★
It was the musty smell of wet leaves at first, then the damp smell of green moss like it does in winter.
Ixora loves winter the most of all the seasons, if not for anything but for the monsoons, coolness and rains.
She loves rains a lot, but right now it doesn't feel like the coolness she'd appreciate since it's mad different.
It's like she's exposed to the outside world, exposed to harsh reality.
She enjoys coolness in the confines of her room, taking every moment to relish in the pounding of the rain against the roof, but right now she's definitely outside.
What's this unusual smell? Where the hell is she?
Her hands seems tied behind her, and she feels like she's sitting on a chair too, then she could hear the cracking sounds of burning firewood, and another distinct smell of something getting roasted.
She sniffled, the sound sending sparks to her brain in large quantities, helping her reload her memories.
She was at the pool...
She jumped in...
She was about to get to the finishing point when the pool suddenly became red and...
Hands grabbed her, pulling her into a vent in the pool.
She definitely saw the face, and it's none other than her worse nightmare — Warren Creed!
Her eyes flew open at the slashing remembrance, and they stayed wide when she saw them.
Three tall guys, Warren is not in sight right now.
"Oh... Pet girl is awake" Ashton smiled, the sight unappealing.
"Thank shit, I was getting bored of her slumber" Konstantin sneered, and Ixora gulped.
Warren might be the most scary, but Konstantin is another devil entirely.
Capri sat on a brick, staring at naked girls in his magazine. He's not even looking up at all, and for real, they're in a forest—thick one.
And this spot that they're in looks like the middle of it, so dense and green.
There's a burning fire beside Capri, and something is roasting inside it, but she can't see what.
She's indeed on a chair, her hands tied backwards, and oh...she's wearing only her bikini!
Her bikini only!
Her eyes travelled down her body, and when she saw that half her pale breasts are uncovered, she gasped, struggling with the ropes she's tied with.
The knots felt familiar, and she began trying to untie herself.
Her laps are fully exposed, so she quickly enclosed her thighs, tightly.
"If we wanted puxxy, Capri has lots and lots of them in his magazine, so stop the frantic efforts, no one wants your arse" Ashton spoke, and she gulped again, sweat cascading down her open cleavage.
"What do you want from me? Tell me so we can settle our scores and let go of me!!" She screamed desperately.
"Settle our scores?" Konstantin came closer, and she nearly entered the chair, his spicy scent so choky.
"There are no scores to settle, pet" he brought his face closer to hers, and her lips trembled. "There's only blood to shed, your blood"
"No... I didn't kill anyone, you can't kill me!!" She shouted, and Konstantin laughed loud, wickedness playing in his eyes.
"Who talked about killing you?" Ashton grinned.
"There are million ways to take your blood without taking your life" Capri spoke for the first time, and his edgy voice made fear grip her even more.
Capri rarely talks, but that doesn't make him any better than the rest.
"Still remember how you were testifying wickedly three years ago?" Ashton spoke, and her fists balled.
"That was a mistake, Evelyn seemed so devastated and I couldn't just continue watching her! She said she was sure that it was him, and since Warren is Elder Creed's son, the court would wanna rule him as not guilty, but with my additional testimony, he'd be jailed" she said, her voice shaking.
"So you testified based on what Evelyn said? I can still picture the scene, and Warren's tears" Capri spoke again.
All these while, he's still not looking up from his magazine.
Ixora's breaths turned thin, and Ashton got a laptop, opening it and playing a video.
They have a record of the court scene from three years ago.
Ixora is in the witness box while Warren is in the defendant box, then in the crowd there's Ashton, Konstantin and Capri, all looking so innocent back then.
“We saw him. We saw him doing the murder. We saw him stabbing Mr. Ortega. I and Evelyn saw him” Ixora said, and Warren gasped from his own box.
"I didn't murder anyone!!! I was with my friends that night!! We just got admissions to ILC and we were partying!!! I've never killed!!!" He shouted.
"Order!" The judge slammed.
