Mira's POV -

I always had this super power to sleep through my worries.

Have you ever done that? Umm, it's more like hibernation but since I am human, they call it depression.

Anyways, I found myself sleeping. Sleeping always made me feel great.

But then this was no normal sleep. I could feel that something was different.

Was it the bed? Was it much softer than my recliner? Don't be fooled, I am a pauper. My recliner was simply a sofa that doubled as my bed.

I touched around before slowly opening my eyes.

Voila! I was definitely in someone else's bed.

Then the stream of thoughts came rushing back in, the drama, the rejection, the humiliation and then I remembered the pain.

I sat up with a start and caught my head in between my hands.

" Ouch! "

It hurt. It hurt real bad. I could feel the cloth of the bandage wrapped around my head.

" Take it slow girl! You will make your skull crack open again. "

I could barely see his handsome face through my cloudy vision. I rubbed my eyes. It wasn't like I needed glasses. Why did everything look so translucent?

I tried rubbing the fog off.

" Take it slow girl. You hurt your head. It's not a surprise if your vision got bad. Give it some time. The doctor said it will be alright. "

I turned towards him with such a force that my skull wiggled like a jello .

But he grabbed me right on time. His arms were strong and muscular but his grip was gentle.

The moment I breathed in his scent, all my pain washed over. It was a very familiar scent. Was it a very popular perfume?

" You came right in front of my car last night. "

He explained while he helped me lean back.

His breath on my face felt like the virgin air from the mountains. "It was raining cats and dogs and, ummm, honestly, I was out driving my own car but, you know, I don't yet have a license. It doesn't mean I am a bad driver. I drive all the time, " He immediately protested but I hadn't uttered a single objection.

" But since I didn't have the docs, I couldn't take you to a hospital. I didn't know what to do. So I brought you straight over here. "

I tried to look around, for the first time. My vision had cleared a little. It felt like I was in a suit. The room was huge and all white, with a master bed where I was, a side table and a chandelier on top. Had he brought me to a hotel, because he couldn't take me to a hospital?

And then I looked down. My clothes were changed and I was wearing a matching white nightgown.

" Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! "

The shriek left my mouth, knowing full well how the intensity would hurt my head.

As if I had summoned them with my shrieking spell, a line of maids and butlers came rushing. They poured in through the entrance.

" What's the matter young master? "

They asked in unison. Their question was directed at the boy though my voice was what had drawn their attention.

" Did you change my clothes and bring me to a hotel, just because you couldn't take me to a hospital? "

I continued with my protest even though they had just ignored my existence. I had just been rejected yesterday,that didn't mean anybody else could have the opportunity to have me , that too, without my consent, no matter how handsome or attractive he was. That was my inner conscience.

" I didn't change your clothes.Mrs.Smith did. " A round woman stepped forward from the line. She bowed and smiled,standing in the front,

"And this isn't a hotel. I brought you back to my house. " He completed the statement,in his defense.

" Your house? " I had to gulp. I might have been a pauper but I had seen what was supposed to be elite homes before. This was different. Different, as in huge.

I looked around once again and this time my face came, dangerously close to his nose.

I gulped once more.

With my vision all cleared up, his beauty struck my heart like a thunderbolt. How could a male be so pretty?

I didn't realize but I was actually glaring at him and he looked kind of flustered.

" Ahem! Young Master. Since the young miss is already awake, we will take it from here. You can go and rest. You have not even taken a nap since last night, young master. We are worried about your health.The young miss looks weathered.I am sure she will be alright and she will be up and running in no time. "

And the ' Great Wall of Mrs. Smith' came right in between his visuals and my sight.

It was like an eclipse over the bright moon, shining in the night sky.

" Are you sure she will be alright? "

I heard his effort at resisting but I knew it was as feeble as his voice.

I fell back on the bed as I saw him being escorted out of the room.

The smiling face of Mrs. Smith zoomed in on me, " Are you hungry young miss? "

Her question kind of resonated like a threat.

" No, thanks! "

I tried to sit up but was brutally pushed back on the pillow,

" Rest! " Mrs. Smith ordered with a stern smile." Rest till you have fully recovered. We don't want any trouble later. You will be given full compensation for the accident and after you leave this mansion, you will not know any of us or our young master. "

I moved back as she leaned in. It was a terrifying site. I wanted to run away in that instance but my body would not catch that rhyme. I was still too weak.

Her hands came towards me as I ducked in fright. Was that about to land in a slap?

Phew! It didn't. Instead, she patted my head.

" You look like a clever child. I wish you all the best in your life. Rest assured that you will be able to do things that you never tried in your entire life with the money that you will carry out of this place, in your bag. "

This time I didn't miss the sparkle from her golden tooth as she tucked me in like a little child.

