Maya gulped as the sound of the glass cup, which had been placed next to her untouched food came clattering on the ground with a loud sound.
Thankful that none of the thugs who were sent to look after her didn't come running into the room to find out the source of the noise, she worked on getting the broken shard of glasses next to the rope used on her hand.
Taking advantage of being broken loose from the chair she was bound to when she had wanted to pee that morning, she landed on the ground, sighing at the digging pain.
Strategically placing both of her hands next to a broken shard of glass behind her, she rubbed it on the sharp edges.
Wincing and suppressing a groan even as blood gushed down from her wrist as the glass cut her in the process. Her plan paid off because a few minutes later she was losing her legs from the rope too.
She peered into the door peephole not trusting how quiet everywhere was. Noticing that the coast was clear she quietly opened the door and let herself out.
She heard footsteps and quickly hid. The kidnappers were busy arguing about a football match.
She smirked, figures.
The two men who walked past her joined in the conversation and noting that they have come from her right-hand side, she knew that must be the entrance and made for the right, staying as quiet as possible even though her heartbeat was so loud, she couldn't believe that they weren't on her trail already since her harsh breath should be a giveaway to where she hid.
As she made to move, she saw two pairs of shoes blocking her passage. Trembling, she looked up to meet her stepfather's bloodshot eyes.
"What are you doing?" He harshly whispered.
She blinked not knowing why he was hesitant to grab her by her hair, scream, and tell everyone who cared to listen how he had caught the stank who was trying to escape.
Tears clouded her vision even as she thought of what next was to come to her.
"Why are you taking this path, child?" His voice was soft, as he inhaled sharply.
She wondered why he even bothered with the whispers.
He made to hold her hand and she flinched.
"I'm not your enemy Maya." He mumbled, "Dominic, the psychopath is and I know I have not been the best stepdad in the world and you probably hate me. But I can't keep on wronging your mother. I came to try to right my wrong or die trying, so give me your hand. Let me help you exit this nightmare." She stared at his hand wondering if she was going to trust a man who had even brought the devil in question into her life.
But realizing, she had nothing more to lose and if he wasn't screaming now, it should be worth a shot, she grabbed his hand.
They exited the route she had wanted taking, him tugging her urgently while she followed.
"Why?" She muttered as he opened a brick that covered what seemed like a secret passageway.
"It is faster and you are bound not to get caught."
"No, why are you helping me. You have only hated and resented me since I was a child. So why are you acting Batman?"
He shook his head, amused, "Firstly that is an insult to Batman, I'm no hero Maya, just a crackhead trying to do restitution. As I said, I even got into this mess to save you," She entered the hole, he followed.
"I've been on your trail since I saw you on TV with your hottie fiance," he wagged his brow, "You did land a nice man, Maya."
She chuckled, tears sliding down her cheeks.
"But then I discovered that his father was Dominic and knew there will be a problem. Established contacts with him and like I predicted trouble came knocking quickly soon."
If someone had told her that a month ago, her stepfather will be rescuing her from anything other than her life, she would have locked up that person in a mental asylum and thrown the keys away but here he was, proving once again that life was an unpredictable twist.
"I don't deserve your mercy so I won't ask for it. But at least I'm happy that I could do something meaningful for the one woman that I loved in my crappy life." He sighed even as he helped her up.
Her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun, elation, and hope shining in them too. "I lied."
She flashed him a look of terror, not knowing what he meant by that sentence.
He chuckled, "No. I'm not delivering you to the wolves. I ain't even surprised you don't trust me. I won't also trust a man who placed a wager on my virginity," his face was crimson red with shame, "I lied about your mom. She did die but not of an overdose. She died of heartbreak. She had always loved you somehow, in her twisted cynic way and she never forgave herself," he sniffed, "I never stopped looking for you."
His eyes widened and Maya screamed as crimson red was suddenly on his washed blue shirt.
He held his chest and then fell to the ground. Dominic sighed in disdain giving the trash on the ground a sparing disappointing glare.
He should have known better than thinking he (Dominic) had ever trusted the shithole.
Maya stared hard at the dead man on the floor, not knowing exactly what to feel. She didn't feel fear even as Dominic tucked away his gun and made for her, she didn't run. She just stood staring at the man in front of her, sprawled on the ground, his pupils white and glaring.
"Don't tell me you are going to cry for a man, who had beat you up all through your childhood and ruined that period of your life for you, wanted to turn you into a sex slave for commercial purposes just because of one good thing he did?" His brow was raised in mock amusement as Maya glared hard at her stepfather's body.
She gave Mr. Dominic, a snarl, "He wasn't perfect, he was a monster even. But he did try to make amends," she cleaned the tear that slid down her cheeks angrily, "But trust me when you fall, I won't shed even a tear on your account. You don't even deserve that."
He guffawed, "Who wants your tear when I have your rear?" Holding her hands intentionally to hurt and bruise, he gave her a slap that sent her falling on the ground, "That will teach you not to go running off like some brave Moana." He chided. Bits of spit escaped his lips.
"I'll rather die trying to escape you, than escape death with you." She replied back, chewing on the insides of her mouth to stop herself from crying even as moisture burned against her eyes as a result of his tightening hold on her scalp.
"You are just a whore Bree, don't flatter yourself."