Chapter 21: A Near Death Experience

"Andrew? No *Hick* but I have a bottle for you to drown your sorrows in." Hector mused, his figure leaning on the door frame, evidence of his stupor with a half full bottle in his hand and another full in the other.

He placed the full one on the piano after some staggers across the room. "And here, *hick* if you two are planning on going at it in here *hick*. Don't forget." He urged as he placed the key to the room and a condom with it. Her face grew a tinge of disgust however she could only watch as he staggered out of the room.

'It shouldn't have taken him this long to come back, might as well check out the party.' Wondering what was taking Andrew so long, she decided to take a gander at the party as she took the key to the musical room and made her way downstairs.

The dense stench of alcohol was the first thing that hit her like a pile of bricks to the point she was tempted to head back however she decided to push on. It was night time by now and the party was now in full drive.

The blitzy random party lights illuminating the starry sky, the music that was dialed upto eleven as the pool was filled with both ladies and gents showing off their bodies. Some attractive and otters falling short but in the heat of the moment, most couldn't decipher which was which.

Coupling this all together, this wasn't a place she thought that she would see herself in. After navigating through the crowd, she finally made her way to the bar only to be bombarded with the bartenders to have a drink.

"Two shots over here." She heard a voice behind her and before she could react, two shots were slid in her direction. Looking at the one who had made the order, her face was filled with both irritation and displeasure given that she hadn't planned on drinking.

"Thanks but I'm not drinking." She urged as she deflected the glass away from her and strived to head back to her room. "It's just one shot is all." The guy, carefree urged. A golden mullet, tipsy and donned in shorts and a light vest tried to convince her however she left before he could pursue any further.

Given how packed the way back was, she opted that it would be better to head somewhere more isolated as she went round the back and came to the tennis court. However this side despite it's low volume harboured something that she wasn't yet ready to see.

The sights of couples making out could be seen not only out on the court but also some were fucking all over the place like rabbits. 'Why did I even bother coming here?!' She mused as she made her way outside but the crowd of people who were pouring in overpowered her.

With a bit more resilience and perseverance, she found a way to sneak out of the mansion grounds and head out to the streets where least to her expectations wasn't what she had pictured. The sights of cars packed could be seen littered all over the place.

Some performing donuts on the road while others challenged each other in terms of power, trying out drag races from one end of the street to the other. The screeching of tires and the revving of engines was enough to drive her insane.

'I shouldn't have come here!' She concluded in her mind as she started to walk her way back home. "Oh! Cassie! I just ran into Andrew, he's back at the music room." The sound of Hector rang through her ears and looking at the source, he was inside a Chevrolet.

"Tell him that I left!" She declared as she went on with her walk. "Okay but don't you think that you should-" Before Hector could finish his sentence, a disgruntled groan could be heard behind him. "Hey Hector! One of your friends cheated by shorting out my batteries during the race. I want my money back!"

Cassie treated it all as background noise as she went on with her walk. "Look Steven! Unless you show me actual proof that he did, I'm not giving you your money back." Hector mused, his face slightly irritated from the confrontation. "Look! How about a rematch, if you win then you I'll pay you and if you lose then forget about it!"

"Double or nothing!" Steven urged to which Hector visibly frowned. "Now that's just too much Steven." Steven however seem displeased with the terms he offered and in a spite of rage, he pulled out a gun out of his waist and aimed it at Hector. Alongside him so did some of the boys behind him.

The outrage could be heard from afar which prompted Cassie's attention and looking back, she felt terror gnaw in her heart. 'Where the fuck is Andrew?!' She screamed in her mind as she tried to distance herself from the scene.

"Hey you! Get back bitch! Where do you think you're going?!" Steven shouted, is words directed at Cassie who was visibly scared. Cassie could only make her way back to where Hector was. Hector was frozen, his teeth gritted as he saw Steven draw near to him, aiming his gun at his forehead.

"Just for wasting my fucking time! I think that I'll treat myself with what you have!" Steven mused as the goons behind him exclaimed their eagerness. If it was just Steven then Hector would have tried something reckless but with an entire squad backing him up, he could only bend the knee.

"I do appreciate your hospitality Hector, the drinks hit the spot but pushing your luck by the thought of scamming me was where you crossed the line. Run the place." Steven urged his men who charged into the place and shortly after, the sounds of gunshots and screams could be heard.

Hector couldn't believe how this night had turned out but it was too late for regrets, now it was the consequences that he had to endure whilst on his knees alongside Cassie. "You do know that you won't get away with this." Hector mused, his hatred evident in his tone.

"Aw! And what are you gonna do? Call the cops or better yet, call your mommy?" Steven joked as he gave a light laugh which was shared with the rest of the men behind him. "I'm fucking Steven Goldenmaw and prissy fucks like you can't do shit to me so can it!"

*Thud*

Hitting Hector eagerness with the butt of the gun, it sent him sprawling on the ground completely helpless. Cassie could only watch as she wondered as to what Andrew had in his sleeve because the ice beneath them was running thin.

Hector lay helpless, his back facing Steven who cackled at his despair. "Maybe you should give you something to help you remember me." He chuckled as he cocked his gun and aimed not at his head but rather his back.

Given the trajectory, it was clear that it was going to hit his spine. "You fucking scum of a prick basta-" Before he could shoot, he felt his body feel strange, his head light as he used his knees for support. He could feel losing his consciousness and before the rest of his men could catch him...

*Thud*

He fell to the concrete hard ground. His men before rushing to see what was wrong with him experienced such a fate and all fell to the ground. Without wasting any more time, Hector shot to his feet and picked up the gun off Steven's hands and tried to do the same with the rest.

Before he could continue and confiscate the rest, he felt his legs feel like lead, his head light and he tok fell onto the ground similar to Steven. The situation was the same with those present, with a select few remaining completely conscious including Cassie.

She was frightened as she crawled away from the gang but before she could go any further, she collapsed into a familiar figure. It was Andrew who stretched his hand out and helped her to her knees.

Her breathe ragged as her mind recalled how close she was to death. "Where were you? Hector was almost shot!" Her tone laced with worry and a sense of dread. 'I can sense the fear in you, Cassie. Was it because it's not that you feared for Hector but yourself?'

He took the key out of her pocket and placed it in Hector's. She drew out her phone to call the police however as if on cue, she could hear sirens coming to their destination. Andrew took his leave and made his way down the street without care of what next would unfold.

Cassie charged next to them and the two passed the fleet of police cars that flew past them and went their way. The two hopped on a bus and made their way back to the city. Both of them silent before alighting and walking down the streets.

They were packed with people who went about their day however to her surprise, he decided to make a stop at the supermarket and buy some wine before two went back to her apartment. Once inside, she felt that she could now unleash the rage and vent out her frustrations.

"What was that Andrew?! I nearly died!!" She started off however Andrew seemed passive about it as he brought out two glasses and poured wine. He gestured her to join her however it was clear that she demanded an answer.

"Cassie, if you were going to die then I would have made a another set of options that would have ensured that you wouldn't have. Besides the reason as to why I made those choices was so that I could have you outside and make it easier to leave."

He said calmly as he took a light sip of his wine. She let out a defeated sigh as she turned on the TV.