The sharp crack of gunfire ripped through the air, chasing me like a shadow I couldn't outrun.
My two feet ran across the woods, leaves slapping my pale face, branches clawed at my arms. My lungs burned, my heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.
Every step was a scream in my body, but still, I pushed forward. If I stopped now, if I hesitated for even a second, I'd never see the sun again.
Keep moving, Quetta. Just a little more. I said to myself. It's the only motivation I needed.
Though I've spent weeks preparing for this moment, I never knew it would be this hard. Being chased by a man that once saw me as his life. A man who once adored me.
The estate forest was familiar, but tonight it felt like a maze set to betray me. The escape route I'd mapped and rehearsed a hundred times in secret now felt like a cruel joke. Every tree looked the same. Every turn felt wrong.
So this is what it feels like to be prey. This is what it feels like to be Gabriel Bernardo's enemy.
One of the men chasing me fired their gun and a bullet struck a tree to my left, splintering bark into my cheek. I ducked and threw myself forward, arms out, diving blindly into the thick underbrush. Pain scratched down my side as I tumbled, not once, not twice, before slamming my back against a tree trunk.
The force knocked the air out of my lungs.
"Ahh..." I choked on the cry and bit down on my lips, tasting blood. I couldn't scream. Not now. Not when they were so close.
"She went that way find her!" I heard one of the men scream and I managed to drag my little self further inside the bush down there. Moments like this are when I'm thankful for my little body.
Blood spilled from my lips, tears stung my eyes but I bit my lips to hold myself from crying.
I had no idea how things got to this point, one moment I was celebrating my 19th birthday, and the next moment I was a prey.
"Did you find her?" I heard one man shout.
"No, I think she's escaped." Another said.
"She shouldn't have gotten far. We can still catch her. Find her! Master will kill us if we don't." He screamed and they all ran to the next direction.
I finally got out of the bush, pressing my hands to my ribs, feeling the pulse of pain grow sharper. A silent prayer slipped from my lips, one I hadn't said in years.
Please. Just give me one more chance. One more second. One more miracle.
I took the next direction and headed for the road, dragging my feet as I managed to run. My legs felt like jelly, but I ran. I didn't stop running all night, and once I was sure I was far from the Bernando empire, I slumped by the side of the road.
My body felt numb and weak. For some reason I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and in the next moment. Everything turned black.
When I opened my eyes again, I could see people gathered around staring at me.
"Is she dead?" Someone asked.
"I don't think so, she's opened her eyes." Another said.
"Little girl who are you?" A man asked but I couldn't say anything. It's the first time I'm seeing normal people. They looked different from the usual mafia men I was used to.
I rose to my feet immediately, not caring about my torn dress stained with muld and grass. I started walking away.
"How rude to just walk away." One person said but I ignored them completely.
I am Jacquetta Bernando, a girl who has been hidden all my life. I've never been out in the open before, never seen people like this before. Never been to a real road.
These are the things I see in magazines and news outlets. The things I always dream about.
I hugged the concrete floor, kissing it multiple times. I had no idea where to go to, but anything was better than being with that man. The thought of him disgusted me.
According to the movies I've watched, I can start a job. Maybe do things for myself.
I dragged my feet a ross the streets when I heard, "There she is, catch her."
Fucking hell!
How did they catch me?
Gabriel's man chased after me and I began running again.
This time they didn't fire any gun at me. Maybe because they ran out of bullets or they were scared of hurting the many people on the street too.
When I entered the next street, I was in awe by how beautiful it was. Beautiful buildings, though not large, scattered around with people stepping in and out of it. It was a busy place as people moved around.
I tried to blend among the crowd, but I knew that was impossible. I'm the only one in a blue torn muldy dress. It was impossible not to notice me.
I held the hem of my dress and ran barefoot. Gabriel's men were right behind me, and they were gaining in on me. I darted my gaze around, trying to search for an escape and then I saw him. The silver haired man in black suit stepping out of a building.
He was beautiful, buff, he wore a soft smile on his lips and he walked over to a car. Though I've seen Gabriel in one, I have no idea what it was because he never let's me in it.
The man stepped inside the car and I hurried after him, placing my hands on the door before he could close it. His dark eyes met mine and it felt like I've been hypnotized.
"What are you?" He asked staring at me.
"Help me." I managed to say to see him frown.
"Do I look like a charity organization little girl? Get out!" He said coldly but I didn't move. I was used to coldness. I've loved with the top mafia men all my life, I wasn't scared of anyone.
But what is a charity organization?
When I didn't bulge, he turned to the man in front. "Moses give her some money and get rid of her." He said and the older man in front stepped out and walked towards me. I panicked, gripping his clothe.
"What the fuck!" He muttered staring at the stain on his shirt.
"Please sir, help me, they're after me." My hands trembled on his clothes as I stared back at Gabriel's men who were already close by, but they couldn't see me because of his tinted glass.
He followed my line of sight to see Gabriel's men chasing after me then he sighed pressing his temples.
"Why would want to get involved in your shit?" He asked staring at me for a while then he smiled. A smile enough to make my heart beat fast.
"What did you do to make those men chase after you?"
"I... I."
"Mysterious, I like it. But you have to pass the next step." The man he called from earlier grabbed me by the hands and I stared pitifully at the man before me.
"Let her be Moses. You can step back in." The older man suddenly bowed and walked over to the passenger seat.
I turned to look at the man whose dark eyes were already on me. A small smile curved his lips as he unzipped is trouser immediately bringing out his huge dick.
"Your last test, touch it." He said.