Melanie

“Hello, Melanie? Miss me?” His voice sent a fresh wave of terror through me. My lungs felt like they'd suddenly forgotten how to breathe. And I just stood there, frozen, my world tilting as I stared at the face of the one man I've never wanted to see, the face I've prayed never to see.

Every sound faded except for the hammering of my own heart in my ears.

No!!! This must be a dream. I really didn't want to believe that Nikolai Volkov was standing right in front of me. The man I’d put away for four years. He was right here, inches from me. But that judge had pronounced that he wouldn't leave jail. How come he is here?

How on earth did he come out?

The goosebumps that had prickled my arms now spread like an icy chill over my entire body. My mouth was dry and it was as if my saliva tasted like dust.

My eyes, wide with panic, shot to the car. My sister. She was pressed against the window, her mouth wide open in a silent scream. She looked extremely terrified of this scene. Who wouldn't be?

Run, Betty. Please, just run! I yelled in my head, but I couldn't utter a sound. I wished she could hear me even though I didn't say anything.

Nikolai didn't move an inch. He just stood there, watching me as a predator watched its prey. His gaze, pressed down, trapping me, making it difficult for me to run even if I wanted to.

There was no anger on his face, no rage. Just a cold and infuriating calmness. And that smug smile. It was just like the smile of a cat playing with a mouse it had finally cornered after hours of a rough chase game.

God I'd have appreciated it if he was staring at me with anger or rage, but not an infuriating calm expression.

He took a slow step towards me, then another as he circled me like a predator. I could smell the faint scent of his expensive cologne mixed with his cigarette, oddly out of place with the raw threat he exuded. My eyes followed him, unable to break contact no matter how much I wanted to.

Oh goodness! I suddenly felt like a deer caught in a headlight, unable to move even though I was in great danger.

"You look well, Melanie," he whispered in a dangerously low voice, as if the words were meant for my ears alone. "Prison life doesn't agree with everyone, you know. But some of us... we find ways to keep busy." He stopped behind me, his voice now directly by my ear. "I had a lot of time to think. About you. About that day….” His voice trailed off.

A cold chill ran down my spine. I didn't want to be reminded about that day. My knees suddenly felt weak, like they might buckle. I squeezed my eyes shut for a split second, wishing this was all a dream, wishing it was all my usual nightmare, wishing that it'll go away.

But when I opened my eyes, he was still in front of me, his eyes boring into mine like daggers. A harsh realization hit me right there. This was no nightmare that I'll wake up from. This was reality, one there is no escape from.

"You remember that day, don't you?" His voice was still soft, but it carried a rough edge now.

Of course I remembered. Every single detail. I'd lied against him in court, sure, but I'd had no choice. Mr. Julian, Luca's worker, had paid me to do it. It was the only way I could get the money for my sister's surgery.

The only fucking way that I could save Betty. She was the only family member I had left and I didn't want to lose her. Hence the reason why I agreed to do such a thing, even though it was deadly.

The mafia world was one that you should never involve yourself in. But I did. I was fucking helpless.

A low rumble escaped his lips. "The court. The judge. Your ‘little’ performance." He said amidst his chuckles. The sound sent shivers down my spine. "The way you swore on everything holy you saw me kill that man. Even though you were nowhere near."

I swallowed hard in apprehension. I wanted to explain. I wanted to scream that I had no choice that day. I wanted to scream that I did it to save my sister, that she was dying. But the words were caught in my throat. I couldn't even form any words, but I know deep down that even if I say any words, he wouldn't care. He clearly didn't care.

"I promised you something that day, didn't I?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "I promised that I'd come back. And, as ‘The Reaper’, I always keep my promises, Melanie. I'm sure you know this, don't you?”

My gaze darted to his men. Two of them stood by the black SUVs, their hoods still up, their faces hidden. They stood silently and motionless, like statues carved from nothing but shadows. I needed no soothsayer to tell me that they were just waiting to carry out their boss's instructions.

All of a sudden, my ears caught a small whimper. Betty. Her muffled sob tore through the fear that gripped me. She must have sensed the looming danger. She must have realised that this was the reason why we were trying to leave, the man who I was trying to run away from.

“Oh God! Don't let any harm come to her.” I prayed silently, hoping that angels would appear from nowhere and take her away, away from this scene. I wouldn't want her to watch as I'm killed by Nikolai Volkov. The trauma from our parents' death was more than enough for her already.

Nikolai’s eyes didn’t leave mine, but his head tilted slightly, and I knew that he’d heard her too. A cruel smirk played on his lips. "It seems you're not alone, Melanie."

My heart pounded, like a drum in my chest. He saw her. He saw Betty. This was worse than I could have imagined. I had to protect her. I had to.

"Please," I finally choked out. My voice was really dry from fear. "Please, don't hurt her. She has nothing to do with this. You can hurt me instead. You can kill me right away if you want, but leave her out of this. Please.”

Nikolai just watched me, that unsettling calm expression never for once leaving his face. He reached out a hand and gently tapped my cheek. His touch was light, yet it felt like a brand of ice.

"Everything has to do with her, Melanie," he whispered. "Everything."

Then, his gaze shifted to one of the hooded figures behind me. He didn't say a word. He just gave a tiny and almost imperceptible nod.

Before I could even register what was going on, strong hands gripped my arms.

The suddenness caused a gasp out of me. I thrashed against the hands that held me, but it was like struggling against a solid rock. No matter what I did, I couldn't break free. All my efforts were pointless. My feet left the ground for a second as they spun me around.

"Let go of me!" I shrieked, my voice cracking, finally finding its desperate strength. But my desperacy was of no use. They moved with terrifying speed and coordination. Almost immediately, a rough cloth bag was pulled over my head, plunging me into an immediate and suffocating darkness. And gradually, the world vanished.

All I could feel was the coarse material scratching my face, the heavy hands holding me tight. Panic flared through me as I found myself wondering what they'll do to Betty.

I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe properly. My sister was in danger and I was helpless. I heard Betty's scream. "Melanie!!" And at once, I knew that they'd hurt her.

Oh God!

"Betty!" I tried to yell back, but my voice was swallowed by the bag and instead, my voice came out in a choked sob.

I was shoved forward, stumbling blindly, then abruptly pushed down.

The door slammed shut, cutting off Betty’s cries, cutting off the world entirely. The muffled roar of an engine started, and then the car lurched forward, speeding away.