17.

TW:Attempt of s*xualt assault. If you're not comfortable, please refrain from proceeding ahead.

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She inhaled deeply, fighting to keep herself from snapping at the blue-eyed man lounging on the edge of the bed. His legs swung lazily over the floor, his gaze-a sickening, lust-filled stare-never wavering from her. Every inch of her burned under his relentless scrutiny, as if his eyes alone could set her aflame. She bit down hard on her lip, trying to steady her breath, but the air in the room felt too thick, too poisoned by his presence. It was suffocating just being near him, a man who embodied everything she feared, everything she despised.

His blue eyes-the very shade that once made her flinch at the sight of the sky-were a reminder of the hell he'd dragged her through. He was the reason she hated herself, the reason she feared the touch of any man, the reason her body bore scars that would never fade. She had fought her way out of that darkness, clawing her way toward something like normalcy. But now, here he was, unraveling her with nothing more than a look, dragging her back into a nightmare she thought she'd escaped.

Her hands trembled, betraying the strength she so desperately tried to hold on to. Her throat tightened, and every breath felt like a battle. She hated him with every fiber of her being. Hated the way he still had power over her. Hated herself for being pulled back into this place. Most of all, she hated the way she felt-weak, vulnerable, and barely holding it together.

"Where are you going?" she asked softly from her crib, her voice fragile, like a tethered string ready to snap.

"Out for some work," he replied, casually tucking a gun into the waistband of his jeans as if it were just another accessory.

"Warren's staying, right?" She swallowed hard, the unease settling in her chest like a weight she couldn't shake. It wasn't just anxiety-it was deeper, more insidious, like her body was warning her of something she couldn't quite grasp.

"No." His answer was clipped, dismissive.

Her lips pressed together in frustration. It made no sense. There was no way he'd leave her alone, not after her numerous attempts to escape. Her heart raced at the thought of being left behind, vulnerable and alone, while they went off to commit whatever chaos was next on their twisted agenda.

"Then who?" she pressed, trying to keep the rising panic out of her voice.

He glanced her way, eyes cold and hard, silently telling her to shut up, to stop with the questions. She bit back another inquiry, but her unease only grew, twisting her stomach into knots.

"Are we leaving?" Warren's voice came from the doorway, pulling her attention. She looked at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of reassurance, but all she found was a strange look-something unreadable, unsettling.

"Yeah," Tiger responded without much thought, gathering his essentials with an air of indifference.

Her breath quickened, anxiety clawing its way up her throat. Something was wrong, very wrong, and her body knew it before her mind could catch up. Warren hesitated, walking slowly toward her crib, each step more deliberate than the last.

"Hey, little one, we'll be back in no time, okay? Don't be scared," he said, leaning down slightly. His voice was soft, meant to soothe, but it did nothing but intensify her fear. The words felt hollow, a promise that didn't ease the gnawing pit of dread growing inside her.

They'll be back? The realization hit her like ice water. They were both leaving. She'd be alone.

Her mind flashed back to the attack—the terrifying memories she'd been trying so hard to bury resurfacing all at once. She clenched the fabric of the loose pants Warren had lent her, fingers digging into the material as if it could anchor her. Her voice trembled, the question escaping her lips before she could stop herself.

"Who's going to stay here?" she asked, her grip tightening, fearing the answer.

"Nike," Tiger answered instead, his tone cold, almost bored.

Her heart stopped. Blood drained from her face. The name-his name-sent a jolt of terror straight through her. Her skin prickled, and she could barely breathe as her mind processed the horrifying reality.

"Nike? What...?" She trailed off, staring at Tiger in disbelief.

"What?" Tiger met her gaze, confusion playing on his face as if he didn't understand the gravity of what he'd just said.

"You... you can't leave me with h-him," she stammered, inwardly cringing at her own weakness. But her fear outweighed her pride.

