Hanging on for dear life...

"Aiden I'm sorry but I need you!" Aiden had just returned to his house and stepped in the shower when his phone began ringing off the hook, the minute he saw Mia's name his body shuddered in worry.

"Hey, calm down what's wrong!" he yelled back equally panicked, Mia tried to choke down the sickness sticking to her throat.

"It's my mom, he's going after my mom. I don't know what to do, if I call my police, he'll hurt her for sure. It's my clinic Aiden, if he hurts any of my patients, I will lose everything!" This was a harsh truth, since this was a personal affair, she had not informed the director about Mia would become fully responsible for any harm or damage that ensued at the clinic. Aiden began dressing keeping the phone to his ear, this was a bad situation and he never imagined Sam would go this far.

"Give him what he wants for now, I'll get together a few people. They're stealthy even if Lang Hai is involved, they won't be expecting them." Mia was walking down her apartment complex steps running for her car. It wasn't a bad idea but if he was found out Aiden would be under investigation which could destroy his business.

"That's not necessary, I'm going alone. If I lure him out of the clinic, I'll need you on standby to phone the police. You have to keep hidden, phone anonymously." Aiden paused, what was she getting at?

"Eh? What are you talking about?" Mia put the keys into her car and revved up the engine preparing for battle.

"You have a lot to lose, I won't let you waste it for me. I'm asking you to support me not save me." Aiden clicked his tongue in anger, she really was impossible.

"I can't bare it…If you lost something over me, I won't be able to take it so please keep yourself safe." Aiden felt a lump in his throat, he hadn't heard that soft voice in a long time it truly was nostalgic.

"I'm driving there now; I might be a while so please be ready when I come out." Aiden inhaled to warn her, but the long beeps broke his heart, it was a privilege she had asked for his support and he appreciated it. However, Mia in a room with Sam along with Yakuza really troubled him. Mia could handle herself, but they had already almost got her today, the big question was why were they so persistent? This was a lot of hassle for one girl, just how serious was Sam about claiming her. Aiden threw on his jacket and hopped into his car with fear and determination in his heart. It didn't matter who it was no one touched his Mia…

----------------------Hangzhou Psychiatric Clinic------------------

Mia precariously parked up scanning every corner, space and sky. There was a strong chance this was an ambush, but it was very quiet. Although, it was alarming to see the clinic lights on there was no-one else in sight. Mia didn't trust this situation one bit and felt inferior right now, her energy levels were dangerously low. Adrenaline is like a phone and hers was barely charged, if she did need to run, she would be lucky to get 20 feet never mind fighting off Yakuza members.

Keeping her word Mia didn't call the police or attract any unwanted attention. Fumbling for her keys she peaked through the door, there was no-one on reception, yet the door was still locked. How he had gotten inside was a mystery. Nigh time staff usually napped while all reside dents were sleeping; Mia didn't mind but, in this situation, she was cursing them under her breath as she made her way to her office.

Mia froze when she found an empty office with no sign of her staff, were they on rounds or had Sam payed them to leave. It was so confusing for her and she felt dazed walking down the white hallway towards her mothers' room. The faint orange glow from her lamp lingered outside the small window, the silence was haunting. Not a word, breathe or struggle. Right now, Mia was breaking feeling a harsh pain in her chest, she had a bad habit of expecting the worse. Hesitantly, she scanned the key card and entered her mother's room. It all happened in slow motion as the creaking door engraved itself in her brain.

Mia stood in the doorway staring at the blood scattering the floor, her whole world began to shift as her attention was directed to the corner. He was like a demon hiding in the shadows. The crimson paint washed the white room like art. However, there was no body to be seen.

"Happy you came to see me beautiful but sadly your too late. Our job is done." Mia stiffened up. Our? There was more than one! Impossible. Before she could react four hands creeped behind her and pinned her hands and legs to the ground. Their body weight was bone crushing, she could feel the vertebrae in her back begins to crack as they held her down to the ground will all their strength. Mia panted heavily; the wet cold substance stuck to her face like glue. Suddenly, she felt sick.

"Where is my mother you f*cking monster!" she said despairingly. Sam shuffled from the corner and slipped behind the door. Even when you know the horror that is oncoming, you're never prepared for how it feels. Mia watched in a daze as her mothers' bloody body was dragged from behind the door…

Aching was the best way to describe the feeling in Mia's chest at that moment. Agony, of knowing you are not good enough and you let that person down. Sickness so severe, her whole body oozed toxins as the face of her mother lay level with hers. In times of such struggle you fail to hear your own screams or acknowledge your own tears. It hurts…so much I can't breathe. I'm drowning in guilt but instead of a hand reaching to pull me up, there are a thousand trying to drag me down to the pits of hell. Maybe that's where I deserve to be.

This was supposed to be a final duel, where she would talk until, he released her mother and followed her outside where Aiden would end it all. This was the darkest twist Mia had never seen coming.

