"She's such a flower..."

That missing poster still lays there, on the telephone pole.

You just stare at it... Contemplated. Should you move on? Keep looking? Its been weeks now.

Phone buzzes, a faint rumble that transitions in your palm.

The first thing you see illuminate is the date. July 30th, 6:58 AM

And... a message?

Unknown Number... Could be a scam, but it would be best to check it.

The phone buffers for seconds, the sudden buffer. Your teeth grit, nerves fray raw, and eyes dilate frantically. before it opens to... quite a sight.

It's her favorite hat, a scarlet Beret she tips to her left side, laid upon a bed, and red blotches spread upon the stained sheet.

This had to be coincidence, a prank, a joke... Nobody should know about her favorite hat unless it was her parents or you.

The next message comes, more vague than the last

"Why do you keep looking? The bird already left the nest. The love you looking for is gone, left with us now."

Who the hell is "us"? Better yet, where is this supposed to be? Just with the clue you had, you copy the picture, but right as you were gonna pinpoint the location... One message came, and this time you could see it.

"Dont try playing detective."

A red dot appears upon your shirt, freezing you in place. The faint light pointing into the darkness... The sunlight doing a poor job of revealing what is right in front of you.

The crunching of concrete to leather draws closer, before a man from the shadows pops out of the voided night, and into the faint dawn.

He was gorgeous, but how he carried himself felt... too confident.

His hair combed to an ice-cream shape. Twirling his blonde locks around him,, almost bringing the illusion they gravitated towards him.

"Hello {{user}}, im sure you go by many names, but i have to talk with you."

How did he know your name?

You have never met this man in your life, who did he talk to? Better question why is he so close with you-

Then, it fits together, as slipping onto your sternum was a geometry of cold steel. Loaded with a bullet and a silencer, was an HK45 Compact rubbing so arrogantly upon your shirt, and ripping it even.

"You see. I know you are grieving your girlfriends disappearance, but i promise you she's in good hands. Matter of fact, she's already here! All i need you to do is drop the phone in my hand."

But theres no grace in his movement, yanking it away, and smacking your face with it. You would retaliate, but the thought of being a stain on this road... you dont know why, but it quickens your heart, the people that would be horrified upon your painted corpse, the possibility he isnt found? Its too much to bear-

"Look at me! Dammit! I dont need another bitch crying on me now."

His voice... oh how it forces you into compliance. Its manner of ripping through defenses when cornered, but lures you in as it thickens into a smooth creamy song

"Now... where were we?"

He pulls up a different phone, and waves it, with her name "Alice" written on it

"Come on baby, say it to them. We know what will happen if you dont."

At first... no response came, silent, without response. But that gut wrenching speech came like a slap to the face

"Im sorry you had to find out about this... {{user}}. I'm in love with Azazel... Please dont look for me."

Yet... you can hear stiffles, and a sudden scream right as he hangs it up, a smirk already plastered on his face as he turns to you.

"Whoopsie! Looks like i stole your girlfriend without telling you! Boohoo!"

The devastation was lost as his other hand tossed away the device, and came to your throat. Grip unyielded and firm to keep anyone in place. Despite wriggling, his body never moves an inch. His smooth voice turning coarse and sour.

"Now, you are going to listen to me. Dont follow me, or figure out what your "ex" is doing with me, as that is none of your concern. If you do, lets say joining her wouldn't be the worst idea i've had. She's such a soft pillow to lay with."

The description only intensifies the struggle, even kicking at him, but no physical reaction came. Now slowly beginning to take away your leverage. You cant feel your hands or feet anymore, vision beginning to flash colors.

But he wasn't done talking yet. Hand still upon your throat, rears it back, and with a lunge crashed the cranium into the pole, snapping you back to his attention as he grows closer, dragging the weight within his palm down below his height.

"Good boy for listening. Your just as responsive as her, just without all the screaming and crying. But i ask one more thing, if you see any photos, respond. I want this to last as long as possible."

Then.... BANG. The torrent ruptures your focus, the skin standing upon edges as the coursing liquids in your body screech and erupt into frenzy. Fuzzy sensations bubbling where you were once numb, breaths willingly shallow with sweat creeping down your skin, an that rumbling your body cannot stop, its digging you deeper onto the pole, yet you cant stop.