"And why is that?" Tiger stepped closer, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over her as he blocked the sunlight that had been warming her face. His presence, usually commanding, now felt overwhelming, almost oppressive.

Warren sighed heavily from the doorway, clearly frustrated but unwilling to argue. His jaw clenched as he shot Tiger a look that could have easily been followed by a punch.

"He... he t-tried to..." Her voice faltered, shame flooding her as she struggled to find the words. The truth was so vile, so humiliating, that it stuck in her throat, refusing to come out. "You just can't leave me with him. He's not a good guy."

Tiger's gaze darkened, his eyes hardening as he said his next words. "I'm not a good guy either. But you've been just fine with me here, haven't you?"

Her throat tightened as she searched for a response. She couldn't tell him. She couldn't tell him that it was different with him, that even though he wasn't a good guy, she felt safe with him, that she knew he won't do what Nike did to her, that he won't cross that line, that she would chose to stay with him than anyone else. She could tell him none of that.

Her words failed her, and silence fell between them like a heavy weight.

Tiger's foxy eyes bore into hers, something flickering in their depths—a flash of something she couldn't quite name. But whatever it was, it disappeared just as quickly, leaving her unsure if she had imagined it.

"What if he does something to me?" Her voice came out in a whisper, her gaze falling to her lap, where sunlight caught the threads of Warren's dark gray sweats.

"He won't." Tiger's voice was low, almost too quiet. She looked up at him through her lashes, waiting for him to say more, to offer some kind of explanation. But he didn't. The simple statement hung in the air, heavy yet strangely comforting.

And for reasons she couldn't fully understand, she believed him.

But now that she was under the pair of those hungry blue orbs, nothing helped her to feel any less uncomfortable. He had been sitting there, on the bed, with a creepy smirk, watching her continuously like a maniac he was, drinking her sight with the sinful desires she was well aware of.

"Stop staring at me, you moron." She snapped at him, finding the courage to finally meet his gaze. She had had enough of him trying to prove how eldritch he could be.

"I bet you don't feel as uncomfortable around them as you're feeling right now." He chuckled, the humor in his laugh mocking her dignity and modesty. It was as if he was accusing her of being a slut, and she knew he thought of every women nothing more than that.

"I don't. Because unlike you, they are not always so eager to get it out of their pants anytime they get a chance." She gritted out, loud and angry. Her hazel eyes narrowed on him in a tight frown, the disgust and hatred resurfacing her emotions in full force.

"Holy shit. So, they still haven't touched you yet? Damn. What a shame." He shook his head with a laugh, and she wanted to do nothing more than punch him and break his jaw so he would keep his filthy taunts to himself.

"Bloody bastard." She cursed, she couldn't help but let out few degrading words for the creepy guy. That was the most little hit she could give him.

"What did you just call me?" He looked at her, his jaw clenched, his face formed in a frown.

"You've hearing deficiency?" She raised her eye brows, her tone rude and sharp, her gaze hard and piercing, driving Nike to his edge.

And he lost it there.

He rose up from his place, watching her. His eyes shining with everything dark and sinister—anger, desire, lust, hatred, ruin.

She clenched her jaw, keeping herself from cowering away. It was the same look.

4 years ago. The very same thing that broke, ruined and dismantled her completely.

"Let me show you how much of a bastard I can be." His voice dropped to nothing more than a whisper, the silence in the room suddenly getting loud, chills crawled on her skin creepily, her hands started to tremble more, heart pacing up, the knot in her throat growing bigger, choking her of her breath. Her cuffed hand attempting to break free from its clutch but it was all in vain.

He was just outside the crib.

"Stop right there." She uttered, loud enough for him to hear yet it didn't stopped him in his tracks.

"You know, it will take them both forever to come back. I shouldn't waste such moment, right?" The unsaid threat in his words so perceivable, digging and clawing her skin, stabbing and burning until her nerves were bleeding.

