Chapter Text
Leaving your family for school is always a challenge. You find yourself far away from everything—friends, familiar routines. Even if you brought your belongings, you’ve lost all your sense of grounding, and that makes you anxious.
You’ve had a complicated history with relationships and traumas that left you hesitant to trust others. Trusting the world, in general, feels like a stretch. Anxiety is a constant companion—solitude and depression even more so. And while you try to keep it all together, sometimes you relapse. You smoke like a chimney and have a few drinks to calm down. But when the pain gets too much, the blade becomes your only escape.
Being alone and having control over your life, while knowing deep down that control doesn’t really exist in this screwed-up society, only amplifies your anger—toward yourself and the world.
Your shitty life feels like a Netflix series. Your old friends always ask which “episode” they missed when they weren’t around. It gets exhausting. So, when you moved for your final degree, you hoped for a fresh start. New city, new people, no one knows you—perfect for a reset.
Of course, life in this new place will probably smack you in the face again. You’re not naive.
The first instance hits right at the start. You like going out, having a drink with friends, but from day one, everyone already had their cliques, and you quickly felt like the odd one out. That’s how you ended up stuck with another loner, Eva. At first glance, she seemed like the popular girl type, but when she saw you sitting alone, she started keeping you company.
Even so, her behavior raised red flags for you. Trusting people doesn’t come easy when your guard is always up. But you couldn’t shut everyone out completely. So, you accepted her offer of companionship, mentally preparing yourself for potential betrayal—snide remarks behind your back or worse. People are assholes.
And her face screamed fake. There was a certain air about her that radiated dishonesty, an unspoken insincerity.
Still, it was a start. So, when she suggested meeting up at a bar, you agreed. Maybe it’d be an opportunity to meet new people. One thing was certain, though: you weren’t planning to share anything personal with her. Doubts about her intentions kept your defenses firmly in place.
You got ready anyway. Even if it turned out to be a solo night, you wanted to look good. A simple, stylish outfit: your favorite black backless top to show off your tattoos, high-waisted fitted pants, and tall boots. A leather jacket, your keys, phone, wallet, and you were set. You added a choker necklace you liked and some light makeup to highlight your eyes.
The mood was a mix of excitement at the chance to go out and a nagging unease about what might happen. Something about Eva didn’t sit right with you, and you had a gut feeling she was up to something.
On your way to the bar, you got the unsettling sensation of being watched. It had only been two months since you’d moved here, but ever since meeting Eva, you’d started noticing eyes on you, like you were being monitored.
When you arrived, Eva messaged that she’d be late but confirmed you were at the right place.
With a sigh, you entered the dimly lit bar. It had a cozy vibe, with plush red booths and soft lighting. You found a spot, ordered a Sex on the Beach, and resigned yourself to waiting. Honestly, you’d half-expected her not to show.
An hour passed. The bar got busier, and you stayed off to the side, scrolling on your phone to drown out the buzz of the crowd, which annoyed you. Still no sign of Eva. No surprise there.
Then, a drunk guy stumbled up to your table.
“Hey, miss, you here alone?”
“And?”
“Lemme keep you company, gorgeous.”
You clenched your teeth, already annoyed. Drunken pickup lines were the last thing you wanted to deal with.
“No.”
“Oh, come on, we’ll have some fun, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart. Go away.”
The idiot didn’t take the hint and stepped closer. Your hand tightened around your glass as you prepared to leave. Then, the unexpected happened.
“She said no, asshole.”
You froze mid-motion. A kinda muscular man had grabbed the drunk’s arm, stopping him from getting any closer. The drunk opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the bouncers swooped in and hauled him away.
You blinked, taking in the broad-shouldered figure of your rescuer. He wore a fitted black shirt that highlighted his toned frame, and his jet-black hair was styled in a sharp undercut. Definitely your type. You found yourself absently chewing on your straw.
“Apologies that you had to put up with that jerk.”
His deep voice snapped you out of your daze. You looked up, locking eyes with his piercing gray-blue gaze against his ebony skin. A stunning man.
“It’s not your fault, but thank you for stepping in,” you said with a small smile.
His eyes flicked to the empty seat across from you.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
You sighed.
“I thought so… A friend was supposed to introduce me to her group, but I guess she bailed.”
He studied you for a moment before offering to keep you company, and surprisingly, you accepted.
“You don’t have better things to do than hang out with a stranger?” you asked with a laugh, the alcohol loosening you up by your second drink.
He sipped his whiskey elegantly, holding his glass in a peculiar but refined way.
“Not really. Besides, meeting new people is enjoyable.”
“Can’t argue with that,” you said with a chuckle.
The conversation flowed easily, punctuated by comfortable silences. You felt a spark of curiosity about this stranger.
“Levi,” he said, breaking the quiet.
“Y/N,” you replied, surprised but smiling. “Nice to meet you.”
His eyes lingered on the cigarette you pulled from your bag. You sensed his disapproval but didn’t care much.
“I’m stepping out for a smoke. Be right back.”
“I’ll join you,” he said unexpectedly.
You blinked in surprise but didn’t protest.
