Chapter 2

"I told you we’d meet again," the guy smiled sweetly and took his jacket.

I clutched at it so tightly with fear that it felt like he hadn’t taken it, he’d just ripped it off. Even though he had a smile on his face, I could see in his gaze the very demons that were racing frantically. And it was because of that, goosebumps were running through my body.

"Had Riley told you about me yet?"

"Who?" How could he know her name, or did she not tell me everything? "No," I straightened up and stared at the guy, trying to stay as calm as he was.

"Good, I’d have an excuse to get to know each other." His blue eyes quickly found mine, and he took in the game. An enigmatic smirk appeared on his face.

Maybe Riley was wrong. He seems like a regular guy to me. I don't think he’s capable of anything criminal. I really tried to calm myself down in various ways.

"I gave you the jacket, what more do you want from me?"

"Maybe you," the guy said firmly and grabbed my wrist and pulled me down the stairs.

"Hey, let me go! I'm not going anywhere with you!" I panicked, trying to break free of his grip. His strong hands clamped down on mine. "I’ll scream and people will call the police and then you’ll all go to jail! So it’s either ..." But I didn’t have time to finish as the guy stopped and laughed loudly.

I was amazed at this behavior. I don’t have time to keep track of his moods. He changes too quickly.

"I don’t even remember anyone ever making me laugh like that," he calmed down and pulled me toward the bottom of the stairs again.

"Help! Let go of me!"

The blond man turned around sharply and pinned me against the wall with his body. I fell silent, afraid to move. He closed his eyes, breathing loudly. Again, his mood change too quickly. It's scary to think what he might do in the next second.

My heart began to beat a steady, rapid rhythm. I have to run. It’s not gonna do any good. "Riley!" I screamed, trying to reach my friend, my only salvation. "Riley!"

"She’s not stupid enough to cross me." He opened his eyes and instead of a blue irises there was a dark blue one, which put me into a stupor. "Steve, get her in the car!" Yelled the guy in an angry tone.

I stared into his eyes as my hand slowly reached for the back pocket of my jeans. The phone was my only salvation, maybe I could call the police.

"Jay? Where are you taking her?" Shouted an apparent man from the first floor.

"I'll tell you later!" The blond man tilted his head to the side and a smirk appeared on his face. He lowered his head as I touched my pocket. The guy roughly removed my hand and grabbed my butt.

"What the hell are you doing?" I tried to slip away, but the blue-eyed man pinned me with his body even tighter.

He squeezed my ass harder and leaned in close to my ear and whispered softly: "Do you want to make a phone call?"

"Get your hands off me," I growled.

The guy's eyes narrowed and he pulled out my phone. "Okay,” he whispered quietly under his breath and stepped aside, rummaging through my phone.

"Give it back!" I ran up to him, trying to snatch my cell phone.

He pushed me away, and I slammed into the wall again. My head hurt a little, but I quickly pulled myself together.

Run. I have to run. Come on. I can do it. The meter started counting down in my head.

One.

Two.

Three.

I take off and run to the top. The steps beneath my feet quickly change from one to the next. I turn around and see a man running up to the guy. The blond stops him, not letting him catch up to me. What's going on? Did he let me go?

I run faster and when I'm in the right place, I finally knock on Riley's apartment. "Riley, open up!" Fists pounding on the door with all my might.

There’s no answer. I can only hear my friend’s quiet footsteps on the other side. "Riley, please," I beg, pressing my body against the door.

"He didn’t let you go. I don't want to be his victim, I'm sorry." She walks away without opening the door.

"Traitor," I growl angrily.

Her words hurt, but I try not to take it personally, at least not right now, and I ran upstairs again. I climb the small staircase and open the door. I breathe in the fresh air and step carefully onto the floor. There’s nowhere to run. It’s a trap. I turn back around and see the blond man. Death on one side and the gang on the other. I take a step back. Closer to death.

"Can you jump?" Whispers the blue-eyed man who came out of nowhere. He takes a step forward, closer to me. Every move he makes, every breath he takes makes my body rush with heat.

