind, bad guys were shouting and getting closer. She was very tired and couldn't run anymore, her body giving up, but he wouldn't let her stop. What now? Who was after them? She was lost, hurting, and nobody cared.