Once outside, the cold hits you, and you shiver a little, but it’s fine. You struggle to light your cigarette until Levi ends up lighting it for you.
“Thanks.”
He says nothing.
“Why did you follow me? You don’t seem like a smoker.”
He leans against the wall, sipping his drink.
“I’ve smoked before… but mostly, I didn’t want to leave you alone and drunk in front of a bar.”
How considerate of him.
“Thank you.”
He looks at you, then gestures as if to say you don’t need to thank him.
Eventually, the two of you spend the entire evening outside, ordering a few more drinks. Your conversations are simple, though they get a bit bolder with the alcohol. You don’t talk about your traumas or your life… but, well, your sex life? You don’t mind talking about that. You’re not ashamed.
“So, you’re into BDSM?”
“Yeah… more of a… submissive, I guess? But it’s been ages since I found a partner, haha. And I’ve got my kinks, like everyone. What about you?”
Levi sips his whiskey without taking his eyes off you.
“Me too. But I lean more towards domination… and other things that are… too intense for most people.”
You pause for a moment, wondering exactly what he means, given the glimmer you saw in his eyes just now.
“To each their own kinks! As long as they give you what you need. I hope you find a partner who suits you.”
And you give him a genuine smile. You don’t think your relationship will go anywhere—you’re just two strangers at a bar keeping each other company.
“You too.”
Someone approaches him, a rather imposing blond man with blue eyes. Not your type at all. Levi sighs.
“I have to go. Here’s my number—text me when you get home safely.”
You take it, wondering if it’s an invitation to continue your conversation or just to make sure you’ll be okay getting home. You say goodbye, observing the people around him. Levi must be someone important to have so many people with him—and judging by the fancy cars you see. But you don’t dwell on it.
About ten minutes later, your phone vibrates. It’s a message from Eva: “We’re on our way!”
Four hours later, huh?
You finish your drink.
You decide to leave before Eva arrives. Someone who takes four hours to show up to a party she organized? Clearly hiding something.
You grab your stuff and start walking until a voice calls out to you.
“Y/N!”
Oh, great. She had to show up now.
Quickly, before she reaches you, you save Levi’s contact and send him a message so he’ll have your number.
When Eva catches up to you, you feel uneasy. She seems overly cheerful—too cheerful—and she’s especially eager to drag you back to the bar.
“Don’t leave just as we’re getting here! The night’s just starting!”
You sigh.
“I’ve been waiting for four hours, Eva. My night is already over. I’m heading home. Have fun.”
No response as you turn away, but you don’t care. Until someone yanks you backward.
Instinctively, you elbow your attacker, who turns out to be Eva.
“What’s your problem?”
Eva stares at you, her mask of hypocrisy shattered.
“I should’ve known you’d try to screw things up. Good thing I took precautions.”
You don’t understand what she means.
“What? What the hell is this? What are you talking about? Go get drunk with the others and leave me alone! It’s obvious you hang around me just to mess with me or mock me, so just back off.”
As you start to walk away, a man’s hand grabs you this time.
“Oh no, I don’t think so. You’re not going anywhere, bitch.”
“I’ll go wherever I want, asshole. Let go of me.”
She’s exhausting. You were right—she had something shady planned.
This is starting to take a turn you really don’t like.
“I wanted us to be friends so we could drug you easily, but since you’re such a stubborn bitch, we’ll have to use the hard way.”
“Drug me? WTF is wrong with you?”
Eva gives you a demented smile.
“I can’t wait to see how much we can sell you for. A slut like you will make us rich.”
A cold sweat runs down your back, and you slap her so hard she hits the ground. Sell you? She’s a recruiter for human trafficking? What kind of nightmare have you stumbled into? What a shitty day! You knew this city sucked, but human trafficking? And you’re a target… damn it. Can life ever stop screwing you over? Is it too much to ask to just be left in peace?
Several people move in to grab you. You know you won’t be able to escape, so you quickly type a message to Levi:
“Fake friend, trap, human trafficking, SOS”
You hit send, call him, set the phone to silent, and hide it in your bra.
A second later, hands grab you and hold you still while Eva sticks a syringe into you. You don’t resist; there’s no point. You almost hope she overdosed the tranquilizer, so you won’t wake up. Death seems better than whatever she has planned for you.
You feel your body go numb and your eyelids grow heavy. You hope Levi hears what’s happening if he picked up the call. You barely know him, but he’s your only chance now. Maybe you’re giving him too much credit, but you’re desperate.
“Let’s load her up. Same place as usual. We’ve got a big payday coming.”
Just before you pass out, you spit in Eva’s face.
“Screw you, bitch.”
Eva slaps you hard, grinning even wider.
“Oh yeah? I think it’s you who’s about to get screwed in every way imaginable. I bet people will pay millions to use you however they want. I wish I could be there to see it! A bitch worth her weight in gold, haha.”
She leans in to whisper in your ear.
“Hope you enjoyed your last night and fresh breath of air, bitch, because now you’re nothing but a dog. A dog who’s going to make me filthy rich.”
Her laughter is the last thing you hear before you pass out as they lock you, bound, in a trunk.