But his hand was gone, he wasn't even holding it on you in the first place. He stood tall, above you. Just his teeth seen from the casted shadow.

"Nice to see that a coward like you had such an easy score compared to others. Their lovers were to say the least... disposed of. Enjoy your life knowing you cant save her."

There he goes... Leaving... oh, its so warm... maybe just close your eyes....

...

No...

a word, a boundary, a refusal to accept, a motivation to keep going.

Just as they close the gates, through determination, the blinds to the soul were never closed off, arise from your loss, you need more answers.

Yet stay careful, you dont know whos watching now. As the devil has a thousand lackeys.

The morning... Its so bleak.

Its hard to sleep, all you can do is stare at the ceiling. But its so exhausting trying to play dumb when something is clearly happening.

The bodyguards trying to invade your home, the constant messages of such disgusting imagery you have to decipher everyday, and the strain it puts upon you of even thinking you will die at any second.

But... all you can do is keep going.

Your phone rings, its him... Ready to taunt you once again with a call.

Attempts to sit up result in this abhorrent aching inside your head. The lack of sleep is tearing away your brain, migraines have been more common, and hallucinations are hinting at signs of trauma, leading to doctors being quite anxious of your sudden decline in mental health.

But theres no hope to ask for anyone else's help, they will become a lifeless corpse if you even tried.

Palms sweat profusely as they wrap around the case of the phone, and swipe right to answer the call.

And the answer was instant, no period to give you an introduction

"Why if it isn't my favorite pawn! How's he single life? I know, you dont have to answer me. Anyways i wanted to show you some people, so it would be best to open that dinky camera of yours to see my excellence!"

Yet you dont respond... He's so tiring, this "showman talk rubbing into your head, it would be best to hang up-

"Ah Ah Ah! Dont go silent on me, otherwise i may have the boys waiting outside take the shot!"

Wait what-

The glass of your window was shattered, and the response was nothing short of humane. The bullet grazing your ear, as you scramble away from any windows and duck behind the painted walls, breaths turn steamed, quick, and choked. Muscles are locked, even cramping, but the pain didn't matter, your life did.

In response? The showman laughed at his joke.

"Still scared as ever, arent you {{user}}?"

But he was cut off... by two words.

"You missed."

His guffaw stops, you can practically imagine his face, pumping with the anger of a king who cant imagine, cant fathom the gall of someone talking back to him.

"Oh... So the sacrificial lamb has a bite to it, just like their ex. Lets see if you can keep up that talk when I have your head on a plat-"

But he suddenly goes quiet, unnervingly quiet. Another voice comes in, more grungy, more guttural and... really imposing

"Who are you talking to, Azazel?"

"... Its Alice's little knight."

"Sounds like the knight is besting you-"

"ONE MORE INSULT AND I WILL SLIT YOU!"

But this unknown person within the backgrounds laugh.... its enough to make you recoil far more than Azazel could ever, theres something thats way different just by words that makes them more like a wall than a fragile king with an army.

"Try me, your neck will be wrung like one of my gym towels. Also, get him on the camera, i need to see this "White Knight" thats giving you all the trouble."

The request came... theres no going back. You accept.

and you are greeted to a flashbang of a sight. that same indiginous bastard, Azazel, with sunglasses beside a condo. But also this big, hairy, bruly man beside him, smaller, but much, MUCH more built. So the threats weren't lies.

The man squints, but suddenly laughs, not at you, at Azazel... Only leaving him stiff

"This? This singular hunk of junk can been causing you all that grief? I could probably use them as a drying towel and finish the job faster than you can have your precious bodyguards dispose of them!"

"Oh be quiet Julius Cesar! Be lucky I dont have you hung on a tree!"

then from the condo, a door opens, and there climbs out... 5 other people? This is gonna be an issue. With the first wiping sweat off, and the others following his ungodly, but more rambunctious radiance.

"Ah! What a glorious battle! I feel like an emperor once more!"

"Orion, shut your trap. This was supposed to be an intended one on one experience, but you just had to break in-"

"As if i would be! You are ruining my moment, Judas! Besides, i dont need a thief staining the prize! And you three! Cameron, Jason, and George! Who do you think you are joining in on a kings conquest?!"

"Dont blame me, all i cares for was showing her how perfect i was compared to the buffons like George and Cameron, you two are brutes"

"At least i had the technique to keep her satisfied enough!"

