Chapter 5 Caught in the devil's game

Tobias' POV

"My sweet boy... come closer. I don't have much strength, but I need you to hear me." My mother's weak and trembling voice broke through.

The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the low hum of the machines keeping her alive. Tubes and wires clung to her fragile body, a cruel reminder of how weak she had become. The fluorescent light above cast a pale glow over her face, making her look almost ghostly.

I sat at her bedside, my small hands gripping the blanket as if holding it tighter could somehow keep her from slipping away.

My mother stirred faintly, her breathing heavy and uneven. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she turned her head slowly, her tired eyes finding mine. The wires tugged slightly with her movements, and the sound of the machines filled the silence around us.

My throat tightened, my tears threatening to spill, and I shook my head desperately.

"Mama, don't say that. You're going to get better."

A faint smile curved her lips as she reached for my hand, her skin cold against my warmth.

"I wish I could, my love. But if I can't stay, I want my words to stay with you. You are young now, but you are wiser than your years. Remember this-kindness will always make you strong, not weak. Be gentle with others, even when the world feels harsh."

My chest heaved as I fought the ache in my heart.

"I don't want you to leave me... who will take care of me?"

She brushed her trembling fingers through my hair, her breathing shallow but tender.

"You'll never be alone. You have your uncle, and I'll be watching over you from the sky. But more than that, you have my love, and it will stay in your heart forever. When you feel scared, put your hand on your chest. That beating you hear? That's me, always with you."

My tears fell freely now, soaking the bedsheets as I clung to her arm.

"But I need you, Mama. I don't know how to be brave."

My mother's eyes glistened as she whispered,

"Being brave doesn't mean you don't cry, darling. It means you keep going even when it hurts. Study hard, listen to those who guide you well, and never stop dreaming. One day, you'll be a man I'll be proud of-though I already am."

I hugged her, burying my face against her shoulder, desperate to keep her here.

"I love you, Mama. Please don't forget me."

Her lips trembled into a faint kiss on my forehead, her whisper barely audible.

"Oh, my son... I could never forget you. You are my heart. Live fully, love deeply, and carry me with you always. Promise me that."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding quickly as my tears fell.

"I promise."

For a brief moment, silence settled between us, broken only by the erratic beeping of the monitor. Then, slowly, the sound began to stretch into one long, piercing tone. I froze. My little hands shook as I clutched her arm, my eyes darting to the monitor in fear. Nurses rushed into the room, voices rising, but all I could hear was the sound of that flat, endless beep.

My mother lay still, her chest unmoving. The wires still clung to her, but she was gone.

my eye snapped open.

I gasped, sitting upright on the bed, my body drenched in sweat. My heart raced wildly in my chest as I looked around. No hospital. No machines. No wires.

I lifted my trembling hands to my face. They were larger now, stronger-hands not of a child, but of a man. Slowly, realization dawned on me. I wasn't young anymore. I was grown and, more importantly, I was in the devil's house.

If my mother were still alive, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be proud of the decision I made yesterday.

I recalled the encounter I had with Benjamin yesterday-accepting his proposition to become his personal whore, and how he used my mouth for his pleasure.

Fuck, I hated the way my body reacted to him using me. The desire I felt was like nothing before. I was high on pleasure even without him touching me. My cock had fought against my trousers, desperate to break free.

And that bastard made sure to tell me. Fuck his confidence, fuck his money, and fuck his enormous cock.

I looked down at my already hard cock, a wet spot already forming. Damn. That bastard wasn't even here, and just thinking of him made me hard. I needed to get a grip on myself.

I shifted into a sitting position on the bed, forcing myself to think of how he bought me and how much I hated him. That did it-my cock began to soften.

My eyes moved to the hundred-dollar bills on the table-a reminder of the deal I made with the devil. Now I truly felt like a whore.

A sudden commotion outside the window pulled me from my thoughts. I stood, uneasy, and moved closer. What I saw below shook me to my core.

