Free Sample
Preview from chapter one
Stepping out of the car, Ben stretches his arms over his head, feeling the tension in his shoulders from a long week's work. He takes a deep breath of the cool evening air and looks around the quaint town square. The streetlights cast a warm glow on the cobblestone streets, and the sound of distant laughter echoes through the alleyways. His eyes scan the area, noticing the closed shops and the occasional cat darting from shadow to shadow. "It's times like these when I miss the buzz of the city," he murmurs to himself. "But the quiet has its charms."
The sound of a high-pitched scream pierces the serene silence. It's a sharp contrast to the tranquil night, causing every hair on the back of Ben's neck to stand on end. He quickly strides in the direction of the noise, his heart pounding in his chest.
As Ben sprints down the narrow street, the shadows dance around him, the light from the streetlamp above flickering in a rhythm that seems eerily in sync with his racing heart. His eyes lock onto the disturbing scene ahead: two burly figures have cornered a young girl, her terrified screams now reduced to sobs. They're dressed in dark, tattered clothes, and their menacing leers cut through the night like shards of ice.
The two burly men, reeking of cheap whiskey, have the girl pinned against the wall of an alley. She's a young brunette, probably around 19, with a look of absolute terror etched on her face. One of them has already torn her blouse open, leering at her exposed skin.
"Ain't you a pretty little thing," one of the men sneers, his teeth yellowed and his breath hot against her neck. The other laughs cruelly, reaching for her.
The one holding her against the wall, with a scar running down the side of his face, snatches a handful of her hair and yanks her head back, a malicious grin spreading across his features. "You're going to love this, sweetheart," he slurs, his voice a mix of drunken confidence and menace. His companion, with a nose that looks like it's been broken one too many times, chuckles darkly as he grabs at her waist, trying to pull her away from her precarious position against the cold, rough stones. Their stench is overwhelming, a foul mix of alcohol and sweat.
The man with the scar on his face, his grin now a leer, takes full advantage of the situation. He grabs one of the girl's breasts, squeezing it roughly and tweaking her nipple, causing her to wince and whimper in pain. The girl, now fully exposed, tries to cover herself with one hand while using the other to push against her attacker, her eyes wide with fear and desperation.