“Countdown to death: 5 days, 59 minutes, 59 seconds…” The flickering numbers in the void before my eyes struck me like a sledgehammer, sending a thrill of excitement coursing through my chest. Finally, I could die. Finally, I could return to my original world and reunite with my wife and daughter! Three years ago, my wife was about to give birth. On my way to the hospital, a runaway car suddenly swerved into us, dragging my life into an abyss of endless darkness. My wife and child died. I lost my legs and wished I were dead. Just as I was about to give up on everything and end my own life, filled with despair, a mysterious system appeared in my mind. The system told me that if I lived in this parallel world as a husband, if I treated and protected Victoria submissively until the very end of my life, my wife and child in my original world would survive safely. And I would get my legs back, becoming a normal man again. From that moment on, I had never yearned for death as intensely as I did now. I had endured three grueling years in this strange world, and finally, the countdown to my death had begun. *Ring, ring, ring—* Just then, the sharp ring of my phone pulled me back to reality. “Hey, Liam, get over here now! Vicki’s in trouble at the abandoned factory in the South District!” It was Chloe, Vicki’s best friend, her voice urgent and impatient. She barked the words and then hung up abruptly. It was deep into the night. Outside, a furious storm raged, fat raindrops drumming against the windows. I took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of excitement, grabbed my jacket, and rushed out. Since arriving in this world, I had existed as Vicki’s husband, the heiress of the Sterling family, but it was nothing more than a contract marriage. Vicki didn’t love me at all. My becoming her husband was simply a result of my late grandfather and Vicki’s grandfather being good friends, having promised this marriage years ago. In Vicki’s eyes, I was treated worse than dirt, and I had no idea how long this contract was supposed to last. I had served Vicki for three years, giving her everything I had. Yet, I had never received an ounce of respect. Vicki would often laugh and tell Chloe: “He’s just my dog. If I tell him to go east, he won’t dare go west.” “If it weren’t for family expectations, and him being so obedient, I would have found a reason to kick him out of the Sterling household long ago.” Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but smile. Soon. In six days, I would completely vanish from Vicki’s world. But before that, I couldn’t let anything happen to Vicki. I had to fulfill the system’s mission. As soon as I reached the entrance of the abandoned factory, I barely had a moment to catch my breath before I urgently asked Chloe: “How is Vicki?” “What took you so long! Vicki’s been kidnapped and she’s tied up inside the factory! The kidnappers offered a hostage exchange!” “Liam, hurry up and switch places with Vicki!” Hearing Chloe’s words, I didn’t hesitate for a second, agreeing firmly: “Okay, I’ll exchange myself. Tell them to release Vicki now!” At my words, Chloe looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. She scoffed softly, then shouted into the distance: “Vicki, come out! Can’t believe it, this guy Liam really would do anything for you!”
I froze for a moment. From the corner, a stunning woman with an exquisite face and outstanding demeanor slowly emerged. It was Vicki. My heart sank, but I also let out a sigh of relief. It turned out Vicki hadn’t been kidnapped at all; she was just playing a cruel joke on me. “I told you he wouldn’t refuse.” Vicki glanced at Chloe, then walked towards me, her face expressionless and cold, saying: “Since you agreed to a hostage exchange, then it shouldn’t matter to you who you exchange yourself for, right?” The relief I had just felt immediately turned into a sense of ominous dread. Vicki looked at me, her eyes filled with chilling indifference: “I wasn’t the one kidnapped by the robbers; it was Felix. Go inside quickly and exchange yourself for Felix.” My heart pounded. It wasn’t Vicki who was kidnapped; it was Felix! Vicki was a prominent socialite, of noble status. She had countless admirers, but she only loved Felix. However, the Sterling and Harrington families were rivals, and Felix was an illegitimate son of the Harrington family. Coupled with Vicki’s grandfather’s orders, she couldn’t be with Felix. But for years, she had secretly protected Felix. Felix enjoyed thrilling activities like bungee jumping and adventure sports. Vicki, who had no interest in them and was even afraid, always accompanied him. Although my sacrifices for Vicki were only to complete a mission, I was still a man with flesh and blood! I was her husband, at least in name, yet she was putting me in grave danger for another man! It was absolutely heart-wrenching. Vicki’s expression remained cold, without a hint of guilt: “What are you waiting for? Go now!” Then, as if remembering something, she scoffed: “Don’t worry, I’ll compensate you after this is over.” Hearing that, I smiled bitterly and shook my head. Compensate me? What if I accidentally