Chapter 27
Felicia fell to the ground, watching the motorcycle's taillights disappear into the distance. Her heart plummeted from disbelief to despair. She could see the hearts of others, but not their true natures. They could have escaped together.
Just as she hit the ground, a heavy blow landed on her back, followed by a brutal kick from the gang leader. She gasped in pain, curling into a fetal position as agony surged through her body. The next moment, someone yanked her hair, pulling her roughly to her feet. A series of hard slaps followed, leaving blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and her cheeks swollen with clear handprints.
The gang leader grabbed her hair, sneering, "Run, keep running! You blinded me in one eye, and I'll make sure you can't live or die in peace!" He pulled a knife from his waist, waving it menacingly above her hands. "Which hand poked my eye? This one or this one? Forget it. I'll just chop them both off!"
As he prepared to strike, a nearby villager interjected, teeth clenched, "This girl let our girl escape! How are we settling this score?"
The gang leader scoffed, "That's none of my damn business."
The villagers were terrified of the guns the gang possessed, but they knew that if they didn't deliver the girl by tomorrow, their whole village would be in trouble. One brave villager spoke up, "If she let our girl escape, let her make amends! That way, our losses are covered, and you get to torment her as well. What do you say?"
The gang leader's interest was piqued. Instead of a quick death, it would be far more satisfying to watch her hope dwindle endlessly. He agreed, grinning. "But before that, I need to teach her a lesson!"
The sound of his belt unbuckling made Felicia's heart race. With a burst of desperation, she saw red and a fierce resolve surged within her. Summoning her last reserves of strength, she tossed the remaining poison powder she had hidden.
Instantly, the gang leader and nearby villagers were hit by the powder, some even inhaling it. Cries of agony erupted around her.
"Ahh! I can't see!"
"Ugh, it burns!"
This poison was her own concoction, designed to create an intense burning sensation, though its effects were temporary. Seizing the opportunity, Felicia dashed away, pouring every ounce of energy into her escape. The villagers froze, incapacitated by the sudden pain.
However, the criminal gang were not to be underestimated. They quickly recovered from the initial sting and, despite the pain, resumed their pursuit. Unbeknownst to those on the ground, six helicopters soared through the night sky.
In one of them, a man reclined, eyes closed. The reflection in the glass revealed a chiseled profile, his pale skin almost luminous in the dim interior. His thin lips were sensual, and his Adam's apple moved with each breath. At the sound of a nearby commotion, he opened his eyes, revealing deep, dark pupils that glimmered with a hint of cold light. His eyes radiated an overwhelming sense of authority. It was Stephan.
With his long legs crossed, he said lazily, "Report."
One of his subordinates promptly handed him the thermal imaging readout, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Russell, we've located the five fugitives. They're in the mountains ahead, and it appears they're chasing a woman."
Stephan glanced at the screen. The thermal imaging showed a slender figure stumbling and dodging as she fled. But it seemed she couldn't hold out much longer. Stephan wasn't a savior; he simply intended to deal with the audacious fugitives.
"Find a place to land," he instructed.
"Yes, sir."