When Love Went to Market

I brandished the scissors, slashing in a frenzy. "Back off! Everyone, just back off!"

The scissors sliced Caroline's arm as she tried to intervene, and she let out a sharp cry, recoiling.

Barefoot, I stepped through the shards, unlocked the chain, and bolted into the hallway.

Adrian's enraged shouts chased after me. "Catch her! Don't let her get away! I'm going to kill her!"

Jeffrey, crouching by the door for a smoke, was taken aback by my bloodied figure bolting out.

He reached out, trying to reason with me. "Ella, just hear me out..."

"Get lost!"

I did not give him a chance, driving my knee into his groin.

He doubled over with a groan, collapsing to the ground.

I seized the moment, sprinted down the stairs, and disappeared into the night.

I did not stop until I was out of the urban village, where I flagged down a cab.

The driver, eyeing my disheveled look and the bloody scissors in my grip, hesitated, nearly too scared to take me.

"Please, take me to Sunnyvale Residences! I'm begging you! Someone's after me!"

Tears streamed down my face as I blurted out the address of my best friend, Yara Walker.

Yara was a college friend of mine, living in a swanky downtown complex known for its tight security.

I made it to Yara's front door and buzzed the bell.

She greeted me in her silky pajamas, concern etched on her face.

"Oh, my God! What happened to you? Get inside! Quickly!"

She yanked me inside, fetched me fresh clothes, and heated up a comforting cup of milk.

"Drink this. It'll help you settle down," she said.

Trembling, I clutched the warm mug and spilled the story of the horror I had just escaped.

Yara listened, her face twisting with anger as she spat out curses at Jeffrey.

"That monster! He's inhuman! We need to call the cops!"

Right then, my phone lit up with an alert from some shady underground live stream.

There was Jeffrey, broadcasting live!

The headline was like a punch to the gut.

[Wanted! Runaway fitness coach! $5000 reward for tips.]

I tapped into the stream.

There was Jeffrey, clutching his belly, his face a swollen mess, waving my ID card.

"Listen up, folks! This lady is on the run for attacking me.

"Spot her, and let me know. Catch her, and I'll let you keep her for three days."

The chat went wild with messages.

Then, a chilling comment appeared.

[Isn't she the one who just ducked into Sunnyvale Residences?]

[Totally, she went into Building B, apartment 1202!]

My heart sank. Yara's place was out in the open.

I snapped my gaze to Yara.

She was holding her phone, the same live stream playing.

However, instead of panic, there was a sly, unsettling smile creeping across her face.

"Ella, who knew you were worth a fortune?"

Yara waved her phone with a grin. "Five grand for a tip? Perfect for that new purse I've been eyeing."

Suddenly, the door echoed with frantic, angry pounding.

Peering through the peephole, I saw Jeffrey, his head smeared with blood, Adrian in tow, and a bunch of bat-wielding punks crowding the hallway.

Yara, still smiling, sauntered to the door, her hand reaching for the knob.

"Don't open it!"

I yelled, diving to stop her.