lost my life at the hands of the robbers? What compensation could be worth a life? Vicki’s actions made my three years of sacrifice seem utterly ridiculous. Seeing that I remained silent, Vicki frowned slightly: “What, you’re not willing?” I took a deep breath, and with an expressionless face, I said to Vicki: “I am willing!” I couldn’t refuse any of Vicki’s demands, including this one. “You’re really willing?” Vicki’s face flashed with surprise. Although she had just used Chloe to test me, it was for herself initially, so my agreement was understandable. After all, I had practically no dignity because of her for years, never refusing any of her demands. But regarding the agreement to exchange myself for Felix, she was still unsure. She hadn’t expected me to agree even to that. Vicki was silent for a moment, staring intently at me, urging me on as if afraid I would suddenly back out: “Then go quickly. Every minute you delay, Felix is in more danger.” “Okay.” I didn’t know what Vicki was thinking. I gave her a deep look and then smiled, a light, easy smile. It’s fine. Just a little longer. Soon, I would be free. Under the dim sky, the decrepit factory exuded an eerie aura. Overgrown with weeds, the crumbling walls swayed precariously under the erosion of time. A few gaping windows stared out like the eyes of a monster, coldly watching them. Protected by two bodyguards, five of us stepped into the factory, immediately hit by a pungent smell of rust and damp mildew. In the dim light, dust motes danced freely in the air, and the floor was covered in mottled water stains and messy footprints. Inside the factory, old machinery stood, parts scattered everywhere. “Where are they? Weren’t you going to exchange hostages?”
After stepping into the factory, Chloe yelled at the top of her lungs. Her voice echoed in the empty building, but there was no response. A moment later, a flurry of footsteps sounded from deeper within the factory, and several burly kidnappers emerged. Their faces were covered with black cloths, revealing only their fierce eyes. One of the kidnappers toyed with a gleaming dagger, letting out an ominous chuckle: “You really dared to come in. You’ve got guts.” My gaze swept over them, then landed on Felix, who was tied to a chair not far away. Seeing Felix, Vicki’s face showed anxiety: “Felix, are you okay?!” Then she glared at the kidnappers: “Didn’t I agree to your demands? Why are you still abusing him?!” Felix’s hair was disheveled, and a trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth. Seeing Vicki, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes, followed by a panicked shout: “Vicki, why did you come? Get out of here, they’re all crazy!” “Stop talking nonsense!” One of the kidnappers spat at him viciously. Seeing her beloved injured, Vicki was desperate. She took a deep breath, her voice laced with tension and unease, pointing at me and saying urgently: “The person is here. He’s my husband, he’s more valuable to you. I’m definitely here to redeem him!” “Oh? Husband?” Butch’s gaze fell on me. He squinted, sizing me up for a moment, then sneered at Vicki: “Him? This shabby-looking guy is the husband of a Sterling heiress? Don’t try to pull a fast one on me!” Vicki bristled: “If you don’t believe me, you can check online!” Butch signaled to one of his minions. The minion quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers rapidly sliding across the screen. Soon, he leaned close to Butch’s ear and whispered: “Boss, this guy really is her husband. You can find news of their wedding three years ago online. It was a huge, lavish affair!” Butch looked at the phone, then lowered his head, contemplating for a while. Then he looked up at Vicki and let out a harsh, mocking laugh. The sound echoed through the empty factory, making it even more sinister. “I didn’t expect this man to actually be your husband.” “If he’s your husband, how could you bear to trade him for this pretty boy?” He stared at Vicki, full of suspicion: “There’s no trickery going on here, is there?” Even Liam couldn’t help but look at Vicki. Even the kidnappers found this absurd, but Vicki seemed oblivious. A flicker of panic crossed Vicki’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She raised her voice, feigning calmness: “Stop talking nonsense, he is my husband, just tell me if you’re making the trade or not!” Butch pondered for a moment, exchanged a few quiet words with his subordinates, then coldly said to Vicki: “Alright, I’ll believe you this once. But let me make one thing clear: if you try to trick me, you’ll be picking up his corpse!” My expression was calm, but my nails were digging deeply into my palms. In Vicki’s eyes, I was nothing more than a pawn, to be sacrificed at will to ensure the safety of her beloved. But even so, to save my wife and child, I could only silently endure all of this. Butch’s hoarse voice cut through the air: “Have your husband walk over, and we’ll release him.” Vicki frowned, refusing: “What if you go back on your word? Let’s release them simultaneously!” “Stop wasting time! I’m already giving you a chance to swap. One more word and I’ll gut him.”