She felt the fear encompass her courage, her stomach dropped deeper, heart throbbing against her ribcage like a hammer, a bead of sweat rolling down her back, eyes starting to sting, limbs trembling with each step he took towards her.

The blue in his eyes shining with his dark, ruinous and lusty desires, sending chills down her spine, reminding her of the moment when he tried the same thing with her, the remnants still haunting her.

"Stop. Don't come close to me." Her failed attempt to shout and be brave made him smirk even wider.

She clutched her free hand to her chest, fisting the fabric tightly as if to lose the anxiousness and pain through it, behind her knees in front of her torso.

When he was just two steps away, she gasped, her heart bashing so loudly, threatening to come out of it's protective walls any moment. Memories that she was trying so hard to keep at bay surfacing her mind and taking over completely.

She didn't had just the sight of him in front of her, she also had the sight of him tearing and ripping her off her clothes, roaming his hands through her body, screeching her off her dignity, ruining her, destroying her.

"N-no." She muttered. It couldn't be happening again. He cannot be doing it again. Not when she was tied, not when she couldn't escape, not when there was no one to help, not when she couln't be saved.

"What happened now? All your courage flew out of the window?" He crouched down in front of her, his eyes a mixture of everything she hated and despised.

"Move away from me." She tried to gather herself. Swallowing hard, she uttered in a cold tone, almost commanding him.

"Already? I haven't even did anything yet." He chuckled, his laugh grating over her skin like a nails on chalkboard, making her more disgusted by him.

"And you're not supposed to do anything to me. Get away." She said, a little high pitched this time.

"I am. That's what I came here for. And I am gong to do that. You think I'm afraid of Tiger? He can't do anything to me." He replied, a hint of jealousy and unknown hatred dripping from through his tone.

She didn't replied, just watched him as his face grew more lusty, more desiring. His eyes raking over her body shamelessly like a hungry dog devouring its meal. She dig her knees deeper in her torso, digging her fingers deeper on her palm.

"Tell me honestly. How many times he fucked yo-" And she had enough. Her palm collided with his cheek, his face flew towards his left, a clasp sound echoing through the walls, proving list how tight and bad the slap was. He brought his hand to his now burning cheek which had four fingers imprinted on it.

She swallowed, clenching her jaw, eyes angry and hard on him.

He looked at her in disbelief, cupping his cheek with his hand before an angry frown took over his features.

"You bitch!" He slapped her across the face, hard.

Her face flung sideways, a sharp sting suddenly flowing through her nerves, her ears ringing with the loud sound that echoed through the room.

She looked at him, but before she could register the first act of abuse, he punched her in her the face, right at her jaw.

She winced in pain, her face aching as a groan followed her lips soon. Eyes brimming with tears as she tried to gather herself to take yet another hit. Her lips started to bleed from a corner, the pain growing agonizing and excruciating.

His hand once again rose to hit her, but she was quick in reflex this time, stretching her leg and kicking him right at his crotch, sending him a few steps back. He grunted in pain, his face contorted in agony as he pulled both his knees together to lessen the effect. She watched him, satisfaction spreading through her chest, making her hold back the urge to pass a taunt. But the small victory was an ant in front of the mountains of fear and horror which hovered over her.

"You little bitch," He looked at her, meeting his blue, menacing gaze to her hard one, "You think I'll step back just because you're being feisty, huh?" He smirked, reaching at his back and pulling out a knife, moving towards her again.

Her eyes widened, taking in the sharp metal shining in his fingers. Her breath hitched as she pulled her knees in her defense.

He grabbed her ankle, pulling at it with a force she couldn't fight against. The touch made her lose her breath, she tugged at her leg but his hold was too tight, too strong that her attempts were in vain.

Her tied wrist twisted in the clutch of the cuff, creating a fiction and giving her marks she knew will last longer. Her eyes started to water, her free hand splatted, fingers arching on the ground forcefully to keep her balanced. Perpetration run down her back and temple, her hair sticking to her face, body trembling with fear, heart throbbing in despair.

