Another Love

Another Love

Chapter 9: Panic room

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warnings: physical and psychological violence, abuse of bodily integrity

MC's POV

I woke up and was greeted by complete darkness.

My body was tense, probably from lying indefinitely on the cool cement. I shook my neck and heard the characteristic snap of bones. I felt a great thirst. Is it because of the drugs they injected me? They probably caused dehydration of the body. I strained my eyes, trying to see anything that would tell me where I was. Unfortunately, the room was unlit, and the only thing I knew was that it was cold in here and that I was lying on cement.

I stood up on shaky legs and immediately had to lean against the wall because of the dizziness and headache. I haven't been standing for the last... Exactly how long have I been in this darkness? How long has it been since that early morning when I left Jake? I cursed myself deep down for ever leaving that fucking motel. After a few minutes I regained control of my body, so I headed towards the door where I saw a small window, which unfortunately was covered with bars. A streak of light suddenly shone through that small window. So someone turned on the light in the hallway.

I stood in front of the door and pounded on it with all my strength.

– What do you want from me?! – I screamed, still pounding until my knuckles started to burn

Less than 5 minutes passed, and I heard footsteps, and the door flew open forcefully pushing me from the exit. Four men dressed in dark shades entered the room. They had hoods on their heads, so I couldn't see their faces. My heart began to beat mercilessly fast, painfully pounding against my chest.

– Sleeping Beauty has finally graced us with her presence. – one of them said, and his voice made me shiver with fear. But I wasn't about to give them the satisfaction.

– Who are you? – I asked again, trying to control my voice. – What do you want from me?

The man who had spoken earlier took a few more steps to stand in front of me. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek and his hand touching it.

– It's nothing personal, birdie. – he said, his thumb grazing my lower lip. – But your lover got under our skin. Tell me how does it feel to be his whore?

I clenched my jaw, trying not to let my anger influence my behavior. I might have done something I would regret.

– I don't know what you're talking about.

– Don't pretend to be dumber than you are. – he growled with undisguised anger – Fucking Jacob. But you probably prefer to call him Jake, don't you? What else do you call him? Jakey? Sweetie? Or maybe my lion?

You can see he was a Game of Thrones fan.

I felt him staring at me intensely, but I remained silent.

– Are you silent now? – he asked with dripping irony. – I'm sure those pretty lips can make a sound. Your dear Jake has heard them already?

– Screw you.

I felt a hard slap on my cheek, which made my face contort the other way. The force of the impact made my ears stop, but in the background I heard an unknown man shouting something to the others. Suddenly, my eyes stung terribly as the lights in the room turned on.

I had to blink a few times to get used to the brightness. I didn't even have time to register how the other two men grabbed me by the arms and pulled me towards a chair I hadn't seen before. I was kicking like an animal, scratching their hands and screaming senselessly for which I got another punch, this time in the stomach. I tried not to cry out in pain as they tied my ankles with rope to the legs of the chair.

– We'll hurt you worse if you won't shut up. – one of them said, moving away from me

I moved my bound limbs to see if it would be possible to get out of the grip of the ropes. Well, it was a miracle. I looked up, meeting the man in front of me. Now I could see his face. He was about 40 years old and had a beard on his face. His eyes were the color of spring grass.

– You want to get Jake, I already know that. But what did he do to you? – I asked, subconsciously contracting my muscles to loosen the bonds just a little

– You think you know him, but the truth is you don't know shit about him. – he answered shortly, and I saw that he was holding a gun and a hunting knife in his belt. – Didn't you know that your hero Jake has something to do with an organization that sells organs?

– You think I'll believe you? – I replied as he raised his eyebrows and smiled genuinely

– You are naive. You think a hacker with skills like him will waste his time hacking games or some shit? – he asked looking me straight in the eye. I swallowed. – Darling, Jacob helped us find people with the healthiest organs. You probably know that he's capable of finding all sorts of information about people, right? Health cards, jobs, private life. He gave it all to us on a platter so that later other people would properly take care of such a unit. He knowingly sent them to certain death.

It's all lies. Don't believe them, MC.

My heart stopped and my stomach twisted in unpleasant spasms. I was starting to feel stuffy.

