SYBIL'S POV

Hunter's penthouse,
06:39 PM

The gunshot echoed in my nightmare, and I sat up screaming, all soaked in my sweat. I was breathing heavily, my heart was thumping loudly against my chest.

I gulped my saliva down my dry throat, the realization washing over me like a cold wave-l wasn't tied up with anything.

I looked over to the window, the sun, a fiery orb descending toward the horizon, peeked through the slightly parted, thick curtains, casting long shadows across the floor.

It felt surreal as I was witnessing the sky after decades. My vision remained slightly blurry, a haze that clouded my understanding of this strange new reality.

As I shifted the pure white sheet that had cocooned me in its softness, I hesitated, my feet meeting the chilling floor with a sharp intake of breath. The coldness sent a jolt through my body, awakening senses that had long been dulled.

I walked cautiously toward the door, using the wall for support, each step a careful negotiation with the unfamiliarity of my surroundings. My gaze was fixed on my tiptoed bare feet, the silence of the room amplifying the whispers of my movements. I didn't want to break the stillness; it felt sacred and fragile.

Then, I flinched at my reflection as I approached a large mirror nestled between the dark walls. The sight was jarring, a stranger looking back at me. I panted softly, my breath hitching in my throat as I took in the image before me. It had been so long since I had seen myself.

I reached out, fingers trembling, to touch my face. The skin was stretched taut and pale, a canvas marred by scars that told silent stories of pain and survival. I was skinnier now, a shadow of the person I once was. A wave of emotions surged within me-fear, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of loss.

Who was I now? The reflection stared back, a haunting reminder of the journey I had endured, leaving me to grapple with the question: could I ever truly find myself again?

The train of my thoughts came to a halt as the unmistakable roar of a sports car echoed nearby. I pressed my ear against the door, but silence enveloped me; no voices drifted through.

Tentatively, I reached for the knob and turned it, surprised to find the door unlocked. With a cautious hand, I pushed it open, trying to make as little noise as possible, and peeked my head outside.

What greeted me was anything but ordinary. I stood in a dark, luxurious apartment, facing a deep, light corridor. The room I was in seemed to be the back of the apartment.

As I moved cautiously, I realized that the interior was devoid of any security presence. Still, I pressed my back against the wall, inching my way toward the end of the corridor. I realized I was blindly heading towards the main door.

Just as I was nearing my destination, a voice called out from the other side of the door as if searching for someone. I couldn't quite catch the name, but the voice felt strangely familiar. The voices turned into voices as if someone was fighting their way in. Then someone began to bang on the door with such force that it started to shake.

In a rush, I ducked behind a pillar that stood prominently in the middle of the vast hall, holding my breath as I listened intently.

"Come out!" A manly voice called out, his voice echoing with a curse laced with frustration. And then the door slammed open, making me push myself to the piller more.

Whoever was it got the guts to get into King's house.

I cautiously peeked around the pillar and caught sight of a tall man facing a door that was bigger than any other room's door.

Men in black with weapons were surrounding him, but he seemed too careless; his chest was rising and falling; I saw him losing his tie but couldn't see his face.

The old English tattoo behind his ear made my heart race. A wave of relief washed over me as I recognized his side profile. "Alaric?" I murmured, just loud enough for myself to hear.

I was about to run to him but a deep voice caused me to flinch."Wow, if it isn't my least favorite person," I turned to see King striding toward me, his presence commanding and intimidating.

He was right in front of me while I crouched behind the pillar. Alaric couldn't see me from that angle.

For a fleeting moment, his eyes flicked toward me before returning to Alaric, a storm of anger brewing beneath the surface that made me gulp at the thought of consequences I was soon to face.

He leaned casually against the pillar beside me, arms crossed over his chest, his demeanor deceptively calm as he regarded his guest.

"You cannot make decisions on behalf of us both. You aren't the only heir here," Alaric roared, his voice steady yet charged with tension.

Alaric is his brother? My heart dropped and I pressed my hand over my mouth, realization crashing over me like a wave. He lied that night; he was indeed part of the King's family mafia family, no less.

"If you think Gavino's case has sorted out everything between us, then you are highly mistaken," King continued, his tone unwavering as they seemed to discuss their filthy business.

"That's not the m*therf*cking issue I care about!" Alaric shouted, his frustration palpable as I heard him step closer. I clenched the hem of my shirt, anxiety knotting in my stomach. "Why are your men interfering in my region when we've discussed this? A family of three from Bereznik has been kidnapped by you. Explain!"

