rival to ally

Hannah's pov

Peeking through my window, I followed Tyron's car leaving as I heard him lose my door in the living room. I sighed before closing the curtains and getting out of my bed.

He really doesn't care about Ciara, doesn't he? I'm so disappointed right now and I don't know if what I acted towards him earlier was right. But I was so upset that I wanted to yell at him to wake him up from his anger towards Ciara but I couldn't, so I just chose to stay silent and let him feel my irritation by not talking to him and leaving him there alone. His pride was so high and I couldn't take it.

Isn't he tired of always hurting Ciara? I really couldn't understand him, I mean, I knew and I was aware where his anger is coming from but is it right to mistreat his wife just like that? It doesn't seem like Ciara is human in how he treats her, does he forget that she also has feelings? Gosh, I can't believe him.

While walking in my living room, my attention pinned down on the sofa, noticing a brown paper bag there, it seems like Tyron forgot about it and didn't notice he left it there. I doubt he intentionally left it here, because the moment I saw what was inside, I knew he would use this to Ciara.

I'm not dumb to not know what's his purpose why did he buy this choker chain. It's so obvious, he will use this to Ciara in not a good way.

I know you too well, Tyron. And I know how your anger can unknowingly bring you to mistreat her.

Tyron's pov

When I got home, I frowned when I noticed that until now, all the lights in our house were still off, it seemed like no one was there.

Is she not home again?

I hurried to get inside the house and turned on all the lights and then scanned the whole area and saw nothing but pure silence.

"Ciara, where are you?" I yelled out of the house, but my voice only echoed in four corners and no one answered. I stepped my foot forward and started looking for her all over the house. I even got to get inside her room because I heard some little noise and was expecting to see her there. But my brows furrowed when the lights were off, so I opened it and only saw nothing again.

Where the hell is she? Isn't she the one I heard making noise from here? Why is she not here? Where did she go this time without telling me again?

My jaw clenched as I gritted my teeth out of anger. "Damn it, get out without telling me huh..." When will she ever learn to listen to me? Is it that hard to obey what I want her to do? It was just a fucking simple please to her. How hard is it to at least tell me if she's going somewhere?

If I'm not mistaken, I left her here unconscious a while ago. Then now that I'm back, I won't gonna see her here? Then what had she acted earlier? Did she just intentionally act like that to look pitiful in front of me, so I would let her go? And she can freely go wherever she planned to go?

I clicked my tongue inside and loudly sighed because of annoyance. That woman... She's really getting on my nerves.

I walked out of her room and went straight to my car outside to get something. But I frowned when I noticed that it was not there. The choker chain that I bought was not in my car. I tried to search the entire nook of my car, but I couldn’t really find it.

"Where did it go?" I asked myself confusedly and immediately went back inside to look there as well. Trying to remember if I had a bag with me when I entered the house, but I knew I'm not carrying anything a while ago.

Where did I put it? I tried to remember everything and I can only think of one place where I last put it.

"Sofa," on Hannah's sofa. Yeah, I remember it now. I took it inside with me and put it there. Did I forget to get it back? Damn it, never mind. I'll just go back the other day to get it. Surely, Hannah already set it aside.

I cleared my mind and ignored the repeated thought of mine on where she had gone, probably she'll go home tonight. I'll just wait for her to come back. I went straight to my room and got inside the bathroom to start cleaning my body and to calm myself down by rinsing cold water all over my body.

Just a few minutes later, I stepped out of the bath feeling the freshness while some of the water was still dripping on my chest coming from my washed hair. I was about to get dressed when I heard someone making a rustling sound outside my room, that's why I immediately peeked out of the room, thinking that it was Ciara.

"Hey—" I was about to call her because I'm pretty sure that it was her who caused that little noise. But I was stopped when no one answered and I saw no one in there. I glanced sideways through the short hallway and shook one's head as I turned around to get back inside my room.

Am I just imagining things? I'm sure I heard someone, or it was just some rotten-smell rats who are lurking around?

"Tss!" I hissed and was so sick thinking that it might just be a ghost or something. I'm getting crazy here, when will she come home?

I just closed the door again and hurried to get some clothes and put them on. But I suddenly cursed under my heavy and silent breath when I heard a damn so loud noise from her room that it seemed like someone was really there and he unintentionally bumped into something that made a loud noise. My eyes snapped when I heard the door loudly slamming and the heavy footsteps that were hurriedly running out of the room.

Wtf?!

Without hesitation, I immediately opened the door of my room and my eyes widened in surprise when I saw a man coming out of Ciara's room and running so fast down the stairs.

"What the—!" I exclaimed, I quickly left the room and ran down the hallway to the stairs and ran fast just to catch up with the idiot who dared to enter our house.

"Get back in here, bastard!" I exclaimed and ran as fast as I could down the stairs. But he was just so fast as the flash that he even jumped even though there were still steps remaining on the stairs.

