I sucked in a breath as I woke up, only to find myself in a basement with a single light bulb casting a flicker of light in this cold concrete hell hole.

My eyes took in everything, the metal door and the ropes biting into my wrists from behind as I tried to move and my feet.. The shoes were gone.

Dread pooled in my stomach at the realisation. Eli was right. His father found out. I twisted my head left and right desperately trying to feel if my scrunchy was still there. A burst of relief escaped my lungs when I felt it.

It's okay.. Eli can still track me.

We are going to make it.

No matter how much I tried to calm my mind though, my heart kept beating one miles per hour in my chest. The words Kyron uttered before I passed out echoing in my mind.

Sleep coneja(Little Rabbit), you and I are going to have lots of fun.

Goosebumps rose on my arms as the door opened and Kyron walked in, still dressed like Eli but this time it was his face staring back at me. His hazel eyes alight with satisfaction and amusement, strands of dark brown hair falling on his forehead as he crouched to look at me in a predatory way that set my instincts on high alert.

"There you are.." Kyron smiled in an unhinged way that promised nothing good.

I stared up at him dead in the eye despite my heart racing.

"Doesn't feel nice to be paralysed does it? You should have thought of that before tasering me the other time"Kyron sneered, eyes flashing with displeasure.

"It's not my fault, you expected a damsel in distress" I spat glaring up at him.

"I indeed expected a damsel in distress, not a hurricane in disguise."Kyron responded before staring at me from head to toe. "Next time, Coneja, try not to be so captivating. It causes problems."

"Next time, try not to underestimate me. It gets people hurt"I retorted, jaw clenched even as my body felt like ants were crawling all over me from his gaze.

Kyron laughed, the eerie sound echoing in the dimly lit basement. He stood up, staring down at me with a sadistic smile. "Oh there won't be a next time, sweetheart. No one will ever find you this time."

"What makes you so sure of that?"I asked coldly.

"Your precious Eli got it all wrong. All this time it wasn't his father backing me up. It was Landon." Kyron said making my entire body turn rigid.

No..

This can't be true..

It couldn't be..

Landon would never do this.

"You're lying."I replied but Kyron merely smiled wider.

"Oh sweetheart, I have never been more honest. Who do you think tipped me off on you? Who do you think provided me with all the right equipments to impersonate Eli Castillo? His outfit, style and nickname for you including the drugs were all provided to me by him. He's been the mastermind behind this entire operation from the beginning."Kyron said, hovering over me like death incarnate while my entire world fell apart.

The same Landon who stared at my son with softness in his eyes, who's been by Eli's side for so long was the one who betrayed us. The only man Eli ever trusted with all his heart and loved like his own flesh and blood.

I closed my eyes as tears threatened to fall. "Why?"

"Figures. He must certainly hate you though if he's willing to spend this much money just to help me get to you. He's even prepared a new identity, passport and private jet for me. Once I'm done with you, I'll be off to another country. And your Eli will never be able to avenge you."Kyron said, voice filled with satisfaction.

I opened my eyes as the pieces fell into place in my mind. A ripple of sorrow and disbelief rushing through me "Eli will kill his father as a result thinking it was him.. And Landon will be there to be his shoulder to cry"

"Bingo. Castillo's father for reasons unknown to me is keeping his mouth shut about Landon. And honestly it serves me well. All the more freedom to take my time with you while Eli runs in circles chasing his own flesh" Kyron snickered crouching to look at me again, thoroughly enjoying my misery.

Why Landon? Why would you do something like that?

Most of all, why was Eli's father staying quiet about it all? Did he love Landon this much that he was willing to betray his other son? Both were his children but still.. Was he this prideful or emotionless that he didn't care as long as it meant I was gone from the picture? Was he that willing to be targeted by his own son just to protect a traitor?

The moment he touched my cheek with filthy hands, I recoiled. "Stay away from me. You're fucking sick"I said, staring up at him with all the hatred and disgust I could muster.

Kyron's eyes turned feral. "If I'm sick then you're the fever, coneja. And I have no intention of healing"

"If you so much as touch me without my permission, I swear to everything that is holy I will kill you."I snapped, struggling against the ropes.

Kyron's eyes lit up with sadistic pleasure as he swiftly pulled out a knife and went behind me. "Make me bleed then, Coneja. We will see who comes out alive"

Before I could utter another word, a sharp sting bit me in the back of my neck again just as the ropes were cut loose by him. "What are-"The words slurred as my vision grew blurry.

Not again.

"You and I are going to play a little game, Coneja."Kyron said just before my soul was dragged into oblivion.