"What's so special about that family?" King chuckled, his words dripping with sarcasm. A heavy silence hung in the air before he turned his head toward me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "Their daughter?" He reached out, gripping my wrist.

Without any warning, I was pulled toward him, who shoved me to the floor. I fell to my knees, my head bowed and my face hidden beneath my hair.

I began to sob as soon as I lifted my head and locked eyes with Alaric, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between us.

His eyebrows crashed together, a storm brewing in his gaze. "Ballerina." I read his lips before they parted, his voice barely a whisper yet heavy with disbelief. His eyes roamed over me like a predator assessing its prey, searching for confirmation that I was truly the one before him.

In an instant, he rushed toward me, dropping to one knee, his presence radiating a fierce intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "Ballerina?" he murmured, his hands gently sweeping my hair back from my face, cupping it with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with the chaos surrounding us.

"You lied." I pulled his palm away from my face, the weight of his touch lingering as I met his gaze. My voice trembled, the hurt evident in my eyes, but he held my stare, his expression a mix of concern and fury.

"Oh, to be Alaric's concern," King laughed, his voice dripping with mockery, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air.

Alaric's anger ignited like a wildfire. He surged to his feet, his jaw clenched and eyes ablaze as he grabbed King by the collar. "Why is she in here? Why's she covered in scars? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?" His voice thundered, each word laced with a protective rage that seemed to echo off the walls.

In a heartbeat, the atmosphere shifted, and the King's guards leveled their guns at Alaric, the metallic clicks echoing ominously in the charged silence. But he stood his ground, unyielding, not a hint of fear flickering in his eyes. The power emanating from him was palpable, a force that dared anyone to challenge him.

King slid his hands into his pockets, stepping closer to Alaric with a menacing calmness. "She's the one who attacked Dad," King's voice echoed through the tense atmosphere as he yanked Alaric's hands away.

Alaric seemed to proceed for a long moment before his head snapped in my direction, his eyes a tumultuous mix of trust and doubt swirling within them.

"I didn't," I cried, shaking my head desperately, pleading for him to believe me.

I noticed how his gaze softened, a flicker of understanding breaking through the tension. "She can't," he replied, his focus unwavering from my face, as if searching for the truth within my eyes.

"You seem to know her well," King said, turning his attention back to Alaric. "Why don't you prove her innocence? Until then..." In a swift, brutal motion, he grabbed me by my hair, pulling me up with a cruel grip. "She's in my custody. I'll take good care of her." His grip tightened further as he pulled me towards him making me gasp at harsh slamming of my back over his hard chest. His other hand slipped inside my shirt giving a bruising squeeze on my waist.

"Don't you hurt her," Alaric gritted his teeth. He took a step ahead but King's men shielded us from him.

King's hand untangled from my hair and trailed down to my neck, pulling the collar of my shirt and making the first button break off. He slid my shirt down my right shoulder enough to expose my collarbones and brought his mouth to where my neck meets my shoulder. "I suggest you start searching faster since she's still in one piece..." He taunted, sinking his teeth into my flash making me wince. I felt his hand other hand sliding up from my ribs under my shirt. I closed my eyes, feeling his rough palm making its way up filthily. "....instead of telling me how to treat a woman," he added, his voice vibrating against my skin, making me shiver at the thought of how easily he could break me.

"Sybil." Alaric's voice broke through the chaos, calling my name for the first time, which made me open my eyes. "I'll free you, that's my promise." The determination in his tone ignited a flicker of hope within me, a promise that echoed in the depths of my fear. But I didn't want to believe anyone anymore. I wanted to be free, but I couldn't put my hope in him; after all, he's from the same bloodline. King's bloodline. The most loathing.

Alaric took a few steps backward; it was clear that he didn't want to leave me there with King.

I knew he was waiting for me to speak or at least nod my head, but I was so scared. I was scared that King would punish me if I responded. He beats me. He beats me so badly.

Tears blurred my vision as Alaric walked out of my sight, being followed by countless armed men who were at a safe distance, but no one touched him. The door locked again leaving me with my nightmare alone.

Suddenly, everything got quiet, so quiet that I was able to hear my breathing. And his.

"The little bird tried spreading her wings again." He spinned me around, caging me between him and the pillar behind. "Take off my belt."

Chapter Published On: 05 January 2025.

• Someone's dream girl is someone's toy.

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