Mira's POV -

" Mira, do it properly. I should be able to see my face in each of them. They should be shining. "

I rolled my eyes . She should have all her mirrors replaced with these pots. She was obsessed with her utensils. She was the latest inclusion in my woe list.

This was my fifth day, working in that corner motel.

The pay wasn't that good but I wanted to work because only that way would I be able to be somewhere till my school got over.

I couldn't kill my mother by telling her that I had made up my mind to not go to that school anymore. Not after the humiliation that Braze made me suffer.

I had no idea how I would react if I saw him again. Would I break down crying again or would I kick his balls?

I had to make up very spicy excuses to satiate my mother. Luckily, she was out of town when I was knocked out in that handsome boy's house.

The offer was very tempting but somehow, I managed to trigger my stupid morality and ended up not taking the money.

Let me correct myself. I was just being stupid, there was no morality involved. That was compensation money, you idiot Mira. That lad wanted to cover his crime up.

But my main regret was not rejecting the money, it was, not even knowing his name.

I kept looking at the clock, waiting for my shift to get over and finally when it did, I ran straight inside the restroom, to change back into my school uniform.

I did that everyday, for five days straight.

I left home with my school bag , dress and shoe on. And I came back home the same way. What I did in between, I was successfully able to hide for the time being.

But being successful consecutively was suspicious for someone as unlucky as me.

The thunder clouds clapped right above me as soon as I tried getting out of the place.

I had seen people cowering here and there when they saw a lighting or heard a loud clap. For me, however, it was like a romantic ballet.

I loved the scent of the rain and the electric charge in the air when it thundered.

It felt like they talked to me , on a personal level. It felt like they knew me very well, to the level of my goosebumps.

So I just spared a glance at the sky and darted out, soaking once more.

There was another thing. It always rained when I cried or maybe, I cried when it rained.

I was walking straight up ahead, my bag tucked between my hands, pressed tightly over my chest.

I was walking straight ahead when I heard loud honking.

At first I didn't pay much attention.

But then they came closer. Their bikes splashed muddy water all over my dress. As I looked at them from the corner of my eyes, I realized the mess that I was in.

It was a gang.

I could see the one-eyed symbol on all their jackets. They reeked of alcohol and their laughs were sending a shiver down my spine.

The gangs were basically individual groups that belonged to the underworld. But unlike the mafia system, they had no principles or morals. They were so savage that even the police kept themselves aloof.

They usually didn't bother the local population. They raced, they drank, they kept themselves high on weed most of the time.

However, they sometimes went hunting.

It was like a game to them.

They did it when they were bored.

Nobody wanted to be hunted by them. We had all heard stories about the bodies that were retrieved , after they were done.

I tried keeping my head low and kept walking straight up ahead as if I didn't even know that I was being watched.

My legs were unsteady but I kept pushing.

I, even, broke into a full run. That might have been a mistake.

One of the engines roared as the bike came right in front of me, blocking my walk.

I fell a couple of steps back, but I bumped right into some of them.

I was surrounded.

This time, I looked up. I looked around.

There were half a dozen of them. The road was completely empty. There was no hope for help.

I was like a timid, helpless calf, surrounded by wild wolves, who were drooling with lust, their fangs bared, ready to attack.

Mira's POV

***Intense whistling***

They were circling me. Their eyes looked me up and down. Their whistling matched the rhythm of their shoes tapping. Their hands moved just above my shoulder as my spine stiffened at their move.

With a sharp move, one of them grabbed my pony tail and pulled my head back.

I had my eyes closed. I couldn't show them the fear in them .

" What is this specimen doing here, in a school uniform? "

His mouth spit drool all over my face and neck and his breath reeked of alcohol.

The others found his remarks very amusing and broke into a laugh.

I was trying to hold my breath back. My body was as rigid as possible. I was bracing myself for what was about to happen next.

There was no time for me to reach for my bag or dial that emergency number. Not that it would be of any help at the moment.

Even if I did manage to call for help, I would be a dead ant before they arrived.

The one grabbing my hair , started pulling me backwards. My steps faltered as I tried to keep it as non-violent as I could.

Then suddenly, another one grabbed my legs.

" This one's too slow, Rykin... " And he hurdled me up in the air.

The next thing that I remembered was being tossed up in the air.

It was like going up in the swing but there was nothing to hold, no seat underneath myself.

With a loud thud, I landed on my left side. It felt like the pain originated on the hard ground and radiated up from my hand and leg, up to my hip. I could hear their laughter growing loud and louder, and it was accompanied with their wild claps.

I tried to ignore the tears and focused on helping myself up with my other hand.