Six massive men in black suits stood in a tight circle, tattoos peeking from under their sleeves.

At their center knelt a man with his hands tied behind his back, ropes cutting into his skin. He looked wretched-like someone who had been tortured for days. The sight of him made bile rise in my throat.

He muttered something to one of the suited men who stepped forward. I couldn't hear the words, but from his desperate body language, I knew he was begging. The man in front of him showed no mercy-he started beating him with brutal force.

I flinched at each blow, watching helplessly from the window. Even though their words didn't reach me, it was clear the victim was pleading for his life.

Then the suited man suddenly stopped. Relief flickered in me-until I saw who stepped forward.

Benjamin.

He carried that same unsettling, psychopathic look, his dark eyes glowing with cruel amusement. The circle of men shifted, making way for him.

My stomach turned as I watched him crouch, speaking to the broken man. Again, I couldn't hear, but the kneeling man's desperate gestures made it obvious he was begging Benjamin for mercy.

Instead of mercy, Benjamin drew a gun from behind his waistband and cocked it against the man's head. The victim shook violently, his pleas growing frantic.

I froze, my sweaty hands trembling against the glass. I felt like I was watching the devil himself at work.

Then Benjamin did something unexpected. He motioned with the gun, signaling the man to stand. Relief flooded the tortured man's face as he rose shakily, limping away with a faint glimmer of hope. I too felt a rush of relief-maybe Benjamin was letting him go.

But the relief was short-lived.

The moment the man took a few steps, Benjamin raised his gun and fired. The man crumpled instantly, blood pooling beneath him.

I blinked rapidly, praying I was hallucinating. My heart thundered so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Then Benjamin slowly lifted his gaze, and our eyes met.

That devilish smile curved his lips-as though killing a man was nothing but a game. As though he wanted me to know exactly who he was.

I stumbled back from the window, muttering under my breath. I needed to run. I couldn't stay here. I couldn't end up like him.

The click of the door unlocking startled me. I spun around as the woman from yesterday entered, balancing a tray of food in one hand and clean clothes in the other.

"Honey, you look like you've just seen a ghost," she said with motherly concern. Setting the tray down, she moved toward me. "Are you okay? You look pale. Should I inform the boss?"

At the mention of the boss-Benjamin-I snapped out of my daze.

"No, no. I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a smile. I gestured toward the window. "I was just... watching the view. I thought I saw a cat stuck in the tree. It made me feel bad that I couldn't help."

Her face softened. "Oh, you're so kind. I'll ask one of the men to check." She turned toward the window. "Where did you see it?"

"Right there," I pointed quickly, praying she wouldn't look too long. "Maybe it got down already."

"Maybe," she murmured, still scanning the trees.

I glanced back outside. Benjamin and his men were gone. Even the body had vanished. It was as if nothing had happened at all.

The woman turned back with a smile. "Alright, honey, eat your food. And here are some clothes."

I thanked her quietly, my fake smile still plastered on my face. She left, but this time, the door didn't lock behind her.

My pulse raced. Had she forgotten? Or was it a trap?

I didn't care.

I refused to die here.

I crept toward the door, heart pounding, and placed my hand on the knob. Slowly, carefully, I twisted it. The door gave way with the faintest click.

I cracked it open and peeked into the hallway.

Empty.

I slipped out, my breath shallow, only to nearly jump out of my skin when I saw a guard slumped against the wall by my door. Asleep. Stirring slightly.

I tiptoed past the sleeping guard, my breath caught in my throat. The hallway stretched ahead, and at the very end was a door. My only chance.

Every step felt like a lifetime, my pulse pounding louder than my footsteps. Finally, I reached it.

My trembling hand hovered over the knob, hope sparking inside me for the first time. Freedom was just one twist away.

But before I could turn it, a voice cut through the silence.

Smooth. Cold. Familiar.

"Going somewhere, sweetheart?"

My blood ran cold.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Benjamin.