The kidnapper’s knife pressed against Felix’s throat. It lightly drew a line, and blood instantly stained Felix’s collar. Seeing this, Vicki’s face went pale: “No, I’ll listen to you!” She abruptly reached out, pushing me forcefully towards the kidnappers. Her movements were desperate and rough; her delicate fingernails even left several red marks on my arm. I said nothing, walking like a zombie, step by step, towards the kidnappers. The moment my foot entered the circle of kidnappers, two fierce-looking men immediately seized me. Rough ropes were tightly bound around me. Butch tore off his mask, revealing an ugly scar. He laughed brazenly, his laughter echoing through the empty factory: “Miss Sterling, you actually believed we’d let him go?” Vicki’s face instantly turned ashen, her body trembling slightly from the intense surge of emotion as she furiously retorted: “You broke your word! Release Felix immediately! Otherwise, you won’t get a single cent!” I hung my head. Though it no longer mattered, hearing those words still sent a chill through my heart. “Release him? Miss Sterling, you’re too naive.” Butch’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness. “I can release him, but before that, let’s play an interesting game.” He said, taking a syringe filled with an unknown liquid from a minion behind him and shaking it in front of Vicki. “This is an experimental serum. Choose one person for me to inject it into: will you choose your husband, or your childhood friend?” The question hung in the air, and the surrounding atmosphere instantly froze. All eyes were on Vicki. Her lips trembled slightly, and with hardly any hesitation, she blurted out: “Inject my husband!” The words hit me like a heavy hammer, right to my core, yet they were entirely expected. The kidnappers erupted in laughter, their eyes filled with scorn as they looked at me. As if I were the most pathetic insect in the world. The cold needle pierced my skin, and the serum slowly injected. My body instinctively trembled, but I forced myself to remain calm. “Host, this is a highly active cellular agent. Your organs will fail within 10 days, and current medical technology cannot detect it.” I took a deep breath, my heart completely undisturbed. Anyway, I only had six days left. It didn’t matter anymore. “Now can you release him?!” Vicki glared at the kidnappers. The kidnappers discussed it for a moment. Perhaps they thought I was more valuable, so they untied Felix. “Get lost!” Felix scrambled to his feet, stumbling towards Vicki. He tightly embraced Vicki, his arms trembling slightly from excitement and lingering fear. “Vicki, thank you for saving me. I thought I’d never see you again.” Felix’s voice was choked with sobs, filled with the relief of a narrow escape. Vicki instinctively hugged him back, her eyes filled with worry and concern, comforting him: “It’s okay, it’s all over now. You’re safe, that’s all that matters.” Just then, Butch spoke up: “Miss Sterling, your husband is in our hands. You have twenty-four hours to gather fifty million in ransom. If you dare to call the police or exceed the time limit, you’ll be picking up your husband’s corpse!” Butch threatened coldly, his icy gaze seemingly able to pierce through hearts. Vicki bit her lower lip, shot a fierce glare at the kidnappers, then, helping Felix, left the factory without looking back. As their figures disappeared outside the factory, the kidnappers’ attention returned to me. Butch walked up to me, knelt down, and pinched my chin. A mocking smile played on his face: “Tell me, as a husband, how can you be so spineless? That man is clearly far more important to your wife than you are.”
