Chapter 141 Hero
Thud!
The sudden metallic clang shattered the silence, reverberating through the dimly lit basement.
Maya flinched, her pulse spiking as the noise triggered a wave of raw fear deep in her chest.
"Pick them up," the burly gangster barked, his voice rough and grating.
A pair of handcuffs landed at her feet with a dull clatter.
He loomed over her, his shadow stretching ominously across the cold, concrete floor.
"Put your new bracelets on. I'm not taking any chances with a strong woman like you. I've seen what you can do."
He paused, a cruel smirk curling his lips.
"Besides, we wouldn't want to lose such a valuable investment, now would we? A beauty like you—with that tight little body? You'll be one of our top earners in no time. Hell, the men will be lining up for you."
Maya's stomach churned at his words.
Her skin crawled under his predatory gaze, but she forced her expression to remain neutral, masking the storm of revulsion and fear boiling inside her.
Slowly, she bent down to retrieve the cuffs, her fingers trembling despite her best efforts.
Her eyes flicked upward, watching the man holding her at gunpoint.
He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he wasn't careless, either. He kept a safe distance, ensuring she had no chance to disarm him.
The cold steel of the cuffs bit into her palms as she straightened, her mind racing.
Every instinct screamed at her to fight, to run, but the odds were stacked against her. For now, she had no choice but to play along.
Click.
The handcuffs snapped shut around her wrists, locking her movements in place. She flexed her fingers, testing the restraints, but there was no give.
The big man watched her like a hawk, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Good girl," he muttered, stepping back and grabbing something from a nearby wall.
With a practiced flick of his wrist, he unfolded it—a wheelchair.
"Sit," he ordered, gesturing with the barrel of his gun.
Maya hesitated for a split second, but the sharp edge of his tone left no room for defiance.
She lowered herself into the chair, her muscles tense and coiled like a spring.
The man moved quickly, his rough hands securing her to the wheelchair with a series of thick ropes.
He tied her tightly, his motions efficient and methodical. It was clear this wasn't his first time restraining someone.
Once he was satisfied with the bindings, he grabbed the wheelchair's handles and pushed her into an adjacent room.
The air grew heavier with every step, thick with a nauseating stench that made her stomach twist.
The room was dark, lit only by a single flickering bulb that cast eerie shadows on the walls.
He parked the wheelchair in the center and stepped back, lighting a cigarette as he leaned against the wall.
"Now, all we need to do is wait for the boss," he said, exhaling a plume of smoke. His tone was casual, as if this was just another day at the office.
Maya's eyes darted around the room, her heart pounding in her chest.
It took a moment for her vision to adjust, but when it did, the sight before her made her blood run cold.
The room was filled with beds—rows of them, crammed together in the dim space.
Figures lay sprawled across the mattresses, their bodies eerily still.
Women.
At least twenty, maybe thirty of them. Their slender forms were barely covered, and their shallow breathing was the only sign that they were alive.
The stench of the room was oppressive, a sickly blend of sweat, sex, and stale drugs that clung to every surface.
The faint sound of muffled sobs reached her ears, mingling with the occasional groan or shuffle.
Maya's stomach churned, bile rising in her throat. This wasn't just a prison—it was a nightmare.
A place where humanity was stripped away, leaving nothing but despair.
She tugged at her bindings, her heart pounding harder. She had to get out of here.
She had to do something. But as the ropes dug into her skin, she realized just how dire her situation was.
The gangster took another drag from his cigarette, his eyes half-lidded as he watched her.
"Don't bother struggling," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "You're not going anywhere. Not until the boss gets here. Then we'll see what kind of future we've got planned for you."
Maya clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. The fight inside her hadn't dimmed—if anything, it burned brighter. She wouldn't let them break her. Not here. Not ever.
Three hours later, they arrived, their heavy footsteps echoing down the empty floor before they even came into view with the door opening thereafter.
Maya tensed as the group emerged from the shadows, led by a hulking figure who filled the narrow doorway like a mountain.
The leader was an imposing man, easily six foot five, his bulky frame a combination of fat and raw strength.
His broad shoulders strained against his leather jacket, and his arms—thick as tree trunks—hung at his sides with a relaxed confidence that only added to his menace.
Though his body carried no visible muscles, the sheer power radiating from him was enough to send a chill down Maya's spine.
His pale, ruddy face split into a cruel grin, revealing a gold tooth that gleamed under the flickering light of the single bulb overhead that appeared next.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Behind him came a swarm of gang members, more than a dozen, each one just as menacing in his own way.
Their faces were a grotesque gallery of scars and tattoos, their eyes cold and lifeless, like wolves circling prey.
The air around them seemed to grow heavier, laced with the acrid stench of sweat, leather, and stale cigarette smoke.
Maya's heart pounded as the group spread out, their leader stepping forward with a swagger that spoke of years of unchecked power.
He stopped a few feet in front of her, tilting his head to one side as he studied her like a predator sizing up its meal.
"Maya Pierce," he said, his gravelly voice thick with mockery. "I've been waiting for this moment." His grin widened, cruel and predatory.
"I remember your wonder boy. Didn't he rough up some of my boys a few weeks back? Thought he could play hero, huh?"
***
Huge shoutout and thanks to ddecoen for the gifts!
You are awesome! Thank you! ^_^