A low voice echoed through the dimly lit room, sending a shiver down my spine. I squint, trying to pierce through the shadows to see the speaker.

From the corner of her eye, she caught the outline of a figure—short and bulky, shifting just enough to reveal a sliver of his form against the barely visible backdrop. Her lips parted slightly, a mix of curiosity and unease flickering across her face.

"So you are the famous Ryder sister," the voice continued, dripping with a blend of intrigue and something she couldn't quite place.

I swallowed my fear ,"I'm sure I'm not famous," I reply while subtly trying to free my hands. I shift slightly, trying to adjust my posture so my hands are less noticeable.

"Oh, you are dear," he says and I hear the swish of a knife.

My eyes flicked nervously toward the approaching figure, trying to mask my growing unease.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice steady but strained, betraying the anxiety gnawing at me.

The man's lips curled into a menacing smirk as he drew closer. His eyes narrowed with a cold intensity, and he tilted his head slightly, assessing me with a disdainful glance. "That's not something you can do, but let's see..." he snarled, his steps echoing ominously as he advanced, each movement calculated and deliberate.

Light shines on bald head revealing the tattoos covering his face.

He tightened his grip, the cold steel of the knife pressing against my throat as he sneered. My breaths came out in sharp, panicked gasps, my eyes darting around the dimly lit room, desperately seeking an escape.

"I don't know," I pleaded, my voice quivering as I strained against the ropes binding my wrists. Each movement felt sluggish, my fingers scraping against the coarse rope.

The man holding the knife glanced up, irritation flashing across his face.

"Boss, here's her phone!" a man announced, holding up my phone as he approached, the device glinting in the faint light.

My eyes locked onto the phone, my heart racing as I desperately tried to loosen the ropes. I could barely focus, the fear making my movements even more frantic.

Naina, where are you.

"Oh poor brother. He is dying to talk to you,"

"Let her go, Claw!" comes a voice from the shadows in front. The force of his command seemed to vibrate through the air, a silent promise of imminent action if his demand was ignored.

Caleb?

"Who the hell are you?" Claw spun around, his eyes narrowing as he fixed Caleb with a hostile glare.

With a sneer, he took a few aggressive strides forward, his chest puffed out and fists clenched, trying to close the gap between them and project an air of menace.

"Nessie, here," someone whispered urgently from behind.

I froze, feeling a rush of relief mixed with fear. I mouthed silently, "Help me!" to Naina, who swiftly threw a pocket knife toward my feet. I try to bend down to grab it, but my legs betrayed me, and I end up falling sideways, the knife landing just behind me.

Their attention turned sharply towards me, their faces twisted with surprise and malice. I couldn't hold back a cry of fear as I struggled to get back up.

"Let her go, man," Caleb's voice cut through the tension, his tone calm but determined. "I'm sure we can talk this through."

His words hung in the air, a fragile thread of hope in the midst of escalating danger.

Struggling against the rough ropes that dug into my wrists, I press my bound hands against the jagged edge of the half-broken chair. My teeth gritted as pain surged with each scrape, but I forced herself to focus.

Finally, the ropes gave way, and I snatch the knife with trembling fingers. With swift, desperate movements, I slice through the bindings around my legs.

A sudden, cold voice broke through her concentration. "No need to attack me," Caleb said, his words laced with a casual tone. The sharp clink of knives echoed ominously in the dim room, making her heart race faster.

Slowly getting up, I drag my leg.

Uuggh, this is gonna hurt.

Looking back, I see them engaged in a full blown fight.

SHIT!

Nessie, here!" Naina's urgent whisper cut through the tension.

I hop towards her voice, wincing as I squeezed through the jagged edge of the half-broken door. I try to keep my leg from scraping against the rough wood, but the muffled yelps from inside quickened my pace.

"What's going on?" I asked, stepping out with a sense of relief mingled with confusion.

"Are you alright, sis?" Derek's voice, filled with concern, made me turn to him.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my eyes searching his face.

"They kidnapped you because of me. I'm so sorry for that. But we need to run—again," he said, his tone heavy with guilt as he alluded to the first time I was taken.