I cursed in my mind when he hurriedly slammed the door as he got out of it. But I didn't stop chasing him, I kept running until I got outside. I rapidly catch my breath as I roam my eyes around to look for him, but my face immediately replaced disappointment mixed with anger when I saw no one.

Fuck it, why is he so fucking fast, and who the hell is he?! What does he need from that woman and he seems to be looking for her?!

"Whoever you are, don't you dare show up in front of me again," I whispered under my heavy breath. It amused me how he got the courage to enter my house, without thinking of the danger he may get. Lucky him I didn't catch him, because if I did, he really won't get out of this damn house alive.

As I entered the house, I let my body fall on the sofa while remembering the look of that bastard. He's wearing all-black clothes and hiding his freaking face under a mask.

You got your luck, today man, be thankful you got to escape and saved your damn ass out of this house.

But what I'm more thinking about is why did he get in there? Inside Ciara's room? What does he need from her? Is he planning to do something to her?

To hell with him, he's going to have to kill me first before he can lay his fucking hands to her. Unluckily, I'm not going to let him fucking win his life.

No matter how much blood might shed, I won't let him come near her.

Someone's pov

I gasped and quickly hid myself in the back of the car so that the man chasing me could not see me. I glanced in his direction for a moment and there were traces of anger on his face.

Fuck, did he just really see me?! Probably, it's her husband, but why didn't I know he was there?! I mean, I had the guts enter their house because my boss just told me no one's here. But why the hell he was in there, and my life was almost caught up by the death when he suddenly fucking chased me! Good thing he didn't catch me, it's my luck.

I quickly grabbed my phone and answered the call when it rang

"What's the news?" I heard my boss's voice on the other line, but I looked around first to make sure no one could see or hear me.

"Boss, she's not here. The woman you told me to look for, she's not here." I looked around as I kept bursting a heavy breath. "But in my case, the man almost caught me, if I'm not mistaken it's her husband. Luckily, he didn't recognize me." I explained while gasping for breath.

I must be thankful because I have thought of wearing a mask before breaking into their house because otherwise, my life would really be fucked up if coincidentally he caught me and I was not wearing anything that could cover up my face. I knew that man and I'm aware of how he's not easy to mess up with. That's why I can't help but be engulfed by fear and nervousness as I saw his sharp eyes glaring while looking for me earlier.

"What? She's not there again?" I can imagine how her brows furrowed.

"Next time, find out where she goes. For now, get in here as soon as possible. We have a meeting with the heir," she ordered. I nodded even though she couldn't see me.

I haven't seen the heir they were talking about, but I heard about her a lot and even just a little info about her intimidated me because I know it's the boss of the bosses. But no one beats the fear I am feeling until now when I encountered him, I was so close to death when I heard his terrifying voice calling me.

That was Tyron Collins, and there's no room for me to feel at ease the fact that he saw me breaking into their house.

"Yes, boss," I replied, and turned off the call. I let out a shaky sigh. I looked at their house once more before turning my back.

You were so close to death, Cyrus. Damn you. You should quit as soon as possible, what you just entered was not safe for your damn life. It was Tyron Collins, there's still a time to step back I'd you wanted to live long.

Hannah's pov

I left early to go see Ciara. When I arrived at their house, I immediately rang the doorbell, but my brows furrowed when no one came out to open the door for me.

"Tyron? Hon?" I called, but there was no response. That's why I just opened the gate on my own since it was not really locked at all.

"Hon?" I called out once more, but still, only the deafening silence answered me.

"Hello, is anybody here?" I shouted again as I walked around but my voice just echoed throughout the house. I just shrugged, where are they?

Did they perhaps go somewhere? Did Tyron follow what I said last night to take Ciara to the hospital to have her bruises checked by the doctors? I'm really worried about her physical and mental health, I just hope Tyron already gets to his senses, because once he does, I'll probably be the happiest person.

I'm happy with whatever Ty and I have now, but I'd be more at ease if Ciara was in good condition, she deserved everything and not this. If I had to take my step back again away from Ty, I would really do that, because I have no other ambition in life but to see Ciara happy.

Ciara's pov

I got up from my seat and wiped away my tears when I heard a voice outside this suffocating room.

"I-is there anyone there?” I shouted using the remaining strength I have, when I got too close to the door I bumped myself to it so I could at least make a noise. I could still feel my body weakening, but I forced myself to slam the door and peek through the small hole.

I badly want to get out of here.

"If anyone could hear me, please, help me!" I yelled, I waited for a while for someone to respond, but no one did.

I'm sure I heard someone's voice.

"Help me!!" I shouted with all my energy.

"Help me! Get me out of here, please!"