"No! No I didn't kill Mr. Ortega! I was with my friends!!" Warren shrieked.
"He was really with us!" Konstantin shouted.
"We were partying! 7 to 7!!" Ashton yelled.
"We were drinking ourselves to stupor!!" Capri shouted too.
Cops began dragging the three out of the courtroom as their crash outs to defend their friend got intense.
"But I and Evelyn really saw him, he stabbed Mr. Ortega" Ixora said, her voice shaking.
"You lying bîtch!!! I didn't kill anyone!!!" Warren cried out.
Konstantin paused the video and closed the laptop at this point, and Ixora's guilt climbed even higher.
"That was iconic, wasn't it?" Konstantin said, and she sniffled.
"I'm...I'm sorry"
"Sorry? Fuckin sorry?" Ashton came closer too.
"If sorry heals wounds and corrects mistakes, there wouldn't be so many psychopaths roaming the streets. You sent him to jail with your false testimony, and that old Warren died in jail" he said.
Ixora sniffled again, looking up.
"The new Warren is Satan, he's out to shred you, and our goal is helping him achieve his goal." Ashton said.
"Welcome to the blood hood" Konstantin's laughter sounded in the forest like a lion's roar.
"Are you mates done with the preamble?" Warren's deep voice finally tore into the place, and Ixora's breaths seized as her butt felt hot on the chair she's tied to.
Warren appeared from Capri's side, as devilish as ever, and his white dove is on his left shoulder again, white but evil.
"I'm...I'm sorry Warren" Ixora repeated.
Warren kicked one of the sticks from the burning fire instantly, and the stick flew to her, landing beside her feet and burning her.
The veins on her neck stood out as the burn penetrated deep into her bones, but thanks to the moss, the fire was fast to go off, but her feet got a boil from the burn.
Warren came closer, and she had to hold her breaths again as his earthly scent assaulted her nose.
He raised her chin with his index finger, and when their eyes met closely like that, she could see pains, she saw terror, she saw blood, vengeance and hell.
Everything cruel in those two eyes of his. Everything...for her.
"My name is not meant to be on your lying lips, or I'll cut them off" he seethed, and her chest rose in wild palpitations.
His dove cooed on his shoulder, looking just as foreboding as it's owner.
He roughly let go of her chin, and she almost fell from the chair despite her ropes, then he signalled at Capri, and Capri finally stood from beside the fire.
Now, Ixora can clearly see what they're roasting in the fire.
It's a betta fish, but not just any fish.
It's her pet fish, Splash!
Her soul left her body as she screamed out in horror.
"Splash!!!!!"
--
[Imperial Levels College]
First year biology major never remained the same after the news of Ixora's kidnap flashed around.
Even the whole campus is feeling it.
Ixora might not be the richest girl in this school since Tina is still alive, but Ixora's father is loved, and the school management accords him great respect, so kidnapping his daughter in broad daylight is sour news.
Cops are already combing the whole school, and three of them went through the pool vent together with Romeo.
It took more than twenty minutes before they got to the other side since the shit is too long, but when they finally arrived, they met themselves in a green forest.
"Where is this place?" One of the cops asked.
"Never seen it before, but wherever it is, it's surely not inside the school, and the fact that they were able to make this is just..." Romeo replied, going short for words.
The cops left it at that, then they called for backup as they scattered inside the forest, searching for her.
Romeo went a different path too, getting his phone as Bethel's call rang on it.
"Yes?" He picked.
"Any sign of her?" She asked.
"None" he replied, jumping down a high rock, and when he landed, thorns pricked his shoe soles, penetrating and stabbing his feet.
"Fûck!" He groaned.
"Romeo are you ok? Romeo?" Bethel's voice filtered in.
"I'm fine, it's just a stunt" he replied.
"Alright, I just hope she's found. You used to tell me how much her mum loves her so she might just run crazy" Bethel said.
"She'll be found, Ixora is fine" Romeo assured and hung up.
He pulled off his shoe and removed the thorn from his foot before continuing his journey.
