Chapter 9 YOU DESTROYED ME

Alexa's POV

"Caught you."

Immediately I heard those words, I went on my heels and started running,

After taking a few large steps, I felt something hard and cold hit my back with a force that took me out of balance.

I stumbled forward using my hands to scrape against the rough ground as I tried to regain my balance.

The tears I was holding in started to fall from my eyes as I heard him closing him,

" Help." I screamed " somebody please help me."

The moment I regained balance and raised my head up,

I felt another hard object slammed against my neck, sending me crashing back to the ground again.

His hand closed around my ankle, pulling me back toward him.

I pushed out with all remaining energy but it was futile.

He pulled my hair forcefully, pulled me up, and slammed a hard object against the side of my head, making everything go black.

As I slowly regained consciousness, muffled voices reached my ears, one of them distinctly female.

I forced my eyes open, squinting against the pain,

"Did you bring the mask?" she asked,

"Yeah, it's over there," the man replied.

"Is the voice alternator working?" she asked.

The man nodded. "Tested it earlier. Should be undetectable."

They both walked out and only one person came back in with the mask on.

Noticing that I was conscious,

"Awake already? That's unfortunate. We were hoping you would stay out longer."

I attempted to talk but only managed to produce a feeble croak.

"Do not use your little energy unnecessarily, Alexa. You will need it for what lies ahead.

Her voice sounded familiar, the way she talked was recognizable but I couldn't pinpoint why.

"Why... why are you doing this?" I managed to whisper

She hesitated before responding, gazing at me thoughtfully, weighing how much information to share.

"Is it truly important?" she eventually spoke. The important thing is that you are here now and there is no way out.

I didn't know who she was but a nagging suspicion kept tugging my heart

Could it be... Sophia?

I studied her closely, trying to see past the mask and the voice alternator. But it was no use; her features were obscured, her voice altered beyond recognition.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice stronger now, "Why are you doing this?"

The woman laughed softly, the sound distorted by the voice alternator.

"You're in no position to ask questions, Alexa," she said "But if it helps you sleep at night, keep wondering. Maybe the answer will come to you before... well, before the end.

"Who said I would be meeting my end with you, I am sure someone is coming to my rescue." I countered

"You think you are so special, don't you?" she hissed, " you really think you can walk into someone's life and take everything they have?"

"I never deemed myself special , I have nothing to be envious of, I am sure you have the wrong person."

The woman scoffed, "You really don't know, do you?" she sneered. "So naive, so oblivious. That's what makes you so dangerous."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, "I don't know what you mean!"

"You ruined everything!" she spat, slamming her fist into the wall beside my head.

"Everything was perfect until you came along. You don't even realize what you've done, do you?"

I was trapped, completely at her mercy and the realization of who she might be made my blood run cold.

"Sophia..." I whispered, the name falling from my lips before I could stop it.

"Shut up!" she snapped, slapping me hard across the face.

I shook my head, desperate to make her see reason. "Sophia, listen to me...this isn't the way to handle things. You are better than this! We can talk, work things out..."

"Work things out? You don't even know me bitch" She laughed,

"I didn't take anything from you, Sophia,whatever you think I did, it wasn't intentional. I never wanted to hurt you..."

"Hurt me?" Sophia's voice cracked with emotion,"You didn't just hurt me, Alexa. You destroyed me.

"You took away everything I desired and strived for, without even realizing

I was unsure how to react, but I was certain I didn't want to die like this

"Sophia, please," I whispered, "I never intended for any of this to happen" I am sorry...I wasn't aware...

"Of course, you didn't realize!" she snapped, "Too busy living the life I should have had!"

Sophia, there's no need for you to do this," I begged, "This isn't the solution, causing me pain won't make a difference, it won't give you the satisfaction you seek."

Sorry, Alexa. "I disagree," she said icily, "Causing you pain is the only way I will find solace." This is the sole method I can use to reclaim what you took from me.

She removed a knife from her pocket, I gasped as she placed it against my skin, right under my collarbone.

"I will ensure that you never erase the memory," she murmured.

Whenever you gaze into the mirror, you will spot the wounds I inflicted upon you. You will recall that I was the victorious one in the end."

The blade sliced through my skin, not too deep, but sufficient to cause a scream to escape from my lips.

"Taking him from me," she murmured, running the blade gently along my skin. "I am about to deprive you of everything you have now."

She slashed the knife across my arm before I could respond.

Sophia gazed at me attentively and asked, "Can you sense it, Alexa? What is causing the pain? "That's only a small part of all the experiences I've had because of you."

Tears silently slid down my cheeks, yet I held my eyes fixed on hers, determined not to turn my gaze.

"I said angrily that if you want to put blame on someone, put it on Sebastian." He decided on his option. "It had nothing to do with me or you... it was all about him."

she seized me by the collar, dragging me near until our faces were only inches away. "You're not allowed to mention his name!" she yelled, "He belonged to me.