Unmasking the Heart

Joi's head hung low, her breathing shallow as hunger gnawed at her insides. Three days without food or proper water had left her frail, but it wasn't just the starvation—her captor's words cut deeper than any physical wound.

The dimly lit, makeshift room reeked of damp earth and decay. Joi's wrists were raw from the ropes binding her, her body too weak to resist. The creak of the door opening sent a fresh wave of dread through her.

Anna stepped in, her silhouette sharp against the faint moonlight filtering through the cracks in the wooden walls. Her expression was twisted with malice and desperation.

"Still alive, I see," Anna sneered, tossing a bottle of water onto the floor near Joi's feet. The bottle rolled just out of reach. "I thought you'd be tougher, considering how smug you've been, playing house with my Adrian."

Joi didn't respond, her lips too dry to form words, but her gaze met Anna's—defiant, even in weakness.

Anna's frustration boiled over. She grabbed a handful of Joi's hair, jerking her head back painfully. "Don't you dare look at me like that!" she hissed. "Do you have any idea what you've ruined for me?!"

Anna's slap echoed in the small space, and Joi's head snapped to the side. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, but she refused to cry out.

"I've waited years—years—for him to see me! To choose me!" Anna's voice cracked as she paced the room. "And then you… you waltz in with your pathetic innocence and ruin everything!"

Joi's voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the silence. "You think Adrian chose me?"

Anna froze, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm nothing to him," Joi continued, her words slow and deliberate. "Just a placeholder. A contract." She coughed, the effort to speak sapping what little strength she had left. "Sophia… she's back."

The color drained from Anna's face. "You're lying."

Joi gave a weak, bitter smile. "Why do you think he hasn't been around much? He's not looking for me… he's with her."

Anna's grip faltered, her confidence wavering. Joi saw the cracks forming and pressed on, even as her vision blurred from the effort.

"And you know what?" Joi rasped. "You're not even on his radar. You never were."

The words were a dagger, and Anna's face twisted with rage. She struck Joi again, this time harder, sending her crashing to the ground.

"You'll pay for that," Anna spat, her composure unraveling. She grabbed a knife from a nearby table, holding it menacingly.

Before she could act, the faint sound of rustling leaves outside reached her ears. Anna froze, her paranoia taking hold. She peered through the cracks in the wall but saw ...

---

Adrian's boots sank slightly into the damp earth as he led the group deeper into the dense forest. The air was heavy, thick with the smell of decaying leaves and faint traces of gasoline that lingered like a warning. His focus was razor-sharp, his mind running through every possibility. Alexander followed closely, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain, flanked by a small team of men armed and ready.

The silence was unsettling. No sound but the occasional crunch of twigs underfoot or the distant chirp of crickets. Adrian's jaw clenched as he thought about Joi, her bruised face flashing through his mind.

"Boss," Alexander murmured, holding up a hand to signal a stop.

Adrian followed his gaze. A small, barely visible tripwire stretched between two trees, hidden beneath layers of fallen leaves. It was crude but effective.

"She doesn't want us reaching her," Alexander muttered, crouching to inspect it.

"Disable it and move," Adrian ordered coldly, his eyes scanning the area for more traps.

Alexander worked quickly, his movements efficient. "That's not all," he added, pointing to the faint outline of something metallic in the shadows. A low snare, designed to catch ankles and cause enough damage to slow anyone down.

Adrian's lip curled in disdain. "She's trying to buy time."

The team moved forward with increased caution. The closer they got, the more deliberate the traps became. A broken branch, suspiciously placed stones—signs that someone had been through here recently and wanted to keep them out.

When they reached the edge of a clearing, Adrian stopped abruptly. His eyes locked on the faint outline of an old shed barely visible in the moonlight.

"That's it," Alexander said, his voice low.

Adrian didn't respond immediately. His sharp eyes surveyed the area. Something wasn't right.

"Hold," Adrian ordered, motioning for his men to fan out.

As they moved closer, the faint flicker of a lantern became visible through the cracked window. Inside, Joi sat tied to a chair, her head slumped forward, her body unmoving.

"Joi," Adrian whispered, his voice tight.

But before he could take another step, a figure emerged from the shadows behind the shed. Anna. Her face was pale, her eyes wild with fury. She held a gun in one hand, the other clutching a crude lighter.

"Stop right there," Anna hissed.

Adrian froze, his expression unreadable.

"You're too late," she sneered. "You think you can take her back? You think you can ruin my life again?"

"You've already done that yourself," Adrian said, his voice low and measured. His gaze flicked to Joi, his heart tightening at the sight of her bruised and battered form.

Anna's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Do you even know what it's like? Watching someone like her take everything that should've been mine?"

"Let her go," Adrian demanded, his tone cold.

Anna laughed, a harsh sound that echoed through the clearing. "No. Not until you understand what it feels like to lose something you care about."

She stepped back toward the shed, holding the lighter higher. "This place is soaked in gasoline. One flick, and you'll lose her forever."

Adrian's jaw tightened, but he didn't move. "You don't want to do this, Anna."

"I do," she said, her voice trembling. "Because it's the only way you'll finally see me!"

From the corner of his eye, Adrian saw Alexander edging closer, his weapon drawn. Adrian needed to keep Anna distracted.

"Is this what you wanted? To prove you're better by resorting to this?" Adrian's voice was calm, almost taunting.

Anna faltered for a moment, her grip on the lighter unsteady. "You don't get to judge me! You don't get to—"

A sharp sound cut through the air—a single shot. The lighter flew from Anna's hand, clattering to the ground. She screamed, clutching her hand as Alexander moved in, disarming her before she could react.

Adrian didn't wait. He stormed into the shed, the acrid smell of gasoline burning his nostrils. Joi's head lifted weakly as he approached, her eyes barely opening.

"You're safe now," Adrian said quietly, his voice softer than usual.

Joi tried to speak, but no words came. Adrian untied her quickly, his movements steady but gentle. He lifted her into his arms, her frail body slumping against him.

As he carried her out, Anna was being restrained by Alexander's men. Her screams of rage echoed through the forest, but Adrian didn't spare her a glance.

Joi came first. Everything else could wait.