Chapter 39
Tom, still confident, silently reassured himself. We were just caught off guard. Give me one more chance, and I’ll snap Aurora’s neck with my hand. There are three of us, after all. Sure, my right arm’s busted, but my left one’s fine. She’ll regret it if she shows up again.
Caleb, however, couldn't share his optimism. He wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, wincing as it stung his scratches. “I thought the same thing at first, but look at us. You really think things will turn out better now?” he muttered.
Their bodies were bruised and battered, bones fractured. Even standing was a struggle. How could they possibly fight?
Tom’s confidence faltered. Caleb was right. Their advantage vanished the moment Aurora broke free. Their best hope was to escape while they still could and find a hospital.
Gritting his teeth, Tom pushed himself up with his good arm. The second his injured foot touched the ground, a searing pain shot through him, making him wince. He shifted his weight and steadied himself. Extending a hand to Caleb, he said, “Come on. I’ll help you up.”
Of the three kidnappers, Caleb had been hit the hardest. Aurora, seeming to know he was in charge, had focused her fury on him. He’d also taken the brunt of the powder, making the scratching effects particularly severe, leaving him torn between scratching and defending himself throughout the night.
Just as Caleb grabbed Tom’s hand, a piercing scream cut through the night, freezing them.
Eric’s face paled, his eyes wide. “No way… she’s back?” he blurted, his voice trembling. They had all seen her leave with the metal rod.
What happened next sent chills down their spines. The wind howled, rustling the weeds around the warehouse, and the faint sounds of a struggle grew louder.
Then, from the shadows, Aurora emerged, dragging Maura by her hair. The dim light cast her shadow long and distorted. Her hair flew wildly, partially obscuring her bruised and swollen face.
But her eyes held the three men transfixed—merciless eyes gleaming with a predator’s hunger, promising retribution.
Aurora raked her fingers through her hair, pushing back the loose strands as her eyes swept over the three men. She saw the fear in their eyes. With casual disdain, she tossed Maura to the ground.
Maura yelped, her palms stinging against the rough surface. But fear gripped her so tightly she didn’t care.
“Aurora, have you lost your mind?” Maura shrieked, her swollen face twisted in fury. Her chest heaved. “You ungrateful leech! My family took you in, fed you, clothed you. And this is how you repay us?”
The moment Maura stepped outside, she regretted it. The world beyond the warehouse was a void of darkness, punctuated only by faint starlight. Unsure of the way out, she stumbled through the weeds, jumping at every sound.
She hadn’t gotten far before Aurora caught her. She stood no chance against Aurora’s ferocity. Every slap Maura had delivered earlier was repaid before Aurora dragged her back by the hair.
Just as Maura managed to sit up, Aurora kicked her hard in the shoulder, sending her crashing down. Bending down, Aurora picked up the metal rod, a cold smile playing on her lips. “It’s pitch dark out there,” she said, mockingly concerned. “Couldn’t just let you wander off alone, could I?”
Maura’s hands trembled as she tried to crawl backward, fear etched on her face as Aurora loomed closer, the metal rod growing more menacing with each step.
“What are you waiting for, you idiots?” Maura screamed at Caleb and the others, her voice cracking with desperation. “Go get her, now! Do you want your money or not? If I get hurt, you’re all screwed!” she yelled, her veins throbbing visibly in her neck.
Cold sweat streamed down her forehead, mingling with her disheveled hair. She looked nothing like the arrogant person she’d been moments before.
But her threats fell on deaf ears. Caleb and his companions weren’t foolish; they’d seen the tide turn. Of the five, Aurora was the only one still standing, uninjured and in control. To speak up would invite more pain.
They silently shrank back, praying to become invisible, afraid the slightest sound would draw Aurora’s wrath. They had felt the sting of her blows, and none wanted a repeat.
Aurora remained unmoved by Maura’s threat. She crouched before Maura, her eyes glinting with a mixture of feigned pity and something far more dangerous. “Oh, Maura,” she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “What are you talking about? I’m your sister. I’m here to protect you. Why would you seek help from those things?”
Aurora reached out and gently stroked Maura’s face, but her grip tightened, fingers digging into her skin. She leaned in close, her voice a low murmur, “It hurts, doesn’t it? Why did you have to grab the steering wheel? Now we’re both stuck here.”
Maura’s face was a mess of angry red welts and scratches—marks from her desperate attempts to relieve the itch. As Aurora’s fingers pressed down, blood seeped from half-healed wounds.
“What do you want?” Maura winced, her voice trembling. “If you lay a hand on me, my mom will kill you.” She hoped the mention of Stacy would make Aurora hesitate.
But Aurora smiled, like a predator amused by its prey’s feeble struggles. “So you finally admit it,” she said. “This whole kidnap was your idea, wasn’t it?” She’d already figured it out, but watching terror bloom in Maura’s eyes brought her twisted satisfaction.
Maura jerked her head, pulling free from Aurora’s grasp. There was no guilt in her eyes as she confessed, head held high. “We were just putting you in your place. You’re nothing but a pathetic orphan, a country bumpkin. You should be grateful we even let you get a taste of the high life. How dare you try to outshine me!”
Mistaking Aurora’s silence for fear, Maura pressed on, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. “You’d better let me go right now, or I swear, when Mom finds out about this, you’re done for.”
From their corner, Caleb and the other two men listened intently, their curiosity piqued by Aurora’s sudden silence. They glanced in her direction, trying to catch a glimpse of her expression, but Maura blocked their view.