Chapter 13: Vivian

Don't stop! He could be right behind you!

That voice screamed in my head as I ran without turning back. My breath was heavy, and my knees were quaking, but I wouldn't slow down. I needed to get as far away from him as possible.

He must've figured out that I'd taken off and might just as well corner me at any time, so I didn't have the luxury of stopping to catch my breath.

If you don't stop, you'll pass out. I think you're far enough now; slow down.

I refused to listen to that voice, too scared of what he would do to me if he caught me. Men like him didn't take being played for granted, and Daniil didn't strike me as someone with a forgiving heart. I'd started this, and I needed to see it through to the end. What use was it to attempt an escape, only to get caught again?

There was no plan in my head, nothing at all. My mind was blank, and I didn't care; all I wanted was to get away from my captor. Anywhere would suffice as long as it wasn't his place.

Vivian, slow down.

No!

I kept running, oblivious to those around me. My shoes were pounding on the ground, almost rhyming with the sound of my heartbeat. My breath was becoming too hard to catch, and my feet hurt so much. I couldn't continue to ignore these signs, lest my heart give out.

The sun had set and given way to darkness and the shadows lurking within. Reaching for an alley wall, I slowed, panting like a relay racer. My nostrils weren't enough to help me breathe, and I had to use my mouth, as well. I could hear the muffled sounds of my heartbeat. My legs could no longer carry me, and I reflexively leaned my back against the wall and slid all the way to the floor.

My hoodie was flipped over my head, concealing my identity, and a trash bin was by my side, painting a scene like I was a homeless beggar. Well, that wasn't far from the truth; I was homeless, and I didn't have any money on me—nothing. How ironic!

I tried to stand, but my entire body was aching. The street I'd found myself in was quiet, with the soft glow of the street lamps casting eerie shadows on the sidewalks.

With my palm over my face, I sighed, contemplating my next move and questioning my decision to run.

Did I make the right choice?

At the time, yeah, it sure seemed like it. Now, though, I'm not sure running away was the best idea.

Of course! It was that voice that always complained but never offered any solution.

That's really not helpful.

My voice of reason said, But it's the truth. Neither of you listened to me when planning how Vivian would escape, so you got her into more trouble.

I think you should stop talking now; the girl is stressed…. She's confused.

Yeah, that happens when you don't listen to that tiny voice in your head—you know what that's called? Disobedience.

Okay, you need to shut up now.

Do you remember what happened the last time she was alone in a spooky street like this?

I said, shut up.

I'll remind you: She fucking got kidnapped and was almost shipped to God-knows-where to be used as some sort of sex slave or something.

Okay, that's it. You're done.

Enough, both of you! I screamed in my head. Will you just be quiet for one second? I'm trying to think here, Jesus Christ!

Ohh, she's pissed.

She said to shut it.

"Argh!" I groaned out loud. "It's official; I'm losing my mind."

Maybe this is what happens with crazy people…. They talk to the voices in their heads—only they do that out loud.

"You really need to shut up." Again, I said it aloud, and when I realized that, I paused for a second, shaking my head.

Yup! That's how it starts.

I ignored that pesky little voice and tried to find a solution, but I couldn't do that sitting there and arguing with the voices in my head. Straining at my aches, I struggled to get back on my feet. I let out a sigh and summoned the courage to push myself forward.

The street was lonely, with a dog barking in the distance. It was cold outside, but my hoodie protected me from it. With my hands in my pockets, I walked down the street, having nowhere in particular to go.

I had no place to rest my head, and my stomach was rumbling; I was hungry. The more I wandered, the more a part of me regretted leaving.

Daniil was a monster and a hardened criminal, but at least, in his own twisted way, he cared for me, and my God! He fucked me well. I might have been a prisoner at his place, but I hadn't lacked anything—nothing at all.

My plan to do everything just to make him believe that I'd submitted had worked, but at the same time, while I'd been pretending to have accepted my fate, I was also starting to enjoy his company. We'd hardly spoken much, as we were having sex most of our time together, lots and lots of great, mind-blowing sex.

My pussy tickled at the thought of how manly he was—how much power his touch held over me. I was drawn to his darkness, which was why I was sometimes shameless around him.

The man took my virginity…. Rather, I chose to give it to him because I was dying to have him inside me. I'd fantasized about fucking him more times than I could count since the very first time I'd seen him. So, when he finally had fucked me, the experience was nothing short of what I'd expected. It was, in fact, better than I could've ever imagined.

His cock, so veiny and long—thick and fleshy—always hit the right places, making me scream out in pleasure.

And his tongue!

My body shivered at the thought of all the things that the organ did to my pussy. It really was magical—the things that tongue did to me. Daniil was an expert.

Then there were his hands, those masculine hands!

Even now, I could feel them caressing me, holding me possessively. In a very weird way, I'd come to be comfortable with his possessiveness.

I thought about his lips and how he'd used them to kiss me so fervently. The man might've been a ruthless criminal, but he was such a good lover.

