Chapter 205
Chapter 205
Sarah’s POV
I’d spent what felt like hours searching the crowd, my eyes scanning every face behind every mask.
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No matter what disguise Alexander might have chosen, I was certain I would recognize him instantly.
Unless… unless he hadn’t come at all.
Disappointment settled in my chest like a cold stone.
How could I forget that this Alexander was no longer the man I once knew?
“Time to leave” I whispered to myself, inhaling deeply to steady my emotions.
As I turned to leave this den of debauchery and chaos, my path was suddenly blocked. A man wearing a beast mask stood before me.
Then a metallic glint caught my eye.
Looking down, my blood turned to ice in my veins–clutched in his hand was a knife, its blade wickedly sharp in the pulsing lights.
In the same instant, the blade flashed upward, thrusting viciously toward my abdomen.
My professional training kicked in, my reflexes lightning–fast.
As the knife lunged toward me, at that critical moment, my hands shot out to intercept it.
One hand on the handle, the other gripping the blade itself, I fought with grim determination, seemingly immune to pain as I pushed the knife away with all my strength.
Blood dripped steadily from my palm, running down my wrist.
The revelers around us remained oblivious, lost in their hedonistic celebration.
Surprise flickered in my attacker’s eyes, quickly replaced by renewed determination as he pushed harder.
The natural strength difference between males and females became painfully apparent.
Despite exhausting every ounce of my strength, I couldn’t hold him back. I could only watch in horror as the deadly blade edged closer.
The blood vessels in my forehead throbbed visibly, cold sweat beading across my skin.
The knife tip pierced my dress, then my flesh. I felt the sharp, distinct pain of penetration.
In two seconds at most, that blade would be fully embedded in my abdomen, ending my life.
No–I couldn’t die. Aria was waiting for me at home.
The thought of my daughter alone, wondering why her mother never returned, filled me with desperate
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strength.
I absolutely could not die here!
Survival instinct surged through me like wildfire.
My eyes blazed with determination as I gripped the blade tighter, blood flowing freely now. With a feral growl, I drove my knee upward between his legs.
“Go to hell!” I snarled through gritted teeth.
“Ugh!” He grunted in pain, his face contorting beneath the mask.
Rage flashed in his eyes as he recovered quickly, driving his foot into my stomach with brutal force. “You fucking bitch.”
Pain exploded through my midsection, stealing my breath and strength in an instant.
I doubled over instinctively, clutching my abdomen–only to see the knife arcing toward me again. My pupils dilated with terror.
“Help!” I screamed, the word tearing from my throat.
CRASH! A bottle shattered against the attacker’s head, spraying crimson wine mixed with blood across his face and shoulders. The commotion finally drew attention from nearby guests.
“Who the fuck dares?” the man snarled, ripping off his mask and wiping the red mixture from his face, his expression murderous.
A server dressed as a bunny girl–Lily, a young woman I’d once helped out of a difficult situation–stood frozen in horror. She held a serving tray in one hand and the broken neck of the wine bottle in the other, her entire body trembling violently.
“I–I’m sorry,” she stammered, voice thin with fear. “Sir, I didn’t mean to-”
Fury contorted the attacker’s features as he lunged toward her. “Looking to die too?”
In that split second, I grabbed Lily’s serving tray and smashed it into his face, simultaneously seizing her wrist. “RUN!!!!
But the crowd pressed in from all sides, making escape nearly impossible. Lily’s face had drained of all color, her voice quavering uncontrollably. “Ms. Winters, what do we do?”
Sure enough, within moments the attacker had caught up, his rage now doubled. “Stop right there!”
“Ahh!” Lily cried out as she stumbled and fell in her panic.
“Run all you want–there’s nowhere to go!” His voice closed in, and I could feel him reaching for us.
Suddenly, all the laser lights went out with a sharp click.
The entire ballroom plunged into near–darkness, with only a few wall sconces providing minimal illumination. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.
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“Uh…” The host’s voice came through the speakers, momentarily bewildered before quickly recovering, “Don’t worry, everyone! This is all part of tonight’s special ball experience!”
1 reacted instantly, pulling Lily up from the floor and darting left, seeking refuge within the disoriented crowd. “Ms. Winters, I’m scared,” Lily whispered, her voice trembling against my ear.
My chest heaved as I tried to recover from the adrenaline rush. I squeezed her hand reassuringly and whispered back, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.‘
Somewhere behind us, the attacker let out a sharp curse. “Fuck!”
A sudden commotion followed in the dark–a scuffle, then a heavy thud as something hit the floor.
Confusion rippled through the crowd. People began pushing toward the stage, their voices rising in frustration.
“What the hell is going on?” someone shouted.
“What kind of ‘special experience‘ is a blackout? Are you kidding us?”
“Is this a joke? Are you mocking us?”
In the chaos, Lily was pulled away by the surging crowd. “Ms. Winters, I need to get back to work or my manager will–aah!” Her hand was torn from mine before she could finish.
I stood alone, the sticky wetness of blood on my palms making me nauseated. I tried to call out for Lily but found my voice had abandoned me, my throat constricted with fear and shock.
Just as panic began to overwhelm me, a strong hand gripped my wrist. A familiar voice, low and steady, cut through my terror like a lifeline:
“Don’t be afraid.”
Relief flooded through me like a tidal wave. I spun around and without hesitation threw myself into those arms, recognizing them instantly despite the darkness.
“Alexander!!” I cried out, burying my face against his chest.
In that moment, all my fear dissolved into nothing.