– That's true, birdie. – He walked over to me and crouched down so our faces were on the same level. I dully and stubbornly looked at my lap, but his firm grip on my jaw made me look at him. His strong touch almost crushed my chin. – We don't have to cut you. You just need to tell me where he is.

– I don't know. – I answered immediately – Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you anything.

A soft laugh escaped his lips before he gripped my hair tightly and pulled my head back. I groaned in pain.

– I totally understand why he likes you so much. – he muttered, holding on tight – I'd like to tame such a wild girl too. See her begging for mercy.

He let go of my hair and took a knife from his belt. I began to breathe faster, watching as he cut my dress with a decisive and quick movement. He ripped it off my body leaving me in my underwear. I flinched and thrashed in my chair as he devoured my almost naked body with his gaze while his knife wandered over it.

– Enough.

I lifted my eyes to the door where a man a little younger than the others was standing. I realized that he was probably in charge of the entire organization. He had a distinctive mustache and piercing brown eyes. He raised his hand, and the man in front of me reluctantly moved away.

– Sorry, they still haven't learned any manners. – he said to me, and there was some crazy smile on his face – How’s it feel to be in here, princess?

I shivered as I smelled his scent. His aura reeked of blood and corpses.

– I'd prefer my bed, but it could be worse. – I replied making him chuckle

– Little miss sassy. – he muttered under his breath and walked over to me. I held my breath, expecting the worst, but with a sigh he crouched down and untied the ropes. As much as I wanted to fucking move my limp limbs, I was frozen like a stone, afraid to move. – You can call me an Artist.

I nodded my head slightly. He looked at me with some madness in his eyes. He must have been imagining me with my throat slit or my guts torn out.

– You must think we're monsters. – he said, and his tone was appallingly sad and serious. – Look at it another way. We help people in need. We save the lives of people who urgently need a transplant, and waiting in hospital queues would kill them.

– By killing others? By depriving them of choice? You are ruining the lives of their families as well.

Artist clucked impatiently.

– You're very pessimistic about it. – he admitted and his fingers began to move over my body like a brush on a canvas. – You will be my greatest art, dear MC. You don't know how long I've waited to have someone like you here.

And then he left with everything else. He slammed the door shut and I immediately ran to it and slammed it with my hand.

– Let me out! – I screamed. – I won't tell you anything, so you might as well kill me right now!

I will not give them control.

In the window I saw the man who had torn off my dress earlier.

– Don’t scream, you’re only wasting your precious energy. – he said, licking his lip disgustingly – Or scream. It's turning on and no one here will hear you anyway.

I slid down the wall, no longer holding back tears. I felt bile in my throat, because through the eyes of my imagination I saw my own death. Slow and painful. I was shaking, unable to catch my breath.

Soon after, the lights went out. They tried psychological tricks, trying to break me. They gave me apparent freedom by getting rid of the ropes, but by locking me in complete silence and darkness, they knew they had control over me.

I never thought that silence could be louder and more overwhelming than screaming.

Then I swore one thing. I won't let them break me even if it means that they will kill me.

Another Love

Chapter 6: Cherry

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author's note: sorry for the long break in chapters. there was supposed something else going on in this chapter, but I dragged it out as I was writing. You can expect the next chapter after the weekend. lot of love and i hope you'll like it! <3

I screwed up. I knew it when I slipped out of bed in the morning and put on my dress from the last evening. I did it as quietly as possible so as not to wake up the still sleeping hacker. How come he didn't wake up? In fact, I tried to keep it quiet, but Jake always seemed like the kind of person who never felt safe and secure enough to be in such a deep sleep.

I was already at the door the last time I looked at him. He was lying on his stomach, his arms wrapped around a pillow. He was covered with a duvet from the waist down, so that the newly rising sun shining in pink streaks illuminated his scratched back. My heart sank at the sight. I was wondering who did this to him? His entire back was adorned with scars. Some were smaller, and some were heartbreaking with their size. I could imagine how painful it must have been for him.

