Chapter 4

Annie's POV:

My body is trembling with fear right now.

There's no one I can turn to for help. There's not a single person here. I don't even know what this place is or where they've taken me. It's so isolated.

It looks like this might be the end for me.

All I can think of right now is to pray.

My dad and mom think I'm already on my way to Canada. But now, they have no idea that I'm still here in the Philippines, kidnapped by these armed men.

I want to cry, but I choose to be strong because I know crying won't do anything. It's obvious these men have no heart. They won't even listen to my voice or my pleas.

So I tried to think of a way to escape the clutches of these demonic beings. I can't just give up and let them win.

"What are we going to do with her? Why do we have to lock her up? We could just end her life instead of prolonging it. We're taking too long to finish off this girl," said one of the men.

I gave him a sharp look because of his arrogant and cocky attitude.

"Not yet... Her body would be a waste if we don't get a taste of her first," the big man holding me, preventing me from struggling, said with a smirk.

From his face alone, I could tell he was untrustworthy and lustful.

"What are you talking about, 'get a taste'? Get a grip, Brando! Don't forget that's not what Boss told us," another one yelled at his companion, scolding the suggestion of their perverted friend.

"He won't find out if you don't tell him... We'll all have fun, right? But if you don't want to, just let me have her for a little while. My birthday is coming up soon, so let me have this," he said again, insisting on touching me.

It was obvious he was interested in my body and had been lusting after me for a while.

The four other men seemed to consider what Brando said. A moment later, they quickly agreed that they would have their way with me before killing me.

I swallowed hard. I didn't like what was coming out of their mouths. If they were to rape me, it would be like they were torturing me to death. So these armed men couldn't be allowed to succeed with their plan. Not once have I ever let a man touch my private parts. I'm a virgin, and I've been careful to protect that because I want to give my virginity to my future husband someday.

The van we were in stopped in front of a warehouse that I couldn't tell if it was haunted or not. It was very old and scary to look at.

The men pulled me and were forcing me to go inside to do their evil deeds.

I struggled, but there were so many of them that I couldn't get out of the hands of these demons.

I looked around, trying to figure out the path so that if I ever escaped, I could easily run and get away.

In this warehouse, there was a room where Brando dragged me and forcefully pushed me inside.

"I'll have a taste of her first... Then it's your turn," he said to his companions before closing the door to assault me.

I shook my head. I wanted to cry. I was feeling a mix of emotions at this moment.

Brando slowly approached me with a smirk on his lips. Even before he had a chance to rape me, he was already confident that he would get me.

As I backed away, I happened to touch a sharp, metal-like object behind me. I don't want to hurt or kill people. But if I don't do this, Brando will kill me.

I know that killing is a sin, but I will do this to protect myself.

When Brando got close to me and was about to get on top of me, I immediately stabbed him with the sharp metal. To make sure his companions outside wouldn't hear, I let out a loud moan. A moan that they would think was me enjoying what Brando was doing.

I could hear them laughing, and they thought Brando was good at pleasing women. But the truth was, I had killed Brando. His blood almost covered my clothes. It was disgusting to look at, but I didn't think about it anymore.

Instead, I continued to act like I was enjoying it while I opened the window. I planned to escape from there. Eventually, I was able to get out of the warehouse. I ran as fast as I could because I didn't want them to catch up to me.

I don't know where my feet are taking me. I don't know anything about this place. All that's on my mind right now is to get away and find help from people.

But I didn't see a single person. Until I stopped at a boat that was on the sea.

Without hesitation, I got on it and managed to paddle to make the boat move.

"Where am I?" I asked myself while I was in the middle of the sea.

I was getting close to the other island, which I didn't know what place it was. But I felt like I was safe in that place.

When I reached the other island, my body started to weaken. I was very hungry and cold. So I was walking, trembling, towards a big house to ask for help from the person living there.

But my body couldn't take it anymore. I was so tired that my vision went dark, and I fainted.

I woke up in a soft bed, still filled with fear. I sat up when I saw a man with a blank expression on his face. No facial expression. I couldn't tell what kind of person he was, but his body was covered in tattoos. The only difference was that the young man I was seeing right now was very handsome.

