Capturing The Little Belle

Chapter 7

The previous day

Belle and Peter were startled when they heard a loud thud at the door. The noise was so loud that it seemed the door would break in an instant. Their hearts raced in fearful anticipation, the sound echoing in their ears like a warning of impending danger. Peter took careful steps towards the door, his face a mask of trepidation, and Belle stood frozen beside the bed on which Lucy was lying. Something was undeniably wrong; their instincts screamed at them, a primal fear coursing through their veins.

The moment Peter walked closer to the door, he turned to look at Belle, a fleeting glance that held a sense of vulnerability. Unbeknownst to either of them, it would be the last time they would exchange such a look, an unspoken farewell. Peter, it seemed, was in more danger than Belle at this very moment.

Peter opened the door, and the moment it creaked open, their worst fears became reality. An unknown group of men barged in, their faces obscured by shadows, and without warning, they pounced on Peter. Belle's voice erupted in a desperate cry as she ran towards him, but they were relentless, dragging Peter away from her grasp. A few of the intruders remained inside, their strong grips holding Belle in place, rendering her helpless.

" Help... Help! " Belle screamed, her voice a desperate plea, but her words were stifled as a rough cloth was callously shoved into her mouth. She struggled and fought against the invisible restraints, but one of the men silenced her with a brutal slap, pain blossoming across her cheek. Tears welled in her eyes, a mix of physical and emotional torment; the weight of Lucy's death still fresh in her heart, and now, this horrifying ordeal. She was forcibly bound to a chair in the very room where Lucy's lifeless body lay, her wrists tied with a makeshift cloth. The men, in their haste, left her there and shut the door, concealing her view. Belle stared helplessly, the anguish and frustration mounting within her. She strained against her bonds, exerting herself until exhaustion overcame her, and she briefly dozed off. Meanwhile, behind the closed door, the men revelled in their sinister triumph, their cruel laughter and gossip filling the air.

Belle's eyes snapped open as icy water splashed across her face with shocking force. Her senses returned, and she was met with the menacing presence of a man standing beside her. His voice dripped with malevolence as he issued a chilling threat. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she was released from her bonds, a plate of food pushed within her reach. The man scanned the room briefly and then departed, leaving Belle alone, the door closing behind him.

" Re-tie her in ten minutes........, " the man ordered loudly, signalling the approaching dawn. Another man remained, vigilant, stationed by the door. Moments later, he ventured into the inner room and was met with an unexpected attack. He struggled to rise but received another painful blow to his hand, blood seeping from the wound. Gasping, he rushed outside to inform his comrades that the girl had somehow acquired a rod.

By this time, they had also been alerted to the presence of someone named Ashton. Another man, too, was assaulted, his hand injured by the rod. Panic ensued as the men realized the girl's unrelenting determination. "The girl is insane! " one of them in a red shirt exclaimed, urgency in his voice. "Go inform the Boss about it. We'll stay here in case she tries to escape. Inform the others as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Belle stood ready, her every sense heightened, poised to strike anyone who dared to enter. Minutes passed, and she heard a commotion outside, a heavy, commanding voice resonating through the small house, sending shivers down her spine. It was a voice that exuded danger and dominance, an unsettling feeling washing over her.

Belle quickly sought refuge behind a small wooden cupboard in the corner, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. The footsteps grew nearer, then paused. Belle peeked cautiously from behind the cupboard and beheld a tall, imposing figure standing in the room's centre, a mere few steps from Lucy's lifeless form. His broad shoulders hinted at immense strength, and his attire was unlike any she had ever seen, a testament to his enigmatic presence.

With fear, Belle inched closer, clutching the rod, determined to defend herself as she had done with the others. However, the moment she swung the rod, he reacted with lightning speed, seizing it with a powerful grip. His mesmerizing, stormy grey eyes locked onto hers, a mixture of anger and frustration simmering within their depths, and Belle found herself trapped in their intense gaze, her own emotions a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty.

