Chapter 4

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔

Time passed, and Sheena lived like a prisoner in a golden cage. Her room was luxuriously equipped, and she had every comfort and luxury at her disposal. Yet, she felt trapped; she could not escape the feeling of imprisonment. The lady, named Martha, treated her kindly, but Sheena still felt a lingering suspicion, doubting if it was merely a facade.

Every time Eden came to visit her, she felt a shiver run down her spine, bracing herself for that dreaded event that had not yet occurred. Each time, he simply checked on her and left without going further.

Eden's behavior towards her was puzzling. He didn't behave like the man who had kidnapped her. It was perplexing.

She was puzzled by his actions. She wondered why he had not touched her yet. Every time he visited her, he simply checked on her well-being and then left. It was as if he deliberately chose to maintain a distance between them.

𖤓

Late at night, Sheena sat on the bed, immersed in her thoughts. Suddenly, the sound of the door opening shattered the silence, and her eyes fell upon Eden's figure as he entered the room. Her body instantly tensed up.

Eden moved stealthily to the small balcony, his back turned to her, silently gazing out the window. The atmosphere was thick with tension, palpable and oppressive.

She studied him silently, awaiting his words, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the window. He was as inscrutable as a carved stone, offering no hint of his thoughts or intentions.

After some time, he finally spoke, his back still turned to her. His tone was cold and detached. "Why do you look so scared? I'm not going to do anything to you."

She looked at him in disbelief, not sure if he was being genuine or mocking her. But when he turned around and looked at her with that same aloof expression, she realized he was being serious. " Why..wont you...?"

He smirked at her question, his gaze turning cold. "Why do you ask? Do you want me to?"

She felt her heart drop at his words. "...No..."

He stood immobile, his gaze fixed on the night sky outside. Dark clouds painted the sky, and a gentle breeze tousled his dark hair every now and then. Without averting his gaze, he calmly addressed her. "Stop acting like a scared little mouse every time I'm near you," he said, tilting his head to look at her. "Come, stand at the balcony. The wind is nice, and you seem like you need some fresh air."

Seeing her hesitation, he let out a scoff before taking a gun from his side and casually hurling it onto the bed.

"Feel free to shoot me if I do anything," he said matter-of-factly. "Now come here."

She was taken aback by his audacious gesture, wondering if he realized he had just handed her a gun. The opportunities for escape were clear, yet his firm gaze made her second-guess her decision.

She slowly rose from the bed, with trepidation in her movements, and cautiously made her way towards him, standing next to him on the balcony. She couldn't help but feel hyper-aware of his closeness, their bodies mere inches apart.

A tense silence engulfed them, broken only by the soft whisper of the cool breeze. Despite its pleasant feel, Sheena still felt uneasy in his presence. She averted her gaze to the balcony railing, her expression pensive.

He inhaled deeply and muttered to himself, "The calm before the storm... Never ceases to excite me." His eyes remained fixed on the horizon, his gaze distant yet intensely focused. It was as if his mind was preoccupied with some imminent event.

"Anyways," he spoke a little loudly this time startling her. A smirk played on his lips as he took her trembling hand, feeling her tense grip on the gun. "Enjoy your stay while you can, princess." In a mocking gesture of a gentleman, he lightly brought her hand to his lips before letting go and straightening himself up, his stoic expression returning.

He nonchalantly bid farewell, his voice cool and detached.

"Adios, princess." With that, he made a graceful exit from the balcony.

Sheena pondered over his behavior, bewildered by his erratic mood swings. She felt a nagging feeling that there was something hidden behind his behavior, a secret he didn't want to reveal.. She stared at her trembling hand, the gun still gripped firmly in her grasp. It was beautifully crafted and decorated with intricate silver designs.

She examined the weapon curiously, noticing its full magazine. She wondered why he had left it behind, especially since it clearly wasn't empty. Was he testing her resolve, daring her to escape?

She knew confronting the bodyguards would be a risky move, as they could be highly trained fighters who wouldn't hesitate to use force if provoked. She contemplated whether to use the elderly lady as leverage, her gut instincts telling her that she might be important to Eden in some way.

Suddenly, the floor trembled, and the sound of a nearby explosion broke the silence, jolting her out of her thoughts. She stood there frozen, her mind racing to make sense of what just happened.

Confusion seized her, and she sprinted toward the door, only to find it locked. Pounding at the door, she heard the distant sounds of shouting and footsteps rushing around.

"What the hell is going on?" She muttered under her breath, kicking at the door in frustration. Disheartened by the solidness of the door, she pointed the gun at the lock, her finger on the trigger, but the weapon refused to fire. She scoffed in anger, throwing the gun onto the bed.

"I knew it! He gave me a faulty gun! Damn bastard!"

Knock knock.

She whipped her head towards the sound, trying to locate its source. Thw window. She cautiously made her way to the balcony, but there was no one in sight. Suddenly, she felt a strong grip on her body as someone covered her mouth and held her from behind.

