Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 74

**Healing Slowly But Surely**
By R. Joseph

**The Real Kidnapping**

Leilani.

In an effort to rid my mind of the lingering thoughts from the vivid dream that had invaded my sleep the previous night, I resolved to immerse myself in work. I thought that perhaps if I buried my head deep enough in tasks, I could escape the haunting echoes of that dream.

Today was meant to be a leisurely Sunday, a day for relaxation and unwinding at home. Instead, I found myself at the office, surrounded by a mountain of files that needed sorting, software updates that demanded attention, and a plethora of bugs that required squashing. The fluorescent lights buzzed above me, casting a sterile glow over my cluttered desk as I focused on the tasks at hand.

As the clock ticked past seven, I finally acknowledged that it was time to head home and recharge. With a sigh of relief, I began to clear my workspace, methodically organizing everything for the following day—a small ritual that offered me a sense of control amidst the chaos.

However, the moment I stepped outside my office, a chill coursed through me, raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

I felt it—a presence. An unsettling sensation that I was being watched, followed. But when I glanced around, all I saw was the empty hallway stretching before me.

“Is anyone there?” I called out, my voice echoing back at me, mingling with the soft rustle of the wind against the glass panes.

My heart raced, the thudding in my chest growing louder as I hurried toward the elevator. I stepped inside, pressed the button for the ground floor—the parking lot—and leaned back against the cool metal, letting out a shaky breath.

But the unease didn’t dissipate. Even in this confined space, I felt exposed. The sensation of being observed lingered, prickling my skin and tightening my throat. What was happening?

Panic surged within me, overwhelming and suffocating. I fumbled through my bag for my phone, desperate to call Jay, even though we hadn’t spoken since last night. But as I pulled it out, my heart sank.

It was dead. The battery had drained completely.

A wave of despair washed over me, coiling tightly around my chest. I screamed in frustration, my fists pounding against the walls of the elevator as tears streamed down my cheeks.

By the time I reached the ground floor, I had managed to compose myself, wiping away the remnants of my tears and forcing my features into a mask of calm. But as soon as I stepped into the brisk air of the parking lot, the familiar sense of dread surged back, rising in my stomach like bile.

I was not alone.

The realization hit me like a slap to the face—there were people following me. The prickling sensation on my skin confirmed it; it wasn’t just one person, but at least two. I inhaled sharply, trying to catch their scent, but there was nothing. It was as if they were cloaked in shadows, hidden from my senses.

My heart raced as I pulled my car keys from my bag, determination fueling my steps toward my vehicle. But just as I reached it, a sudden gust of wind whipped past me, sending a chill down my spine. I spun around, my pulse quickening as I shouted, “Who’s there?!”

Silence answered me.

My body trembled, and my palms grew clammy. I felt hot tears welling up again, threatening to spill over. When the echo of my own voice bounced back at me in the desolate parking lot, I turned back to my car, my hands shaking so violently that my keys slipped from my grasp.

“Shit!” I exclaimed, the sound of metal clattering against concrete startling me. I slapped a hand to my chest, feeling the panic rise again as more tears slipped down my cheeks.

I quickly retrieved the keys, calling out once more, “Who’s there?!” But again, the only response was the oppressive silence that surrounded me. My fear morphed into a desperate urge to escape this place.

With urgency, I yanked the car door open, but just as I was about to step inside, I felt a sharp prick at the back of my neck.

I recoiled instinctively, trying to swat it away, but larger hands grasped me firmly, holding me in place. I froze, my heart hammering against my ribcage.

“Who are you?” I managed to ask, though my voice came out slurred and weak.

My assailant didn’t respond; he simply stepped back, and as my knees buckled beneath me, I crumpled to the ground. My gaze fell upon a pair of deep brown eyes, partially obscured by a terrifying mask. In that moment, the horrifying truth dawned on me: I was being kidnapped.

A tremor coursed through my body, and an intense fear gripped me, crawling under my skin and making me feel ill. My vision began to blur, and the sight of the syringe still clutched in his hand sent my mind spiraling into chaos. I had been drugged.

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