Both the men had strong built and scraggly beard with black and brown hairs respectively.

The man with brown hair held her firmly by her waist and covered her mouth at the same time. Meanwhile, the other man watched over the place. She wriggled in his hold and tried to kick him but to no avail. Soon they entered a derelict building, that opened on the other side of the street. They carried her to an alleyway and threw her at piled up empty sacs of grain. She grunted in pain from the harsh contact. Fear tormented her and her heart hammered in her chest. She quickly recovered herself and crouched down by the bin. She wanted to yell but she was mute with horror.

"Are you scared, little girl ?" The brown haired man mocked, with a smirk, spiking her fear. "Just a little fun, I promise." The other one added and tried to near her. She crouched back, her watery eyes fluttered here and there while her hands searched for something she could defend herself with and just when the man was about to touch her, she found a brick behind her. She gripped it and smashed it onto the man's head.

"Fu**" The man cursed loudly as his hand reached to cover his bleeding head and within seconds, he fell on the ground with a loud thud. "You little bitch..." The brown haired man yelled and lurched out for her. He grabbed her by her hair and slapped her right across her face. She fell down from the impact and corner of her lips began to bleed. "I'll show you the consequences of your act." He said, gritting his teeth. Chloe crouched back and tried to stand up but she couldn't it was as if her legs were paralyzed. Her head dropped down, as she tried to stand up again.

Hands of the man had reached to unbutton his shirt but before he could do so his head was roughly slammed against the wall and he immediately fell down, half dead. Shocked, Chloe looked up, and at once more tears began to run down her bruised cheeks.

Sam kneeled down infront of her and without hesitating for a minute, she snuggled against his neck. Her arms squeezed him tightly as she let out all her tears, her lips quivered as hot breaths exited her mouth and fanned his neck. His jaws were tensed and eyes were burning with the fires of hell. He glared at the fallen men ahead and in next moment, wrapped his arms securely around her.

Upon being embraced by him, subconsciously, Chloe hugged him all the tighter. She cried and cried until she drifted off into the oblivion. He slowly placed his arms under her legs and lifted both of them off the ground and carried her to the car, where Markus had the man, their informant, pinned against the car.

It was only when he saw Sam approaching, he loosened his hold around. The man choked onto his own saliva before pulling himself together.

Their eyes travelled to Chloe. The man wore a confused expression while Markus had "concerned" written across his face.

"Wh..wha...what happened to her ?" Markus asked. Disregarding his words, Sam glared at the man, "This time I am letting you go. Don't ever show me your fu**ing face again." Without saying another word, the man left.

"...The hell has happened ?" Markus asked again.

"She broke a moth**fu**er's fu**ing face." Sam spoke emphasising on each word and, for the first time, looking at her with admiration in his eyes.

"I returned and saw a broken fu**ing window with no clue where you both have gone and punched that man in his guts, suspecting that he was behind all this but you let him go and now all you tell me is that she broke a moth**fu**er's fu**ing face." Markus exasperated.

"Let's get going, I'll tell you everything on the way." Sam stated. Markus nodded. Unlocking the car he sat down on the driving seat. Sam gently laid her down on the back seat when his eyes fell on the radio. He grabbed it and after giving her one last glance, he glided over to the passenger seat.

On their drive to the campus, Sam told Markus everything.

"Those ba*ta**s." Markus cursed, hitting the steering wheel. After knowing everything, he was burning with rage just the same. He had grown fond of Chloe's bubbly and cheerful attitude and the mere thought of someone trying to rip off her innocence enraged him. He inhaled a sharp breath in an attempt to calm himself down.

"I can't believe she broke his face." He looked at her sleeping figure with pure adoration. "Suits that a**w*pe right." He added.

Shortly, they reached campus and decided to talk to the father next day. After changing the car, they continued their drive unaware of the fact that they were being followed by a car that was shielded by many other cars that travelled along the road.

