Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Drugging
This feeling… wasn't good.
Several times, Vivian tried to pull out her phone to call her best friend, Emily, but her hands wouldn't cooperate. She finally managed to unlock it, but before she could even dial, a hand suddenly appeared, snatching her phone away.
The next moment, she was pulled into a tight embrace. Rough stubble scraped against her neck, and the man's voice was low, filled with the sour stench of alcohol. "Where are you going, beautiful? I've been waiting for you, little lady..."
Vivian's body stiffened. This is bad.
She had been drugged.
Of course, it was all planned. There were always follow-up moves in these kinds of situations—there was no way they'd let her have a chance to escape or cry for help.
"Who… who are you? Let go of me..." She struggled desperately, but the drug worked quickly. Her body felt like a rag doll, soft and useless, her voice breathy, weak—more like an invitation than resistance.
"Don't be afraid, little beauty. Relax. Soon, I'll make you feel better than ever…" His wicked laugh sent chills down her spine. Vivian fought back the nausea rising in her throat. "Who sent you? Was it Gloria? Tell me, how much did she pay? I'll double it."
The drug took its toll, and her vision blurred. She couldn't even see the man clearly. She gritted her teeth and dug her fingers into her palm, trying to wake herself up through the sharp pain. Her hand was damp with sweat, and she could feel blood trickling from the force she used. But she couldn't afford to lose control—if she passed out, it would be over. She had to stay conscious, no matter what.
A bribe might work—after all, there was always someone willing to take money. At first, the man hesitated, but when he saw Vivian's face, his indecision vanished.
She was beautiful—so beautiful it was almost shocking. A delicate face, skin so pale it looked as if it could break under a gentle touch. The faint red marks from his earlier caress only heightened her innocence. That weakness… It was like a signal, a call for him to take control, to hurt her.
Money was easy to get, but a woman like her—she was priceless.
"Forget the money, beautiful. I just want you." His breath, rancid with alcohol, spread across her neck. It was nauseating. He laughed again, his voice lecherous. "Don't be shy. Let me take care of you, and when I'm done, I'll let you go. If not…"
His eyes gleamed with malice, scanning her body. "First, I'll have you. Then, I'll kill you."
This entire floor was a high-end lounge, with thick carpet that muffled every sound. Even if five or six people dragged her, there would be no noise. And if anyone saw, they wouldn't help—just watch from the sidelines.
"Who sent you? Gloria?" She had come in fine. She hadn't eaten anything, except for that bottle of water earlier.
That water was the problem!
"Sweetheart, it's the way of the world—people pay to handle things for others. If you behave, I won't take your life." The man's words were more of a threat than a conversation.
The night had fallen, and the floor was sparsely populated. Nobody would come, and Vivian's heart sank further.
She hadn't anticipated Gloria would go this far, trying to ruin her like this.
"You'd better let me go, or else…" Her threat was weak, cut off by the fast-acting drug, and in the man's eyes, it was nothing more than a joke.
"Or else what? I like a fiery spirit. This will be fun." He began to rip her clothes off.
Vivian fought desperately, kicking and clawing. One wild movement hit his eye.
He was already consumed with lust, and seeing her still struggle only made him angrier. He slapped her across the face, the sound of it echoing as Vivian's ears rang and her vision went fuzzy. She couldn't see anymore.
Her soft face was now marked with five clear finger prints. The man grabbed her chin and forced her head up, sneering, "Don't make me kill you. If you're not obedient, you'll regret it."
Vivian knew, if she let him drag her away, it would be the end. No matter how hazy her mind was, she forced herself to keep fighting, even as she was kicked in the stomach, her legs, and slapped in the face. Pain shot through her body.
Her strength was fading.
She collapsed to the floor, helplessly watching as the man, like a demon, yanked her clothes up and dragged her away like trash.
"Let go of her."
Just as Vivian's consciousness was about to slip into darkness, she heard a familiar voice. But by then, the drug had clouded her mind, and she couldn't see who it was.
Was it a hallucination? Or was it someone deep inside her mind, appearing before her as she fell unconscious?
That voice…
She tried to speak, but everything went black, and she lost consciousness.
The man, just about to take his prize, stopped when a stranger intervened. The man tossed Vivian aside, letting her fall to the ground.
At first, he was wary, but upon seeing that the newcomer was alone, he let down his guard, snarling like a hungry animal, "Kid, don't get involved. Or else…"
These kinds of petty crimes were all about a person's mental toughness. A few threats, and most people would back off.
But he hadn't anticipated meeting someone like him.
The newcomer didn't hesitate.
He was no stranger to dirty deeds and wasn't afraid of adding another crime to his list. If someone wanted to die, he was more than willing to oblige.
The man pulled out a folding knife from his pocket, casually brandishing it as a final warning.
Daniel didn't even spare him a glance. He strode over, scooping up the unconscious Vivian and gently setting her against the wall. With one hand, he tenderly wiped the red marks on her face, and then glanced at the bruises on her legs. Without turning around, he said, "Did you do this?"
Vivian moaned softly, her brows furrowed. She was clearly in pain.
The man stared at Daniel, confusion and irritation on his face, his knife still in hand. "Where did you come from, kid? If you want to die, I suggest you leave."
This wasn't someone who could be easily intimidated.
Daniel knelt down, carefully removing his jacket and draping it over Vivian. Then he calmly began rolling up his sleeves. "I'll count to three. Apologize to her, and I'll let you go."
The man looked up at Daniel, who was a full head taller than him, and laughed cruelly. "Kid, this is my line. You don't look any better than this little slut, and I've never tried a guy before. Today's my lucky day. I'll take both of you for free."