Naina shouted from ahead, "This way!" and sprinted towards a waiting car.

"What about Caleb?" I asked, glancing around as I slid into the backseat. The car's interior was dim, and outside, an old, dilapidated barn loomed. A few rusted vehicles were parked under a flickering streetlight.

"Guyssss. Hurry!" Caleb's distant voice carried through the night, laced with desperation.

Before I could fasten my seatbelt, the car jolted forward. Derek's frantic voice cut through the chaos, "Doors. Now!"

Without hesitation, I threw open the backseat doors, my heart racing as I prepared for whatever came next.

Am I getting used to this ?

Caleb leaped into the car, excitement written all over his face. "Go, go, goooo!" he shouted, his energy palpable as he joined me.

I shot him a sharp look. "Anyone care to explain what's going on—again?"

"Umm, about that" Caleb says ruffling his hair.

Caleb scratched the back of his head, his eyes shifting awkwardly. "Umm, about that," he mumbled, avoiding my gaze.

"I'm not even talking to you," I snapped, my frustration clear as I turned my attention to my brother. My eyes locked onto his in the rearview mirror, demanding answers.

"Now you, brother, have a lot to explain!" I said, my voice firm as I watched him through the mirror.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his voice trembling with guilt. "So, remember the first time you were kidnapped—"

I clenched my fists on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white as I fought to keep my tears at bay. "It's not something I can forget!" I choked out, my voice strained.

Suddenly, Naina's voice cut through the tension, her panic evident as she pointed out the window. "Damn, those guys are back! Hurry, hurry!"

Her frantic gestures and wide eyes made it clear that the situation was far from over.

I glance in the rearview mirror and spot a few guys on bikes chasing us. My heart races.

"Why does this feel like something from a movie?" I ask, eyes darting between the road ahead and our pursuers.

Naina's grip on the dashboard tightens, "I know, right?" she says, sounding a little too cheerful.

Derek, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles, shoots a quick glance at me. "Maybe, but if they catch us, it won't be anything like a movie. No hero is coming to save us!"

Caleb winces, his hand pressed against his injured gut. "And the pain is real!"

"Shit, are you okay?" I reach over and touch his stomach gently, causing him to flinch.

"I will be. Hopefully," he says, giving me a weak smile and trying to lighten the mood with his best puppy eyes.

Naina looks over her shoulder, her voice edged with panic. "What do we do now? They're still following us."

Derek's jaw tightens, and he takes a sharp left, tires screeching. "Pray we lose them!"

I grip the edge of my seat. "Can't we go to the police station?"

Caleb shakes his head, wincing again. "Aww, you are so naive. Remember we were in a fight some time back? Some of them are actually looking for us."

Derek's eyes narrow in determination. "Buckle up!" he yells, pressing down harder on the accelerator.

After a rough patch of GTA driving we reach our hotel.

"How do you know where we are staying?" I ask, as he hurries us to get down.

"Hitesh," is all he says, before zooming past us.

C: Stay in your room. Don't come out until we come for you! And I'm sorry :(

Rolling my eyes, I step into the elevator and press the button, silently praying no one follows us.

"What do you think they wanted from you?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"The one with answers isn't here," I say with a sigh as Naina unlocks our door and pushes it open.

"Do you remember anything?" she asks, her gaze searching mine.

"Everything I know seems irrelevant now," I murmur, my eyes darting to the floor.

"Do you know anything?" I ask as we step out of the elevator.

"Not really," she replies, quickening her pace.

"Naina," I call out, my tone sharpening with suspicion. I reach out and grab her arm, blocking her path. "What do you know?"

"Nothing," she insists, her voice faltering.

"Then why won't you look me in the eye?" I demand, my grip tightening as I search her face, still not believing her. She avoids my gaze, her eyes shifting nervously to the side.

"Fine. All I know is that Caleb met you before I introduced you to him."

"Whhhaat!" my voice echoed through the hallway as Naina fumbled with the keys.

"Let's go in first, please," Naina urged, placing a calming hand on her shoulder.