I calmly countered: “If that’s the case, why did you trade me for him?” Butch stood up, clapped his hands as if dusting them off, a cunning smile on his face: “I’m not stupid. Even if your wife despises you, you’re still the Sterling family’s legitimate son-in-law. The Sterling family would never spend money to ransom that man, but for you, they absolutely would.” “After all, the Sterling family is notoriously concerned with its reputation. If their son-in-law were killed, how bad would that look?” My heart clenched. So, in these kidnappers’ eyes, I was merely a symbol of the Sterling family’s public image. I was their bargaining chip for a massive ransom. I smiled sardonically. Indeed, my standing in Vicki’s heart truly was less than this so-called “reputation.” “Why didn’t you extort the Harrington family?” I couldn’t help but ask again. “Heh.” Butch scoffed. “Don’t think I don’t know. That man is just an illegitimate son of the Harrington family, and not particularly favored. The Harringtons might not bother ransoming him.” My brow furrowed. Few people knew Felix was an illegitimate son of the Harrington family. It seemed these kidnappers really did their homework. I closed my eyes, saying nothing more. Meanwhile, Vicki and her group of five dared not linger for a moment. After exiting the factory, they got into the car, ready to leave. “Vicki, that was absolutely terrifying!” Chloe let out a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank goodness for you, Vicki.” Felix also turned, looking at Vicki gratefully, then hesitated: “But Liam is still with the kidnappers…” The words were barely out before Vicki coldly cut him off: “Just call the police!” Hearing that, Felix’s lips curled into a sneer. Inside the abandoned factory, the kidnappers taunted me with one comment after another. I remained silent. Seeing my lack of reaction, the kidnappers grew bored and dispersed. My face was impassive, but secretly, I carefully observed the distribution of the kidnappers. I noticed there were five kidnappers in the factory. One guarded the door, two chatted and smoked nearby, and two others played cards in a corner. I began to ponder. I couldn’t pin my hopes of escape on Vicki. I had to save myself! Time ticked by, minute by minute. Two hours later, the kidnappers gradually grew sleepy. They yawned incessantly, and Butch had long since fallen asleep. My eyes flashed. I quietly pulled out a razor blade I had hidden earlier. I had picked it up from the ground and stashed it when I was being led into the factory, while the kidnappers weren’t paying attention. I cautiously used the blade to cut the ropes on my hands, my movements subtle, terrified of making even the slightest sound. The ropes were slowly severed, and my heartbeat grew faster and faster. Finally, the ropes broke, and my hands were free. I crept towards the window, light-footed. But just as I was about to reach the window, a kidnapper seemed to sense something amiss and suddenly turned his head. My face changed. Without thinking, I swiftly leaped out the window and ran for my life. The kidnappers roared in fury and immediately gave chase. In the intense pursuit, I tripped over a discarded steel bar and was unfortunately caught by one of the robbers. A cold glint flashed, and a sharp pain shot through my wrist. Blood streamed out. But I ignored the pain, kicked the man away, gritted my teeth, got back up, and continued running. Finally, I escaped the factory.
Under the cover of night, I ran desperately towards the city. The continuous blood loss made my head swim. Not long after entering the city and shaking off the kidnappers, my vision went black. My body could no longer hold up, and I collapsed heavily, falling into a coma. When I woke up again, I found myself in a hospital bed. Seeing that I was still alive, I breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, the TV in the hospital room was broadcasting a news report: “Police successfully cracked a kidnapping case, apprehending all suspects…” Those kidnappers were the same group from last night. I clenched my fists, my eyes cold. The kidnappers had explicitly threatened Vicki not to call the police! Sure enough, my safety really was worthless in Vicki’s eyes. I took out my phone and found several missed calls. All these calls were from Vicki. Was she worried about me? I couldn’t help but wonder. But when I opened my phone, what greeted me was Felix’s Ins update. The accompanying picture showed Vicki meticulously caring for Felix by his bedside, with the caption: “Thanks to Vicki, I’m recovering so quickly.” Seeing this, the warmth that had just ignited in my heart instantly died down. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. It didn’t matter. It would all be over soon. Taking a deep breath, I dialed Vicki’s number. After a long while, the call finally connected. I tried to keep my voice calm: “Vicki, I escaped. I’m in the hospital now.” Vicki on the other end was clearly shocked: “You’re still alive?” “What?” I froze. Vicki seemed to realize she had said the wrong thing and stammered nervously: “No, nothing. Oh, are you okay?” I replied faintly: “I’m fine.” After a brief silence… “Good, if you’re fine. Felix was quite shaken up this time, so I’m going to take care of him. I’ll come see you tomorrow.” With that, Vicki hung up directly. Leaving me alone in the hospital bed, I suddenly felt ridiculous. She didn’t even know which hospital I was in. Where would she “see” me? In a blink, two days passed. Until my discharge, as I had expected, Vicki never showed up. “Only three days left.” I murmured to myself unconsciously, a faint smile touching my lips. Just then, my phone rang. I answered, and Vicki’s voice came through the receiver, carrying an undeniable tone of command: “There’s a very important business gala tomorrow in the city. Prominent figures from all walks of life will be attending. Make sure you’re there on time.” “I’ll text you the address for the evening. You can go there yourself.” My hand, holding the phone, tightened slightly. “Okay, I understand.” After all, I was still the Sterling family’s son-in-law. Any event Vicki attended, I had to show up, if only for appearances to impress her grandfather. The next day, I arrived at the gala on time. As soon as I stepped into the venue, I immediately spotted Vicki in the crowd. She was wearing a magnificent evening gown, her posture elegant, conversing with those around her. Beside her, Felix was also surrounded, a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes occasionally shot provocative glances my way. I immediately felt bored and wanted to go upstairs to a guest room to rest. As I reached the stairwell, a voice called out behind me: “Mr. Liam, wait.”