"No, George, your a fucking pig! I, Cameron, was the one with better technique!"

"OH YOU FARM ANIMALS! CANT YOU SEE IM ON THE PHONE WITH OUR TARGET?!"

But they went back to bickering, leaving Azazel to sigh and turn back to you, as even Julius joined in the fray.

"What a way to introduce ourselves... Honestly, its why i never speak to them, they are all so below me, but you... You listen, you comply, its so jarring! That doesnt make you my ally, oh no! I wish you were dead as I plow your girls brains out! But speaking of her... She's finally found a match! Getting shipped off in 25 days!"

Your silent. Each moment was just cut off by a bunch of children yelling before, but now, theres a reason... so your response was clear cut... what match? Leading to him laughing it off.

"Oh dont tell me, you never found out we were selling her to an old fart down in Argentina?! Oh this is the funniest joke i've been apart of! The money we got out of it too, were so stinking rich- HEY! THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

The phone was immediately snatched, disregarding the monologue Azazel was having with you, and it was Jason... a jaw chiseled to sculpt rock, a hairline that was slicked back, but had light frizzles to it.

Yet what you couldn't stop looking at was his eyes... they shined like diamonds.

But he also squints, then turns to Azazel... the words coming out of his mouth being... unfathomable.

"Azazel... you never told me you had a cutie on the phone, why didnt we just take them instead of this whiny piss stain of a girl-"

You had to hang up, and throw the phone away from you. Your legs kicking towards your chest, and your body shrinking into a ball. But all of this physical reaction made you fail to notice the stairs, and... you tumble.

Battered at the corner, you try to stand, but an ache pops from your bck, forcing such a hunched stance as you climb back up... slowly...

Very slowly... the footfall isnt the simple taps like it used to.... you can hear the creaking of the wood... Each and.... everyone of them.

Soon enough, your at the hall again... The phone right at the wall... All you need to do is pick it up...

But a message pops up, a new number.

"You know what... you got spunk kid. I'm Jason, and cant seem to get my eyes of how i saw you. Why dont we crash downtown in my lil ride? All food's on me."

No... No, why is Jason wanting you now?! Alice is the one in trouble, not you! What do you do-

But... the thought lingers, Jason... is wanting you, not Alice, you. Which means... You have a chance!

11 days remain.

Jason? The threat you thought he was, no he was quite a nice guy. It did feel morally ambiguous to even stoop at such a low and be his "business lover", but he gave you so much intel about them.

Alongside it... its hard to admit, but he's compassionate, caring, and while a bit physically impulsive, has a soft spot.

But flashes of those images... those horrible images you have to trap yourself to each and everyday by Azazel and his goons of perverts... Jason's nice attributes began to vanish inside your mind.

The phone illuminates once again, the texts once an irritation, becomes a weight. Its hard to even look at them.

Messages open, pictures of his entire body, he's damn proud of it, and it shows.

But it had to end now. The message bar filling up with the more you typed down, and becoming... guilty?

but this man is apart of a gang who tortured your girlfriend... why do you feel this sudden string of pity?

BANG!

The door swings open, and it was Julius, Judas, and Orion.

No seconds tick as they restrain you, Julius holding you at a half nelson while Orion scrolls through your phone... only growing more sickly at the string of messages

"Ugh... this pompous buffoon has been utilizing our friend to gain his "trophy wife" back!"

"Welp, at least it confirms we can snap his spine like a Kit-Kat Bar-"

"Wait! What if we do something better, Eh? Jason's hollerin' and hootin' over this pile of ash and dog excrement... So lets make the final step for 'em"

And there Judas turns... crooked teeth within his mouth, starting at the Hail Mary.

"Kid. You did good at this chess game, but its time we put you in Alice's shows if you know what im sayin'. Jason brags so much about being the prettiest, so why dont we set the scene?"

... no, no no no, No, NO NO

"Hey! Stop wriggling! I dont need you, fucking- MOVE!"

And the snap is audible. your shoulders, you cant feel your shoulders. Like a siren, you wail. Wail so loudly it can be heard, and now they start to move

"Oh, admirable shot, Chimp! Who knew strength can cause more of a ruckus!"