"W-Why! She did nothing wrong. H-How could you do that!" Mia was sobbing uncontrollably facing away from the blue face currently engraving itself into her soul. Sam tutted, Mia heard her mother body he dragged out of sight and bit her lip so hard it bled. The two men on top of her began chuckling at the squirming mess below them.

"I put her out of her misery, she was suffering right? I did you a favour Mia, now she won't have to be a burden anymore." Mia managed to tilt her head up so she could look him directly in the eyes.

"DON'T FUCK WITH ME I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Mia screamed until her voice went hoarse, but Sam just chuckled at her.

"Sweetheart calm down." Mia felt a wave of hope rush over her hearing the one voice she needed right now. Mia slowly turned her head begging she wasn't going insane. Jane was sitting up weakly smiling at her daughter, was she real?

"Relax, I wouldn't murder her. I'm not that much of an idiot Mia. What's the saying? Like mother like daughter?" Sam said sadistically, Mia was still staring in shock at her mother failing to hear Sam snap his fingers. Suddenly, the breath from her lungs was stolen away as feet began kicking her robs and stomach like pelted stones. She couldn't help but let out small shirks as the pain enveloped her, they weren't stopping either until she felt her consciousness start to fade. Gasping for breath and tasting the metallic taste of blood in the back of her throat Mia lay exhausted.

"Don't pass out on me yet beautiful, we're just getting started." Sam wandered over playfully sitting on Mia throbbing stomach. Mia coughed and groaned as he stroked her face.

"Leave my daughter alone Sam, haven't you done enough?" Jane gasped still too damaged to move; Mia felt a smile creep up on her hearing her mothers voice. It was like she was falling into a hole, going deeper and deeper as the light grew dimmer but then a voice of an angel called out and raised her from perdition.

"It still surprises me *cough* how pathetic you can be…tell me what's your end goal here. Hitting me won't make me fall for you idiot." She said tauntingly. Sam snickered like a brat pinning her arms above her head.

"I think your not grasping what position your in. I can do whatever I want to you and no-one is going to save you. Hold her legs down." The two strangers obediently followed his orders, Mia still had some fight in her and managed to kick one in the face. Sam raised his fist high before contacting her face, numerous times he brutally punched her until her eyes steamed from the pressure in her head. Mia glanced over wearily at her mother who was now unconscious, she needed to get to a hospital. Sam reached over and grabbed her face holding her grazed chin tightly.

"Now then, lets play." Reaching in his pant pocket he pulled out a swiss army knife, Mia knew how sharp those were and felt the fear engulf her body. One by one Sam cut the buttons from her shirt, Mia knew what he was doing. Three strong men versus a young small woman, the odds weren't in her favour. Mia needed to fight, as the last button cut loose Mia reared her head up making contact with his nose. Sam stumbled back knocking into the two men, so Mia dragged her feet up wards and kicked them aside. This was futile she thought to herself, there was no way she would leave her mother there.

"You f*cking b*tch!" Sam lunged forward and stood ahead of her. His two posy members faces suddenly dropped; Mia could tell by their body language that something in their plan had been disrupted. Little did she know that disruption was Sam. Mia couldn't grasp her bearings for some reason, so she began searching as to why her head was so light, was it because if the blows?

"Sh*t…" Sam said under his breath just say managing to reach Mia's ears. It wasn't until Sam backed away that Mia felt her stomach twitch. Looking down she was met with a black handle and missing blade sticking directly out of her abdomen.

"Are you trying to kill her idiot!" one of the strangers spoke up clearly afraid, this wasn't supposed to go this far. Mia knew first aid and pressed the area around the blade tightly to stop the blood flow. Sam had gone to far and even he looked surprised. Mia didn't feel any pain at all, her pores were seething adrenaline.

"You've done it now." She said hatefully; however, she wasn't very phased. At this time Mia and her mother were drenched in blood, it was hard to distinguish them. Sam began pacing gripping his hair in distress before stopping dead with cold eyes.

"Hold her down." Mia eyes widened; he was still going to continue. Was he insane? Hesitantly, both strangers looked at him fearfully, this was getting worse by the minute. Sam had only payed them to rough both women up.

"This is far enough, look at her. Do you want to be jailed for murder because we sure as hell don't!" Sam gritted his teeth. Mia ignored them and began shuffling towards her unconscious mother, she wanted to check her pulse. One scare was enough for her, Mia needed to know she was still alive. As she reached out her hand to touch her mothers neck a strong hand gripped her wrist until she bent over in pain, her bones crackled beneath his weight.

"Let go *cough* of me asshole!" she pushed his shoulders, but he was like a boulder, Sam kicked her feet from under her. Mia crashed to the ground unable to catch her breath. Sam clicked his fingers pointing the knife at his subordinates. Reluctantly, the both pinned Mia's legs down until she had no energy left to fight.