I turned my head to look back, and Felix walked over. Felix possessed finely sculpted features. His deep-set eyes were like tranquil pools, his thin lips gently pursed. Every gesture exuded a unique charm, making people instantly take a liking to him. I couldn’t help but think, with such superior looks, no wonder he could win the heart of a proud woman like Vicki. I didn’t want much interaction with Felix. I merely nodded politely, intending to leave. However, Felix reached out and stopped me, smiling faintly: “Mr. Liam, I’m truly sorry. If I hadn’t accidentally been kidnapped, Vicki wouldn’t have had to call you, and you wouldn’t have been injected with that unknown serum, nor would you have had to escape death.” Felix spoke words of gratitude, but his face wore an arrogant expression. I knew Felix was gloating, so I decided to make his gloating completely ineffective. “Those were all my own choices.” My face showed little emotion; I simply stated it flatly. As expected, seeing my calmness, Felix’s expression became unnatural. He dropped the pretense, sneering softly: “Your own choices? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Do you really think you can make Vicki accept you this way?” Then, he leaned close to me, his expression turning somewhat distorted: “You’re dreaming! Don’t you believe it? No matter how outrageous I am to you, Vicki will always side with me!” My face slightly changed, and an ominous premonition immediately rose in my heart. Before I could react, Felix gave a strange smile. He suddenly grabbed a beautiful vase from a nearby shelf and viciously smashed it against my head. *Bang!* The vase shattered instantly, fragments scattering everywhere. My vision went black, and a sharp pain shot through my head. My body instinctively stumbled back a few steps, leaning against the wall. Before I could even figure out what had happened, Felix shrieked in panic: “Liam, what’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this to yourself? Could it be… could it be that you’re still holding a grudge about what happened a few days ago, and you’re trying to frame me?” Blood streamed down my forehead, continuously flowing over my face. My freshly changed, clean shirt was now stained crimson with blood. I gritted my teeth, instinctively wanting to speak. But before I could open my mouth, a figure quickly darted past. Then, I heard Vicki’s furious voice ring out beside me: “Liam! What kind of stunt are you pulling now?!” Vicki, supporting Felix, glared fiercely at me, frantically checking on Felix. My ears rang, and the throbbing pain in my head made it almost impossible to stand upright. I wanted to explain everything to Vicki. But Felix spoke first. “Vicki, don’t blame Liam. If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have been taken hostage by kidnappers. He must still be angry at me, which is why he resorted to this tactic…” “But… but he shouldn’t harm himself like this!” Hearing Felix’s words, Vicki’s anger flared even more. She stared intently at me, yelling furiously: “Three days ago, you voluntarily became a hostage. You weren’t seriously injured either. And now you’re here to bully Felix? Are you even a man?!” Though I kept telling myself it no longer mattered, seeing Vicki unconditionally believe Felix, I couldn’t help but feel utterly drained. Even if there was no love between us, I had gone through hell and back for her for three years. In her heart, was I truly that kind of person?