But two pairs of hands grabbed me from either side and started pulling me back once again.

They dragged me over the road but I did not scream. I did not scream, till I saw the injection in one of their hands. He was looking at me with his toothless grin and his metal was shining against the sinister liquid in the syringe.

This was the point of no return.

" Noooooo.... Please let me goooooooo... "

I yelled my lungs out, though this was not the original plan. My fingers and toes were getting out of control. I had no idea what was happening.

I was trying my best to pull my body out of their grip, when suddenly they changed their course.

They were looking here and there in panic. Was the police patrol car approaching?

I began screaming my lungs out but that was definitely another mistake that I made.

They gagged me, tossed a dark cloth above my head and began tying up my hands.

It was at this point that I heard gunshots.

The cops.

It was definitely the cops.

Thanks heavens, I was saved.

But all my enthusiasm dropped down my pants when I heard more rogues yelling,

" How dare you hunt in my territory morons..."

"Today your mother will be wriggling in pain in her grave... You m** ... "

And so on the trail of abuse exchange went till it was almost making my ears bleed in pain.

It was in fact me, who was absolutely f* .

I was in the middle of a gang war between two notorious criminal gangs.

Oh my luck! What did I do wrong in my past life to make you so upset?

The shots showered one after the other. I could feel the steel zip zapping all around me.

It was such a situation that I couldn't even get up and run, though I was practically free.

I was frozen in fear, petrified. I was waiting for the next bullet to hit me and then for the next and the one after that.

Miraculously, I was still in one piece when finally the sounds subsided.

I still chose to wait for a few more minutes and then slowly opened the cloth over my head and spit out my gag.

I was thinking that probably all of them were dead. But as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of legs, standing right in front.

As I slowly looked up I saw a very familiar yet unknown face staring down at me, with one eyebrow raised.

He did not look any older than myself, but the way he dresses was distinctive to the gangs. He even had a blade engraved on his black leather jacket.

I was expecting him to extend his hand and help me up but he stood there with his hands , crossed over his chest, as if judging me. For what reason, I could have never guessed.

I looked around.

There were bodies all around me.

But, they all had that one-eyed symbol on their jacket.

Did this lad, single handedly, kill an entire gang?

I couldn't even gulp. I was lost, wondering if I was supposed to admire his bravery or feel disgusted at his action.

" Are you going to sit there all day? "

He finally talked but I was looking around me. They all definitely looked dead but neither of them had any blood.

I touched the hand of the one nearest to me.

I poked it to see if I could get any response.

It fell on the ground with a slop.

" You shot all of them down... Why don't they have any blood? "

It was probably an effect of too much novel reading, my mind was cooking up all sorts of hypothetical situations.

Were those men vampires?

Or were they zombies?

Will they be getting up?

Will I now face a group of undeads on my way back home.

I heard the lad heave a deep, deep sigh. As if he was very disappointed in me.

He pulled out something from his pocket and I immediately backed off and raised my hands to surrender.

He raised both his eyes at me and displayed the item in his hand properly.

It was a tranquilizing dart gun.

But I was certain that what I heard were gunshots.

I opened my mouth to put forth my point when he pulled out a second gun, on the other hand.

That was real metal. A real gun. And it immediately made me stand up.

I bowed as low as I could in front of him,

"Thank you for saving my life. I will forever be indebted to you... "

With that I quickly turned, picked my bag up, which had fallen a little up ahead and began walking , which broke into a run.

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my arm.

My speed broke and I was pulled into his arm.

He was already in front of me and his grip on my wrist was tight.

" Oh! sh*t! I am in the same mess once again... "

I thought to myself. I was just transferred from one gang to another one.

" Are you sure? "

"Huh? " His question took me off guard. Could this one read minds as well?

" Are you sure about forever? "

" I beg your pardon? "

At this point, I turned to face him like a man, sorry, a woman. I was really curious as to what the lad wanted.

He was giving off that same aura as forbidden items. Like those boxes of chocolates tucked above the topmost shelves, like that wine bottle that all the adults had while you sipped on your soda... ummm, a very negative but attractive invitation that was not meant to be ignored at all.

" I want to know if you are serious about owing me forever? "

I tried keeping a straight face.

"It's just a term you idiots. Human beings don't even have forever. " That's what I wanted to say but instead I ended up saying,

" Yeah... I guess so... If we have forever... I mean... "

" Good... " He pushed me and let go of my hand, " I just wanted to let you know that I am a very strict debt collector. Make sure to keep your return packed when we meet again, little rat. "

He pushed me again, this time putting me back on the footpath.

He hopped onto his bike and rode off before I could even process what he meant by what he said.

All that was left behind was a trail of dust and smoke in the air.