Chapter 11: The Cold Metal Cage

The night was dark and wild, wind was screaming loudly through the trees outside Victor's hideout—a big, shiny metal building sitting creepy and quiet near New Verona's edge. Isabella shook so hard her teeth chattered, Dante's cold gun pressing hard on her forehead—ouch!—his gray eyes mean and wild like a storm. Her leg bled from the dog bite—drip, drip—hot and sticky, running slow down her shin, soaking into the muddy ground—gross! Her burned hands still hurting badly, injuries red and raw, aching with every little move—ow! Her dress hung in torn rags, muddy and bloody, sticking to her scratched legs—itchy and cold. Her ribs ached from kicks, sharp pains stabbing her sides—ow!—and her stomach still making sounds, so empty she felt dizzy and sick. The gag was gone, but her throat scratched like sandpaper, her voice weak and shaky from crying.

"Move!" Dante yelled, his voice booming, shoving the gun harder—ouch!—making her head throb—ow! She cried loud, "No, please!" her beautiful eyes huge and wet with tears, her dark hair tangled, sticking to her muddy face—messy and sad. Victor's deep voice echoed again from the trees, "Give her up, Dante!" loud and scary, cutting through the wind like a monster's growl—he was so close! Men shouted all around—thump, thump—boots stomping heavy in the dirt—crunch, crunch—shadows moving fast in the dark, their voices mean and rough—shouting bad words she didn't like.

Gunshots rang out sudden—pop, pop!—bullets hitting trees—crack, crack!—dirt flying up in little puffs—puff, puff!—hurting her bare feet—ow! Dante cursed loud—Shit!! —grabbing her arm tight—yank!—his fingers digging in deep—ouch!—bruising her more—the injury marks growing. He yanked her back fast—ow!—her bitten leg dragging slow, blood smearing a red line in the mud—drip, drip—her toes curling from the pain—she was so weak! "Hurry!" he shouted, his voice rough like gravel, his scar shiny with sweat, glowing in the moonlight—ugly and red.

She stumbled hard, crying, "I can't!" her voice breaking—tears falling fast like rain—her leg burning hot—ow!—every step a stab—she was trying so hard! But Dante didn't stop, dragging her like a broken doll—her bare feet slipping—squelch, squelch!—cold mud squeezing between her toes, slimy and wet—yuck! The wind whipped her hair—whish!—stinging her scratched cheeks—ow!—and she blinked fast, tears blurring everything—scary trees swaying like ghosts.

The metal doors loomed ahead, big and silver, shining cold in the moonlight—creepy like a giant's teeth. Dante banged them open loud—clang, clang!—the noise bouncing—shoving her inside hard—thump! She fell on the smooth, icy floor—crash!—her knees banging hard—crack!—pain shooting up her legs—ow, ow! She sobbed loud, "Stop it!" her voice shaky and small, echoing in the big, empty space—bouncing off the walls—echo, echo! The hideout was huge, all steel walls and bright lights glaring down—bzzz—like a scary factory full of secrets. Crates and guns sat everywhere—big wooden boxes, black metal shining—shadows stretching long and twisty—it was so big and mean inside.

Victor's men burst in fast—bang!—kicking the doors wide—crunch!—guns up high—click, click!—their boots stomping loud—thump, thump! "There!" one yelled, pointing right at her—his face hidden by a black mask, eyes mean behind it—scary like a bad dream! Dante spun quick—thud!—shooting back—bang, bang!—bullets bouncing off metal—ping, ping!—sparks flying bright like fireworks—pow, pow! Isabella crawled slow—scoot, scoot—crying loud, her bitten leg dragging—ow!—blood leaving a wet, red trail—drip, drip—smearing the shiny floor—gross and sad—she was so slow!

A man grabbed her hair sudden—pulling hard—ow!—her scalp burning like fire—hot and sharp—tears spilling more! She screamed, "Let go!" her voice high—kicking weak—thump!—her bare feet slipping—mud sticking—yuck! Dante roared, "She's mine!" tackling the guy—thud!—punching his face—crack!—blood splashing red—splattering the floor—gross! The man groaned—ugh!—falling hard—thump!—and Dante pulled her up rough—yank!—her arm bruising more—ow!—injury kept growing—she was so little next to him!

"Stay close!" he yelled, dragging her behind a crate—thump!—her scratched knees hitting—ow!—bullets slamming the wood—ping, ping!—splinters flying—prick, prick—stinging her arms—ow! She curled up tight—sob, sob—crying, "I don't wanna die!" her voice tiny and shaky—her burned hands shaking bad—wobble, wobble—bullets so loud—bang, bang!—so close she ducked lower—ow!—her head bumping—thump!

Then, a big metal cage dropped fast from the ceiling—bang!—bars slamming down hard—crash!—dust puffing up—! Isabella screamed, "No!" her eyes huge—tears streaming like rivers—her bitten leg stuck under a bar—ow!—pain shooting up—hot and sharp—ow, ow! Dante cursed loud—Fuck!! —kicking the bars—clang, clang!—his boots banging—thump, thump—but they wouldn't budge—cold and strong like ice—trapping them tight.

Victor walked in slow—thump, thump—tall and thin, his dark hair gray at the sides—shiny in the lights—his black eyes cold like stones—creepy and mean. His fancy coat swept dramatically around him—his neck scar twisty and long—gross in the bright glare—he looked so bad! "Caught you," he said, his deep voice smooth and slow—smiling sly like a fox—his teeth white and sharp, calm—making her shake more—he was in charge!

Isabella shook harder—crying, "Let me go!" her voice weak and small—her tummy twisting tight—she was so hungry, her head spinning—round and round—so scared she hugged herself—ow!—her burned hands hurting— Dante glared at him, gun up—click, click!—his bloody arm shaking—but Victor laughed low—ha, ha—"Too late," waving his hand— Men surrounded them. Guns pointing—click, click—barrels shiny and black—trapping them tight in the cold metal cage—no way out, Victor winning.