He held the knife at her leg, twisting her ankle as she winced, and within a moment, the knife pierce through her skin. A loud scream left her lips, tears ran down her face as she closed her eyes shut. The pain was too much to take, impossibly excruciating. Her muscles tensed against the knife, sticking to the metal as blood oozed out from its sides, staining her pantsbin blood.

She cried in pain, gasping for air as her lungs were on fire, her fingers formed into tight fists to gather the strength to endure the pain but she couldn't. It was all too much.

She opened her eyes, watching him through her blurry gaze. He was smirking in victory and satisfaction, finding happiness in hurting her, finding comfort while watching her in pain.

"Oh how much I love you crying for help." He laughed like a maniac he was, the knife still dug into her skin.

She watched him without a word, her breath raspy as the injured part grew numb. A much more of an evil smile played over his lips, a gasp escaped her lips when his arm lift slightly, and in the next moment, he pulled the knife out of her calf with a sudden move. An another cry echoed into the room, more blood trailer down her leg.

Her breaths coming in ragged gasps, almost fading, her gaze becoming hazy as dark spots started to appear, she couldn't feel the most part of her leg anymore.

He came closer to her, grabbing her other hand which she tried to shield herself with.

"S-stop," she whimpered, her voice breaking under the weight of her fear that excited him more. She didn't had the strength to dodge him off anymore.

"Not so soon." He whispered, leaning in.

She flinched, moving back in no space, her back scraping against the hard wall, telling her she has no way to protect herself.

Oh God, please no. Please, no.

"Don't do this, Nike. Stop it, p-please." She cried, her tears staining her cheeks. His lips ghosting over hers as his eyes bore into hers, everything that she saw in those blue orbs terrified her.

"Already? I haven't even did anything yet." He smirked, twisting her hand, making her shut her eyes once again while his other hand moved towards her thigh of the leg he stabbed.

She twisted her cuffed hand, trying to break free but it did nothing than to burn and hurt her skin more.

His face ghosted over her neck as he leaned in deeper, she tried to bring her other leg in front of her but he put his own knee over her thigh, restricting her to put her defenses in any way,

"N-no. Stop. No Nike, pleas-e." Her voice cracked, not finding the strength anymore.

His touch was disgusting, his eyes were disgusting. His presence, his mere existence, his smell, his face, his whole being was disgusting her.

His breath fanned over her neck, sending cold shivers to run down her spine. She gasped loudly, her limbs trembling hysterically, her breath getting stuck midway in her throat as she tugged her arm, attempting to break free as tears flowed through her eyes.

He bit the skin of her neck, his teeth digging into her flesh painfully, vilely. She let out a cry, her lips wobbling in agony, the cuffs around her wrist now covered in trails of blood.

"N-no! Stop!" She screamed out loud, her body felt on fire as each part of her inside and out burnt, her stomach flipping in fear and anxiousness that settled deep within her. Her one hand was cuffed, other one hand in his hold, her one leg stabbed and bleeding, and one under his knee. She couldn't fight, couldn't move, couldn't do anything. Helpless- she felt utterly helpless and unheard.

Her cries were left unheard by him as he continued his assault. He moved his other hand to her shoulder, squeezing her skin before tearing the cloth apart in a jerk. The buttons of the loose T-shirt splatted against the cold floor, the hot air hitting her skin, making her yelp in surprise. Her skin exposed to him as his grips became more intimidating, more eager and urgent.

She bucked, squirmed and struggled against him. But he didn't bulge. he was too strong, too bulky for her.

He continued to bite her skin, his hands roaming over her body like an animal devouring its prey, mercilessly, torturously.

She couldn't breath, she tried to scream but no words came out of her throat as if she lost her ability to speak, to breath, to hear, to fight.

And she knew there was no one that will come to help her. Nike will finish what he didn't got to do years ago.