[A/N: Warning!: There will be a rape attempt. If you’re uncomfortable by it, then please don’t read this chapter.]

As soon as he yelled that, the sound of the alarm rung throughout the building. My heart was hammering against my ribcage as the adrenaline took reign over my body. I had to get to the basement and then… and then… and then what? I stopped running and pondered. Mark is in the basement, but how will I get there when all of those men are spread around the building and they are most likely carrying a weapon of their own, knowing their background. And would there be guards? Augh! Damn it! Of course, there will be guards! Who am I trying to fool!?

I need something to protect myself with, a weapon, but where am I supposed to get that? My mind was buzzing for a way to protect myself. I looked around, my eyes only landing on a row of doors that let to other rooms.

Maybe I can find something in one of the rooms? I wondered. Feeling the urgency of the situation, I just took my shot and open the doors one by one. I would curse under my breath whenever I visited a room to only come out empty-handed.

The sounds of the building were playing tricks on my ears. My ears would confuse the clicking sounds of my heels with the heavy footsteps of the men. Every time I would close the door, my heart would leap out of my chest in fear that one of the men heard that. If I even assumed that I was hearing voices or footsteps, I would instantly duck under a bed or hide in a closet, holding in my breath only to release it again when I realize it was only my imagination.

But luckily enough, I was able to search the entire floor without even bumping in to anyone. Opening the door that led to the emergency staircases, I glanced at the plate that was hanging on the wall.

Furrowing my brows, I muttered under my breath. “30th floor.” I groaned inwardly as I shook my head. Great, unwanted exercise. That’s exactly what I needed and God forbid that any of those bastards are using the stairs.

There was no way that I would take the elevator for fear that someone may enter it. Especially now that I know I am on the 30th floor. That means that I would have to hold my breath 30 times, praying that the elevator won’t stop at any floor. No, thank you.

After brazing myself mentally, I ran down the stairs. I scooped out every floor and after a while I was on the 20th floor. Shock took over my face when I still had seen none of Casper’s cronies. I am happy, but it’s scarier when you don’t know where your enemy could be hiding.

Trudging down the hallway, I opened every door until I opened one that let me into an unfamiliar room than what I was used to. I was intrigued, not the least to say. No bed, no nightstand, no bathroom, only some few desks and bookcases were present in this room.

I couldn’t help but wonder why there was a room like that here. It was so random and weird. Mulling, I walked inside the room, closing the door behind me as I trudged to one of the desks; my hand trailing over the edge.

Perhaps… is this a study room? I have heard of hotels which provide study rooms in case the parents come with their children who are still students. It can also be used as a place where you can take a breather. Kind of shocking to see this here when the owner of this building is a murderer.

I glanced around the room, humming thoughtfully. Maybe I can find something here. I looked up to see if there were any cameras hanging around and there were. Even this room has a camera… great. I don’t mind Mark watching me, but there’s no guarantee that Casper isn’t watching me, either.

‘Let’s get rid of it.’

I grabbed a desk chair that had wheels under it and drove it under the camera that was hanging in the back corner of the room. The next thing I did was grabbing a big, heavy book I wouldn’t ever read and brought it with me to where the chair was. Raising up my leg, about to step on the chair, I lost my balance and fell back on my butt.

Even with the amount of layers inside the skirt, the pain that I felt after my bum collided with the floor was clear. “Ouch.” I grumbled petulantly and then swiftly aimed my eyes at my feet, glaring begrudgingly at the two murder weapons that were enclosing my feet.

Those damn high heels will be my death one day. Why am I even still wearing them? They only give me blisters. Instantly, I removed those heels, tossing them across the room. I exhaled, relieved, wriggling my freed toes that were uncomfortably stuffed away and rubbed the sore place on my heels. “That’s better.”

Standing up, I grabbed the front hem of my gown, bunching it up enough for my legs to move properly. “Now. let’s try this again.” I said and climbed on the chair. I was just tall enough for my hands to reach it and, with a wide swing, smashed the book against the camera. A hairline crack was forming on the camera wall stand- breaching out further every time I landed a hit on it. Grunting, I hit the camera for the last time with full strength. Finally, broken, the device tumbled down on to the red-carpet floor with a load thud.

Beads of sweat formed on my head. I peered down on the abused machinery, releasing elaborated breaths as my shoulders heaved up and down.

“Phew… okay, now that’s taken care of. Let’s search around.” I told myself and carefully stepped down from the chair.

I pulled on every desk drawer, rummaged through every bookcase, I even skimmed through some few books in hope to even find a square hole where a weapon could hide like what you would see in movies; but nothing, zero, nihil! I couldn’t even find a damn needle!

“Did that creep strip the hotel of everything that could be considered as a weapon!?” with my back towards the door I slammed my fist on the desk, groaning frustrated. My only hope at this point is to find the kitchen for a knife, but a kitchen is normally on the ground floor. There’s no way that I can get there without being caught. I thought sullen.

“What should I do?” I kept raking my brain for any possibility, but the cracking noise of the door followed by a loud booming voice slapped me back in to the reality.

“Oh? I’m the first one who found you? Lucky!”

My eyes went wide in shock and I gasped as I instantly twirled around, watching how a man who wore an eye mask lazily waltzed inside the room. His eyes roaming around the room in search of other constants as he slowly closed the door behind him. His face broke out into an eerily grin setting his sight on my frightened face and stalked like a predator towards me.

