Chapter 10

Tessa’s POV

When I looked back over my shoulder at the motorcycle, I saw that there were several more following me.

My first thought was to run, but I knew they would be able to catch me quickly on their bikes. It would be pointless and would probably make things a lot worse. Not that screaming would be any better, but then maybe I could get someone’s attention.

I looked around the dark streets, trying not to be too obvious. This was the section of the city that not only had fewer pedestrians but also no working street cameras. This was the perfect spot for all sorts of crimes, including those animal attacks that have been all over the news recently.

I shuddered at the very thought, remembering the images that have been spreading all over the internet.

Maybe they weren’t animal attacks at all.

Panic began to set in as I realized that I was in some serious trouble. I could tell from the matching jackets that these bikers were part of some gang. They were also people I didn’t want to mess with.

As the bikes grew closer to me, I found myself about to run. I was only about 10 minutes away from Ruby’s apartment. Once I got there, I would be safe. I just needed to get a little bit further. Once I got to a more populated region and closer to working street cameras, they would leave me alone for sure.

The school was getting further and further away as I continued walking. Maybe that’s why they hadn’t said or done anything yet because they wanted me to get further away before they attacked.

Would anyone hear me if I screamed right now?

That could lead to the stamp of death.

I saw a faint streetlight in the distance, and I knew once I reached that light, I would be safe. I would be more visible to those who roamed the city at night and this bike gang wouldn’t be able to do anything to me. There were also working cameras in that section. I just needed to hold on a little longer. Only a few more steps before I was safe.

Just as I started to pick up a little more speed, the bikes started to pick up speed as well. That was the moment I decided to start running, but I didn’t get far before the bikes were surrounding me.

There was nowhere for me to go.

“What’s the rush, beautiful?” One of them asked.

I couldn’t see any of their faces through their helmets, but I could smell the cigarettes from their clothing and their musky scent made me want to gag.

“I’m just trying to get home,” I said to them, pleased that my voice didn’t tremble.

“It’s pretty dangerous walking around alone late at night,” the same biker said. He was getting off his bike, as was everyone else.

“I don’t want any trouble…” I said, my voice coming out as only a whisper.

“Well, what a coincidence. We don’t want any trouble either,” another one of the bikers said, stepping closer to me. “We just want to talk. There’s no crime in talking, is there?”

“It’s very late,” I said to them, trying to step away, but I stepped into another biker that stood behind me.

I hadn’t even noticed him until that moment.

He had his arms folded across his chest and he was looking down at me with his helmet covering his entire face.

“Please…” I said to them. “Just let me go—”

“I don’t think we are going to do that,” the first biker said. “Not until we have a little bit of fun with you.”

“What is it that you want?” I asked. “Money? I don’t have much but—”

“Oh, we don’t want your money. But I think you know what we do want,” one of the men laughed.

With trembling hands, I started to dig through my purse to search for my phone. But as soon as my fingers touched my phone, my purse was ripped out of my hands and thrown to the ground.

My heart fell into my stomach.

That was my only chance at calling the police. Now I just had to hope that somebody would overhear what was happening.

I just hoped that somebody was nearby.

Anybody.

One of the men grabbed onto my wrist and started to pull me with great force, dragging me toward his waiting bike.

I struggled against him, trying to scream as loudly as I could, his other arm wrapped around my face covering my mouth.

I knew if they took me elsewhere, I would never be able to get help.

I continued to fight against this man, trying to get him to let me go. However, he was much too strong.

Everything happened so quickly. My screams had numbed my throat and tears ran down my face. There was nothing I was going to be able to do. He was taking me somewhere and I had to brace myself for my pending fate.

Or so I thought.

Not before long, his hand was violently ripped from my wrist and I was being shoved so hard that I nearly flew across the street and onto the sidewalk, falling to the ground.

Pain shot through my tailbone as I hit the ground. Before I could fully recover from the impact, I heard the hooligans yelling out in fear and then another one flew across the street, slamming into the building.

I finally noticed a tall man, born from the shadows, standing between me and the rest of the biker gang. I don’t know how he managed to get four hooligans to stop grabbing me in a matter of seconds, but I was incredibly relieved that he did.

I was also very confused.

It wasn’t until the moonlight shined its rays down on his features, that I realized that this man was Joseph Evergreen.

I heard the revving of an engine and gasped as I saw a motorcycle coming straight toward us. I screamed just as Joseph had his arm wrapped around my body.

In seconds, we were moved several meters away.

My heart was racing wildly in my chest, and I staggered backward as he released me. I heard more engines roaring as a couple more bikes drove in our direction.

I screamed as loudly as I could, closing my eyes and waiting for the blow.

But I heard something smashing instead and when I opened my eyes, I was shocked to see Joseph’s grip on both bikes and the drivers flying across the street.

Had Joseph just stopped those bikes with his bare hands?

Upon further examination, I realized that where his hands gripped the bikes, the bikes looked bent and crushed.

But how could one man be that strong?

It was impossible.

He let the bikes fall to the ground and he stood up straight. That’s when I noticed a piece of shard from the bike sliced the side of his neck.

Blood trailed down his neck and over his shoulders, dripping to the ground.

But looking up at his stern features, it didn’t even seem like he noticed.

Did it not hurt him?

Just then, I heard sirens sounding in the distance. I didn’t realize that Joseph had called the police. Or at least somebody did.

I watched as the men all started running off, leaving their crumbled.