CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: HUO YAN IS IN DANGER V

Huo Yan stirred, her lashes fluttering as a sharp ache pierced her temples. Her head felt heavy, her throat dry.

When she tried to move, something scraped against her skin. She was bound to rough, tight ropes which were digging into her skin.

She forced her eyes open, and she took in a deep breath as she beheld the sight in front of her.

The room was dimly lit with just a single bulb. The walls were bare, except from a rusted iron door tightly shut on the far side.

Huo Yan’s heart sank as panic creeped into her. This wasn’t her brother’s villa, this wasn’t the ancestral mansion, this wasn’t anywhere she knew.

Her mind flashed back to her last memory. She was standing outside of her college waiting for her driver.

The sudden smell of chemicals attacked her nose, and before long—she fell into darkness. It didn’t take long for her to understand that she had been kidnapped.

With this realization, Huo Yan struggled against the ropes. But the more she struggled, the tighter the ropes dug into her skin.

Her chest rose and fell quickly. "You have to calm down... calm down." She whispered to herself while taking several deep breaths. Panicking wouldn’t help one bit. She had to think of a way to escape.

She suddenly heard voices from the other end of the iron door, and she froze while straining her ears to listen.

"How long are we going to keep her here?" One man asked. His voice was sharp, but uneasy.

"For as long as the boss wants." Another replied. "Don’t grow impatient. Our job is to guard her... nothing more."

"But this is Huo Feng’s sister." He paused, fear evident in his voice. "If he finds this place, then we are—"

"He won’t." The one who seemed to be the leader cut in. "By now, the driver should have misled him. They would be chasing shadows till morning."

Huo Yan gasped shakily. Her brother was aware that she was missing. Then there was hope.

But then her mind replayed the key word... Driver. Her fingers curled tightly around the rope while her mind reeled from the betrayal.

Did that mean someone from inside had betrayed them. Her stomach twisted while fear engulfed her.

The men on the other side continued.

"The boss had made it clear that she mustn’t be harmed."

"I don’t understand." The nervous one spoke. "If she was our leverage, then why not just call and name our price."

"Because this isn’t about money." The leader replied flatly.

The silence which followed was heavy.

From where she was listening, Huo Yan’s brows furrowed. If it wasn’t about money, then what was it about?

She forced herself to steady her breath, every fiber of her being straining to remember their words.

She had to survive. She had to get out of here. She had to show them why she was Huo Feng’s sister.

She tugged again at the ropes, this time slower, testing. The knot scraped but didn’t loosen. She glanced around, but there was nothing within reach. Just the shadows, the walls and the iron door.

No way out... at least, not yet.

But she couldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.

Her lips pressed into a firm line, and she whispered, "Gege... I know you’ll find me."

She took a deep breath. She had to be in the best mental state if she wanted to escape.

Huo Yan wasn’t in the mood to continue listening to their conversation. From the little she heard, she understood what was happening.

____________

On the other side of the door, the two men sat on wooden crates. One lit a cigarette, the smoke curling lazily into the dim air.

"You’re too jumpy," the leader said, narrowing his eyes at his companion. "This job was planned weeks in advance. Everything is under control."

The nervous one didn’t look convinced. "You don’t know Huo Feng. If he even suspects—"

"That’s why we were hired," the leader cut in coolly. "Because we do know him and because we know how to stay three steps ahead."

Or so he thought.

"But—"

"That is enough. If you are scared, then you might as well leave. I don’t need weaklings in my team."

The nervous one went quiet without hesitation. He couldn’t leave. If he did, only death awaited him outside.

"Not leaving? Great choice." The leader rose, and patted his shoulders with a smile. "You stay here, I’ll go check on her."

___________

The rusted iron door creaked open. Huo Yan’s body tensed as her eyes darted towards the sound. She held her breath as she watched a tall figure emerge from the entrance.

He stepped inside, the dim light illuminating his features. He had a scar on the right side of his fence. Whereas, the left side of his face was completely bare. His presence commanded fear, and Huo Yan felt pressured just by his mere entrance.

The leader looked at Huo Yan whose eyes met his. She immediately lowered her head, unable to look into his dangerous eyes.

Seeing her this way, he let out a smile... although it looked scary coming from someone like him.

"You are awake," he said with a low and steady voice, almost carrying a faint amusement in them.

Huo Yan didn’t respond. Instead, she forced herself to raise her head to stare at him. She appeared unshaken, but her trembling body betrayed her.

The man crouched in front of her, so close that she could see the scar running down from his temple to his jawline. He swept his gaze over her causing the entire hair on her body to rise.

His smile widened. "I was expecting fear, but instead, you seem so... calm." He commented.

"I know my brother will come for me." Huo Yan said with great conviction despite the tightening in her chest. "And when he does, he will make sure you all regret doing this."

A dark, humourless chuckle escaped from his mouth. "Your brother..." He leaned closer, so close his breath brushed against her ear. "That’s exactly why you’re here. You are the one weakness of the great Huo Feng. And he knows it now."

Her heart skipped, but she didn’t look away. "You underestimate him. You won’t win."

The man’s expression hardened, his hand reaching out to grab her chin, and forced her to meet his gaze. His grip was rough and bruising.

"You think this is a game? Listen well, Miss Huo. If he makes a single wrong move, you’ll pay the price. And I promise, the last thing you’ll hear will be your brother’s name." It was a threat, and Huo Yan knew he meant it.

He released her suddenly, and her head snapped back.

Huo Yan drew in a sharp breath, refusing to let her tears fall. Her wrists ached, her skin burned, but her eyes blazed with utter defiance.

The leader straightened, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket as though nothing had happened.

"Keep that fire," he said coldly. "It makes the game more interesting."

He turned and walked back toward the door.

Before stepping out, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Sleep well, Miss Huo. Tomorrow, you’ll understand what it means to be leverage."

The door slammed shut, the iron bolt locking in place with a deafening clang.

Huo Yan sat motionless, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She could still feel his grip on her jaw and the sting of his words in her ears.

But she wouldn’t break. Not now or ever!

She closed her eyes, whispering through clenched teeth, "Gege... hurry."