I fumble with the keys, finally unlocking the door, and hurriedly kick off my shoes, sending them skidding across the floor.

"So, tell me," I demand, my curiosity burning.

Naina takes a deep breath. "Well, he told me he met you when he came to your school," she says carefully.

"School?" I repeat, sitting beside her on the bed, my eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Yes, we were in your rival school. Umm, remember..."

"Oh yeah!" A spark of recognition hits me.

"Yeah, so he was tasked to destroy your school mascot and he told me tha—"

"That he met me in the janitor's closet," I say, my eyes widening with the realization of how much I didn't know.

"Yeah. And he was surprised to meet you at the store. He actually insisted on always inviting you whenever we meet."

"Oh!" I whisper softly, a mix of surprise and hurt.

"He was sorry about what happened to you because of him. He didn't realize you would be blamed for it."

Crossing my arms defensively, I look away. "Doesn't change what happened."

"He actually did confess to doing that in your school. Unfortunately, they didn't believe him."

"Oh!"

"Yeah, and he felt bad for you. He soon realized you didn't have many friends, so he always tried to invite you whenever we met."

"He pitied me!" I snap, the words stinging.

"No, that's not what I meant. I just meant that he ca--" she says, moving closer, her hand reaching out to me.

Maybe I need some time to figure out things," I say, standing abruptly. I walk to the door and pull it open, only to find Caleb standing there.

"Not now," I mutter, pushing past him quickly, my mind swirling with too many thoughts to process.

"Nessie, please wait," he says following me.

Damn this leg!

"Urrgghhh!"

"Nessie. Let me explain,"

"Explain what exactly," irritation laced my voice.

"That I LOVE YOU, no matter what!"

"Thank you. But I should be saying that. You are the one who lied!"

"I know, well , I was hoping you might say that back to me!" he says grinning.

"You are stupid and I hate you !" I say, getting out from the elevator .

"Okay. But don't you want to know why I did that!" he asks, pulling me back.

"No," I say turning around to walk away.

Do I wanna know ?

"Fine I will still explain." he yells taking a step closer, "Stood there and watched you walk away. From everything we had, But I still mean every word I said to you," he sings to me.

"Don't quote Taylor Swift to me!" I say, false irritation lacing my voice as I tried to stop the smile forming on my lips.

"I know you like that song!"

"Uurrghhh. This is NOT RIGHT," I nearly shout, my arms sweeping wide to encompass the enormity of this betrayal. "What you did is WRONG. You shouldn't have lied to me."

My hands fell to my sides, clenched into fists, as I took a step back, trying to steady my breathing and contain the storm of emotions raging inside.

"I know. I am sorry! I wanted to tell you--"

"Tell what ? That you pitied me?" I yell at him, and storm away from the lobby. More like walk as fast as my injured leg, let me.

"Nessie, please!"

"I was curious about you from the first time we met. I won't say I loved you at first sight, but there was something that pulled me in. It made me want to learn more about you," he says easily catching up, and standing in front of me.

"That's crap. What if you became my friend because of Derek?" I say, shoving him as I walked past him. The streetlights flickered, as a cool breeze swayed by.

"I didn't even know he was your brother until after our date!" he yelled, his voice raw with exasperation. His hands dropped to his sides, clenched into fists. "And that wouldn't change anything." He shook his head, his shoulders slumping slightly as he struggled to calm himself, his gaze pleading for understanding.

Her voice rose in anger as she shouted at him, "How can I trust you! You lied to me. What if you were just using me!" Her hands flailing wildly, emphasizing each word with frantic gestures. Her eyes wide with hurt and betrayal, tears threatening to spill over. She took a step back, her body trembling, as if trying to put physical distance between herself and the source of her pain. Her chest heaving with each ragged breath, the intensity of her emotions evident in every movement.

Caleb ran his hands through his hair, gripping it tightly at the roots as he took a deep breath. He turned to face her, his eyes locking onto hers with a steady gaze.

