After Hell rounds up the Dark Night crew, they all mount their bikes or climb into their vehicles. Hell gives me a kiss on the head, before seating me in the back of a blacked-out truck. With only the driver for company, I watch through the tinted windows as we speed toward the location where Kyro will be. I fiddle with my hands in my lap, nerves, anticipation, and a strange excitement all bubble within me.
The truck rumbles along a dark, empty road and I peer through the windows, catching glimpses of Hell on his bike behind us, flanked by other Dark Night members. Facing forward, I notice the headlights of other cars, and a sense of unease settles in my gut. Suddenly, the crack of gunshots shatters through the night. I whip my head around to see more cars closing in from behind; clearly not from Oddity.
“Fuck, has he been tipped off?” I mutter, my heart racing.
Everything happens so fast and the car I am in slows down as Kyro's men attempt to block the path ahead. Soul and Wrath speed past us, heading straight for the blockade. My driver, drenched in sweat and wide-eyed, suddenly presses the accelerator to the floor. A gunshot rings out, exploding the back window. I scream, ducking as glass rains down around me. The driver panics, keeping his foot on the gas, swerving wildly around the cars in front.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I yell.
He ignores me, his focus solely on the road ahead. We speed past the roadblock, and I turn my head swiftly to see Hell tryingto gain on us, but he is still too far behind. The truck’s tires screech, and I hold on for dear life.
“Slow the fuck down!” I demand.
Every jolt and swerve sends my heart pounding against my ribs. I catch a glimpse of Hell in the side mirror, but my relief is short-lived as a car I don’t recognize matches his speed beside him, its windows rolling down. Hell unleashes a round of bullets, his aim steady until one strikes his shoulder and his bike swerves violently.
“NO!” I scream, panic clawing at my throat.
The enemy car tries to knock Hell off his bike and as soon as Hell slows down slightly, they seize the opportunity, speeding ahead and heading straight for my truck. My eyes widen as they close the distance until they hit the rear. The impact is brutal, sending our truck into a dizzying whirl until we flip over and over again, my screams drowned out with the sounds of shattering glass and screeching metal. The world spins in a chaotic blur when I hit my head on something hard, drifting in and out of consciousness.
Before I can gather my senses, rough hands drag me from the wreckage and my body aches all over as I’m lifted and thrown over a shoulder. Realizing it’s not Hell carrying me, I start to fight back, thrashing and kicking.
“Let me go, motherfucker!”
I lift my head and through a haze, I hear the roar of The Hollow’s bikes growing louder, the sound slicing through the madness.
“Hell!” I scream as I’m tossed into the back of another car, my body hitting the seat hard.
The car door slams shut, and I scramble to the window, pressing my face against the glass, trying to tug the handlefrantically, but it’s locked. The enemy car lurches forward, speeding away from the wreckage and my heart races as I pound on the window.
The driver glances back at me with a sneer, and I feel a surge of fury. I start looking around frantically until an idea enters my mind, an idea that might get me killed, but an idea, nonetheless. I unbuckle the belt on my jeans, ripping it from the loops, and without hesitation, I wrap it around the guy's throat before pulling down, attempting to strangle the life out of him. I use all my body weight to pull as hard as I can, feeling the car swerve violently. He reaches back, grabbing and ripping out chunks of my hair in a desperate attempt to stop me, but I don't relent, focusing all my strength on the belt.
When his movements slow down, his grip weakening, the car speeds up uncontrollably, until suddenly, there's another massive crash, and I smash into the back of his seat, my entire body crunching from the force. I groan, letting go of the belt, my eyes closing as I struggle to catch my breath.
The sharp smell of gasoline fills the air, and I feel an intense heat from a nearby fire. Panic surges through me, but before I can react, the window beside me shatters. I flinch, covering my face as shards of glass cover me. Strong arms reach inside, grabbing hold of me and pulling me out of the window. I stand on wobbly legs, an arm wrapped around the bottom of my back, until Hell grabs my face, his eyes intense and filled with concern. “Dolly?”
When I hear his voice, my eyes open, and I see his face, although in double form. I take a moment to gather my focus, blinking rapidly until my vision clears and when I am ready, I give a small nod, pressing my brow against his strong chest.
He strokes the back of my hair. “You good to get on my bike with me? I know where he is.”
I nod a few times before he walks me to his bike and lifts me onto the back. As we ride, I take the opportunity to snuggle into his back, letting the steady rumble of the engine help me regain my bearings. Soon enough, my vision straightens out and we’re entering a woodland area, Soul, and Wrath on their bikes behind us.
I hear commotion up ahead and peek over Hell's shoulder to see the Dark Night crew attacking a moving car with all kinds of weapons as they surround it. Hell picks up speed, his rage spilling out of him. As soon as he is close enough, he whips out his knife, lifting it and swings his arm, the blade embedding into the car's back wheel.
The car swerves out of control on the muddy ground and we all slow down, watching as it slams into a tree with a huge crash. Hell doesn't waste a second, and we both dismount swiftly.
Dark Night members close in on the car, their weapons drawn, ready for whatever comes next. Hell grabs my hand as we move together towards the wreckage and when I can see movement inside the car, my pulse quickens.
Hell reaches the car first, yanking the door open. Inside, Kyro is bloodied and dazed, his driver slumped dead beside him. Kyro suddenly draws his gun, but Wrath is faster, shooting from behind us and taking Kyro’s fingers off. He lets out a loud roar of pain followed by a whimper, dropping the gun.
I watch with wide eyes as the crew drags him out of the car. Hell keeps a tight hold on my hand, leading me around to where Kyro has been dumped on the ground. As soon as he comes into view, Hell releases me and storms toward him, fury seeping from every pore. He mounts Kyro’s chest and unleashes blow after blow to his face, each punch more powerful than the last, letting all of his anger out. I watch, stiff and unmoving, as Kyro’s face is bloodied and caved in until he is unrecognizable.
When Hell is finished, he looks back at me, breathing heavily. He gestures for me to step forward and slowly, I move toward him, each step heavy. I slip my hand into his and stand over Kyro, whose eyes meet mine with a hollow, yet almost desperate gaze.
“I always told you; you’d get what you deserve, Kyro,” I say emotionlessly.
Before he can even attempt to respond, Hell shoves his thumbs into Kyro’s eyes. I tense as he pushes inward, Kyro's shriek filling the forest around us.
“That’s the last time you ever look at her, you cunt.” Hell grits out.