Felix’s eyes were red-rimmed, and he spoke with a feigned air of understanding: “Vicki, just let it go! Let’s just say I accidentally hurt him! I’m fine…” Hearing these words of wronged self-sacrifice from the man she loved, Vicki grew even more furious. She turned to Felix, her eyes filled with heartache: “Felix, you’re just too kind. He treated you like this, and you’re still defending him.” Then, she glared at me again, her voice sharp: “Liam, did you hear that? Felix is being so considerate towards you. Why aren’t you apologizing right now?!” I took a deep breath, trying hard to compose myself. I knew that if I didn’t comply with Vicki now, the situation would only worsen. “Alright, I apologize.” I turned to Felix, my voice low and strained. “I was out of line. I’m sorry!” Felix nodded in satisfaction, a false smile on his face: “It’s okay, Mr. Liam. I believe you didn’t mean it. It’s just childishness to come up with such a plan. It’s fine.” As he spoke, a flicker of mockery danced in his eyes. Vicki snorted coldly, giving me a dismissive glance: “Hmph, at least you’re sensible.” She hooked her arm through Felix’s and was about to leave. I watched their retreating backs, my body trembling slightly from the pain. Two more days. Just get through these two days. Then I could finally be free from all of this and return to my own world. To see my beloved wife and child, whom I yearned for day and night! After getting my wounds simply treated by a doctor, I found a corner and quietly waited for this farcical gala to end. The next morning, I slowly woke up in the dark. My head throbbed, and every inch of my body screamed in pain. Instinctively, I raised a hand to rub my aching head, but accidentally tugged at a wound, making me gasp in pain. “Liam, you’re awake!” Vicki’s voice reached me, lacking its usual sharpness, instead carrying a hint of urgency. I slowly opened my eyes, and Vicki’s anxious face came into view. I struggled to prop myself up, frowning as I asked: “What’s wrong?” Vicki was silent for a moment, as if recalling my years of sacrifice. A flicker of reluctance crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by resolve. She spoke rapidly: “Felix drank too much last night, hit someone on the way home, and was so scared he just left the scene. Now the injured person is in a coma. Liam, can you take the fall for Felix?” “What?!”
y eyes widened, as if struck by a lightning bolt, and I froze instantly. I couldn’t believe my ears, staring at Vicki in disbelief. “You… want me to take the fall for him?” Vicki took a step closer, her voice softening slightly: “Liam, Felix truly cannot be implicated. If he goes to prison, his life will be ruined! You go take the fall, and I’ll find a way to get you out quickly.” My heart chilled once more. I had sacrificed so much for Vicki, even my dignity. Yet, in her heart, I was merely a pawn to be sacrificed at will. After a moment, I took a deep breath, suppressing the humiliation in my heart, and slowly nodded: “Okay, I’ll do it.” Vicki was stunned when I agreed. “You… really willing?” A few days ago, my agreement to swap myself for Felix from the kidnappers was already unbelievable to her. Now, this was even more incomprehensible. “Yes, I’m willing.” I smiled. “I won’t refuse any of your demands.” *To save my Audrey and our child,* I told myself inwardly. Vicki’s heart trembled, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you get acquitted, and I won’t shortchange you.” But to me, those words sounded like the cruelest irony. That day, I walked step by heavy step towards the police station. The moment I entered the police station, I was met with strange looks. I straightened my back and walked towards the confession window, my voice calm yet firm: “I’m here to turn myself in. The hit-and-run last night, I did it.” And just like that, after turning myself in, I was quickly taken into custody. The iron gate of the detention center slowly closed behind me with a heavy clang. It felt like fate’s final ultimatum. Inside the dimly lit detention cell, the lights flickered, and the air was thick with a damp, decaying smell. The moment I was brought in, I drew the attention of a group of men. Seeing them, my face involuntarily changed. They too were stunned when they saw me, then their expressions turned savage. Because these men were none other than the group of kidnappers arrested a few days prior! “Well, well, isn’t this Miss Sterling’s husband? Such a distinguished person, how did you end up in jail?” I remained silent. Seeing me not respond, Butch, the former leader, suddenly rushed forward. He kicked me viciously. I stumbled, falling to the ground. “I’m talking to you! Why are you playing dumb? Are you looking down on me? I’ll teach you a lesson today!” “If you hadn’t run away, me and my brothers would have been living it up with the money already. How else would we be stuck in here?!” With that, Butch waved his hand. A group of men swarmed around me, laying into me. I curled up on the ground, protecting my injured head with my hands. I let their punches and kicks rain down on me. Their curses and jeers echoed in my ears, but my heart was utterly numb. I knew I had no help now; resisting would only provoke a more brutal beating. I don’t know how long it lasted before they seemed to tire, finally scattering with a string of curses. I lay on the ground, covered in wounds. New and old injuries mingled, and I tasted rust in my mouth. I slowly closed my eyes, feeling the pain spread through my body, waiting for the moment of release.
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