75 - The Stranger

"Who are you?"

His voice was harsh, tense with coldness. She realized she had reacted stupidly when following him. It was better to lose the target than being caught. Her body had tensed when he pulled her in. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark alley but the building they were in was darker. No light filtered in.

She couldn't see where she was or who held her. She tried to check the strength in his grip by moving slightly but his hold tighten. His next words brushed her right ear, making her still.

"I wouldn't move if I were you. You can't overpower me. Tell me who you are."

She rolled her eyes at his stupidity. With his hand over her mouth so tight, how was she to answer him? She decided to make some muffled noises. He must've realized and slowly eased the pressure. It was still not enough. She made more muffled noises.

"What?" he asked, letting go of her face.

"I said, I can't breathe!" She inhaled fully. While she was making a huge show of breathing hard, his arm loosened from around her waist. Sensing her chance, she elbowed him in the gut. He grunted and dropped his hold. She turned around facing him, pulling her sash from around her waist.

Moving forward, she grabbed his wrist to tie the sash on. Just when she was going to tie the knot, he gripped her wrist and turned her around. The sash wrapped around her waist. She pushed her back at him hard. He grunted again. His back had hit a wall.

Annie turned to unwrap the sash around her. She twirled the sash back onto his wrist and binded the other one. When she tied one knot, she felt a leg sweep over her legs. Falling, she pulled him down with her. Bending her legs, she cushioned his fall before she pushed him over her head.

The sash still bound them together. She used it to locate where he fell. Fumbling on the ground, her hand touched soft hair. Going further, she felt a hard mask and the cloak around his neck. He tugged her forward and she fell onto his chest. She felt her sash wrap around her wrist again.

Annie tried to pull away but he pulled her forward. His arm pulled her back and he maneuvered her to the ground. He was using her same tactics against her. His body moved over her, pinning her to the ground. Her wrists were bound tightly. He moved too fast for her to react.

It was still too dark for her to see who this was. It had to be the stranger she followed. The mask was on but his hood seemed to have fallen off. She struggled to free herself in vain. He was too heavy and strong. Her breathing was uneven but his was barely heard. His breath brushed against her face and she closed her eyes tightly.

"Who. Are. You?" His words were enunciated with pressure. She felt his hands on her fingers. She bit her lip to cover the sound of pain when he pulled one of her fingers. "I'll break your fingers," he threatened.

"Pl-please don't!" she cried, caving in. "Let me go and I'll tell you everything!"

"I don't trust you. Tell me now!" He pulled another finger and she cried out in pain. When he was going to pull another finger, the door opened. Light flooded the room. Her eyes shifted to the door to see Aster's shocked face. She turned to see her assailant's masked face.