"Don't scream." A soft, but authoritative voice warned in a hushed tone. The grip on her tightened, making it clear that resistance was futile.

The familiar voice, though hushed, carried a weight of familiarity that made her stop fighting back.

He released his grip on her, allowing her to turn around and face him.

She looked at him, taking in his appearance. He was clad in an all black suit, and the contrast between it and his green hair and eyes made him stand out, attractive and commanding in his presence.

Jade scanned the area, his gaze sharp and focused. He noticed her teary eyes as she stared at him, the tears now visible on her cheeks.

"I am here now. I will get you out." Jade's reassurance was firm, his voice steady as he made his way to the railing and began securing a rope against it, his movements efficient and practiced.

"How did you get here?" Sheena inquired.

"This." He responded simply, gesturing towards the rope and hook.

"And that explosion?...was it your doing?" Sheena questioned further.

"A little distraction is always helpful." He smirked, a hint of mischief in his tone.

"But why? You could have been out of trouble..." She continued, a hint of concern in her voice.

"I had a promise to keep." He spoke firmly, his gaze fixed on the rope hanging from the balcony.

"Can you climb?" He asked, his gaze finally shifting towards her, the rope dangling behind them.

"I... I can't." Her voice wavered as she admitted her fear of heights and her lack of experience in scaling ropes or heights.

He sighed, sensing her hesitation, and urged her closer. "Come here. Hurry!" Jade motioned with his hand, his impatience clear.

She approached him, her gaze fixed on the long drop below, as panic set in. "What would I have to do?" She whispered softly.

With a shrug, Jade answered, "Just cling to me for dear life."

She blushed but allowed him to pick her up, wrapping her legs around his torso and her arms around his neck. She felt the proximity intensely, but the urgency of their situation forced her to push aside her feelings for the moment.

He placed a hand on her hip, his fingers holding her tightly, while he wrapped the rope around his other hand. With a deep breath, he let go of her completely, leaving her clinging to him with her own strength.

With a firm grip, he started descending down the rope, moving carefully and slowly, his body straining with the effort. She felt his struggle, the tension palpable, and she feared they might fall. She closed her eyes, burying her head in his neck, seeking comfort and security in his embrace.

"Don't move much." He grunted a warning.

The descent felt like an eternity, and when he finally felt the ground, he noticed Sheena still clinging to him in fear. A smirk played on his lips as he patted her back.

She looked up, locking eyes with him, their faces just inches apart. Her heart raced, and she felt a wave of heat rushing up her neck. Embarrassed, she hastily disentangled herself from his embrace, her voice soft and grateful. "Thanks."

Jade spoke seriously, his gaze alert and vigilant as he pulled her along, "No, don't thank me yet. We haven't escaped yet."

He drew a gun and guided her carefully, weaving through the shadows to avoid detection. The adrenaline of the escape raced through her veins, yet Jade remained focused, silently taking out any men who crossed their path.

The path to escape seemed more manageable due to the diversion caused by the explosion, with fewer guards to contend with. Yet, Jade still needed to take down a few opponents as they ran. His aim remained precise, his shots precise, even in the midst of motion.

They approached the entrance, and the parked car came into view. The exact same car that Eden had used to drive Sheena into the mansion.

Jade checked the car, but it was locked. He shattered the glass with the last bullet in his gun and opened the door, ready to guide her into the vehicle when suddenly...

A man appeared, his gun pointed directly at Sheena. His command was clear, "Stop! If you move, I'll shoot her." Jade was acutely aware of the danger.

He evaluated the situation carefully. The man's skills seemed formidable, and the distance between them favored his potential countermeasures. Realizing that any move could be anticipated.

"Hold your hands up!" Said the man.

The man's command rang through the air, and Jade complied, knowing that any resistance could jeopardize Sheena's safety. distant voices of other men could be heard, signaling the imminent arrival of reinforcements.

The tension in the air was palpable, and the situation remained precarious. Jade had to tread carefully to ensure Sheena's safety. He tried to think of a way out, his gaze scouring the surroundings for options.

Just as the situation seemed dire, a gunshot rang out, piercing through the air and finding its mark. The man crumpled to the ground, his head a gruesome sight. Blood pooled around him. However, there was no one in sight on the roof of the building. Whoever took the shot had vanished without a trace.

Sheena, startled by the sudden turn of events, asked, "Who was that?"

But Jade shook his head, equally puzzled. He spoke urgently, "I want to know just as badly as you do, but right now, we need to get out of here."

Jade guided Sheena into the passenger seat and started the car's engine, speeding away from the house before they could be discovered.

As they drove away from the house, Jade swiftly navigated through the roads, trying to put as much distance between them and their pursuers. Sheena looked back, half-expecting to see Eden's men closing in.

"Where are we going?" Sheena asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Jade glanced at her, his expression softening. "Somewhere safe. We'll figure out the rest later."

Sheena nodded, still trying to process the events of the past few hours. She looked at Jade, her rescuer, and felt a mix of emotions: gratitude, relief, and... something more.