Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"You hear that, right?" Jerlina gritted her teeth at the officer trying to take her inside the interrogation room. "A baby is crying her throat out. Shouldn't you at least try and help her?"

"Look lady, we'll have to bring you to safety first. We have to be more rational than being emotional here," the officer said and his face was filled with worry and guilt.

Jerlina understood the cop's predicament.

Yes, it is heart-breaking to hear a baby screaming in pain. And no one with a heart can ignore it and walk away. But he has his priorities. If she gets hurt when she is in their custody, it will open up a lot of troubles for him along with his conscience.

But, how can the cops protect me? And it is Cia there screaming!

With the power out, there is no security anywhere and Jerlina didn't know what a piece of wood would do to protect against automatic weapons even if they lock her inside a room.

  "What are the cops in those fancy wear doing? Why are they even here? Can they show off only to the townsfolk with handguns and kneel for the thugs with automatic weapons who won't think twice before hurting babies? " Jerlina asked.

With no reply, she walked back and took a peek outside. The anti-riot cops were trying to push back the townsfolk, showing their back to Viper's gang. 

Jerlina's heart skipped a beat as she knew this shouldn't be happening.

Why does it look like the cops are helping Viper's gang and holding back the townsfolk?

Who is behind this?

Are they targetting me? Or they think they can get Joel through me?

Where is Joel? Is he safe?

Jerlina's throat went dry, but the baby's constant wail kept her from not drown in her thoughts. 

"Should I count to ten?" She heard the sneering voice of the guy she presumed to be Viper. "Or should I break this one's leg? I think it would be easy to snap a limb or two..."

Viper went on and Jerlina's skin crawled.

That's a baby. Who talks about hurting a baby like this?

What made her astonished was the attitude of the cops. They were still trying to "protect" her by bringing her inside.

"Heh! You expected this to happen, didn't you?" she screamed and tried to slip her hand out of the handcuffs. "Get this thing off me right now, f*cking sellouts! Don't have the blood of a baby on your hands."

"Lady, watch your tongue," Maybe he was pricked by his conscience, one cop tried to silence Jerlina. "We are trying to protect you."

"I don't f*cking need your protection, officer," Jerlina said with a sardonic laugh. "I can handle myself if you get this f*cking thing off me!"

As she was speaking, they heard the Viper's men banging on the hoods of their cars making loud noises and screaming and taunting the locals who were held back by the anti-riot officers.

"I am going out. Isn't that what you want to happen?" she smirked and the officers bowed their heads. "Listen to me carefully. The baby crying is Babyface Bobby's daughter who is TJ's godchild. And I am TJ's wife. If anyone of us is hurt... My husband won't let it pass..." She paused sensing one of the cops sneering.

Is Joel in danger too?

"That is, if he survives, right?" the cop smirked. Jerlina's heart clench in pain. She didn't want to talk to these guys anymore. It seemed like an elaborate plan made by someone powerful and she didn't think she can survive this.

Joel, please be safe for my sake...

"Shut up, Melrose," one of the cops let out a sigh and unlocked Jerlina's cuffs.

Not minding the cops, Jerlina walked towards the door. The noises of the banging and shouts got louder and her knees got weak.

She never was in such situations before. No one bothers to speak in a loud tone around her. And hearing all the commotion made her shake in fear.

Jerlina took in a deep breath. Her heart was pounding and she knew once she steps out of the door, she'd be torn to pieces by those automatic weapons. 

She saw the picture of the girl Scarlett mentioned-  the one who was misunderstood as her and got killed. It was terrifying. Scarlett wasn't kidding when she said that girl was torn to pieces.

That's going to be me once I step out, right? 

But if I step out, Cia probably won't get hurt anymore. 

She was not planning on trusting the words of the Viper, but it is the only chance she's got. Even among that great commotion, she still heard the baby's wail.

She wasn't brave and she wasn't emotional or feeling courageous at all. She was terrified. But she knew she should do this.

She turned to look at the cops looking at her; some with guilt and some with a sneer.

Sneering, are they?

  It was then she decided.

I will survive; somehow.

"Remember this," Her voice shook as she pointed at each of the cops. She saw her trembling hand and scoffed. But she continued still.

"The one who can touch my husband hasn't been born yet. And mark my words. I WILL SURVIVE! And I will remember the names and faces of each one of you. You all will face the fear I am feeling now a hundredfold," she turned and took a step and the automated door opened.

Slowly, she stepped out.

To her right, the townsfolk were getting pushed and controlled by the anti-riot cops. Jerlina saw the pain in their face as they shouted at her to get in.

Jerlina turned to her left and there he was... a man, no, someone who holds a baby by her ankles and shaking her, should not be called a man.

That beast. That savage showed his yellowed teeth and laughed as those around him pointed their weapons at Jerlina.

"Finally, we meet, bitch!"

-----

Gordon Faraday looked at Rose's phone vibrating for the third time in the past ten minutes. 

To be honest, he was surprised when his boss asked Lady Rose to be detained until all the details about Ms. Hopkins are gathered. 

When they received Lady Rose's request to meet the Grandsire, they guessed it should be regarding her courtship with Mikhail Volkonsky. But no, the Lady threw a curveball – one that hit the Grandsire's heart.

That woman... Could she really be..?

He was sending requests to his underlings to find out every detail about the woman in the photograph and also about Lady Rose's recent activities. The Grandsire doesn't like the Volkonsky lineage for some reason.

*Brrrr*

'Why is he sending this many messages for Lady Rose? It's not like we'd eat her alive!'

Shaking his head, he listened to messages. They say you can know about a person entirely by their phone these days.

Danger?

At that time, he received a phone call. He answered the call and ran to the grandsire at the same time. 

"Sire, Jerlina Hopkins is in active danger!"

"Oh?" The Grandsire seemed indifferent.