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The moment Ashton's gaze locked onto her, it felt as if time itself had come to a standstill. An unusual tension hung thick in the air, wrapping them both in its suffocating embrace. Their eyes, two stormy seas, collided with a ferocious anger lurking beneath the surface. To Belle, he appeared as a mysterious intruder, a foreigner trespassing into her sanctuary. For Ashton, she was a formidable figure, unwavering in the face of a stranger's intrusion. Since their initial encounter, she hadn't once averted her gaze, and his eyes harboured something profound, while his sharp and captivating features seemed etched into her memory. He stood tall with broad shoulders, clad entirely in a commanding black attire. Around his neck hung a sleek, black, shiny chain, adorned with a small gun-shaped symbol, adding an intriguing element to his enigma. He was unlike any man Belle had ever laid eyes on, exuding an aura of regal authority.

Belle's unwavering stare was like fuel to the fire of Ashton's anger. Why was she not begging or trembling as others often did in his presence? The depths of her eyes hinted at the frustration and unanswered questions festering within her. Her once-silky hair now cascaded into a chaotic mess, her dress marred by dirt, yet her visage remained as radiant as a star. Her eyes seethed with fury, her cheeks flushed with indignation, and her round, crimson lips were nothing short of captivating. She had grown into a fierce, enchanting woman.

For Ashton, this was a haunting memory that had plagued him for years – the little girl he had kidnapped many years ago now stood before him. The difference layover time; she had matured into a fearless young woman. In the past, she had been even braver, tossing his school tools aside, refusing to yield to the stranger. But politics and bribed school workers had played their part in bringing Ashton closer to her. She was the princess of a wealthy household, untouchable and out of reach, while he resembled a wounded lion, desperate to claim her.

Ashton attempted to shove the rod aside, but Belle clung to it with all her might, refusing to let go. A sinister laugh twisted his devilish features. " What are you... " Ashton began, his tone laced with curiosity, before forcefully tossing the rod aside. Belle flinched, momentarily startled. He took menacing strides toward her, closing the gap until his musky, dominant presence enveloped the space between them. Though fear gnawed at Belle's insides, she fought to contain it. Her delicate form seemed to disappear within his looming shadow as he approached like a predator closing in on its prey. Ashton seized Belle by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her soft skin. She flinched, attempting to wriggle free, their faces mere inches apart, his intense grey eyes psychotically issuing a silent threat. " Your charade ends now. Behave and come with us, like the good girl you are, " Ashton declared, his voice heavy with menace. Belle winced as his grip on her shoulders tightened.

"No way," Belle retorted defiantly, her eyes challenging his. Their gazes locked once more, a fusion of desire for dominance burning within Ashton's eyes as he confronted this captivating challenger. Inside, Belle felt shattered; this was all too much. A stranger from nowhere was now threatening her. Unconsciously, Ashton's fingers grazed a small, noticeable scar on her left shoulder.

With a forceful push, Ashton released her, causing Belle to stumble, and he signalled to his men to move forward. They began dragging her toward the exit. " I will not go, " Belle shouted, attempting to wrench her hand free, but the man's grip remained unyielding. Two more men joined in, ensuring she couldn't break free. Ashton watched everything unfold, barely containing his mounting frustration. Her behaviour was wild and unmanageable.

Ashton entered the car, taking a neutral seat. He gritted his teeth, enduring the chaos unfolding before him with great difficulty. As they unceremoniously threw Belle into the car beside him in the backseat, the vehicle was swiftly locked, and the engine roared to life, embarking on its journey back. Belle's frantic cries for help and desperate attempts to open the doors grated on Ashton's nerves. Frustration mounting, he reached out and yanked her hair from behind, forcing her to meet his intense gaze. Her face contorted with terror as he pressed the barrel of a gun into her mouth, threatening her very existence.

" The more I try to let go, the more you provoke me, chick. You need to behave, or things will not end well for you, " Ashton warned, his tone heavy with anger. Realizing Belle's fear, he reluctantly withdrew the gun from her mouth and set it aside. Releasing his grip on her hair, his gaze softened. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and her eyes remained wide with shock, staring blankly ahead. She was trapped, with nowhere to escape, exhausted and helpless, now at the mercy of an unknown man who clung to her, refusing to let go.