"Ixora!!!"
--
[Chocolata Maxima]
Stonia is in her office, working tirelessly with the clock.
At the same time, she's checking the time every minute, eager to clock out and go home since Ixora is coming back to her mansion today.
She has missed her a lot.
Her three managers came in, pushing in trolleys and hangers containing beautiful dresses and shoes.
"Mmm...great!" Stonia stood with a large smile, checking them out.
"But ma'am, aren't these gifts too much for a welcome back? She only left to stay with her dad last night, not like she was gone for a year" a manager said, and Stonia went closer to pull his tie, choking him.
"Too much? If I say I'd buy the world for my daughter, then I'd do it. I'm rich for her sake so you have no say" she said, letting go of his tie.
The man began coughing hard, and Stonia's phone rang.
"Also, send one of the securities to get fish food for her pet fish. Splash's grains is not plenty anymore" she said.
"Yes ma'am" the other two managers replied, then she finally took her ringing phone.
It's Serena calling.
"What's up Serena!" She leaned on her desk.
"Aunt, Ixora went missing" Serena sniffled in tears.
"What!" Stonia stood straight.
"I think the school management kept it from you cos they know how mad you can get when it comes to her. She went missing during PE at the pool" Serena explained.
"My daughter went missing? Then everyone in that school better get ready to get missing too. My own daughter?" Stonia smirked, hanging up.
She didn't wait to take her bag before rushing out of the office, eventually running out of the company.
--
[Rhodes Corporations]
It might not be the largest real estate company in Cali, but Rafael is trying his best as the owner, and that's why he's rich.
He's just getting back into his office from an outside conference when his secretary came in, holding a velvet box which he handed to him.
Rafael took it with a large smile and opened it, the diamond anklet almost blinding him.
"Now this is it" he grinned.
"A gift for your daughter sir?" The secretary asked.
"Of course, who else?" Rafael smiled again, but then one of the staffs rushed in.
"Yes?" Rafael went strict.
"My acquaintance attends ILC, and she just called to tell me that my boss's daughter went missing during PE" the staff announced.
"Which boss?" Rafael stood.
"You're the only boss I have sir. Ixora went missing" the staff replied.
"My Xora?" Rafael's eyes are wide as he picked his phone, calling the school.
It was the chancellor who picked.
"Tell me it's not true, that my daughter is intact" Rafael said.
"We're very sorry, sir. We're working on it and she'd be—"
Rafael hung up before the chancellor could land, then he began rushing out of the office.
The secretary rushed after him.
--
[Creeds’ Family House]
Elder Creed was wheeled softly ibti his car, and since it's the wheeling maid who also drives him, the woman got in the car with him and began rolling the car out of the compound.
He's gonna visit the homeless again, and there are baskets of cooked food in the car booth for distribution.
When the maid drove the car out of the compound, another car is waiting outside, and Mrs. Ortega came out of it.
The maid stopped the car, and Mrs. Ortega came to the window, streaks of tears in her eyes.
"I know your son took my daughter's body, and I'm very sure he sent the jalopy driver to hit her too!" She yelled, hitting the car body.
Elder Creed stayed silent.
"I'm only still silent cos I have no evidence! The moment I get my hands on any slight one, both you and your son are going to jail!!" She yelled.
"There was no evidence three years ago too, but your wretched dead daughter and her friend sent him to jail, why not do it again? Send him to jail without evidence again!" Elder Creed finally spoke, his voice spikey.
Mrs. Ortega went silent.
"I didn't protect him three years ago, that doesn't mean I won't protect him this year too, so do all you can, but know one thing" Elder Creed shifted closer.
Mrs. Ortega stilled.
"My son kills, but I burn. You do not want to mess with a killer son and an arsonist father like me, you'll be dead before your next menstrual cycle" the man whispered.
Mrs. Ortega shifted back from the car.
"Drive" Elder Creed ordered the maid, and she drove off roughly.
Mrs. Ortega went back to her car, slapping the steering.
