Ella's POV.

My legs were trembling with fear and after a moment they lost their strength. All those dreadful thoughts were going through my mind.

My body, tied up in a dark room surrounding by all those strange men. They torturing me, both physically and emotionally as I would scream for help but no one hearing it. My body covered in bruises and scars as I would beg for mercy. Being tortured and beaten to weaken my dad.

I let out a shaking breath as all those images playing before my eyes. I saw my body covered all in blood before my eyes, screaming and crying.

Was this how I'd die?

Was this what my so-called life?

As my legs left my side, my whole body went numb. As I was going to collapse on the floor, the same muscular arms held me. His arms, around my waist, making me to keep standing.

"Ella? Ella?"

This voice sounded familiar, almost too familiar.

"God! We have taken it so far!" Jessica's voice sounded in my ears as the blindfold was removed. I shut my eyes close because of the bright daylight. I managed to open my eyes and the first thing they met were grey eyes of him.

Xaiden!

His arms around my waist as my body was leaning on to him. He was holding me, trying to steady myself as my legs were still numb because of the terror.

"Ella! Are you OK?" Xaiden held my face with his warm gentle hand and looked in my eyes, worried. His forehead creased as he continued to stare in my eyes.

I didn't know what came over me but I enveloped my arms around his neck and hugged him tighter. My head buried in his neck as tears rolled down my eyes. After a moment, I felt his hold tightened around my body.

I was scared. I thought they found me. I thought I was going to die. I thought this was my end.

I was so scared.

My hands were still trembling as I tightened my arms around him.

"Gosh! Ella! You're shaking," Xaiden said, caressing my back. I felt goosebumps all over my body and I didn't know whether they were due to the fear or due to him.

"El! I'm sorry. I... I just wanted to surprise you. I... I am sorry." I heard Jess's voice.

"El? Are you OK?" This time Sara asked.

"Ella! It's fine. We are here. I am here for you." I heard Xaiden's voice and slightly let go of him, composing myself. My heart still beating rapidly. The hair of my nape was still raised because of fear. Fear of being dead...

Ella! Calm down! Deep breaths! Slowly... In and out...

I didn't meet Xaiden's eyes as I was embarrassed by the way I acted. Why did I have to be so vulnerable?

"Sorry, Ella! I... I," Jessica started and I shook my head.

"No need. I... I just... I just overreacted." I couldn't seem to meet any of their eyes as I whispered the words. Maybe I over-reacted. But what could I do? When I knew how much in danger my life was and who I was. I couldn't help but think of the worst possible scenario.

"But still... I didn't know that-"

"No! It's fine." I forced a smile, and looked at her, trying to be strong.

"Guys? So shall we go?" Jack came out of his car and stood in front of us.

"Yeah," Jessica said and I looked at her confused.

What was going on?

Where were we going to? And during school hours?

"Ella! We are going out to have some fun," Sara said and I just blinked my eyes, staring at them.

"But aren't these school hours?"

"Yeah! We know! We are gonna miss school today. But we will return before the school's off." Jessica smiled.

"But aren't these off the rules?" I retorted still trying to figure out what the hell this girl was planning.

"Come on! Ella! Rules are meant to break! Let's go have some fun!" Sara held my hand and gave me her puppy eyes.

"And we will manage to come back in school hours. That means your dad won't find out about it, " Jessica whispered in my ear, nudging me with her elbow.

"Let's hurry. Would ya?" Jack added.

"El!" Both Jessica and Sara gave me their pleading eyes as they looked at me hoping that I would agree.

Ella! You knew you wanted to go.

But it would be against the rules!

Come on! Quite this being nice for a while! Live your life for a little! Forget everything and enjoy it for a while!

"Fine. I'll go." Listening to my heart, I agreed.

Let's see how it would end!

"Yeahhhh!!!" They both shrieked and hugged me.

"So here you go." Jack handed me the helmet making me look at him confused.

Helmet?

What for?

"Give me your bag. I'll put it in the car," Sara said taking my bag and headed towards the red car.

I was still standing with that helmet in my hand. I wasn't able to make up what was exactly going on here and where we all were heading to.

"So let's meet up at the square mall in fifteen minutes," Jessica said to us and sat in the car followed by Sara and Jack.

The car started and in the next moment, it was on the roads while I stood there stunned.

What the heck!

Did they just forget us?

Damn!

"Uh... Xai-" I stopped mid-sentence remembering my earlier act.

Damn, why did I hug him?

What came over me back then?

I acted like a 3-year-old kid.

I should die of embarrassment!

My cheeks warmed up remembering it. I tried to hid my face in my one hand while holding that helmet in the other. I couldn't face him.

I heard the revering engine of a motorbike and then my name being called. "Ella?"

I turned around to see Xaiden on a bike as he was looking at me.

"Come on! It's our ride," he said as my heart speed up.

I was gonna ride on this? And with Xaiden?

Damn you, Jess! You set this up!

Damn it!

"Come on! You don't want others to wait. Do you?" He smiled and my crazy damn heart made a flip.

Damn!

Yup! Definitely not a lucky day.

"Uh... Yeah..." I mumbled without thinking and he raised his eyebrows, looking at me.

"Uh... I mean... No. I don't want them waiting." I hid my face in my hair, feeling like an idiot.

Ella! Stop being nervous!

Stop making a fool out of yourself!

"Come on!" He slightly chuckled.

I nodded, taking small steps towards him. I was a bit scared to ride it. I had never been on a motorbike before. I had always travelled by car and under high security. This would be my first experience.

I sat on the motorbike, behind him, like the way he was sitting. I put on the helmet as he did as well.

My heart beating faster and my stomach upside down. I felt like I was going to throw up any second now because of this nervousness.

"Ready?" He asked and I didn't know what to answer.

He gave the race as the engine roared. As the motorbike started, for a minute I thought my heart just stopped beating. I shrieked and held him by his waist, closing my eyes. I tried to hide behind his back while holding on to him, tightly.

"I guess you had never ridden a bike before!" He shouted over the fast blowing wind and I was too scared to even answer. I clenched his shirt and gripped it tighter.

He sped up as I shrieked again. "Slow down! Xaiden! Slow it!!!!" I screamed but he just sped it up more.

My heart was just going to fall dead any minute now. I was scared to death.

Damn! I would not ride a bike ever again!

Never ever!

"Damn it! Damn you! Xaidennn!!!! Slow down!!!!" I shouted, gripping him tighter as he laughed but thank God, he slowed down.

"Ella! Open your eyes! Feel the wind!" He said as I shook my head no.

I couldn't! It was so scary.

"Ella! Trust me! Open up!" He said in his gentle voice and I opened my eyes. As he said, I felt the fast wind blowing my hair away. I looked at the surroundings with awe. The small houses passed by us and the hustle and bustle of the city could be heard. There were whole lanes of flowering plants. People walking on the footpath and some with their pets.

We passed a house and a little girl, playing in the garden, waved her hand at me. I waved her back.

I had never felt like this. I had never felt so relieved, so relaxed. I felt alive. It felt good.

I felt as if I just got a different life...

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