I thought about why I was doing this. I had to think about it alone. Without anyone's glance, advice or words. I felt overwhelmed by everything that happened yesterday. I didn't regret anything, but it still felt weird. I needed a moment to think it over and get used to it. Yesterday's emotions and anger subsided, now I had to come to terms with this feeling and wonder if I was able to forgive Jake.

Did I want to forgive him?

I gave him one more look before silently walking towards the bed. The black-haired man let out a loud sigh and then snored softly. I smiled and warmth spread inside me. I leaned in and kissed his hot cheek. Perhaps I've been doing it too long. However, after a few moments, without turning around, I left the room and the hotel building.

I walked for a few minutes, the crisp air caressing my body and hair. I thought about the whole situation. But one thought overshadowed all others. Jake lived and was whole and healthy.

Jake was alive.

Incredible relief and childlike joy filled my veins. At one point, I stopped and leaned against the wall of the building, because it made my head spin. Yesterday's anger almost evaporated and left a place for ... understanding? Of course, I was still outraged by how Jake had treated me, but I couldn't be angry with him for long. My outburst of anger was caused by suppressing my emotions. I didn't let them get to me, I lived in one pattern that suited me, completely excluding feelings. Work, apartment, casual sex. It all went away when Jake came back into my life. He broke a barrier that was deep inside of me.

My mouth twisted into a wide smile. I also felt my eyes fill with tears. But I haven't felt this light in a long time. I looked around and the world around me became... friendlier? The colors became more vivid and the air began to smell like my favorite fruit. July cherries that grew in a Californian park near my house. The last time I felt this happy was two years ago. When I was texting with a mystery hacker. I was completely different then. I sniffed, letting the tears soak my hot cheeks. I was almost levitating off the ground and almost punched myself in the face as I remembered Jake's words.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

He'll be gone in a few hours.

Could I let him go again if I just got him back?

I quickly wiped my face and turned around. I'm not gonna act like Jake. I won't let us be separated this time.

* * *

Jake's POV

I woke up and automatically knew something was wrong. The first one was the fact that I woke up fully rested. I haven't felt it in about six years. Why did I sleep so long?

Because you were with her, you idiot. And finally you felt safe.

Still without opening my eyes, I reached my hand over to the other side of the bed. It was cold. Empty.

Nothing has so refreshed me in a long time and woke me up immediately. I sat up, staring at the empty room. It was nothing new. I was used to solitude and silence. However, the silence had not been as overwhelming as this morning for a long time.

So she left.

I had no right to judge her. After all, I was the one who left her without explanation for two years. Despite this, I felt a terrible emptiness because I didn't have time to talk to her without anger. Without screaming. We parted without saying goodbye again.

I had no idea how long I sat in one place staring at the wall. The ringing of the phone snapped me out of my trance. I furrowed my eyebrows but picked up immediately.

– Hello Lily. – I greeted, and my voice was automatically transformed by one of the changers

– Is MC still with you? – she asked in a shaky voice that sent a shiver down my spine. – Please tell me she's with you.

– She's not here. – I swallowed and my palms began to sweat – What's going on, Lilly?

– There's no contact with her. I wanted to apologize, but she didn't answer which is not like her. I asked others to try too, but that didn't work either.

In the background, I could hear the muffled voices of Jessica, Dan and Hannah. But I was paralyzed with fear. The terrifying, relentless fear of losing the only person I cared about.

I don't know when I hung up, but the phone fell from my trembling hands. Her handbag, which she had forgotten to take, caught my attention. I opened it immediately, looking for something that would allow me to create a plan. I've always had one, haven't I? I never lost my common sense and cool calculation of evidence. However, inside I found only her wallet and a scarf.

A scarf that still smelled like her and her cherry perfume.

me and the fbi want the same man

Another Love

Chapter 7: Hostage

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warnings: mention of blood

Jake's POV

At first I thought that the day I had to leave my family, home and everything I cared about was the worst day of my life. Then another shadow came in the form of my sister Hannah being kidnapped. The fear of losing the only family I had left was paralyzing. Worse yet, it happened right in front of my eyes. In truth, through a video call, but the more anger and fear was greater because I couldn't do anything.

However, these two days of my life had no comparison to the one where MC went missing.

