Chapter 4 Rails Of Betrayal

• ~IAN~
• Slowly, I opened my eyes, and the first thing that greeted me was the harsh sunlight pouring in from my left. It pierced my sight, forcing a wince as I hurriedly squinted.
• Wait. Morning already? Where am I? Last night… I was attacked. Brenda… she–
• My mind was still foggy, disoriented. Each attempt to recall what had happened only worsened the throbbing ache in my head.
• As I turned my head to the side, a hammer of pain pounded into my skull.
• "Hmmm…" I groaned, raising a hand instinctively.
• But my hands wouldn’t move.
• Panic exploded in my chest. I looked down, and my vision cleared just enough to see him - a hefty, cloaked man.
• A flash, like a clock’s pendulum, jolted my memory.
• It was him. The man from the alley. The one who attacked me. Only now, he was unmasked. His face was a map of horror - taut, unforgiving skin etched with grotesque scars.
• And he was strapping me into a wheelchair.
• "What are you doing?! What the hell are you doing?!" I screamed, hysteria rising in my throat.
• I bucked wildly, every fiber in my body struggling against the ropes biting into my flesh.
• "Let me go! F*ck*ng let me go!"
• But he ignored me, calmly securing the straps.
• "I said let me go, you monster!"
• I bent my head, aiming for his hand on my chest. When I caught it, I bit down hard.
• "Hmmm!!!" he grunted, then swung a heavy fist into my face.
• CRACK!
• Pain exploded through my jaw. I felt something loosen. Then it hit the floor - my front tooth.
• "B*st*rd," he muttered.
• Blood flooded from my mouth, painting my white shirt with thick, crimson ink.
• I raised my head, glaring at him through tears and fury. "You monster! You dare hit me? You dare-"
• His fist struck again, this time with brutal force. The blow toppled both me and the chair.
• I cried out. Pain seared through my ribs and cheek. Bound, helpless, I writhed in the chair.
• "Look who's awake."
• That voice - icy, familiar.
• I turned.
• Brenda.
• She stood there, arms folded, lips curled into a smirk.
• "Get him up," she commanded.
• The brute obeyed, lifting me and setting me upright before her.
• Brenda stepped closer and crouched to meet my eyes. "Oh my! Did Figo do that to you?" she cooed with a mock gasp, her eyes twinkling with dark amusement.
• "But you could've just complied. Figo doesn't like troublesome little pests like you."
• Rage bubbled inside me.
• "Untie me, you sick freak! You’re insane!"
• Brenda's smile faded. She turned to Figo, irritation flashing in her eyes. "I told you to break him. Why is he still flapping his lips like a goddamn parrot?"
• "I'll fix it," Figo grunted, stepping forward.
• Brenda raised her hand, stopping him. "No. But just know there’s a deduction coming when I pay the rest."
• Her words struck me like lightning.
• She… hired him?
• My breath caught. The realization was swift and suffocating.
• She orchestrated this.
• Brenda caught my expression. "Oh, poor Ian. You're just figuring it out?"
• More blood slid from my lips as I stared at her, disbelief and sorrow roiling inside me.
• "Why?" I whispered, voice hoarse. "Why are you doing this to me, Brenda?"
• Her smirk dissolved into a bitter frown. "Don’t act clueless."
• "Because I am clueless! What the hell did I do to deserve this?!"
• WHAM!
• Her hand lashed across my face.
• "You ruined everything!" she screamed, seething.
• I flinched, pain slicing my already throbbing cheek. My voice broke. "If this is about the hundred thousand dol-”
• Another slap, this one even fiercer.
• "You sabotaged my plan! I would've been in Bellaham by now, spending that money. But no! You, Ian, you ruined everything. You even slapped me!"
• Tears blurred my vision. "You tried to ruin my name. I only defended myself."
• "Defended yourself? You exposed me! I lost my job because of you! Everyone thinks I’m a thief now!"
• I choked on a sob. "I lost mine too."
• She laughed coldly. "Lost it or ran away like a coward?"
• How did she know? How did she know that I resigned?
• I opened my mouth, but she cut in.
• "Enough games. It’s time you die."
• "W-what? D-die?"
• She wheeled me around, pointing. "There. That’s your stage. That's where you'll spend your last minutes of relaxation."
• My eyes followed.
• A railway track. Just a few feet away.
• My heart stalled. Then I heard it.
• "PONNN PONNN PONNN!!"
• A train horn. Distant but fast approaching.
• Vibrations rumbled beneath us.
• Click. Click. Click.
• I froze.
• "No. Please, Brenda! Don’t do this." I begged.
• She smirked. "We’re in Kumasa now. Miles from the city. Took a boat ride. You might wonder how I escaped the station? Touched a few heads, s*ck*d a few cocks. Got me favors."
• She leaned in, voice like poison. "Did you think I’d let you ruin me and walk away?"
• "Brenda, please. It hasn’t come to this-”
• "It has!" she exploded.
• "You’ll die here. No trace. No body. Just meat and bones under a speeding train."
• Terror ripped through me. Tears poured freely.
• "I’ll do anything! I’ll tell Mr. Barry I took the money! I'll even hand myself to the cops. Just pleaseee. Don’t do this!"
• She leaned in, her breath cold on my ear. "You want to do something for me?"
• "Yes! Anything!"
• Then she straightened and spat her answer.
• "I want you to die. Die, Ian! F*ck*ng die!”
• She turned to Figo. "You know what to do."
• And like that, he shoved the wheelchair onto the tracks.
• My blood turned ice.
• The rails shook beneath me. The train was coming.
• "PONNN!"
• I screamed. I bucked. I pleaded. “Brenda!! Brenda, please!! We can fix this! We can talk!"
• She looked at her watch. "Time’s up. Say hi to hell for me.”
• Then she walked off.
• "Let’s go, Figo. I don’t want to see his limbs flying."
• I screamed after them, raw desperation in every word.
• "Brenda! Brenda!! Please! Don’t leave me here!"
• They disappeared.
• "PONNNN!!"
• I turned to the oncoming train. It blazed forward, unstoppable.
• "BRENDAAAA!!!"
• But it was too late.
• GBOAA!!
• The train hit.
• Silence followed.
• No pain. No sound. Nothing.
• Just… silence.
• Just death.