Hours earlier…
Nyx watched Nate walk out of the house, her eyes tight with suspicion. Even though she couldn't say it outrightly to him, she just knew he was going to save Aria.
His eyes had said so. His evasive attitude and the way he pushed her away. However, she decided not to think too much about it. She decided she wouldn't come to a useless conclusion without actually seeing it for herself.
"Fuck it!" She cursed, grabbed her phone and keys and dashed after him. She found him taking a cab, and she followed discreetly.
Her eyes zeroed in on the back of his head through the car window, seeing how troubled he was. He never even noticed she had been following him.
Up until the moment she watched him walk into his old house, he never took a sharp glance around his surroundings.
"What's going on, Nate?" She whispered to herself, as she sat waiting for him in the car.
At the same time, she was a bit relieved when she realized he hadn't gone to Aria. But then, why had he come here? He had no business with his house anymore.
Or so, she thought.
And more than an hour later, Nate never stepped out. Midnight was approaching, and Nyx couldn't help the rage in her heart.
"He said he would be back by midnight…" She hissed, as she hopped out of the car. "I am sure he is asleep…"
However, her voice dwindled out when she got through the open door, and saw how clean the house was. Her footsteps followed the sounds of his voice and his movements.
She came to the door of his bedroom, with her fingers wrapped around the door frame.
Her eyes blurred, with tears in her eyes when she saw Nate with his arms around Aria, on the bed.
"That fucker…" She muttered.
At that moment, her voice boomed through the house and his head snapped in her direction. However, Nyx was nimble enough to slip away and her feet walked stealthily on the floor.
The next minute, she was out of the house, clutching her chest and trying to hold onto the tears threatening to slip down her face.
She was very aware she couldn't have Nate to herself but why would he stoop so low to go right back to his ex?
Her head banged on the steering wheel, with her knuckles turning white as she clutched the hard wheel.
She knew if she saw Nate at that moment, he would be damned. She was boiling in rage and it would be too dangerous to even go close to him.
She hurriedly took her phone, and texted him, "I won't be home for the night, Nate. I had to go back to my family."
"I will see you at school after the students' council meeting."
The next second, she directly blocked his number. She didn't need him coming after her and the minute she came back to her villa, she decided she would end their relationship.
However, things didn't go as planned.
The minute she stepped on the accelerator, and her car shot out into the dark night, she glanced at her rear view mirror and realized she was being followed by a cab.
"Nate?" Her brows creased.
The cab sped up, reaching for her car and she slowly brought her car to a halt.
She expected Nate to step out of the car, but then two boys she hadn't expected stepped out.
Gerald whose eyes emitted fire and venom, and Chris who looked like he didn't want to be there at all. But then, he followed after Gerald, going toward Nyx's car.
A knock on the window, made her fingers tighten around the wheel. She just knew it would be too dangerous to entertain them.
"Bastards…" She muttered as she immediately stepped on the gas, rushing to speed away.
However, the cab was one step ahead. It moved, with the tires screeching and blocking Nyx's car.
Bang!
The collision echoed into the quiet night, throwing her forward. Her chest hit the wheel, and the recoil of her seatbelt felt like her back was burning against the car seat.
Her eyes fluttered, as she struggled to keep them open. However, they couldn't and all she could do was cry.
The tears she had refused to shed now fell like a waterfall.
And the last thing she saw before she passed out completely was Rick getting out of the cab. He had been the driver all along, with eyes so sinister and mocking.
He mouthed, "I got you, bitch."
___
Three hours later…
Nyx's eyes fluttered open, with her body aching all over. She felt a burning in her chest, and a stinging pain right in her face.
The adrenaline rush at the time of the collision made her not aware of the injuries she had sustained. And with the pain ripping through her body, she had thick ropes tied around her arms and legs.
Her body was sprawled all over the bed, with her almost torn clothes hanging loosely on her body.
"What…" She gasped, as her head snapped around.
But it was too dark to see, however, the scent in the room and the feel of the bed beneath her let her know she wasn't where she was supposed to be.
And as she recalled Rick's sinister gaze, she let out a short scream.
"No…" Her hands pulled on the ropes, but they only cut into her skin deeper.
"Get me out of here! Right now!"
"Rick! You bastard! Let me go, this instant…"
Her chest heaved, with beads of sweat dripping down her body. Her tears were mixed with her fluids as they flowed into her mouth.
She was hopeless, breathless and her voice was almost dwindling.
And at that moment, the door was pushed open. The lights came on, making her squirm slightly. Rick stood at the door, his figure like an angel of death ready to take his dues.
"You are awake…" He grinned, as his feet carried him toward the bed. The bed dipped as he sat, alongside Nyx's heart.
She was doomed.