Emma raced down the dark street, rain and wind whipping around her.
She gasped desperately under her voice as she heard the footsteps behind her pick up pace. "No!" The word was a moan.
Not daring to look behind her for fear of falling on the wet ground, she darted down a back ally, hoping to lose her follower.
Her heart jumped in her throat as she heard the footsteps continue down the alley behind her and she frantically raced around a corner--only to find a brick wall blocking her way. With a sob she ran her hands over the wall desperately, praying desperately for a way out.
Hearing the footsteps getting closer, she abandoned her useless search and instead hid behind a lone dumpster.
As the footsteps drew closer, she held her breath, hoping against all hope that her pursuer would not see her hiding in the shadows. Crouched as she was, all she saw was the feet as they rounded the corner of the dumpster.
"Emma." The tone that washed over her was colder than the rain pouring down. She couldn't repress a shudder.
"Emma. I see you there, crouching like a pathetic dog. Come to me!"
Glancing up, Emma cringed back not only from the out-stretched hand but also from the disgust and censure so evident in his tone.
"Emma." The displeasure in his tone made her sink closer to the ground, trying to make herself smaller.
She shuddered, shaking her head.
"Emma. I said COME HERE! If you do not come now then you know what I will do."
Emma shook. She did know.
"You will come to me at some point--why make it harder on yourself? You will be punished either way, but it will be so much worse if you wait."
Trembling, she gathered the courage to look him in the face. His cold grey eyes held not even the slightest smidgen of warmth, and there was a sneer on his arrogant face as he looked down at her.
He is quite good looking, she thought to herself. It was the truth. At 6'4" 250 lbs. he completely dwarfed her petite 5'3" 120 lbs. His face was pale and free from stubble--not a worker's face but rather a corporate executive's. An aristocratic nose was set above firm lips, which right now were drawn tight with anger. Lines furred across his brow as he cold eyes continued to stare at her.
She watched the rage begin to build in those eyes which brought home the point only to clearly: this was a dangerous man, one you did not want to be on the wrong side of. His rage could be lethal.
Rage which was at the moment centered on her.
Too late she remembered that she was not to look in the face: she had broken the Cardinal rule by doing so.
In a blur his hand flashed out and cracked against her face. She could feel the blood begin to trickle down from where the ring on his hand had cut her.
"Please Lucian--stop!" Any deflection of rage that she had hoped to achieve was lost as the rage boiled into madness.
"I." A blow interrupted the flow of words.
"Told."
Another blow.
"You."
Thud.
"Never."
Crrraaaacccckkkkk.
"To."
She gave a whimper of pain.
"Say."
The whimper grew into a moan.
"My."
A sickening crunch was heard.
"Name."
Emma's body fell backwards, just narrowly missing the side of the dumpster as the abuse her body had sustained was too much. Mercifully she passed out.
"Worthless, fu--" Lucian gave vent to his feelings by kicking Emma viciously in the ribs.
"Hey!" A voice echoed down the alley. "What is going on down there?"
Lucian swore. "Nothing!" Lucian snarled at the man approaching. "Mind your own business."
Catching sight of Emma the man went still. He then stared at Lucian. "Move away from the girl." Quiet menace laced his voice.
"She is only a worthless whore, no need to concern yourself with her."
************
Alex stared at the man. "Worthless whore or not, no one deserves this treatment." Keeping his eyes trained on the man, Alex pulled out his phone and dialed 911.
