Chapter 3 Will You Marry Me

AURORA'S POINT OF VIEW

"No!" I said weakly, my voice barely audible but with determination as my eyes shut open. I stared up at him, my voice gaining strength as I spoke. "I won't let you do this!"

My father, who had been leaning over me, moved back in surprise and fear. His face filled with rage as he raised the weapon above his head, preparing to strike. "You fucking piece of shit!" he snarled, his voice trembling with fury. "You scared the hell out of me!"

I laid flat on the floor, my eyes following the weapon as it went through the air towards me. With the last strength in me, I rolled over, avoiding the hit , feeling the air rush past me as the weapon whistled through the air.

I sat up against the wall, my breathing ragged and my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I knew I had to do something, but what? I didn't have a weapon, and I was weak. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way to escape.

I looked up to see my father standing over me, his face twisted with rage. He let out scoffed in disbelief. He had thought that I was without any strength left.

"Get back here, you bitch!" he snarled, his hand outstretched towards me. I slowly stood up, keeping my eyes on my goal.

"You actually dodged my attack?" he asked. I could hear the anger in his voice as he started coming towards me. But I fled to the other side of the room.

I was already moving towards the door, my hand reaching for the doorknob. My fingers curled around it, twisting it with all my strength. The door creaked open, and I could feel the fresh air on my face. Freedom was just a few steps away.

I stepped forward, heart pounding, but something caught my eye. Before I could react, pain exploded in my leg. I felt a sharp pain as warm liquid began to seep through my night wear. I looked down, and my blood ran cold. It was a knife!

How did my father get a knife?!

"Aah!" I groaned in pain, clutching my leg as I ran out of the door, heading for nowhere in particular.

I just needed to get away from here!

"Come back here, Aurora!" I heard my father's voice behind me, and I could hear the rage in his voice.

I ran faster, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I could hear him getting closer, his footsteps pounding on the pavement. He was catching up to me.

"I'm so sorry, Mom," I whispered, my heart aching with guilt. "I'll come back for you, I promise." I took a deep breath and began to run harder.

I pushed myself harder, my injured leg screaming with each step. My breath came in ragged bursts, but I couldn't stop. My father's footsteps echoed behind me, growing louder. Panic clawed at my chest.

The moonlight gave me just enough light to keep running, but there was nothing around-no house, no help, just trees that seemed to stretch endlessly.

My father had the perfect opportunity to catch up to me, kill me and get rid of my body, but if I could just reach the police station up ahead, I might survive. My heart hammered in my chest as I pushed myself to go faster.

My father's voice came from behind, full of rage. "I'm going to kill you, Aurora!"

Oh, no! He's getting close!

I turned to look at his figure holding the weapon tightly as he ran faster heading for me. I knew I had to get to the police station as quickly as possible.

My father's words gave me a burst of energy, and I willed my legs to move faster.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Help! Somebody, please help me!" but my voice was lost in the night.

Blood soaked my clothes, pain shot through me, but I pushed on.

Suddenly, I saw a light approaching.

I thought I was mistaken or hallucinating but no, it was certainly the headlights of a car! I heard a car engine in the distance.

My heart leapt with hope. If I could just flag it down, I might be able to get help.

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Lord!" I muttered to myself in sheer happiness.

I stuck out my arm and waved frantically, hoping that this savior of mine would notice and stop the car.

My father was out of sight, but I knew he was still after me.

"Help! Please, help me! He's trying to kill me!" I screamed, pointing at my father as a car sped toward me.

I waved my arms, glancing over my shoulder. The car didn't slow down. Then, tires screeched, and I was thrown into the air, crashing to the ground with a sharp thud. Pain exploded through my body, my head pounding from hitting a rock.

The car stopped, headlights blinding me. A man stepped out, frozen in place. My vision blurred, but I could tell he was in a suit, polished shoes gleaming.

With the last of my strength, I crawled to my knees, pleading.

"Help! Please, help me!" I cried, grabbing the stranger's leg. "He's trying to kill me!"

The man's eyes widened, and he took a step back, his expression was unreadable but I could tell that he was feeling pensive under his cold gaze.

I clung to his pants, desperate. "Please, you don't understand, there's no time to waste! He's right behind me! He's going to kill me!"

"Who?" The stranger asked, pulling away his pants from my grip.

"My father! He hit my mother- she's barely breathing! Please, you have to help us! He will be here soon." I pleaded desperately, hurriedly saying my words.

The stranger stared at me for a minute. It felt like eternity because I knew just how important that one minute was to me.

"I can't help you," he finally said, his voice as cold as his gaze. "I won't."

I let out a defeated sigh, a wave of despair washing over me.

"What?! You can't just leave me like this!" I yelled, frustration and pain twisting my face. "You hit me with your car! The least you can do is help! Think of me as your sister and please, help me."

"What if you and your father have cooked up this whole thing as a scam?" he said, suspicion clouding his eyes. "Maybe you're nothing more than robbers, trying to trick me out of my car and my money. Maybe this is your go-to routine for every driver you come across. How can I know you're being honest when I can't even tell if you're lying?"

"No! Please, you have to believe me!" I begged, my voice cracking. "I'm telling the truth. I'm in danger!"

"If it's money you need, then-" he began.

"I don't need your money!" I screamed, desperate. "Just help me! I'll do anything-be your maid, your slave-just take me to my mom. She needs a hospital, and I need your help. You can even drop us there if you like. I promise we'll never cross paths again!"

"You'll do anything if I help you?" the stranger asked, a sly smile on his lips.

"Anything! Just help me!" I pleaded, frantic.

"I'll help," he started off, calm and collected. "I'll get your mother the treatment she needs and I'll get you both to safety, far away from the hands of your father. I'll provide for the both of you and make sure that you never have to worry about your father finding you, only... if you agree to marry me."

My jaw dropped, my thoughts racing as I tried to make sense of what he had just said. "M-arry you?" I stammered, my voice quivering with shock.

"You can't?" he raised an eyebrow. "Then I can't help." he said as he turned to leave.

Suddenly, my father's voice cut through the air, playful but menacing. "Aurora, where are you?" His footsteps grew louder.

I turned to see him, weapon in hand, eyes locked on me. A cold chill ran down my spine. I felt the hair stand up in my body.

"Please! Help me!" I begged, clutching his pants. "He's here. Please!"

"Will you marry me?" he asked again.

I glanced at my father, then back at the stranger. His footsteps grew louder, and I realized I had to make a choice. Could I trust this stranger more than my own father?

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you! Just help me!" I screamed.

His eyes lit up. "Good. Get in the car."

"Help me. I can't move too well. I hurt my legs." I told him, and he offered to help, assisting me to get into the back seat of the car.

We got in and zoomed off, away from my father just in time, heading straight for my mother.

I looked back and saw the look of surprise on the face of my father. He got a hold of what was happening and began to run after us.

"Just wait a bit, mom. I finally found someone to help us." I said to myself, still unable to believe that I just agreed to marry a man I just met.