Chapter 5

Gabriella sprinted through the gate, the heavy sound of her boots on the gravel echoing behind her. She didn't dare look back, afraid that if she did, she would lose her resolve. The lush gardens gave way to a dense forest, the trees forming a thick canopy overhead. Branches reached out like grasping hands, trying to slow her down, but she fought against their resistance, determined to escape the clutches of Enzo Saviano and his darn estate. She pushed through the undergrowth, her legs burning and her lungs screaming for air. Fear and adrenaline pump through her, giving her the strength to keep going. As she ran, she could hear the sound of footsteps pounding behind her. They were gaining on her, and she knew she couldn't keep up this pace forever. Desperation fueled her flight, and she stumbled upon a narrow path that led deeper into the forest. She took the path without hesitation, hoping it would lead her to safety but she stumbled on a tree branch and fell on the ground. "Ouch," she groaned in pain hitting her head first on the floor. "Look who we have here," she heard an unfamiliar voice chuckle behind her. With a jolt of fear, she scrambled to my feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in her head. She turned to face the source of the voice, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. There, standing between the trees with a smirk on his face was a man she had never seen before. He was tall, with blue hair and eyes that seemed to twinkle with amusement at her predicament. "Lost, are we?" he asked his voice laced with a mocking tone. She backed away slowly, not wanting to show him how scared she was. "I'm just passing through," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. The man laughed a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "This is not a place people just 'pass through'," he said stepping closer. "Especially not at this hour, running from the Saviano's estate now are we?" Her heart sank. How did he know that she was running away? Was he one of Enzo's people? A wave of panic washes over her. She couldn't get caught, not now. "I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, taking another step back. He raised an eyebrow, clearly not fooled. "Come on, we both know why you're here. You are their shadow ain't you?" "What?" The man's question confused her, but she didn't have time to ponder his words. Her mind raced, trying to find a way out of the situation. The last thing she needed was to get caught and dragged back to that estate but there was something in his tone that didn't scream threat, yet she couldn't be too careful. "Shadow? I don't know what you're talking about," she insisted, hoping her voice didn't betray the fear and confusion swirling inside her. "I really must be going." She aimed to move past him, but he stepped to the side, blocking her path. "You're not going anywhere pretty," he said, his expression was serious now. The amusement had left his eyes, replaced by a mean glare. He grabbed her by the arm yanking her towards him. "Let go of me," she yelled and slapped him across the face. The slap seemed to surprise both of them. For a moment, the man's grip loosened, and Gabriella saw a flash of something—anger, shock, perhaps a hint of respect—in his eyes. Then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that same, infuriating smirk. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he said rubbing his cheek where her hand made contact. He didn't try to grab her again, but he didn't move out of her way either. "But you're in over your head, running around these woods. Saviano's men are the least of your worries out here." His words sent a new wave of fear through Gabriella. What could be worse than Enzo Saviano's men in these woods? The man reached into his pocket and what he brought out made Gabriella stagger back nearly falling to the ground. "Now listen here, I know you are their shadow and you will do as I say," he warned pointing a gun at her. "I...I...." Gabriella stuttered unable to bring herself to explain that she didn't know this shadow he was talking about. "All I need is the package in your hand and a little tip on Enzo Saviano's next delivery," He paused, his eyes boring into hers, waiting for her response. She glanced at him nervously, confused as to what to do next. Was he going to kill her? "I... I don't know anything about any deliveries," she stammered, the truth ringing clear in her voice. The fear of the gun pointed at her made her heart race, but there was also a desperate confusion. What does this man want? How has this simple escape turned into a tangled mess? The man's expression hardened, and he stepped closer, the gun still aimed at her. "Don't play games with me. You're in Saviano's inner circle, aren't you? The shadow that moves unseen, I got a tip about you and my source is never wrong." Gabriella shook her head, trying to make sense of his accusations. "I'm not... I'm just trying to get away. I don't know anything about what you're talking about!" her voice broke with the strain of her fear and the frustration of not understanding why this was happening. "It's best you stop lying and hand over the package or this won't end well for you," he warned this time cocking the gun, making a clicking sound that echoed like a dreadful promise through the silence of the forest. The seriousness in his tone and the imminent danger she was in made her freeze. She had never been more scared in her life, but at the same time, a part of her refused to give in to fear completely she knew she had to get out of there. I can't die like this, no. With her heart pounding against her ribcage, she slowly reached into her jacket, pretending to get the so-called package he claimed she had. His lips curled into a smile at her action, As she brought out her hand and threw nothing into the air, his eyes left hers to see what she had thrown and Gabriella did not hesitate to make a run for it in the other direction Her sudden dash took him by surprise, and for a moment, he was too stunned to react. Gabriella could hear him cursing loudly behind her, and then the sound of him crashing through the underbrush as he gave chase. Fear propels her faster, the thought of that gun and the man's cold determination not to let her escape terrified her. She made a turn and came crashing into something hard. She gasped when she looked up to meet Enzo Saviano's eyes. "And where do you think you are going our pretty bait?" He asked grabbing her by the arm tightly. Bait? His eyes narrowed in on her, and he stepped closer, a menacing smile playing on his lips. "Did you think you could escape me that easily?" She shook her head, trying to back away, but instead, she felt a hard knock on the back of her head. She fell to the ground instantly weakened by the effect of whatever was struck at the back of her head. As she fell into an unconscious state and darkness took over her vision, Enzo walked over staring down at her, "Let her remain here for a while, she will lure the rest out." As the darkness enveloped her, the last thing she registered was the cold, hard ground beneath her, Enzo Saviano's voice fading into the d istance, and the realization that she had been used as bait and he knew she would escape.