Twisting the Rules

Chapter 2

Running Away

"What's your business with her?"

"None."

"Then why did you let her invade your place?"

"I didn't. She just did."

"You know it's impossible."

Erin woke up from another round of sleep. She feels like her head is spinning and her vision isn't stable, unclear. Although she managed to hear whatever they're talking about outside, she can't lift her body to bring herself outside the room.

She can't remember what happened and why she's sleeping again in one of that guy's room. All Erin could recall is that she saw a sly smile from that guy and after that, nothing came from her mind.

Erin tried lifting herself, using both her hands for support but to her dismay, she fell again. Exhausted.

The door opened, it revealed that guy who pinned her on the wall and another male from his side. They had the same build and almost the same height, only the other one was taller than him.

"Wh.." Erin tried to speak but her throat was sore. Even opening her mouth needs to consume a lot of energy from her body.

"What the.." he heard the other guy murmuring. Surprise is clear in his tone. "Ajax. She’s.."

"I know."

Erin wants to ask what the hell are they talking about and, staring at her while she's on her weakness is one thing she really hates. It’s making her uneasy and nervous, especially when she's on edge when her body feels vulnerable right now.

"She's sleeping. Let's go." She heard what Ajax said and closed the door.

She could feel her body become less tense. Ajax’s, that guy! His aura is making her stunned and body stiffened. Especially when he's speaking, the sound of his raspy voice is ringing on Erin’s head. The roughness of his words somehow stab her right on her chest. This doesn't feel right.

With all her force, Erin refrained from groaning when she successfully pulled her body out of bed. Kneeling on the floor, too tired of what she did. She heard little voices coming outside of the room she's staying in. She almost crawled just to get a hold of the door and slightly opened it.

There, she saw that Ajax guy and the other male talking.

The other guy screams a mysterious vibe from his looks. He had a dimple, he's smiling but the kind of smile that'll make you think whether he's showing the real him or not. Erin must say, he's unpredictable.

She shifts his gaze to Ajax, who is calmly leaning on the wall, hands in his pocket while listening to the other guy looking bored.

Meanwhile, Ajax's aura screams arrogance and coldness. Aside from that, he seems dangerous and you should be cautious around him. Ajax made that impression to Erin the first she saw his face.

She then remembered that Ajax’s arm was bleeding, but to her confusion, there was no sign of blood on his clothes. The bruises she saw a while ago are gone and smooth tanned skin can only be seen.

"What's your plan for her?" she heard the other guy ask.

Erin’s heart raced the moment she heard what they were going to do with her.

"Are you going to get rid of her or let her live?"

Erin swallows her saliva abruptly and she chokes. Eyes watering on trying not to make too much noise as she calmed herself down.

"No. I'm going to play with her." she heard Ajax say.

'Play with me? What the hell is he talking about!?'

"Well then, don't be too harsh. She's pretty cute."

If it's the other way around, Erin would be blushing right now because of his compliment. But her life is at risk in the hands of these two unknown guys.

'I successfully escaped my home and then I'll just die here?' Erin sassily in her mind before returning to the bed.

Tonight, her second escape will happen. She did it once already, she can do it again.

***

Erin inhaled deeply before letting it out. She did it. She did get out of that freaky mansion with some weird guys talking about her death.

She lowered her head so no one could see his face. Knowing that her family is famous because of the properties they own, it isn't impossible that some people knew about her already. After all, her father has been bragging about her achievements to his business colleagues and even in public. It isn't something she should be proud of, it was all an act for publicity. Her father never gave her a compliment, just rewards like money or cars.

"Excuse me," she called the attention of an old lady watering his plants outside the alley.

It's already 8AM in the morning and she's been walking for hours. She badly needs a rest so finding an apartment is what he should prioritize first. It could be a small room and just that but it will be enough.

"What can I help you young lady?" the old lady gently asked, her heart was fluttering because of her pure kindness.

It isn't all the time Erin can meet genuine people like her.

"Uhm, do you know a place where I can rent? Like, apartments or units?" she politely asked, gentle in every word.

"Oh. You must be new here, aren't you?" she asked and Erin nodded. "Well, there's an apartment there. Walk straight and turn to your right, there."

"Thank you." She bowed and went on her way.

Erin did save money for her. Like she's been anticipating this kind of scenario to happen to her so she planned ahead of time, being in that mansion of Ajax guy isn't part of her plan.

"Electric and water bills are already included in monthly rent. There were few things left in the apartment from the former tenant, you can get rid of it or it's up to you." the landlady told her while walking along the way.

The apartment building doesn't look bad, it has clean white walls and wooden stairs. It is near a supermarket so Erin won't be having a hard time with her necessities. What's bothering her is she can't be just careless about going out, cause as of now, her father hired some agents to haunt her.

"This is your unit. Here's the key." The landlady handed her two keys and left.

Erin expected to fill up some forms before she can officially move in here, but it took her just minutes to get this one.

Maybe this is how things work outside, Erin said mentally.

She found a small sofa in the living room. It doesn't look worn out so won't get rid of this, less expenses. She then opened the bedroom and saw a single bed with foam on top. It looks new, so why did the former tenant leave it here?

There's a window right on the side of her bed, you can see across the apartment building and the main road.

Erin plops herself on bed, not minding if it's dirty or dusty. She's so tired and she wants to sleep.

--

9:00 PM

Erin woke up with a start, still in the same position where she slept this morning. She can't believe she sleeps for the whole day, her body must be really tired and worn out. The exhaustion over taking her body that's why.

"Can I use a phone to call?" she asked the landlady, she left her phone at home.

There was a tracker on that, so even though he tried to run away, she's still under surveillance because of that.

Erin ordered her meal, using another name. The chance of getting caught is high, she knows what her father can do.

"Thank you."

She went back to her unit, patiently waiting for her meal to arrive. Her stomach was growling and she felt like she wanted to puke. She's a little bit dizzy, literally hungry.

The sound of knocking however lit up her mood.

"Coming!" she yelled and got up on bed, there was a knock on his door. She happily went there, finally she can eat with all her glory for tonight.

Or maybe not.

"W-What are you doing here?" Erin starts to walk backward, careful with her steps while keeping her eyes on the man.

That Ajax guy is standing in front of her, and worst, he's already inside of her unit.

"W-What do you want?"

His cold eyes set to Erin’s face, slowly scanning her face with a look she couldn’t decipher, nor she wanted to.

Erin’s heart races when she feels the cold wall against his back. Trapping herself. Before she could run away, a hand slammed on the right side of her head making her shut her eyes in shock.

With a silence, she tilted his head up to meet the guy's stare, deeply looking at her

"Who said you can run away?" Ajax whispered.