Chapter 8

~~~We are all broken in our own different ways.

We've all gone through some shit in the past but together, we can work towards fixing our future~~~~

Angelina's POV

"We meet again, Princess," he continued, "Who would've thought we would end up meeting like this."

"W-what are you doing here Chris?" I stuttered. Despite having my back facing him I could still, however, clearly see the cruelty all over his face.

"Why don't you look at me when you talk Angel," he said. I could hear the venom dripping from his voice. I hesitantly turned around to face him. The moment I made eye contact with his merciless eyes, all the memories that I desperately tried to bury, quickly resurfaced.

"Look at you," he continued, "you've become even more enchanting." He then openly scanned me from my head to my toes. When he finally made eye contact with me again, his eyes had turned dark. My hands began trembling as his expression reminded me of that night three years ago. Everything about this man was menacing and sinister. A cold shiver ran down my spine as the memory of what happened years ago replayed in my mind.

~~Flash back to three years ago~~

"Mummy I'm home." I was really excited to see my mum. She had been away on a business trip for what had seemed to be forever, but in actual fact it had only been a few days.

I hopped into the kitchen with a spring in my step while humming softly to myself anticipating to find my mum sipping on her cup of coffee as per routine. Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced next. If I could turn back time and re-live that moment, then just maybe I would've been able to notice the abundant signs that clearly indicated that something was amiss.

As I entered the kitchen, I was met with the most bewildering deep forest eyes I had ever seen. Innocent and ignorant me didn't suspect anything. I thought he had to have been one of my mum's business partners or something of that nature, but never in my wildest thoughts would I have ever guessed he would be nothing short of a monster.

"Um-who are you?" I innocently asked.

"Princess, I've been longing to see you," he replied.

"Have we met before sir?" I asked respectfully.

He giggled and then replied, "You haven't met me but I surely do know who you are."

I was beyond confused but at that moment, all I wanted was to see my mum so I replied, "I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean and as much as I would love to continue this conversation with you, I really need to see my mum."

I turned on my heels ready to go upstairs to check for her when instantaneously, the stranger's voice spoke again stopping me in my tracks.

"I don't think you'll find her there," he commented.

"Then where is she?" I impatiently asked.

Instead of replying, he moved closer to me and then caressed my cheeks. I flinched and moved away from him as though his touch were poisonous.

"What do you think you're doing?" I genuinely questioned.

He chuckled darkly before he spoke, "Am I not allowed to touch what belongs to me sweetheart?"

My eyes bulged open as I exclaimed, "YOUR WHAT?!" I didn't know what any of the things he said meant and worse still I wondered what kind of maniac would enter a stranger's house and begin to molest the owner's daughter. There were so many red flags that up to this day, I wished I had realized sooner.

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't think you should talk to me like that, " I continued, " If my mum catches you, you'll be as good as dead."

Immediately after I had finished speaking, he let out a heartfelt guffaw as if what I had just said was a joke. He was starting to look and act like a lunatic so I cried out to my mum, "MUM!! There's some weirdo in your house!"

"I don't think she can hear you," he stated with a grin on his face. "I think she must be busy resting," he continued.

"MUM!" I exclaimed once more but there was no response.

He then shoved a picture straight into my face. I grabbed it from his hold and as soon as I saw what was on it, I collapsed onto the cold floor.

I was horrified.

It was a picture of my mum lying on the floor- naked, beaten and murdered.

But nothing could've prepared me for what he did next.

~~End of flash back~~

"Princess, I told you I would eventually find you, didn't I?" he smirked devilishly as he said this.

I slowly backed away from him entering the elevator that had just opened, but he advanced towards me and also entered the elevator. It took me a few seconds to register the current situation. I couldn't be in the same breathing space as this devil-like excuse of a human so acting upon instinct, I cried out for help.

I know it's quite ironic how an A-class fighter like myself would be intimidated by a frail looking man. However, this very man left me with deep scars and a permanent fear that no amount of muscles or therapy could ever be able to eradicate.

I had drawn in some attention with my cries but still no one tried to help me or at least ask what was going on. Instead they were preoccupied with taking a video of the scene for their Instagram or twitter posts.

"Don't worry, we're friends. She's just a bit dramatic," he lied.

My heart was pounding like a fragmented drum as I saw how the vast majority of them believed him despite the fact that I'd worked in the same working space as most of them. They still couldn't pick up that something just wasn't quite right.

My vision became blurred as my eyes were clouded with tears which were threatening to fall.

Just as the doors of the elevator were closing, he came closer to me and whispered, "You will pay for the shit you made me go through princess."

A soft whimper escaped through my mouth as my legs suddenly lost strength and I eventually collapsed onto the floor of the elevator.

"Angelina is that you?" a deep familiar voice asked.

I looked up from the ground and saw Xander holding onto one of the two doors of the elevator, preventing it from closing. Miraculously gaining all the energy I had lost, I jumped into Xander's arms and wept. Talk about good timing.

"Angel what's going on?" Xander asked.

I couldn't even get my voice to speak. All I could do was point at the monster with a shaking finger.

Xander followed the direction of my finger and was finally aware of the presence of the monster.

"Xander, is that you?" the monster spoke.

"Marcus?" Xander asked enthusiastically.

"Is that how you greet your older brother after all these years of not seeing each other" the so called 'Marcus' spoke.

To say the very least, I was beyond shocked. Firstly, this man's name was 'Marcus' and not Chris? Moreover, Xander and this monster were related? Better yet, they were siblings? As much I needed Xander's help more than anything, I just couldn't bring myself to tell him about his brother's true colors because the truth is, blood is thicker than water so he probably wouldn't believe me or better still, he wouldn't even consider helping me.

After their greeting, Xander finally shifted his attention back to me and spoke, "Angel, what happened?" he asked yet again.

"It's nothing important," I lied as I detached myself from his hold. I could see the hurt and worry in Xander's eyes.

I wanted to vent it all out and tell him everything, but this beast just had to be related to him.

Marcus then cleared his throat and spoke, "Um, hello. My name is Marcus and you are..?" he pretended.

"None of your business, " I spat as I briskly ran out when the doors of the elevator had finally re-opened.