"So what if my daughter lied on him? So what!!! He's at fault for turning my daughter down in the first place so he better bring her body out from whenever he kept it" she ranted, slapping the steering again.
--
[Imperial Levels College]
Serena laughed like a witch after she dropped the call with Stonia, and Kelsey who's in front of her scoffed.
"You're really something"
"Of course I am. I only cried during the call so she'd think I'm concerned, but if you ask me, I don't want her to be found. The way Aunt Stonia and Rafael loves her makes my stomach ache. I mean... she's not even that pretty and—"
"And that's where I disagree with you, bestie. That girl is madly beautiful. I hate her but it's the truth" Kelsey cut her off.
"Duhh, but I don't want her to be found and I can finally gave aunt Stonia to myself" Kelsey rolled eyes.
Kelsey looked at her own swollen pegged finger and sighed.
"I wonder what Warren would be doing to her right now" she muttered.
"I don't trust that guy, she might be dead already" Serena laughed.
"And can you give me Rafael's line directly? After my finger heals, in going after him again. Warren doesn't want me anymore so I'll just join him in tormenting her" Kelsey said.
--
[Amphitheater]
Bronx is still in there.
He's still not done with the guys, and it seems no matter how many hours he takes to torture them, they're bound to stay mute.
His fists are bloodstained as a result of punching too much, and he even got wounds on them, but he likes them.
Anytime he gets wounded, he feels like throwing a party.
He kissed his bloody fist before facing the guys again.
The two have swells for eyes right now, and they can barely see through them as a result of Bronx's heavy punches.
"My stash?" He demanded again, ready to start allover.
"Are you talking about this?" A voice muttered from the back, and he looked ahead to see Monty, holding a black bag containing his stuff.
He rushed to her and snatched the bag from her, checked it out to see it's really his weed, then he faced her with grinded jaws.
"Why the hell would you take it? And this is shorter than the one I kept there, where did you keep the remaining one?" He demanded.
"I used it" Monty smiled, and his eyes widened.
"What!"
"Yes, got a problem with that?" She replied, and he tried to grab her hair, but her leg already went to the middle of his legs, kicking him there.
"Ugh!!" He grabbed the spot, his brows arching.
"And that's why you're here torturing two innocent kids?" Monty smirked, gesturing at the kneeling guys.
"Are you both daft? Aren't you guys like him? Can't you face him? Shit faces, get away!" She snarled, and the two rushed out of the amphitheater.
"You'll pay" Bronx said, standing straight as his teeth clenched.
"Come for me anytime you like it. You love wounds? I'll give you lots of it" Monty replied, rolling eyes before exiting.
She met Tina waiting for her in front of the building, backing the wall and holding a ball. She's wearing the wine-colour sports wear.
"What's your deal with Bronx anyways?" She asked, leaving the wall to follow Monty down the hall.
"I just dislike him, for no reason. Getting on his nerves is the best way to deflect" Monty replied.
"Whatever, go change into your sports wear and let's go for BB at the stadium. I'm not ready to get involved in the missing girl shit especially now that her parents are here" Tina stopped in front of the locker room.
"Sure" Monty replied, entering.
Tina stayed outside, scrolling through her phone and smiling, staring at Romeo's pictures.
"I should visit his father's saloon sometimes soon" she said.
--
The major biology pool hall is full to the brim both with students and lecturers and even the school management.
Ten more cops has gone through the vent, and they're all still waiting for good news.
"It's you, she got the bad luck from your house. If she didn't sleep in your house! She wouldn't have been taken!!" Stonia faced Rafael, and the man blinked in surprise.
He knows his ex-wife is a drama queen, but this is just beyond.
"Seriously? Even publicly? She was taken in this pool, not in my house!" He said.
"Still doesn't change the fact that she spent the night at your mansion last night you bad luck!!" She pushed him.
"Stonia!!" He yelled, but she's more focused on taking off her shoes right now.
She took them off and jumped in the dry pool, entering the vent too.
