Blind Spot by Sakshi C (the reader ebook TXT) 📕

Despite having a family and a home, she had nowhere to go. Despite having millions in her account, she didn't dare to use it in fear of being tracked by him. The first two days she spent in a motel but had to move to the street eventually when she ran out of cash. She tried to look for a job but her disability disqualified her for most of them. So she started living her days on street. It was awful but better than living under chains. She had managed to eke out a bare existence on whatever she got by sketching for the passersby. She would sketch their pictures. A skill that Andrei had taught her. Once again, in a way, Andrei was helping her through this. Not a single night passed by when she didn't miss him and cried herself to sleep. She would have never had to face his monster of a brother if he was alive. She would have never had to be his victim. The fragmented memories of that night hogged her brain causing a chilly shudder to course down her spine. What was her fault? He took her innocence and behaved like a beast.    

There was no point reporting him. Entire France was under Levigne's thumb. Andy had pointed this out so many times in their casual conversations. 

She spent her night in an abandoned building where many homeless people like her spent their night. Someone also had donated her a worn-out trench coat that she used as a blanket in the night. 

This is what her life had become. 

A week had passed by like this. Fortunately, she didn't get caught, and unfortunately, she was still clueless about her future. Would she always be on the street like this? The thought terrified her. 

The night had fallen. She was starving as today she only had breakfast. Today she had collected enough money to buy herself a decent dinner. She had to learn to save them.   

She reached the shop from where she was buying her dinner for the last four days. She gestured for him to give her the usual. A burger and banana shake. It would keep her full till the morning. 

The man was packing her food when her gaze lifted and met the TV where the news was running. 

"Four days have passed but yet no extortion call has been made to the victim's family. It is said that the 14-year-old boy, Louis, disappeared without a trace four days ago when he was going to his school. No clue has been received till now. A body has been found this morning by the police and it..." 

Inessa's eyes turned round with shock when the victim's face flashed on the screen. It was Louis. Her brother. Why is his picture on the news?

Horror struck her in full force when she finally processed everything. Louis disappeared. He got kidnapped? A body? Anxiety gripped her and her eyes welled up as the worst possibilities started to plague her mind. What happened to him? She had to go back. She had to. Not bothering to take her dinner, she turned and headed towards the bus stop in urgent strides. 

The tears continued to wash down her eyes and her legs were trembling. Louis was the only person who loved her despite her shortcomings. He used to call her his saving grace as she always saved him from troubles. This time she couldn't. 

Inessa stopped a cab and gave him all the money she had. For now, her priority was to get back to her village.  

The whole journey she sobbed like a child. What the hell was happening? It was the lowest point of her life. First, her best friend died, then all the blame fell on her, Sylvia betrayed her, her innocence was taken away from someone who had once promised to protect her and now her brother was in trouble.

Hours went by and she finally entered her village when at daybreak. Inessa didn't have enough money to pay the driver but she couldn't care less at that moment. 

Inessa jolted forward when the driver abruptly stopped the car. She was about to question the driver when her gaze drew outside.

A car was parked in the middle of the road with its flashlights blinking.  

"These villagers have no sense," the driver cursed under his breath before opening the door and climbing out. 

"Hey, move the car," she watched the driver yell as he made his way towards the car. She couldn't help but feel something off. Her instincts were waving red flags.

One second the road was as silent as dead and the next moment, a loud scream ripped from the driver's throat when he got attacked by a bunch of goons. Fear paralyzed Inessa as she watched the men beating the driver. They came out of nowhere.

And then two of them started coming towards her car. Her eyes widened in pure horror. They resembled the grim reaper. Her heart started to palpitate and her body turned cold with terror. What they wanted from her? She had no money, nothing.  

She joined her hands and shook her head but they didn't stop. The door of the driver's seat was still open. She knew they would get her if she remained in the car. So she opened her door and started running in the opposite direction. It was still dark, they will lose sight of her if she managed to put good distance between them and hide somewhere.   

"You, stop," the men shouted as they chased her. Inessa looked over her shoulder only to sob harder. They were gaining on her. She cannot outrun them. They were agile unlike her. An acrid burning sensation spread across her insides, her heart was close to leaping out of her chest and she felt like vomiting, still, she continued running. 

She ran as fast as she could on the deserted road. Cold sweat soaked her dress and her legs started to hurt but she didn't stop. The chase went on for a few minutes until she collided with something and fell back on her butt. She squeezed her eyes and hissed in pain.

And then someone offered her a hand. Her shoulders tensed in response, for she had recognized the vintage-looking ring that was wrapped around one of his fingers. She slowly looked up and her face ashen with pure dread when her eyes met with those familiar pair of orbs. Those blue orbs. He was looking more intimidating from her position. His towering frame did not help her panic at all and nor did his expressionless face.