Chapter 5

As Adrik continued his twisted work, Mark's screams grew louder, his body trembling with agony. I felt my mind slipping, my grip on reality tenuous at best.

Adrik's eyes never left mine, his gaze burning with an unholy intensity. "You see, Joy, I'm not just hurting Mark. I'm reshaping him. Remaking him in my image."

The scalpel sliced through Mark's skin, leaving behind a trail of blood and terror. I felt my heart shattering, my soul recoiling in horror.

And then, Adrik's goons moved to restrain me, their grip like a vice. Adrik's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with triumph.

"The next canvas is you, Joy," he whispered, his breath cold against my ear. "And this time, the art will be permanent."

As the darkness closed in, I knew I was doomed. Adrik's twisted game had only just begun, and I was his next victim...

Muffled screams echoed through the room as Adrik's goons dragged me to a nearby table, their grip like a vice. Adrik's eyes gleamed with excitement as he approached me, the scalpel still clutched in his hand.

he whispered, his breath cold against my ear. "You're going to be my masterpiece."

I struggled against the restraints, but they only tightened, digging into my skin. Adrik's goons

held me down, their faces expressionless.

The first cut was like a searing fire, burning through my skin. I screamed, but Adrik's laughter drowned out my cries.

As the pain intensified, I felt my mind slipping, my grip on reality tenuous. Adrik's face blurred, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic light.

And then, everything went black.

When I came to, I was alone in a dark, damp cellar. The walls were cold, the air thick with mold. I stumbled to my feet, my body aching with pain.

A faint light flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows on the walls. I stumbled towards it, my heart racing with fear.

As I emerged into the light, I saw Mark, his eyes vacant, his skin scarred beyond recognition. Adrik's twisted handiwork.

My heart shattered, my soul recoiling in horror. I knew then that I had to escape, no matter the cost...

I collapsed to the ground, my screams echoing off the cold walls. Mark's lifeless eyes stared back at me, a haunting reminder of Adrik's brutality.

My mind reeled, thoughts of my mother flooding my consciousness. She had always been my rock, my confidante. Who would care for her if I didn't survive?

Determination fueled my grief. I had to escape, for her sake as much as mine. I forced myself to stand, surveying my surroundings.

The cellar was dimly lit, with stone walls and a low ceiling. A small door, slightly ajar, beckoned me. I stumbled towards it, my heart racing with fear and adrenaline.

As I pushed the door open, a sliver of light illuminated the darkness. I found myself in a long, deserted corridor, with doors leading off to either side.

I started to run, my footsteps echoing down the hall. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I had to keep moving.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind me. Adrik's goons. I picked up speed, my heart pounding in my chest.

I darted through a doorway, slamming the door shut behind me. I leaned against it, panting, my mind racing.

Where was I? How could I escape? And what would Adrik do to me when he caught up?

"I ran like my life depended on it," I thought to myself as I sprinted through the winding corridors of Adrik's mansion. I had managed to escape the cellar where Mark's lifeless body lay, but I knew Adrik's goons were closing in on me.

Just as I thought I was going to collapse from exhaustion, I heard Adrik's voice behind me. "Let her run," he told his men. "Let's see how far she gets."

I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see. Instead, I kept my eyes fixed on the door ahead, my legs pumping furiously as I ran.

Finally, I saw a glimmer of light and burst through the door, finding myself at the edge of a dense forest. I didn't hesitate, plunging into the trees and running until my legs ached and my lungs burned.

Hours passed, or so it seemed, before I saw a car in the distance. I waved my arms wildly, hoping against hope that the driver would see me and stop.

To my relief, the car screeched to a halt beside me, and a kind-faced truck driver leaned out the window. "Where are you headed?" he asked gruffly.

"Home," I gasped, my voice barely audible.

Without another word, he nodded and opened the door, helping me into the cab. I collapsed onto the seat, exhausted, as he drove me to safety...

My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear. How did the truck driver know where I lived? Why didn't he ask for directions? But I had no time for questions. My shoulder throbbed with pain, and I needed urgent medical attention.

I ran through the house, calling out for my mother, but there was no response. The house was empty and silent. My heart raced as I thought of the worst.

I called my mother's office, and the receptionist told me she hadn't been to work in two days. My mind filled with questions. How long had I been in captivity? What had happened to my mother?

I felt a chill as I realized Adrik might have taken her too. I had to find her, but first, I needed medical attention. My vision began to blur, and I felt dizzy.

With effort, I managed to reach the phone and dial the emergency number. As I waited for the ambulance to arrive, my mind filled with nightmares. What had happened to my mother? Was she alive? And Adrik... was he still free?

The ambulance arrived, and I was rushed to the hospital. As I lay on the stretcher, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Where was my mother? Was she safe?

At the hospital, the doctors and nurses swarmed around me, tending to my wounds. I tried to tell them about Adrik, about Mark, about my mother, but they just nodded and sedated me.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and sterile white walls. A detective was sitting beside me, a kind-faced woman with a notebook.

"Joy, can you tell me what happened?" she asked gently.

I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse. She handed me a glass of water, and I sipped it gratefully.

"Adrik," I whispered. "He took me. He killed Mark. And my mother... I don't know where she is."

The detective's expression turned grim. "We'll find her, Joy. I promise. But first, we need to get you safe."

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could escape Adrik's grasp and find my mother before it was too late...

The detective stood up and walked to the door. "I'll assign an officer to guard your room. You're not safe until Adrik is caught."

I watched her leave, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. But as I looked around the hospital room, I knew I couldn't stay here. I had to find my mother.

I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My shoulder throbbed in protest, but I ignored it. I had to keep moving.

I made my way to the door, slowly opening it and peeking outside. The officer was standing there, his eyes scanning the hallway.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his hand on his gun.

"I need to find my mother," I said, my voice firm.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're not going anywhere until Adrik is caught."

I knew I had to think fast. I couldn't let them stop me from finding my mother. I went back to my bed accepting defeat at that moment.

I was laying back on my bed, trying to rest, when I felt a gentle touch on my face. As I opened my eyes, I came face to face with the devil himself, Adrik. My heart skipped a beat as I stared into his eyes, his gaze piercing and menacing. I tried to scream, but my voice was hoarse and barely audible.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared into Adrik's eyes, his gaze piercing and menacing. I tried to scream, but my voice was hoarse and barely audible.

I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, as if paralyzed. Adrik's grip on my face tightened, his fingers digging into my skin.

"You're mine now," he hissed, his eyes blazing with obsession. "You'll never escape me again."

I felt a wave of terror wash over me, my mind racing with thoughts of my mother, the detective, and the officer outside my door. Where were they? Why hadn't they stopped him?

Adrik's smile grew wider as he leaned in closer, his lips inches from mine. I knew I was running out of time...