Nailed to the ground, I felt every nerve in my body screaming to do something, quick! Thanks to the arrangement of the room, there was still a desk standing between him and me. Uncertain, my eyes shifted down to the other side of the desk- wondering whether I could escape him by ringing around the rosie.

With my front still facing the man, I took a small step to the side. The shuffling sound of my feet against the soft carpet was enough to alert the man as he spontaneously parkoured over the table- tackling me to the ground with his arms tightly wrapped around my torso.

I could hear the clattering sound of the objects that were on the table as they were falling as the backside of my head hit the edge of the desk. My body went slump against the desk; every feeling in it dissipated. I watched through misted eyes how the black crown fell off my head, bouncing a few times on the floor before it skittered away from me.

The man removed his hold on me as he was positioned on top of me, his lips pulled into a hideous grin at the sight of my unfocussed eyes, sounding disgustingly through his chapped lips, “Where do you think you’re going?”

He grabbed my chin forcibly, ripping the mask from my face. The chapped lips puckered unsightly, letting out a pleased whistle. “Damn, I really caught a beauty.”

The hand that felt like sandpaper still latched on my chin. My eyes were smoldering with untold resentment- my teeth gritted, frustrated that my body wasn’t able to receive its brain’s message; refusing to move and instead became a ragged doll.

My gaze was hazy as I heard the rustling sounds of clothes being removed. Like an unconditional reflex, my eyes released tears that were like water jets through cracked water dam, streaming down my now pale face. Dizziness was still warring my head, making it difficult for me to produce audible words- my lips slightly parted as small ragged air made its way out.

Am I really going to let this happen to me?

The man laid me down on the floor as it was an easier position for him, having my back touch the cold floor. Looking away to the side, I bit down on my lips to force back my whimpers as I screwed my eyes shut, letting whatever was going to happen to me happen.

The smug grin on the man only grew and continued as he perceived my lifeless body, whose will to fight was no more present. Ignoring the tears that were streaming down my face and the whimpers that made pass my lips unknowingly, the man's smile broadens, his tongue sweeping grossly over his lips; slobbering it as if he can’t hold back his desires anymore. No warning heeded, he bunched up the skirt of my gown- giving way for his hand to crawl up my leg, reaching for the lace that covered my unmentionable parts.

His fingers that were trailing up my skin were akin to billions of insects crawling over my body until it was totally covered. It made me feel sick. So much that I had to hold back a burb that threatens to come out hand in hand with the acid in my stomach, “Don’t touch me, bastard.” I croaked out past my tears, the will to fight slowly covering back in my eyes as I craned my head up to glare at him directly in his eyes.

The man stared silently at me, his eyes not reflecting the emotion that he was feeling, daunting me.

“You know,” He started. “You should be thankful that I was the one who found you and not the others.” With one of his hands still resting on my lace, he used the other hand to push away the flaps of his suit, revealing the gun that was nestled away in its holster; waiting to be used.

The gun was reflecting the light of the sun’s rays that were peering through the cracks of the curtains, making itself known. I tightened my jaw and screwed my eyes shut- laying my head back down on the ground as my lips were trembling from the helpless situation. My brain was berating me, that I should fight him, that he would kill me anyway after he’s done with me, but my heart that hitched at the sight of the weapon made it impossible for me to do anything-the frightful feeling that I may die earlier than it was planned for me.

My head turned up to the side to block out the abhorrent scene that was unfolding on top of me. The daunted expression of my face reflected in the emerald stone that was imbedded in the crown, which was now laying on the ground above my head.

The stoic face of the anonymous man twisted into a smile painted with derision, his lips parted to utter with a pleased slurred tone, “That’s a good girl, if you behave then it will be an enjoyable experience for the both of us.”

Finishing the sentence, my eyes that were trained on the captivating stone snapped swiftly to the man, quivering as they watched the shadow of my stepdad overlapping with the masked man. That was the sentence that my stepdad liked to use when he would… do stuff to me. Jitters came inside my body like waves, my hands clamping up from the sweat as anxiousness took my body hostage- turning it immobile.

After a passing minute of staring in horrid at the man- my face robbed of its color and cast with a white shade, I saw the corner of the man’s lip being pulled up, giving me a lopsided smile whilst he leaned down to close the distance between our faces. “What’s with the face? Struck by my handsomeness despite me wearing a mask?” Queried the man jokingly who paled in looks compared to Mark, but I could only respond with a shuddering breath as his face had morphed into my stepdad’s together with the way he pronounced his vowel, constants- even his voice was like a replica to his. And like always, my body couldn’t help but tense up under his cold-icy stare that only held the wish to defile me completely.

Screwing my eyes shut, I chanted under my breath, “He is not real. He is not real. He is not real.” In hope to exorcist the horrifying imagination that crept out from the deepest part of my mind.

The man strained his ear and could catch my mumbles, letting out a low chuckle. His breath that fanned on my face made me gingerly open my eyelids, only to peer at the face that I hate the most. “You want me to prove that I’m real?” He said, not knowing who I was really talking about, and pulled down my panties. In panic, my arm glides spontaneously over the ground, taking hold of the crown and to protect myself, I full-powered drove the sharpest peak of the crown into his neck.

His eyes broaden, hampering every few seconds before glancing down sideways at where he got impelled and his mouth fell open, but no words came out except for the gagging sounds.

Hand still clenching the crown, I screwed it in deeper as I yelled through gritted teeth, “I told you not to touch me.”