Chapter Two: Awakened

The last thing Aria remembered was darkness enveloping her senses like a thick fog. As consciousness slowly returned, she found herself disoriented, unsure of her surroundings. The faint echo of her own breath mingled with the muffled sounds of an unfamiliar place.

Her hands instinctively reached out, only to find them tightly bound with coarse rope, the fibers digging into her skin like tiny needles. A surge of panic washed over her as she struggled against the bindings, each movement sending a sharp pang of pain through her wrists.

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as if mocking her predicament. Aria strained her ears, listening intently. Footsteps. Approaching. Her heart raced as adrenaline surged through her veins.

Then, like a specter emerging from the darkness, Lucas appeared. His masked face concealed any emotion, but Aria's racing mind recognized him despite the disguise. Questions flooded her mind, but before she could voice them, she felt the ropes biting into her skin.

"The ropes are hurting me," she managed to utter, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and discomfort.

"Shut the hell up," Lucas's response was cold, devoid of empathy. His tone sent a chill down Aria's spine, but she couldn't stay silent.

"Who are you? Why am I here?" Her words stumbled out in a jumble of fear and confusion.

Lucas's eyes narrowed behind the mask, a silent warning in his gaze. "Keep your mouth shut. My boss is on his way, and he is not as lenient as I am."

With that ominous statement, Lucas turned and left the room, leaving Aria alone with her thoughts and a growing sense of dread. Tears welled up in her eyes as she sobbed quietly, the weight of her situation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She had never felt so vulnerable, so utterly afraid.

As Aria's tears flowed uncontrollably, a new presence filled the room, cutting through the silence like a thunderclap. Another man strode in, his anger obvious as he took in the sight of Aria's bound hands and the bruise on her skin from Lucas's rough handling.

"Who the hell did this?" His voice crackled with fury, a stark contrast to the coldness she had experienced earlier. Without waiting for an answer, he knelt beside her and swiftly cut off the ropes that bound her wrists, freeing her from their painful grip.

Aria's breath caught in her throat as she felt the sudden release, but she dared not look directly at this stranger. There was something different about him, something that stirred her senses despite the fear that still gripped her.

His scent wafted towards her, an intoxicating blend that momentarily distracted her from the chaos around her. Aria wanted to glance at him, to take in his features, but the weight of her fear kept her gaze lowered.

"Will you stop crying!" His roar shattered the fragile calm, and Aria whimpered in response, shrinking back instinctively.

Undeterred, the man closed the distance between them, his hand gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "Speak up when I am talking to you," he commanded, his tone firm but strangely reassuring.

Aria's voice quivered as she managed to ask, "Who are you?"

He studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers before releasing her chin and standing up, creating a safe distance between them. "That's not important right now," he replied cryptically, his expression unreadable.

Aria's confusion deepened, but before she could gather her thoughts, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone once more in the eerie silence of the room

*****

Cassian strode with purpose into the room filled with an array of deadly weapons, his gaze fixed on Lucas, who stood among the arsenal.

"What's happening with the girl?"Lucas asked.

"She's my bargaining tool," Cassian replied nonchalantly, his tone devoid of remorse. "My money is in that room. Silas has to pay."

"Oh, and Lucas," Cassian's voice was dangerously low, "when I said don't touch her, I fucking meant it."

The room crackled with tension as Cassian's words hung in the air. Lucas staggered back, slipping for a moment to reveal a flicker of fear in his expression .

With a swift motion, Cassian grabbed Lucas by the collar and punched him hard in the face.

****

Aria emerged from the room in fresh clothes, Cassian couldn't help but be struck by her beauty. He had encountered many women in his line of work, but there was something about her that felt different, a discovery amidst the chaos that surrounded them. However, he knew he was treading on dangerous ground. If he didn't wrap things up soon, he would find himself in serious trouble. Silas needed to pay up quickly.

Leading her to the bar where the rest of the group gathered, Cassian felt the collective curiosity as eyes turned towards Aria. "You need to eat," he stated firmly, trying to assert some semblance of control.

"I'm not hungry," Aria replied defiantly, her own anger simmering beneath the surface.

Cassian's patience wore thin. "From now on, you will eat when I ask you to and speak when I do too," he asserted, his tone brooking no argument.

Aria's anger flared, and without a second thought, she raised her hand and delivered a hard slap across Cassian's face. The room fell silent, gasps echoing in the tense atmosphere.

Cassian's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint surfacing as he contemplated his next move. No one had ever dared to raise a hand against him, the boss, before. Should he put a bullet in her head for such defiance?

Before he could act, Aria turned and fled, fear driving her towards the exit. Cassian caught up with her almost immediately in the hallway, his presence looming over her like a dark shadow.

Cornered and overwhelmed by her emotions, Aria broke down into deep, heavy sobs, sinking to the ground in despair.

Cassian watched her for a moment, his own emotions conflicted. "She needs to fear me, not like me," he muttered to himself, a mixture of frustration and guilt tugging at his conscience as he walked away, leaving Aria to her tears and the weight of their encounter.