"Whaatt?" He raised an eyebrow, a small, incredulous smile playing on his lips. "If I wanted to do that, I'd have told you about your brother long back." He took a step closer, his hands dropping to his sides. "Or in the very least, told your brother that I'm dating you."

His voice was calm, laced with sincerity, as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his touch reassuring. "But I didn't, did I?" he asked, his tone soft yet firm.

"I don't know, maybe you did!" I exclaim, my voice rising with a mix of frustration and uncertainty.

I clench my fists momentarily, then let out a sharp breath, my shoulders dropping at weight of the conversation.

Caleb looked my in the eye, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and sincerity.

"Really?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Do you think he wouldn't have reacted by now if he knew?"

He tilted his head slightly, his expression softening as if hoping for reassurance.

"Okay," I say, my voice a mix of hurt and frustration. "But that doesn't justify you not telling me this."

I life my head, locking onto his with a desperate intensity.

My shoulders sagged, and I wrapped my arms around myself as if to ward off the loneliness that threatened to engulf her.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to find out about this like this. About that, I'm really sorry," his guilt and sincerity evident in his voice.

"And I don't have any friends," I continue, my voice almost breaking. "Naina became my friend because of you!"

"Babe, if she didn't like you, do you think she'd have been with you all this time?" he says taking a step closer.

The night air was soothing, a welcome contrast to the turmoil in my mind. Contemplating everything that happened to me since I first met him, my mind turns chaotic.

"What about you then?" I ask in a steady tone as my curiosity rose. "Why do you do this?"

"You know!"

"No!"

"Nessie," he began, his voice low and strained. He clenched his fists briefly, as if drawing strength from within. "I have a brother to take care of."

He paused, his eyes reflecting the countless sleepless nights and silent struggles. "How do you think I manage to take care of him and me, without any support?" he asked, the question hanging in the air like a challenge and a plea.

His hands opened and closed at his sides, the tension in his body evident as he waited for my response.

"I didn't think of that," I said, as this newfound understanding hit me.

"I have no one," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, cracking under the strain. He looked up, his gaze distant and lost, meeting the eyes of his listener. "With no parents, it's hard to survive. And I have no one to help me, either."

"Oh!" I reply as guilt seeps through me.

How could I be so thick! I didn't even think of his situation.

"I didn't -- I'm so-- I --"

"It's okay. You probably had your own fears. But I promise I'm here to stay."

"Yeah but I shouldn't have reacted so badly!"

"You didn't,"

"I'm sorry," I murmur, my shoulders slumping slightly. I gently touch his arm, "And... you always have me," I say confidently, as I finally meet his eyes with a glimmer of warmth.

"I'm sorry too," he says, his voice low and strained. He finally looks up, his eyes a mixture of regret and vulnerability. "I should have told you."

He took a deep breath, his hand brushing through his hair in a restless motion. "I was just worried about what might happen to you if I told you. You know something like what just happened."

He glanced away briefly, his gaze dropping again. "Plus, given the history with your brother, I wasn't sure if you'd even want to date me after knowing all this."

"I want the choice to decide for myself, I want to see if I can handle it or not." I whisper softly.

"I want to see what happens," I continue, my voice gaining strength. "I know you wanna probably go all macho and say 'I'm here to protect you,' but if something happens to me I want it to be because of what I chose."

I pause, looking up at his eyes. A hint of defiance mixed with vulnerability lace my voice, "If I do make a bad choice or something happens to me, I will probably regret it. But I will learn from it, won't I?" I take a deep breath, "You see what happens if I'm in the dark, maybe if I knew this before, I'd have been more careful."

A soft, small, determined smile forms on my lips. "I want you to protect me, but I also want to know what I'm being protected from. I know it's crazy, but that's me!"

He reaches out and pulls me into a warm embrace. I feel his arms wrap around me, strong and reassuring. He tilts his head slightly, his breath brushing against my hair. With a tender touch, he places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Yeah, I know," he murmurs softly, his lips lingering for a moment before he pulls back, his eyes meeting mine with understanding and affection.

A/N:

I'll probably end it in the next chapter!

Ciao!