Now, I was literally having cold feet and having to rethink things.

Was leaving him the right choice…?

Yes, it was!

I deserved better than to be treated like I was only good for sex. I had my life to live; I had dreams, goals, and aspirations. I wasn't going to let that all slip away just because my captor had a great cock and was probably the world's best fucker.

It didn't matter how good the sex was; I had made my bed and was determined to lay in it. Leaving that dangerous man wasn't a bad idea.

I knew he was a very powerful man, and men like him often had eyes in the street, reporting to him on matters like this.

Shit!

I needed to be careful and smart, so I bent my head down even though the hoodie had concealed my identity. I needed to make a call, but how? I didn't have a phone.

My voice of reason said to me, Then get one.

And how's she supposed to do that? the other voice asked.

I spotted a woman approaching me. She seemed a bit classy, and I watched her get off the phone and place the device in her handbag.

Hold the fuck on! Don't tell me you want her to do what I think you want her to do.

I knew what I had to do. I wasn't going to like it, but it was the only option.

You know, for a voice of reason, you sure aren't reasoning right now.

The other voice, as always, objected.

Ignoring the chattering in my head, I increased my pace, my face still pointed at the ground as I hurried toward the woman, going in the opposite direction.

The collision was fast, and so was I.

"Watch it!" she hollered at me.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized before rounding a corner into another street.

Wow! You actually pulled it off. Congratulations. Now that you're both criminals, you're no better than Daniil.

The tiny voice spoke with palpable sarcasm.

I really can't believe that I'm the voice of reason right now.

Again, I ignored the voice, staring at the phone I'd stolen from that innocent woman when I bumped into her. I really was sorry, but I needed it.

Daniil would definitely come after me, so I had to make a call as soon as possible.

Each time I mentioned his name in my head, images of his hands all over me, his lips on mine, and his cock inside me always had me stoned. I really had gotten so attached to him, and I needed to put an end to that.

As I crossed a road, struggling with the erotic images in my head, I was so distracted that I didn't see the car coming until I heard the tires screech against the asphalt. My heart lurching, I stood in the middle of the road, frozen in place as the car's headlights beamed at me.

I thought for sure that this was the day I would die, but the vehicle swerved to the sidewalk and came to a halt in front of a street lamp.

Under the flickering glow of the lamp, I realized it was a patrol car.

A heavy sigh of relief escaped from my lips. Never had I been so glad to see a cop.

The officer driving stepped out of the vehicle and walked up to me.

"What the hell, man!" he snarled at me.

Shit! He must've mistaken me for a dude.

"Officer, please help me…." I quickly flipped my hoodie off so he would see that I was a woman, a damsel in distress.

"Ma'am, what're you doing out here in the middle of the road?" he asked, concerned.

"Please, you have to help me. I'm in danger. There's a man that's after me. He kidnapped me, and I somehow managed to escape, but I'm afraid that he's going to find me—please, officer, you have to help me." I held on to him, pleading vigorously. "I can't go back there! He can't get me back!" I forced myself to shed some tears.

"Ma'am, you need to calm down so I can understand what you're saying," he said, offering me a polite yet distant smile.

"No, no, no. You don't understand. I'm in serious danger, officer!" I blurted out.

"Okay, alright." He sighed. "Here's what's going to happen: You're going to need to file a report immediately."

"I'll do that; just please get me out of here. Take me to your precinct."

At that moment, I didn't mind sleeping in a jail cell.

"It's dangerous out here; get in," he said, leading the way to his car.

I rushed behind him and entered the car before he drove off.

This officer was a godsend who'd come at the right time to help me with this situation. I sighed softly; finally, I was free. When I got to the station, I would be a lot safer, and I would call the people that I wanted to call.

Glancing at the phone in my hand, I realized I was lucky it had no password. I felt bad for stealing it from that woman, given that I wouldn't be needing it anymore. I was in safe hands now; the cops were involved, so I should be fine.

Wait. Hold on a bloody minute. Why does this road look very familiar?

Because it's the same one Daniil took down when he was taking you out.

Oh, my God…no!

Yup! You're toast!

"You son of a…" I barked at the officer, who was already making a phone call.

I struggled with the door, but it was locked.

"Yes, I have her," he said to the person on the other line.

The officer was obviously working for Daniil, and as he drove me back to the mansion, I saw Daniil stepping out with his goons around him.

"No, no," I lamented softly as the weight of my hopelessness pressed down on my shoulders, practically crushing me.

There was no limit to what this man could do, even from the comfort of his home. I'd known he was well-connected, but I hadn't thought he was powerful enough to buy the loyalty of the cops—the same people who were supposed to guide and protect us.

How would I ever escape this monster? Was I bound to him forever? Why wouldn't he just let me be?

My heart had shattered, and my breath had ceased.

There he was, standing in his compound with that evil smirk etched on his face.

Was this the end for me? Was there still hope of getting away?