Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

*Ptoo*

Viper spat on the floor and Jerlina still looked unwaveringly at him.

"Just now this baby watched her mother working hard to please our men... She was..." Viper ran his finger through his lips, cocking his head. "... very obedient once I threatened this thing," he shook the baby once more making Jerlina's heart shake with the baby. 

Cia was raised with so much care and love. Every time Jerlina has seen Cia, she'd be either on Scar's hips or on Bobby's chest and at times on Jeremy's shoulder. No one would let her cry for more than a minute. Cia would act spoiled but no one cared. 

For her to be treated like a doll, no, worse than a doll, it broke her heart.

  "Should I give the same chance for you?" Viper sneered among the jeers of his men making Jerlina think about the other thing.

Scar was...

Jerlina gulped and her hands started to shake. She fisted her hands.

Whoever is responsible for this... I will surely get them no matter what.

"Really?" Jerlina shouted with all her strength. "Why do I find it hard to believe?" she spoke to provoke him.

Just stop torturing the baby! 

She really hoped Scarlett didn't go through that humiliation. Scar is tough and it would take a lot to break her to stoop to do what Viper said. 

But she is a mother. 

What length wouldn't a mother go to protect her child? 

And Cia should be safe!

Viper was not pleased with Jerlina as she talked back. She could see it was getting harder for the anti-riot officers to hold back the crowd anymore. 

Even Jerlina got angry seeing how Viper is treating the baby and saying vulgar words about Scarlett. People here consider Scarlett their child. How can they bear it? No amount of pepper sprays or rubber bullets could stop them.

Viper noticed it and he knew he didn't have much time. He knitted his brows and placed the baby on the hood of his car and stretched his hand. "Too heavy," he mumbled.

Jerlina sighed in relief. Although the baby was still crying, she was on a flat surface now. She still is not safe.

As Jerlina fixed her eyes on the snake, he waved his hand at his people and they all screamed in joy.

"Now?"

"Can we?"

Jerlina knew what comes next. The blasts of the automatic weapons. She looked to her right and there was no sign anyone was approaching. 

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The face of Joel with a boyish smile came to her memory.

I regret not telling you that I love you, Joel.

I love you.

I love you so much I want to scream it out loud.

You changed my life forever and I wish I had more time with you.

I don't want to say goodbye yet, but...

Wait...

Not even a single bullet has hit her yet when she should be dead by now.

Jerlina opened her eyes. 

  She saw Viper's men tapping on their weapons cursing. Some were banging as the weapons were not functioning?

But it did some minutes ago!

There was confusion everywhere and Jerlina couldn't figure out what was going on anymore. At that time, a thundering noise came from her right and she looked in that direction with expectation.

Her eyes widened and her heart raced.

Joel, is that you?

But what approached her made her heart melt.

There were a bunch of trucks approaching but leading them was a big monster truck.

Wyatt?

Why is he here?

Wait, Viper's weapons are malfunctioning... 

Was Wyatt the supplier? And did he intentionally make them malfunction? Is he on our side?

Jerlina watched as Wyatt's monster truck mowed through the cars blocking the way 

*Bam*

The car door slammed open and there was loud music that hurt the ears playing inside the car.

"Let me join the game, bro... I promise I'll behave!" 

  Wyatt jumped out from the vehicle and his tone was not dignified as Jerlina remembered when he talked to them before.  With a sneer etched on his face although he was having his pals together, he looked villainous; like Loki from Marvel Universe. 

What's with this heroic entry? Where is my Joel?

"What's with this? You cheated our money..."

Viper's people started to shout at Wyatt and tried to attack him but Wyatt was covered by his people. Jerlina thought if now would be the time to get the baby and leave the place, but she wondered what Wyatt was planning. 

They decided to trust Wyatt. But he never contacted them till now and he sold weapons to Viper. 

What was he planning to do?

The situation around had only gotten worse. The anti-riot cops decided to leave it be but some of those cops were started to get attacked by the townsfolk and the formation they had around them started to break.

It won't be long before the cops are going to get attacked. 

"What do we have here?" Wyatt walked towards Viper's car stretching himself. He picked up the crying baby on the hood of the car, "That's not how you treat a baby," he hit the back of Viper's head.

Viper was stunned by that condescending act and his men tried to raise their hands and a brawl started between Viper's gang and the Tiger's gang.

Jerlina turned back and knew that the cops will lose out anytime. With a fight that has started between two gangs, the situation will only get worse. 

I should get the baby and scram!

Jerlina saw Wyatt at a distance gently patting Cia's back as she laid on his shoulder. He was saying something in her ears and she saw Cia stopping her wail and gradually calming down. 

Guess, he is not a very bad father. He knows how to handle a crying baby.

Jerlina not thinking twice walked towards Wyatt but he glared at her. 

Jerlina's heart skipped a beat.

Please... don't tell me he's planning something too. My heart cannot handle anything negative anymore.

I am exhausted.

She noticed someone getting down from Wyatt's monster truck and her heart skipped a beat.

Scar!! She's safe!

Why is she covered in blood? Is she hurt?

  Jerlina noticed Wyatt's men clearing a way for her and the moment she left the middle of the road, guns started to go off. Wyatt was following her with the baby.

Thank goodness he is helping us. 

But there's going to be a bloodbath!

"Scar, are you okay?" Jerlina ran and hugged her. She was happy to see Scarlett safe and she needed a hug after getting mentally exhausted.

"What happened to your shoes?" Jerlina added as Scarlett wasn't answering and hugged her closer. Scarlett seemed a little out of it.

Don't tell me... Was Viper telling the truth?

"Scar," Jerlina held her shoulders and Scarlett got out of her hold and ran and got Cia.

"She's a little startled, but she's fine... I always wanted a daughter..."

Wyatt's words didn't reach Scarlett as she hugged baby Cia and knelt on the floor.

*Hic* *Hic*

Scarlett started to sob.