Chapter 76 - Faith In Herself

Ivy went to the toilet then came out and washed her hands then dried them. She noticed there was no attendant like she had requested which had annoyed her. All good establishments had bathroom attendants.

She looked up to the mirror to check her makeup and then turned to check her dress in the full-length mirror just to the left of her. She bent down to fix the hem of her dress. That's when she saw a man's trousers out of the corner of her eyes and then noticed his footsteps where light and hadn't made a sound.

She frowned and turned to defend herself but it was all too late her mouth was held and a piece of cloth covered it. She smelt the strong smell of chemicals as it filled her nose. The smell so overpowering it made her eyes sting and her nose irritated. She tried to hold her breath while trying to remove his hands.

His hand covered her mouth then pulled her head to his body. His other hand pulled her left arm behind her back. With her right arm momentarily free she jabbed his stomach with her elbow. She heard him groan in pain. Her dress restricted her movements but she lifted her heels and dug them into his leather shoes. Hearing another groan she was glad, but his hands still held her tight.

She tried not to breath in the chemical but she noticed she had started to get dizzy and drowsy. Her body started to loose power but she didn't lose hope, wasn't Thomas just outside. Her body was increasingly getting weaker as she fought off the intruder. After struggling her limbs lost power and her eyes started to close.

"I'm so sorry Ivy."

Those were the last words she heard as her world turned back and her body fell limply into the man's arms.

She started to gain consciousness again but kept her eyes closed. Her head was spinning, she listened to the voices one, two, three. But due to her training, she knew that there was at least four of them. They were talking about women and Ivy didn't care to listen.

She listened again, an engine she was in a car. She felt her hands and ankles bound. It didn't seem to hurt though as if the person didn't want her to have rope burns.

Later she was intensely shivering, with severe nausea and she knew more than likely she would be vomiting soon, she already had a severe headache and her eyes were sensitive to the light.

She kept her eyes closed pretending to be asleep and she wondered how long she had been unconscious. 

Thomas would have alerted Noah. That thought gave her comfort.

She started to regain her smell as the strong chemicals had dissipated. She smelt a familiar Cologne and her thoughts spun as her head snapped to the man seated beside her.

Why was Thomas here? Why isn't his limbs bound like mine?

Ivys brows furrowed and she looked so hurt, so betrayed.

"Don't give me that look."

Ivy was about to respond her dry lips parted but was stopped by one of the other men in the car.

"Great the bitch is awake."

"Pretty girl, I wonder if our boss will allow us to taste you first."

"Yea for her to be Noah's only woman she must have some special tricks."

They all laughed and grinned at Ivy. She felt sick again at their disgusting thoughts.

"Boss wants her unharmed, he wants her first... Maybe after he's done though."

She had thought one of them had sense until he said the last part of his sentence. She looked to Thomas but he ignored her pleasing look and faced the window avoiding her gaze.

Thomas wouldn't... Couldn't do this surly?

Ivy had many false people in her life before and she thought she could guess peoples characters by now but maybe she was wrong. She hung her head and faced her window, trying to see a location she might recognise.

She tried her hands but she couldn't break out of her ropes. That's when she noticed, her ring was gone. She looked at Thomas but he still ignored her.

The other three men didn't look like petty thieves but they did look like they were in some kind of gang. One had a bald head and a scar running down his face. The one who drove she noticed had two missing fingers. The last one who she thought wasn't as lecherous as the others were older and seemed to lead the others, maybe a low-level boss.

But why was Thomas with them?

The one with the scar noticed her looking.

"You looking to see who you want to have a go with first?" He chuckled.

"Maybe she wants this?"

The older guy held her ring in his dirty palm. She nodded her head and he laughed a deep unsettling laugh.

"You won't need trinkets like this anymore where you are going." He smiled sinisterly.

These men were insinuating that they were going to kill her. She looked at Thomas... Nothing no response. She had to think of a way to delay time. 

Even if Thomas wouldn't help her Noah would know something was wrong and help her. She started out of the window and thought of how to buy her time.

She saw the sea and smelt the salty air. They were at the docks. Late at night, there would be no one to hear her scream or help if she ran. 

They stopped the car and Thomas opened his door and pulled Ivy out. She was glad it was Thomas grabbing her but also sad that he used force on her.

Was he the man in the bathroom? It had to of been. Her heart throbbed with the thought of his betrayal and her throat stifled a sob.

Pull yourself together Ivy, you can get yourself home to Noah. She only had to have faith in herself.