But because of what happened to me at the hands of the armed men, I couldn't help but think badly of this person, too.

"D-don't come near me... D-don't hurt me, please... I-I don't want to," I said, stuttering, as I moved away from the man.

He didn't move from his spot and just stared at me. But at this moment, I touched my clothes and was wondering why I was wearing something else now.

What happened to me? Did he touch me and take advantage of me?

"Who changed my clothes? Was it you? D-did you rape me? What did you do to me? Answer me!" I asked him, and I managed to scream to make the man confess.

That's how brave I am, despite the fear in my heart, I manage to act brave.

"I didn't do anything to you. I didn't rape you, and I have no plans to have a taste of you. But you're right, I'm the one who changed your clothes. And that t-shirt you're wearing is my own shirt," he said, and I couldn't feel his emotions. I couldn't guess if he was angry or annoyed with me.

"You changed my clothes? You mean, you saw--"

"That's right. I've seen everything on you. And don't worry, I wasn't even aroused," he said bluntly, not even letting me finish what I was saying.

This man is so straight to the point.

I don't know why, but I suddenly felt small. I felt like my body wasn't attractive enough for him to say that. Maybe I'm not sexy and beautiful in his eyes.

"I'm going home... Please help me. I want to go back to Manila," I suddenly said to change the subject.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I was too affected by what he said earlier. I should be happy that he doesn't have any lust for me. But I ended up being disappointed. I can't even understand myself, why I'm acting like this after he said those words.

When I asked him for help, the reaction in his eyes changed. His gaze became sharp, and the young man's voice became cold.

"You can't go home. And you can't leave this place," he said, which confused me.

"W-why? I'm not from here. The truth is, I was kidnapped by armed men. They want to kill me because their boss ordered them to get rid of me. But before their plan to kill me happened, they tried to rape me... I even managed to kill someone just to escape. And that was not my intention. I didn't want to kill. I was just forced to do it to protect myself. That's why I escaped from them, and I didn't expect to end up here on the other island... So please, help me," I said in a long explanation. I even managed to tell him the story of what happened in my life. I was hoping I could touch his heart and convince him to help me. But it didn't work.

"When I say you can't leave, you're not leaving... If you want to live a long life, you will stay in this place. Whether you like it or not," he said firmly.

The way he talks is like he can control my decisions. Who is he? What right does he have to control me?

"Why won't you let me leave? Didn't you understand what I said? I'm not from here, I was just kidnapped, and someone wants to kill me. If they find me, they'll really end my life," I said again.

"That's not going to happen anymore because I already killed them," he said, which shocked me.

"What did you say?" I asked in disbelief.

"I killed them... So you have nothing to be afraid of anymore," he said in a cold voice.

Should I be happy and thankful to him? Or should I be worried because the person in front of me right now is a different kind of person?

He has a different vibe. He's very handsome, but the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes are as if he's hiding horns.

"W-what do you want? W-why can't I leave this place?" I said, confused.

At this point, his deadly smile, with a playful look in his eyes, appeared. From the expression of his lips alone, the question in my mind that he is not a good person was answered.

"Because you're my captive, Miss Annie... And no woman lasts here if they plan to escape... So if you want to stay alive and breathe peacefully, you will follow what I want," he said as he was now stroking my cheek.

"Y-you know me?"

"Who wouldn't know you? Aren't you the only daughter of Don Javier? The richest businessman in the country... You should be thankful that I'm the one who found you. I even gave you a chance to wake up. And you're very lucky because you're the first woman I've ever brought here to my room," he said.

"Lucky? Can you call this state I'm in lucky after you threatened me? After I found out that your soul is also damned?" I said angrily.

"I'm just telling you what will happen to you if you ever disobey what I want... But if you remain an obedient woman, nothing bad will happen to you," he said and stood up properly.

He knows me. He knows my name and which family I come from. But when it comes to him, I know nothing about his identity. I don't even know his name.

I thought I was in good hands, but it seems like this place I've ended up in is even worse.

I am not safe here. My life will be miserable here with this person.