"Stay back," my breath hitched, my hands sweaty with excitement, and my legs trembling.

I looked down at my feet and realize I would have been better off staying home. I wish I hadn’t taken this job. I wish I hadn’t gone on that business trip. I wish I hadn’t stopped by my ex-girlfriend’s house. I wish I hadn’t come to this damn city at all.

"Hailey. You wanted to call," he tosses me the phone, and I catch it successfully. There's a catch. "Call," the guy says in an indifferent tone.

I throw a fleeting glance at the blond guy and then back at my mobile. My fingers quickly dial the number I’ve learned. I bring the cell phone closer to my ear and wait, keeping a close eye on the blue-eyed man.

"Good morning, this is the police. Did something happen to you?" The woman quickly says a memorized phrase.

"Please help," the guy rolls his eyes and snorts at my request. "There’s a Darkness criminal gang here. Send a squad." Beeps. My call’s been dropped. "What's going on?" I ask in confusion, because it doesn’t have to be this way.

"We're the power, Hale. Haven't you realized that yet?" The door creaks open and the guys come onto the roof.

I'm scared. I'm too vulnerable right now. There’s a lump in my throat, and I can't suppress it. My eyes fill with tears, letting me know I’m about to cry, turning this into a tantrum.

"Uh,Jay? Need some help? Come on, finish with her already," the brown-haired man whispers, turning to the guy.

"Jay?" I whisper quietly, trying not to ruin this situation even more. "Let me go, I’ll give you any money," I swallow a lump and after a short pause, I continue. "Please."

The blond looks through me, thinking about something. The the other guys are standing near the exit and scrutinize me. I lower my gaze from their outer garments to their undergarments. They all have guns. I swallow nervously and take a step back.

"No," the blue-eyed one says rudely and walks swiftly toward me.

"Stay away from me!" I yell and put my hands out in front of me, taking three more steps back. I turn around and see an abyss. The height is too great. People are walking in the street, unaware that there’s a horror happening on the roof of an ordinary building.

"Jump! Come on!" Jay shouts in a commanding tone.

I flinch and turn to face the blond again. Goosebumps run up and down my body. Sweat beads up on my forehead. I’m cold and hot at the same time. I look up at the guys and then down again.

"Do it!" It’s an unbearable psychological pressure.

I shifted my confused gaze to Jay and became even more afraid. His eyes are dark and  dangerous. His hands are balled into fists, and his muscles are tense. I fall to the floor and tears begin to flow down my cheeks. I hate this city. It brings nothing but trouble. It wasn’t long before the trouble found me. The hysteria hits me head on.

"Damned city!" I scream and beat my fists on the rough roof, knocking off my soft skin.

I hurt where no one can see. I’ve given up. It's horrible to feel victimized. I don't know what they will do to me. But I do know that I’ll be dead at the end. At least that's what it feels like to me. The blond walks up to me and grabbing my arm, lifts me up sharply. I stand up, but I’m reluctant to go any further. He snorts and throws a glance at the guys. They walk over to me and the brown-haired man who was talking to Jay in front of me before, throws my body onto his shoulder. They come down from the roof and walk downstairs.

I close my eyes, remembering all these incidents before this horror. Here I am just getting off the airplane. Everyone around me is smiling. Passersby are friendly helping me find the right place. The cab driver smiles as he talks about his beautiful daughter who is studying in Seattle. The streets are quiet, but who knew there was chaos behind it all?

A loud thud brings me back from my memories. I open my eyes. The man who came then to take me to the car opens the door of the Range Rover. The brown-haired man sets me on the floor, but as soon as my feet touch the pavement, he immediately pushes me into the car. On either side of me sits Jay, and the brown-haired man who was carrying me. Across from us, the other guys get in, and the car leaves. I feel like a hostage being taken to torture.

"Where are you taking me?" I whisper, afraid of their reactions, especially that blond guy.

"To our gang, baby," smiles the brunette who sits directly acrosss from me, smiles. "Time to party, welcome to London."

I couldn’t escape them. There was no one to save me. I was lost.