"Stonia!" Rafael jumped in too, going after her.
"Her parents are crazy" Bethel muttered.
But then, Nadine jumped into the pool too, ready to enter the vent with the rest.
"Nadine!" Bethel gasped.
"I can't stay here" Nadine replied, adamantly entering the vent.
--
[Forest]
"Ixora!!!" Romeo yelled again, his voice colliding with the voice of the cops who're also screaming her name at the other side of the forest.
He's all alone, and his voice is full of fear as he walked the path he's currently on.
What if Warren does something nasty to her?
She's in only her bikini so those corrupt guys have no right to see her that way.
What are they doing to her right now?
Those thoughts formed a myriad in his head, so thick that he forgot he's walking, till he collided into a stunt for real.
He stumbled and fell, rolling down the slope where his shirt got muddled with wet loamy soil in a swamp.
Part of his face also got stained, greatly.
He stood to his feet, then he sighted smokes rising to the sky from a distance.
He adjusted in his position before moving forward, tracing the smokes.
--
Ixora has no idea how these devils' were able to penetrate into her mother's mansion to take her pet fish in her room, but that's not even important right now.
They've killed it.
They roasted it.
Splash was the only friend she had even before she met Evelyn or Nadine in highschool.
Her parents were still together back then, and they were both into politics, always going from one meeting to another, leaving her alone with the maids at home.
Splash was the only constant in her life, and she even celebrates birthdays for the fish yearly just to show how much it means to her, but now it's gone?
She's already crying, and the guys left her to mourn the death of her dear pet as she watched it burn, it's oil making the fire burn more.
All the boys have the same look of excitement in their eyes as they watched her cry, but Warren's is the wildest.
He's sitting in front of her, on a different chair, resting his chin on the backrest of the chair and watching her cry.
It's like her tears is his manpower.
"Cry..." he whispered, lifting her wet chin with his fingers again.
Her skin crawled with the feel of his hand on herself, and she felt like throwing up immediately.
Yes, she's guilty, but the worse they could do is send her to jail too and let her pass through that he passed through.
The worse they could do is hurt her deeply that she won't be able to heal, but killing Splash?
So not it.
She gathered saliva in her mouth, spitting it on his face — it landed on his left cheek.
Warren shut his eyes as the saliva crawled down the cheek, tickling his skin.
Konstantin pulled a knife out, and he almost threw it at her chest, but Ashton held him back.
"Throw it! Kill me! Do it!! I testified wrongly and I admit it!! Sorry won't cut it but throw me in jail! I'll take it!! Who do y'all think you are? Bunch of evil guys who won't be able to do anything without daddy's money! Kill me bastards!" She yelled.
By now, she has finished untying the knot her hands were tied with behind, and she spranged up, picking the chair with the aim of crashing it down on Warren's head, but Warren's eyes flipped open, fast.
He moved out of the way, so the chair crashed on the ground instead, making it break into pieces, splinters flying everywhere.
Warren grabbed her, malevolently by the fabric of her bikini, causing the bikini to glue painfully to her skin as he hauled her to himself with it, their faces so close and detest getting injected to their lungs.
She's standing on her toes since Warren is pulling her so high to match his height, but her face is still on his cheek level, and she could clearly see her saliva there.
She whimpered, but his grip on her bikini only worsened, and if she struggles too hard, it'd tear.
Exposing her nakedness to the four of them would make her commit suicide, so she stood still.
The other three watched the show with crossed arms, but Konstantin is grinning.
A darn bowl of popcorn would make this show a lot better for him right now.
Even the dove is on a tree, watching ominously from there.
"Lick it" Warren said, and Ixora gulped, blinking dastardly as her fists balled, her will completely stolen by him.
"Your saliva, lick it off" he muttered, his nose flaring and anger growing in every of his features especially his pressing lips.
Ixora looked at the saliva, and she gulped again, cold air hitting her exposed thighs as their eyes spit raging fire at each other.
"Over my dead body" she replied, boldly.
TBC.