The roar of the H2R's engine sounded like the cry of a wild beast amidst the torrential rain. Abir helped Arisa onto the back of the bike. Her clothes were soaked, but she wasn't shivering from the cold anymore; rather, the intense heat radiating from Abir's body left her in a state of numbing trance.
Abir flipped down his helmet visor and revved the engine. Aryan lay bloodied by the cottage door, trying to scream, but no sound came out. He could only watch as his sister disappeared into the rain with the prince of darkness.
"Where are we going?" Arisa shouted over the wind. "The police must have set up roadblocks everywhere."
Abir didn't answer. He twisted the throttle. As the speedometer crossed 150 km/h, Arisa gripped Abir's waist tighter. A crooked smirk formed on Abir's face. He knew no police force on earth could catch him tonight.
An hour later, they stopped in front of an abandoned factory. But as they entered, Arisa was stunned. Inside was a high-tech hideout—monitors, surveillance systems, and armed guards standing at attention. Abir dismounted and swept Arisa up into his arms.
"The last house was made of glass, but this fortress is made of steel," Abir whispered. "No one will even hear your cries from here."
He laid her on a plush bed and touched the sapphire necklace around her neck. "Arisa, you came back to me today to save your brother. But I want you to stay because you want to. I'm going to show you a truth that will make you never want to look at Aryan again."
Arisa gasped. "What truth? What are you hiding from me?"
Abir turned on a large monitor. Old CCTV footage began to play—footage that made the ground beneath Arisa's feet crumble. In the video, Aryan appeared in a dark, unrecognizable light.
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