chapter 5 :

"How can you use me as collateral for your debt, Dad? You took a loan you can't pay, and now you've signed me over to Robert Grey. Have you ever seen him, Dad? I'm sure you haven't, as no one has. But don't you hear the rumors? His parents don't even want him because of how wicked he is. Yet, you've signed your daughter over to him as collateral.”

I angrily yelled at my dad, who looked sheepish. “I'm sorry, honey, but I didn't know my business would crumble after I took a loan from him. Please, just go with him. He's outside already.”

“But Dad, you don't even know whether the man outside is Robert or not. What if I'm going to be mistreated there? What if I'm abused? How do I get away from him?”

Just as we were talking, the door opened, and thug-like men came in, forcefully taking me to their van. They blindfolded me, and that was the last thing I remembered until I faced Robert Grey.

Memories of my peaceful days rushed back as I thought about the guy I had hit with my car. Why and how did he look exactly like Robert? Who exactly is he? The same blue eyes, height, and body build, the only difference is the hair color. He has brownish-gold hair, while Robert has dark hair. What is this mystery?

I wished I had stayed longer with Myers to get to know him, but I saw Jack, one of Robert's men. I knew they had tracked the car, as it was Robert's car. I didn't want to return there; Robert treats me like shit, turns me into his sex slave, and has no respect or regard for me. I feel worthless.

I started walking, having nowhere to go. I walked around, searching for a place to rest my head, and found a food stall closed with an open window. I could jump through the window when it's really late and escape when it's early in the morning, I thought. As I searched for a place to sit, I sat for some minutes before dozing off.

The voices of people around me woke me up, and as I opened my eyes, I saw three men before me. “Hey lovely girl, what are you doing sleeping out in the open?” the gray-haired man said sheepishly, grinning from ear to ear as he stared at me lustfully.

 “Come with us to our room, so you can sleep comfortably,” the fat man said.

I stood up to excuse myself, avoiding confrontation at all costs. As I turned, the smallest of them held me back and pinned me to the wall. He used his middle finger to push my hair aside, and as he was about to touch my face, I swiftly moved my head to the side, avoiding his touch.

“Don't touch me!” I warned, trying to keep my voice firm.

The gray-haired man chuckled. “Oh, come on, lovely. We're just trying to help. You're too beautiful to be sleeping on the streets.”

I struggled to free myself, but the smallest man held me firm. I remembered the self-defense technique I had picked up from Robert, another good thing I learned from him, and used my elbow to strike him in the stomach. He grunted, releasing his grip.

“Leave me alone!” I shouted, creating distance between us.

The fat man sneered. “You think you can take on all of us? We'll show you what happens to girls like you when they try to be stubborn.”

I stood my ground, ready to defend myself again. But before things escalated further, a police car turned into the alley, sirens blaring. The men scattered, abandoning their plans.

A policewoman rushed out of the car and approached me. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

I nodded, still shaken. “I'm fine. They were just trying to harm me.”

The officer's expression turned stern. “We'll take care of them. You're safe now.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. I had defended myself, guess it wasn't such a bad thing staying with Robert. But that thought soon vanished as a black van appeared in front of me, and Jack jumped out of it.

“Oh shit,” I said, beginning to run. How did they find me so fast? The last time I escaped, it took close to a month. Now they've found me within three weeks!

The van pulled up in front of me. When I turned back to run the other way, Jack was standing, arms crossed.

 “Get in the car, Naomi. We've had plenty of fun thanks to you.” I walked into the van this time on my own accord because there was nowhere to run to. At least my escaping this time wasn't useless, as I found something tangible to bring Robert Grey down.

Robert's face was fuming with anger on sighting me. “Lock her up in the room upstairs,” he said without staring at me. As we went upstairs. 

I wondered how Robert had come to the city to look for me. He has never left Green Island, or so I've heard. So why did he come all the way here to look for me?

As I sat on the bed waiting for whatever punishment he had for me, my thoughts wandered to how Myers was doing and if he had been discharged from the hospital.

The sound of footsteps approaching brought me back. As the door opened to reveal my greatest fear, ‘Robert’. He raised his hands to slap me, but as I closed my eyes awaiting the pain that would follow, nothing came. 

I slightly opened my eyes to see him staring at me with his eyes not burning with anger but with concern, something I had never noticed before.

“Don't you dare run away again. The next time you do, your whole family will pay for it,” he said and walked out the room, banging the door. I stood there stunned, not by his words but by the look in his eyes. Was he actually worried about me? Robert Grey worried about a nobody like me? Naahhh, I dismissed the thought.