I feel so bad right now and regret returning home last night because I didn't expect that the moment I came back here, this cold and suffocating prison would be the one greeting me. I wish I hadn't come home last night if I only knew that this is how I would end up again, if I only knew that my physical pain would only become worse, I would have just chosen to stay where I was.

"Who's that? Is anybody in there?" I heard a voice from outside, causing my eyes to widen. I immediately slammed the door and peeked into the hole when I heard her again.

"H-help me! I'm here, help me get out of here, please!" I cried and was forced to open the door even if it was too impossible to open.

"Ciara?!" I was shocked when I realized whose voice it was.

It's her .. Tyron's wife. That's her, isn't she? W-what is she doing here?

I gulped and took a step back. I'm not mad at her, but I was full of shame to face her right now. That's why instead of answering her call and knocking, I just kept my mouth shut, trying to fight my tears back.

I'm afraid that Tyron might catch us together again. I don't want it to happen again.

"Ciara, is that you? Are you there? Please, answer me if you're inside this room." The concern is evident in the tone of his voice.

"Hey, Ciara, if it's you, answer me, please. Don't be afraid of me. I'm here, I'll help you." It was as if my heart was breaking when she spoke with sincerity.

Why is she so kind to me?

I was hesitating, but I still stepped my feet forward to the door and gulped once more before speaking.

"Ciara, please.. answer me." I held back my own tears as it slammed the door and forced it open.

"P-please.. help me out here.. please." I weakly responded while my tears started to get wet. I feel so embarrassed right now and I don't know what to do knowing I'm going to face the person who's also the reason why I'm questioning my worth right now. I looked so miserable and pitiful, how much more when I faced her.

I held back my tears as she kept slamming and bumping the door just to open it.

"Ciara?! Omayghad! W-wait, give me a second. Wait for me, I'll let you out!" I can sense how she panicked when she heard me respond. I even saw her in the tiny hole looking around and looking for something to use to help her open the door.

She grabbed the wooden chair not so far from her place.

"Fuck, who put you in there?!" She looked frustrated when he lifted the wooden chair to knock the door out. I stepped my foot backward as she started knocking on the door. But nothing happened either because the door was too strong and she's only using a chair made of wooden.

I don't know what's going on, I must be mad at her but it was as if my heart was gently stroked when I heard a series of murmurings from her outside while she kept on knocking on the door, not giving up until she opened it.

I couldn't stop myself from crying and became emotional again. Because I didn't expect that the person who would help me in my time of need was the person I never thought would be.

"Damn it, why is it so hard to destroy?" She cursed.

"Ciara? Ciara, can you hear me? You're still there right?" I heard her again, slowly I nodded.

"I-I'm here." My voice cracked as I replied.

"I'll get you out here, okay? Don't worry, I can open this. Just give me more seconds, okay??" I heard her ask outside and even though I couldn't see her, I just nodded in response. When I could no longer hear her voice, I peeked into the hole again, and there I saw her panicking around and bewildered thinking of a way again.

"Shit, come on, Hannah! Think about anything!"

Hannah.. so it's her name.

She really deserves Tyron. Her attitude towards me is just so obvious that Tyron would probably choose her over me. Just look at her.. she looks so kind and I'm just crying over the fact of the way she's acting right now. She looks so worried and problematic when I see her unable to stay still and calm, she looks so restless while thinking of a way to get me out of here.

And there, I have thought of something. Something so spectacular, this may sound so dramatic but feels so right at the same time.

Should I just give up and stop loving Tyron? Should I now stop fighting how I feel for him? I think Tyron is just waiting for me to give up on our relationship. It's now visible why he is doing this to me because he wants me to leave him. He wants me to surrender him. He wants me to free him. He wants me to cut our strings.

And I can clearly see the reason why he would do everything just to be with Hannah again. Just look at her.. look at Hannah, being so kind to me despite the fact that I was the reason they had to separate back then.

Should I just really give him up and get him back to someone who originally owns him? That's really the right thing to do, right? To free him from me.

Hannah really deserves Tyron and I don't. They deserve each other

Just a few moments later, I saw that she was taking something from her hair and immediately approached the door. I was even more surprised when I heard the sound of the door unlocking and Hannah quickly opened it. I didn't even notice my movement and I just realized that I quickly ran to where she was and hugged her as tight as I have longed for it to someone.

Hugging her so tight while my tears are bursting out. I could feel her shock when I cried on her shoulder, I also didn’t know what was the reason, but I just felt like hugging her and crying on her shoulder. I feel like the weight of the burden I was carrying inside all along will be reduced the moment I hugged her.

And I didn't fail, because the moment she wraps her arms around me and gently pats my back without any words, that's the time I surrender everything. I dropped all the tears I was holding for a long time because I had no one to rely on.

"Let it out, I'm here.." I heard her whisper and caress my back which made me feel at ease. Gradually my heart eased as my tears continued to flow.

"I'm sorry.." she muttered, but I shook my head.

