Forced by fate – Destined to be his Wife

“I told you to not make me hurt you, didn’t I? Now I’m fucking mad that you made me do that.” Rong bent over grabbing TangShi by her upper arm with a biting grip and dragged her back to her feet, hauling her with him, but she managed to catch hold of Linlin’s arm and clung on. Desperately holding onto her as he tried to stretch her away from the other girl. Linlin started wriggling weakly, convulsing, a choking noise coming from her throat and her body jerking as though gagging but the tape made it impossible.

“Stop it, let me see her. Let me take her tape off at least so she doesn’t choke. She looks like she might be sick. Please if you let me help her I’ll come willingly.” TangShi cried in desperation and Rong Cai stilled for a moment.

“If I let you take the tape off her mouth you can say your goodbyes. We have another car out there and we’re leaving. Don’t test me, I’m not in the mood.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Okay…I just want to make sure she’s okay. I’ll do as I’m told if you let me go and let me see to her.” TangShi knew the only way to be able to do anything was to play along and as her mind calmed down as she recovered the shock of her situation she started to think rationally about this. Arguing with him and fighting wouldn’t help. Linlin could choke on her own vomit and die if she didn’t convince him.

“Only her mouth, nothing else. I’m watching.” Rong snarled, letting her go so she collapsed back onto her knees and stayed close, intimidating her.

TangShi nodded, her hands shaking violently as she lifted Linlin’s face by the chin and carefully peeled off the tape as fast as she could without hurting her too much. Scanning her white face and closed eyes and feeling her skin for temperature. Linlin was feverish hot, and clammy, and her head rolled as her mouth was uncovered, letting out a slight mumble. Her eyes flickered for a second, an obvious swallow and then she jerked awake. Her eyes wide in horror, she gasped, stared at TangShi and then wretched as she began to throw up. Her body slumping forward despite the restraints and vomited at the side of her own legs. The entire contents of her stomach came up, their breakfast and drinks, and TangShi gagged too and turned her face away as she held her friend steady. Turning her own delicate stomach and making TangShi gag in reaction.

TangShi cradled her head and angled her, helped her until she was done and cuddled her in the best she could. Brushing back the fresh tears rolling down Linlin’s cheeks and held her close, mothering her while torn up in agony and scared at the state of her.

“What have you done to her? Why is she being sick? Have you poisoned her?” TangShi’s garbled words came out in a hysterical mess. Throwing a pointed glare at Rong.

“Chloroform is a poison, yes, but I didn’t use a lot. I don’t think. She might be sick for a bit, she might get worse, who knows. I heard you can die from liver failure and all sorts so I’m glad I didn’t have to use it on you.” Rong laughed, amused by the shocked expression on her face. Uncaring about Linlin’s predicament and not lying about the danger of the chemical. It was nasty and he had doused a rag so thoroughly that there was a chance Linlin may have ingested some..

“You…. You …… you’re sick. How could you do this to her. She’s done nothing wrong! How could you?” TangShi turned back to Linlin and stroked her face, tears rolling freely down her cheeks and her heart aching for her friend. Inwardly crumbling once more with the very real possibility that Linlin wasn’t going to be okay. “I need to take her to a hospital. I won’t go with you unless we save her. If you love me, and want me to come, then do as I say.” TangShi hoped that in his madness he would believe her words, bend a little to her will if she acted like she wanted him, but he shook his head.

“Love makes you blind, not stupid.” He smirked at her and kicked Linlin’s foot harshly, sending her leg scraping across the ground by a few inches and gaining a hateful glare from TangShi.

“Wake up. Shake it off. The sooner you get your shit together, the sooner I can leave.” Rong turned and walked off towards the vehicle they came here in to get water, knowing TangShi would be more manageable if they left her friend awake and seemingly alive. He cursed her out and wished she had been alone today, but this was what it was and he had to make do. He had followed her for days and had acted at the first opening he got, always having other men around her or YuZhi Leng meant Linlin was an easier thing to deal with.

TangShi saw the opportunity and quickly went for Linlin’s rope that was holding her to the pillar, trying hard to untie it and cursing under her breath when she saw the cable ties on her wrists behind her. Her legs were bound too in the same manner. He had made it near impossible to free her without time and something sharp.

“Linny, please, wake up properly. Try for me. We have to get out of here. I need you to help me. I need you to be okay.” TangShi whispered at her, fumbling over the knot he had made in the rope and glancing back over her shoulder to check if he was coming. He had his face inside the passenger side of the car and his back to them and seemed to be looking in a hold all on the seat.

“My cell….. I think….. “Linlin could barely talk, her throat burning and painful and her speech slurred but TangShi clicked right away and began searching her clothes for her phone, looking for it and finding nothing. Normally Linlin kept it on her person in a pocket but they were all empty.

“It’s not here.” TangShi whispered back. Deflated and desperate and racking her brains for where it might be. If he took it when he first put her in the car then it might be over there with him. He might have thrown it aside back at the alleyway, or he might have it still. Or maybe it fell like TangShi’s did in the struggle with Rong at the car.

“Tang, you have to run while he’s distracted. Just go…. Leave me here. I’ll be okay if you get away.” Linlin lifted her head weakly, trying to act strong for her, and stared TangShi in the eye, willing her to listen. TangShi began to cry in broken sobs knowing what she was doing.

“I can’t. He’ll catch me. I’m not a good runner. I can’t leave you. What if he takes his anger out on you if I do get out? What if you’re really sick and I leave and …..” TangShi clung to her and tried to hug her but Linlin pushed her away with her head.

“Run….. if only to attract someone’s attention out there. It looks like a warehouse, there has to be others around us. I can hear noise in the distance. You just need one person to see you, help you. I’m fucked up and can’t move. I feel like he’s done something to me so you staying won’t make me better.” Linlin’s stomach was like a washing machine. Her insides threatening to empty out again and she was dizzy and disorientated and burning up. Her lungs struggling to keep a good airflow and her body was numb and detached like it didn’t have any ability. She was messed up and barely awake and she knew she would hinder TangShi getting free.

“I …….”

“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.

“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.

TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.

“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after her, catching sight of her unexpected escape and sprinted after her. His direction was a straight line so he bypassed Linlin close in his pursuit. Linlin saw it coming and kicked out her bound legs in his path as he neared, so she tripped him and sent him crashing down and sliding across the dirty concrete floor. Rong colliding with some discarded debris which scratched up his face and head, drawing blood. Rong hollered out loud in agony and anger as he rolled on his back and regained his senses.