Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"You wanted time with him?" rubbing his nose with the back of his index finger, Samuel looked at Jeremy.

"Sure," Jeremy was curt and took a step forward. "And the thing I asked for..?" his eyes were still focused on Viper but he asked Samuel.

"It will be taken care of. It will take a couple of days for the setup and after that, we can stretch it up to three days if I am not wrong. We can ask 'The Doctor' for help," Samuel answered. 

"The Doctor?" Viper trembled and scuttled back on his butt. "Why? No… just kill me!" he started to tremble. 

Jerlina saw the man trembling like a scared child and wondered why he is scared of a doctor. 

Aren't they trying to heal the rotting wounds in his hands that were bitten by the rats so that he lives longer? 

"The Doctor?" Jeremy smirked. "Yeah, he'd do it better," he scratched the back of his head. "I can still break the bones in his limbs or something, right?" Jeremy smirked. "We'll have to keep him alive for the doctor."

"Do what you wish," Samuel shrugged. "And Young Lady, let's leave the men alone," he placed his hand at Jerlina's shoulder and pointed at the exit.

Jerlina looked at Jeremy and he turned to look at her. She could see his eyes turning gentle as he turned at her. But still, it was scary. With a smile, he nodded. And then holding the smile, he uttered, 

"Wait for me outside, Jeryl. I'll have to talk to him." 

That smile seemed distant to her. That smile was not filled to the brim with love like she used to see. Behind this smile, his eyes couldn't hide the hatred in his heart. He was smiling at her, no, for her, yet he couldn't hide the hatred he had for that guy.

  She knew that hatred was towards the Viper and not her. And yet, she felt scared. Scared that he is drifting. 

He was still handsome and she knew that he still is the same guy he loves. But this is another part of him she rarely sees. She's seen it, but she feared that this time it would be more intense than the previous times.

Her heart started to race and she found it hard to smile back at him. 

But then she remembered. That day when she fainted in the middle of the road, it was him who fought off a bunch of guys to save her and bring her to the clinic. She thought it was Mark, but it was him – her husband. 

He probably donned the same expression as today back then too. She wanted to see this part of him – his beastly side.

"I'll watch," she said. 

"Jeryl…" Seeing her determined face, Jeremy gulped. 

Jerlina looked at him. His face now had another emotion. Biting his lips, his eyes started to redden. It seemed like he was pleading. Pleading her to not look at him. Pleading her to leave. 

But why?

She wanted to say more and looked around. Viper was pleading as he rolled on the floor. Samuel was waiting for her to join him and the Navy seal-looking guys were standing with their backs to the wall holding their hands behind them in an erect posture. 

There are one too many people here. Maybe I should leave as he wishes. 

"On second thoughts, I'll leave," Jerlina waved her hand with a smile. 

She couldn't smile with her usual cheeriness but she could accept his wish; his plea. She didn't understand why the guy who told her that he wants to show her every side of him wants her to not see this particular side. 

A lot of questions confused her mind, but she decided to hold them back. He is her husband and he is going to return to her. She can talk to him about it later. 

"Don't exert yourself and return to me soon," She waved her hand. 

Seeing the relaxation in his eyes, she smiled; this time from her heart. That's enough for her – his happiness. Even she found it odd realizing how lenient and unaffected when she is with him.

Ah, I love him too much.

She walked up through those stairs through the tunnel with Samuel leading her. There was a weird echo through the tunnels. She could hear the opening of an iron gate. And that was followed by the loud screams of the Viper. 

All felt a little too familiar for her. That day in the police station, she heard a loud commotion outside making her feel crippling fear. And today, she is hearing the screams of the person who caused her fear. Her stomach churned as she heard the blood-curdling screams of a grown man. 

She didn't know what is happening but she understood that her husband is the one inflicting that pain on the other man making him weep and ask for his nana.

But he deserves it. 

"You don't want Matilda to get the doctor's treatment?" Samuel asked.

Jerlina looked at him confused. She thought there might be more to this doctor they say. Matilda is not hurt, right?.

Perhaps, the doctor is not actually a doctor?

"Never mind," seeing her confused look Samuel looked to the front without wanting to continue with that topic. 

"Who is the doctor?" she asked anyway. She was curious.

"He is someone who belongs in a different world than you, Little lady," Samuel said with a sigh. "You won't be at loss not knowing about people like him."

"Tell me anyway," Jerlina's curiosity only increased. 

"The doctor is an internationally wanted criminal who is well-versed in torture. He used to be a government operative but since the government wanted to make him a scapegoat, he escaped and started his own business. His speciality is getting information from anyone by torture without killing them. At times, he'd do it for fun too if he is paid accordingly."

They've reached the ground level and standing in the sun that was peeking out that did nothing for the cold, Jerlina looked at Samuel who had a curious expression.

"Which government?" Jerlina asked. 

Somehow this doctor seemed to be a character from an action movie. 

Samuel laughed in surprise. "If I tell you, I'll have to kill you. Is that okay?" leaning towards her he spoke in a low mystic voice."You're kind of… different than I expected, Young Lady," he mumbled. 

Jerlina grimaced. Surely, most people wont think of this question when they are told this detail. 

"Little lady, Young Lady… Can't you just call me by my name?" She asked. 

These kinds of titles gave her the creeps.

"No," Samuel shrugged.

"Then should I call you grandpa? Or as Lord Samuel?" she asked. 

"Just Samuel is fine," Samuel looked at her. 

Jerlina rolled her eyes. It seemed like no one here will listen to her. She just decided to let it go. 

She looked at the mouth of the tunnel as she searched for Jeremy.

When will he return?