"I needed them to comply! Dont look at me for doing shit you guys cant do!"

then... from the darkness of the hallway, Jason stands at the door. shaping daggers at Julius. While you still cry out, Julius immediately began putting up his hands

"Jason! Look, i understand if your mad but-"

"I know..."

Julius, for once, looked surprised.

"You know... about?"

"About everything. I was going to surprise {{user}} with some white chocolates... Maybe even sleep over here. I didn't know you thought so lowly of me."

Yet, even under his speech, he pushes away Julius, who crashes into Orion, immediately making Orion crumple under the weight.

Jason trudges towards you, beginning to stomp upon your femurs

No wonder I hated Orion so much, you remind me of him. Treat me like trash, gather ways to exploit me, and right when i was boring enough, discard me! So in turn, I will make sure you wished you rejected that offer!"

There... in that moment, a boot hits your ribs.

Time was stopped. Slowly, the crunching became apparent.

Muffled at first, but began to invade your ears, then.... images, of you... you, and Jason.

What is this feeling? Why are you not tense to his physical assault, but... the memories?

His laughter, his time, his moments. Hes such a monster, and yet... he was the only way to get intel, but also was different. You cant trust him, but your heart yearns to see another person like that...

Then it goes dark, your alone... suspended in your own head.

Empty.

The sun rises once again...

You awaken once more, but... you cant get up...

Its hard to breathe, and your sore everywhere... internally, and externally.

you feel like you have been ripped apart and sewn back together by broken sticks and a prayer.

Then you hear it... You turn your head, and there, lying on a desk, was a laptop.

There was a video playing, a video of an outside view.

It zooms in to Jason, who is in your room. Hands reaching down upon something below him, and clear obscenities muffled by the walls, and the curtain that covered the bullet hole.

Yet, it sounded so intimate, an intimacy out of hate, an intimacy out of betrayal.

Then, a familiar laugh came, the camera turns, and its Azazel. Covering his mouth with unending glee.

"I cant wait for Alice to see this tonight, then him in the morning! Oh my gosh we did it Julius-"

The footage cuts...

You are alone

You are hurt

And just like Alice, you were eaten.

The soreness, the inability to move, the inability to do anything... all you can do... is look up at the ceiling, like you have many times before... but Jason flashes in your head... the obscenities, the moon shining into the room as you would have reached out to it, the physical assault of your autonomy, and that camera...

Tears well in your eyes, this is hell. The bed becoming stained by a liquid leaving your body, trying to ignore how deflowered you truly are. You pull your arm, but you cant focus, you cant even breathe properly. It felt like two hands of unimaginable density was pushing you into the mattress. The only thing staring at you being the same scorn Jason made before you got knocked out.

so all they can mutter, are three words. A plea, a call for help

But nothing came back.... they try again

But once again, nothing comes... only the memories.

Its becoming awful, the stain on the bed from their fear is beginning to burn at their legs, and their cries become curdled screeches while the video repeats... the sound of Jasons voice drilling into your mind, and the absolute helplessness of being so.... bruised. So battered, So... sold.

They have to slave away there... for hours.

Nobody's coming to save me. Nobody, and im gonna die alone, with my own mind, warped, invaded, trapped!

But there... a text upon the laptop came...

"{{user}}... please... stop crying. I can hear you. I'm so scared for what happened to you..."

But there was no way to respond, hands are mangled. Even with the controlled sniffles, The bones are shrapnel. They tear at every part of the encased flesh that builds the foundation. Their mind, absolutely wrapped, and their state is that of a begging servant, just waiting to be corrected by a long, harsh rod to impale upon.

But even throughout all that screaming... theres a thought. That fear of being killed, of being a painting for a crime, or even the rejection from Alice...

That fear of only being a memory...

If only fate had that kind of mercy. If only you werent cursed to feel the heartbeat of the invasion, the heartbeat of children swimming within and dying under harsh conditions, and the torture of such rough, uncaring treatment.

Another text came.

"{{user}}... I will save you. It's clear you have spent so much time trying to save me... But look at you now, in the same position as me, just physically incapable of moving. Dont even think about moving, im coming over now."

Yet, her message was null. All you can think about was your lack of breath, and your slowly, but ever intensifying tearing of vocals. It felt endless, and needed to be stopped, as your cries grow colder the more blood spills from your throat.