I immediately abandoned my plan to leave Duskwood. I didn't care about the consequences, being caught or being recognized. The only priority at the moment was the MC. The woman who took over my whole life. It may have been two years, but my feelings for her have not diminished. Yes, I left her, but I did it for her sake. I know it was selfish, but from the beginning I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew our relationship wasn't going to work, that's why I resisted it for so long. Unfortunately, I did not foresee that the heart is a dictator and not a servant, and I was unable to resist my growing feelings for the brown-haired woman for so long. I broke her heart with many things. A fake funeral, leaving, a declaration of love. But I couldn't tell her to her face that we had to part ways. I knew that if she asked, she would say even one sentence - I would agree. And this would put her life at risk.

The people who want to get me are not gangsters who will forgive your mistakes for even the most sincere apology. They are people who thirst for blood. They want to spill as much as possible, and I was the one who particularly got under their skin. Over the years, my morale has made me many enemies. And the government was just one of them. I became convinced of their brutality and not forgetting old mistakes. Because they never forgot, much less forgave.

The day after the news of the disappearance of MC dragged on mercilessly. I tried to separate emotions from reason, although with each passing hour more and more feelings and panic began to take over my brain and body. I was looking for any clue that would bring me closer to finding the MC. But she literally disappeared without a trace. It was as if she had melted into the cool, rainy air.

Was she scared? Was she able to defend herself? Or was she unable to do anything because she was shackled? Did her captors treat her with brutal violence? Did she realize that I was doing everything I could to find her and that I would never leave her like this? Has she lost hope of being released? Has she lost hope in me?

Was loneliness killing her? Has the silence in the dark loneliness become louder than the screams?

All I knew was that if loneliness was going to drown me, I'd like to die with her. Wherever she was. Because even during the short time in which we met, loneliness was no longer as onerous as it used to be.

In the afternoon, while I was intently searching for any camera that could record the MC's whereabouts, I heard muffled voices and screams from the hotel corridor. I tensed, listening to who the voices belonged to. Moments later, I heard a sharp tug on the doorknob of my room and a loud bang on the door.

– Open or I'll break the door! – she screamed, pounding harder and harder – I'm not joking!

I hurried out of the bedroom and opened the door. And in front of me stood an angry Jessica with Dan and Thomas. The redhead was flushed with anger, and Dan seemed just as upset, even though he hid it better. Surprised, I didn't realize when Jessica, entering inside, pushed me hard.

– Why has it all started again since you came back? – she asked, looking me straight in the eyes, and the hatred that flowed from them was hard and overshadowed everything else. – History comes full circle. Someone close to me has gone missing. And it's all because of you!

I stared at her with my jaw clenched tightly. I listened and couldn't stop because she was right.

– Jessy… – Thomas began

- No, not Jessy! – she interrupted him with a scream. – I thought you were worth it all! That she will be fine with you, that she will finally regain the love and light she lost! But Dan was right when he said you're just a son of a bitch. You had everything and you left her. You shouldn't go back. You came back and she got lost because of your problems and people looking for you! You never deserved her. You don't deserve a good and loving person like her.

At one point, Thomas grabbed her and began to drag her towards the exit. But the redhead kept throwing accusations at me that hurt all the more because I knew she was right.

– I hate you! – she kept screaming, thrashing like a captive animal. – And I'll hate twice as much if you make me lose MC too!

Thomas took her down the hall, and Dan finally gave me a look. Surprisingly, there was no hate in him, just an unspoken plea.

– Promise you'll find her.

I swallowed.

– I promise.

But that day, Jessica came back to my room in the middle of the night crying, repeating like a mantra that we both didn't deserve her. She was right about that too. We didn't.

* * *

Honestly, after a day of searching, I was even hoping that the government had found her. They could be brutal, but they'd make a deal to take me and let her go. However, this hope evaporated when two days later I found a small box under the door of my room. I opened them and the sight paralyzed me.

Inside lay a bloody finger with a medium-length red nail on which was a ring. Exactly what the MC wore.

There was also a piece of paper with a chic, elegant handwriting.

Hurry up and find your lover because she already has many buyers for different parts of her body. ;)

i want to write some fanfic, i have scenes in my head all the time, but i lack motivation😫

just our favorite comedic duo