"Go ahead and add rape to the charge, I hope your happy with yourself Sam. You've won." Sam smiled victoriously while stroking he blade against his cheek, Mia looked away as she heard his belt buckle tingle. This was it she thought to herself, this was her last bout. Mia looked up at her mother, she could barely see as her eyes swelled up. Silently, she was calling out to her to stay asleep so she wouldn't have to witness her daughter being violated. As she was about to look away, she witnessed her mothers' eyelashes flutter, Mia felt sick she wanted to spare her mother this pain.

"Sweetheart, It's okay I'm here." She said softly trying to comfort her daughter pinned down by three men. Tears trickled down Mia's cheek to the stone floor beneath. Mia felt Sam's hand touch her chest and begin moving its way down. Suddenly, seeing her mothers smile her fight returned and Sam had the weakest point revealed.

"I'm not done yet." She said through gripped teeth, Mia used the palm of her hand to hit Sam's face as hard as she could, like de ja vu he stumbled back to the other men. Mia reared her legs up kicking him in the groin. This time Jane was awake, so Mia had an advantage. The men were dazed and hurling in pain.

"Mom, hold on to me." Mia gripped Jane's arm and dragged her up supporting basically her whole-body weight. Jane groaned in agony as she stood up, Mia managed to jump over the men pushing her other through first so even if she was captured again. Jane could get help. Surprisingly, they couldn't grab her in time. Mia limped holding up her mother until she reached the clinic doors. It was the longest walk Mia had ever experienced.

"Mom, you need to go to my car and lock yourself inside." Mia handed Jane her keys wit shaking hands. Jane was so dazed she took them in confusion and began walking weakly to Mia's car. Mia leaned her body against the clinic wall searching for Aiden. In her mind she was begging him to find her, she needed help and she needed it now.

"A-- *cough*" Mia couldn't get her words out, it killed her to even breath never mind speak. Every breathe was like being impaled over and over. Mia's vision began to go blurry; this was bad she was losing consciousness.

"Mia, I've called them they'll be h---" Aiden ran around the corner but stopped dead seeing her condition, his face drained of color and his mind short circuited. Mia weakly stumbled towards him, but her legs collapsed beneath her.

"M-Mia! Hey, keep looking at me! Jesus Christ what has he done to you!" he said shaking her body to keep her awake. Mia couldn't move and with blood shot eyes stared at the panicked expression on his face. Aiden pulled his cell phone from his pocket like lightning and called for a ambulance.

"Yes, I need an ambulance at Hangzhou Psychiatric clinic there's been an attack." Mia could see him trying to stay composed but a splash on her cheek woke her up slightly, Aiden's eyes were steaming as he lay her head on his knees.

"Sh*t!" Mia felt him place a hand on her stomach to stop the bleeding, but the sharp pain made her squirm in agony, that numbness was wearing off and the pain was unimaginable.

"Perpetrator is Sam James; the victim has been stabbed and beaten." His voice was shaking from the rush. Mia slowly began to relax feeling safe in his arms, but a noise grated on her ears…it was the sound of the clinic entrance doors swinging open. Mia grabbed Aiden trying to pull herself up, Aiden looked up in panic to see Sam and two men rushing from the clinic. Sam took a double take, Mia was horrified, she couldn't let Aiden get hurt because of her. One person was enough.

"D-Don't hurt him Sam, it's me you want leave him alone." Aiden helped her up, she could barely stand but she was tired of being weak.

"I'm going to kill you, you f*cking asshole!" Mia held Aiden's arm and stood in-front of him. Aiden was dumbfounded even in her condition she was still trying to protect him…

"The police are on their way; you have a head start now go." Mia said weakly, Sam looked her up and down and gave her the most confusing look she'd ever seen. Sam looked sympathetic towards her; she had no idea he was even capable of such an emotion.

"I'll get you one day Mia whether that when you have a family, house, kids. You will never get away from me." Mia rolled her eyes hearing the police sirens in the distance.

"No Sam…I already got away the minute I rejected your marriage proposal. I will never love you nor be owned by you so it's time to give up. You're done." Sam caught sight of the police car and gave Mia one last glare before running off through the parking lot. Mia waited until he was a considerable distance and collapsed, Aiden just managed to grab her head before it hit the concrete, but she was like a doll unable to move a single muscle.

"Who knew it would end up like this huh?" she chuckled watching his big green eyes study her condition until they streamed, Aiden had seen her hurt a thousand times but never like this. It was the first time he had been scared of losing her for good.

"Shh don't talk you have to save your energy Mia. I'm so sorry…I wasn't there, I should have gone in with you. Your so damn stubborn its pisses me off!" Mia smirked and stroked his face, his black hair was wet from the rain and curling into ringlets, he was actually really pretty in the streetlights she thought.

"I know I'm a nuisance. My mom is in my car safe, could you ask the ambulance to see to her she's pretty messed up." Aiden nodded and kissed her hand holding it so tightly the circulation was cut off. Mia had never seen him so afraid; his face was so pitiful she began to cry.

"You're an idiot for falling in love with me, I tell you every time…" Aiden frowned at her wiping the tears falling from her bloodshot blue eyes.

"You can't leave me Mia. You just can't…please…"