Their car soon reached a crossroad, and they went straight while the follower turned right.

Once they reached the house, Sam carried her to her bedroom and laid her down. He searched for first aid kit in the nightstand drawers and once he found it, he gently removed her hairs from her face and began to treat her wounds. She hissed in pain and tilted her face away. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to move but her body ached from all the wounds and bruises.

"Don't..." She heard Sam's voice and slowly opened her eyes. Her hands immediately flung to aid her aching head.

"Don't move, and go back to sleep."
Sam said quietly and stood up to leave, when she gently held his hand. He turned.

"Please stay here." She requested. He had his emotionless face on making it hard for her to understand him. Upon hearing nothing from him, her hold began to loosen around his hand, as she whispered, "atleast till I can sleep again" underneath her breath.

"Okay." He said, and sat beside her.
"Thank you." She replied weakly and closed her eyes while holding onto his hand.

Soon she was soundly asleep. Sam didn't leave her side even then and was intently looking at her sleeping figure. Everytime his mind drifted back to the previous incidents, raw anger shot through him. It was her quiet and peaceful aura that was keeping him calm. As he thought about her, he realised that he was becoming protective of her, every day more than the previous one cause of that strange feeling.

"Get some rest, I'll be with her." Markus said, standing at the doorway. "I am fine here." Sam replied, looking at him. Markus gave him a nod and turned to leave. His lips twitched up into a smile as he went back to his room.

By and by morning came, the sun poured through the window, lighting up the room. Chloe stirred in her sleep. Gently rubbing her bleary eyes she woke up. At once her eyes fell onto Sam, sleeping beside her in a very uncomfortable position with his head leaned back and arms folded on his stomach. One of his legs was folded on the bed while the other leg was touching the floor. She smiled weakly and covered him with a duvet.

Then, carefully stood up and walked to the bathroom.

The pattering sound of the shower reached Sam's ears, waking him up. He stretched, trying to reduce the stiffness in his body. Duvet rolled down on the floor. He glanced at it, then his eyes travelled to the bathroom door.

After placing it back on the bed, he glided outside the house.

Massaging his forehead with his tentative palm he swallowed a breath as crisp as winter's wind.

He lifted his face, and watched the sunlight casting polka dots on the ground, waking up the sleeping souls of the woods and heard the choir of the singing birds.

"You're good ?" He heard Markus say, from behind. "Can't say what I am feeling ?" He replied, turning around.
"Why can't you ?" Looking heavenward, Sam closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath that seemed to have rattled in his chest. "I don't know." Markus observed him for while, to him Sam appeared anguished. "Is it about her ?....You feel for her. Don't you ?" Quietly, Markus questioned. Sam lowered his head and stared right at him. His eyes showed Markus, his inner conflict. "I don't understand." Sam whispered. "What is it that you don't understand ?" Without answering, he walked by the bench and sat down.

"I don't know. I just...I just feel as if...as if
she is trying to pull me back into...into the world that abandoned me for the crimes, I never committed."

"So, What's the fu**ing problem, you know she is different." Markus exasperated. Sam ran his hand through his hair, "I don't want to give her the power to ruin me." Sam retorted.

"Keep telling that to yourself." Markus said and went back inside. Just then Chloe came out of her room.

"You're feeling good ?" He asked Chloe.

"Yeah." She said giving him a small smile.

"You're a brave girl Chloe." Markus smiled and engulfed her in his arms. "Thank you." She whispered and hugged him back.

"Come on, I have made you breakfast, well some sandwiches. Let's eat." Markus said. "Let him come as well." Just as she said that, Sam walked inside the house, their gazes locked for a moment. Her stomach fluttered as she turned red indicating at her beautiful realisation and she lowered her head.

Giving her one last glance, he went to his room.

"Well he'll take time. Come on." Markus said. She was about to say something but before she could, "I am not listening. Eat." Markus stated. She sighed and joined him.

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