Please, don't be sorry, you just saved me from the darkness. You came to fetch me and let me out of the dark cage.

"N-no.. please. Don't be.." I slipped out from her embrace and faced her, but my heart shattered, even more, when I saw how her tears dripped as if she was sympathizing with the pain I was feeling right now, making me feel that she understands me and she's here willing to lean her back to catch me.

"Tell me.." she held my hands, she looked at me more softly and seemed even more hurt when she saw the bruises on my body.

"What happened? Tell me what happened, Ciara. Please, be honest. W-why are you in there? Locked up? Who did this to you? W-why.." before she finishes up her words, her voice cracks.

"He did this, he's the one who did this to you, right?" She stared me in the eye and I could see the anger and concern in her eyes. Am I seeing everything right? But why? Why are you like this, Hannah? To all of the people living in this world, why does it need you to be my comfort person while I'm at my lowest?

Why does it need to be you?

"Ciara.." she called me, which made my head lowered, averting her gaze. A bitter smile suddenly placed on my lips.

"Thank you.." my voice cracked again. It's not even clear, but I know she heard it right.

"Thank you for saving me. Thank you for coming and letting me out," I said.

"You don't deserve this, Ciara. Why are you letting yourself experience all of this? Why?" Her voice broke, I snapped out when I heard her sob. My heart throbbed as if she couldn't stand what she was seeing.

"You shouldn't let him do this to you, why are you not fighting back?"

"It's my fault—"

"No! What do you mean, you're at fault? It's not your fault, Ciara! You didn't do anything to put yourself in this kind of situation. So please, don't you ever let him do this to you again! It's... it's breaking my heart seeing you like this, seeing you suffering. You're a woman like me, Ciara. We shouldn't experience something like this, if he keeps doing this to you, then don't hesitate to stand up for yourself. You need to defend yourself, Ciara. It's time for you to stand on your own feet and fight back. How can you resist everything without even fighting back?” She blurted out, seeming so furious about the fact of me not fighting back.

I tried. I always tried, but it's my conscience who can't stand fighting back, Hannah.

"If you're thinking you can't fight, then you're probably wrong, Ciara. You have to fight, you're strong. You're a warrior and one of the bravest women I know. So please, don't let him abuse your weakness. Don't just stand there and sleep as nothing happened. You're physically and mentally damaged, Ciara. You need to help yourself because no one will do that for you."

"Please, Ciara. Fight, okay? Don't show him that you're just like that, weak, fragile. It's not you. Show him that you can stand on your own feet without him. It's his loss, not yours." She sighed.

"I know Tyron is a good man, but not in this case. I know the reason why he's doing this and I can't do anything about it. But you, yourself, Cia. You can do something. You have something to fight for," she took my hand again and held it for a moment.

"Ciara, you have a choice."

"We're both women, Ciara, that's why I understand you. I know you also understand why I chose to be with Tyron again even though I know there's you. I... I love him. But your feelings are more valid, your opinions are more important to me. So if you want me to get step my foot back again and stop, I'll do it, just tell me. Whatever your choice is, I'm always on your side. I can let go of everything If I'm stepping into someone's life. It's hard for me, Ciara. So please, don't invalidate your feelings because it's way more important than what I wanted. Just tell me everything," she voices out, causing me to not be able to speak. I stared her in the eye and I can sense that everything she just said was very sincere and I don't have a reason to doubt it. It just sounds too genuine.

But.. no. I don't want to. I don't want you to stay away from him. Because I was the one Tyron was waiting for to leave, that was the decision I would make. I would rather stay away from you than tear you apart for the second time.

Once is enough for both breaking you. I already served my purpose here, I have already given him the love I wanted to give. So, maybe, it's time for me to give him back to you.

I didn't speak, so she sighed.

"Ciara, can you make a Promise to me? Promise me that from now on, you will never cry and let someone abuse you, promise that you will fight back and be strong no matter what happens," she said. I could not speak for a moment but still did what she told me.

"I promise," I whispered.

"Make it loud."

"I promised!"

"Shout it out, Ciara. One more." I closed my eyes and wiped away my tears, I even let out a heavy sigh.

"I PROMISE THAT FROM NOW ON! I WON'T LET ANYONE ABUSE ME AND PROMISE TO FIGHT BACK WHEN NEEDED. I PROMISE!" I exclaimed from the top of my lungs. When I opened my eyes Hannah's soft smile greeted me, I smiled at her back.

Thank you, and now, I'm sure of this. I'll give him back to you again, Hannah.

"I'll look forward to it." She smiled

"Tara," she suddenly pulled my hand and I didn't know where she was planning to take me but I just drifted away as she pulled me.

I let out a deep sigh. I didn't expect that the woman I share with the person I love will also be the one who will help and taught me how to stand on my own feet. The person who will wake me up to bring my senses.