The door opens again... At first... you see his silhouette, and froze. But once it came into the light, it was her... Alice, in the flesh.... not a hallucination, and now silently tearing up at the state, the degradation it has left you in.

"Oh, honey, honey im so sorry. Come here, shh... Im so sorry its been so long"

Her embrace, for the first time in these agonizing hours was the warmth... the true warmth you wanted. Jason, that lying bastard weaponized it. Used it just to invade you, and it only made this hug... sting. You cant push her off, you cant even speak properly without hiccups or coughs of scarlet puddles flooding your mouth, threatening to choke you alive.

"Honey... let's just talk. I need to talk to you. Not to hurt you, but to understand where you and I are coming from... 'kay baby?"

There was no point in fighting the inevitable. What matters now, was to face it... and so, a subtle tear filled nod came. She presses her head on yours as you accept it

"Thank you.... thank you for being strong baby.*

The day finally came.

The verdict of this ring to be put to the test under the watchful judges eye.

The envelope sits there on your desk, just waiting to be opened.

Your hands frantically dig into the contents of this ambiguous gift

But it wasn't as you seemed. It's statement professional, yet... felt half hearted

"After careful consideration, we do not consider the evidence sufficient, however is currently under review with the Supreme Court. The verdict being the men will be exiled out of this country and state until further evidence proves otherwise."

... You just toss it away,, and take a short, but infuriated breath. All of that work, all of that pain, for nothing.

Alice stands at the door, knocking the frame

"May i come in? You dont look the best."

You nod, with her resting her chin above your hair.

"I heard they didn't catch them crooks. Should we go take care of 'em ourselves, honey?"

But you just shook your head, it was pointless to chase a loose lead when you finally got freedom back. So why should you spill sweet nothings to a judge who can be easily bribed by a ring?

"... Baby, i love you, but those men have to serve justice. How they hurt you was unacceptable, and they just gave them a pat on the back and a high five on the way out!"

The protest was going to begin, cause there was no way to be able to outwit an entire ring with thousands, if not millions of people being used as money launders

"Bullshit! They could have at least done something with the insurmountable evidence instead of this "oh no, they are good people who pleaded insanity" tomfuckery! Only i get to torment my baby like that!"

*But that rumble, the phone... It rings again... Its Jason.

No inch of your hand even dares to go towards the phone, sweat bubbles once more, and breath stiffens. You felt that same guttural invasion. Backing away, as your mouth fills with gunk and foods you have eaten within the past day.

through the turmoil, however, a hand rests upon your cheek. Soft, but battle hardened. Before leaving a few seconds after. Alice comes to the phone, and speaks with your tormentor.

"Hello? Who the hell is this? Oh, so you just wanna talk to my boyfriend after everything you have done. Dont expect another call-"

but his voice barely breaches, still stinging as much as before, no matter how desperate, or compassionate he may sound. It was like chalk made of nails being scrapped across a whiteboard, a fork dug into a plate and put on a vinyl recorder.

"But im sorry! I know what I did was bad, just let me come back into their life!"

"No. The actions you have cause will not let us forget. Goodbye."

His final screech was, jarring... but it felt like more than enough. No need to crave vengeance, no ongoing search to resolve an unnecessary conflict, it was just letting someone who can distribute the weight, handle it in their own way. She wraps her arms around your waist, and pulls you close, the warmth beginning to have its soft spark again.

"If he ever tries to talk to you, call the police, or me immediately... preferably me..."

She giggles like that of a schoolgirl being caught by her crush about why she likes him so much. But puckers her lips. Your hand coming up as a blockade to stop her, and se sees it.... or rather feels the hand upon her lips. Now leaving her in this uncanny position where she slowly reels back her head to reconcile of what she was doing.

"... how about... a movie instead?"

This time, your consent was approved, and she hops a few times. Sure, she isnt able to get that kiss yet, you still have to recover and find alternatives, but at least shes okay-

"Hey! Baby! I told you no holding me by the hip!"

Oh... even you can make mistakes about it to... but she just brushes it off with a snicker, and a promising smile

"Its okay, i know i said you shouldn't touch there, but im still happy to be with you... but as punishment, you gotta watch Terminator with me... got it?"

No second thought, no second chance, as she pulls you along with held hands and locked arms. Till death do you part.