Majori's POV:
"Flowers?" one of the men cackled. "Flowers haven't bloomed yet. Look at her, she's shaking like a wet pup."
"Poor thing. Lost, doll?"
I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm. "I… I went to use the bathroom and accidentally fell here. My husband is up ahead. I'll go find him now."
I pushed myself up, but a sharp pain shot through my ankle. Seriously? A sprain at a time like this? That damned tree root. I always thought this kind of trope only happened in movies, when the female lead is running away or lost, she trips on something and falls. Yet here I was, stuck in the exact situation… and I wasn't even the female lead.
Seeing me struggle to stand, one of them shoved me back down.
"Husband?" the messy-haired guy raised a brow. "Sounds familiar. The girl at the bar yesterday said the exact same thing."
"Yeah, and I remember she wore a gray shirt just like that…" the one with the chain necklace grinned, his yellow teeth showing. "Don't tell me you two are related."
They all burst out laughing. Their laughter echoed through the forest, chilling me to the bone.
I retreated a bit, clutching my coat. I couldn't even imagine what they planned to do to me. On a normal day I wouldn't be able to fight them off, let alone now that I was injured. My only shot was to use tricks dirty, shameless tricks if I had to.
Using my hands and heels, I pushed myself backward. The pain in my ankle no longer mattered my life did. I planned to turn and run but before I could move, a rough hand grabbed my hair and yanked hard. Pain shot through my scalp and I let out a cry.
"Where you running to, doll?" he leaned close, reeking of alcohol. "Where's your husband? Tell us, so we can send him a greeting."
"My… my husband is violent and controlling. If he sees me with other men, he'll beat me and kill all of you," I said, clutching the base of my hair to stop the pain from searing through my scalp. I hoped it would scare him.
But another guy burst out laughing, delighted.
"Then I wanna see who gets here first, your husband or our deaths."
More laughter. But through their drunken cackling, I realized something: they were wasted. Their steps wobbly, eyes unfocused, voices slurred. If I could find an opening, I could run.
I lifted my head, letting my voice shake but forcing an edge into it.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" he frowned.
"The engine. My husband's car. He's coming. He must've noticed I didn't return and came looking."
They hesitated. The chain-wearing guy looked around and the younger one slapped a buddy on the shoulder.
"You hear that? I swear I hear a motor, real."
"That's the wind, idiot," another snapped and then slapped me across the face.
"Don't play games. I hate lying women."
The slap was so strong my vision spun, my head snapping to the side, hair scattering everywhere. That bastard, I cursed him silently but forced myself to stay still. If I snapped back, he'd pin me down. And with these volatile drunk men, there was nothing they wouldn't do.
My cheek went numb and I tasted blood in my mouth. Anyone would cry if they were hit like that, depending on their tolerance. And in this situation, the moment you allow yourself to cry, you really can. I wasn't an exception.
I lifted my head, eyes shimmering with tears. I let my lashes tremble so two tears could roll down my cheeks. I knew my looks worked: warm when I smiled, fragile when I cried. I whispered, voice trembling with grievance:
"I only wanted to tease you a little… why did you hit me?"
As expected, their expressions shifted the moment they saw my face, even the one who slapped me. The tight lines on his face loosened awkwardly, almost sheepish. The chain-wearing guy even tried to comfort me.
"All right, all right. He's just rude and hot-tempered. Don't cry, sweetheart." He used his filthy hands to wipe my tears. I nearly gagged but endured.
"Honestly… I'm sick of my husband anyway. He won't even touch me lately. I begged him and he just did it half-heartedly then went to sleep. I wanted to have some fun with you guys. You came at the perfect time… I really need it."
The disgusting words I never thought I'd say somehow flowed out of my mouth like poetry. They believed every word, I see judging by their dazed, excited expressions.
"Of course, baby. We'll take you to heaven."
The frizzy-haired one rubbed his hands and licked his lips. The others grew bolder. They moved closer, their hungry gazes scanning my body inch by inch like a pack of wolves spotting prey in a blizzard. One gulped loud enough to sound like he was chugging water; another laughed low like he'd been blessed by fate on this deadly winter night.
They surrounded me in a half circle. My heart hammered wildly, like it wanted to burst out of my chest but my mind was eerily clear. If I fought now, I'd die.
So I changed everything, my posture, my gaze.
I relaxed my shoulders and softened my voice into velvet.
"Wait… all of you."
The three men froze instantly.
I swallowed, forcing a half-smile as flirty, not pleading.
"I don't want trouble." I glanced at their flushed, drunken faces. "Let me go… a little. Let me do what you want myself."
They looked at each other, eyes widening with disbelief. One burst out laughing.
"Well well… looks like she's got some sense."
The youngest stepped closer, voice trembling with excitement. "You mean it?"
I tilted my head and blinked slowly. "Want to test it?"
More filthy laughter. They loosened their formation, convinced I was just a flirt begging for attention.
I kept my breathing steady, though my heart pounded like a trapped animal.
One nodded toward me, eager.
"All right, pretty girl. Strip. Show us… what you can do."
I acted even more seductive, raising my hand to the collar of my coat, pulling the zipper down slowly. The swirling snow around us felt like it moved in slow motion. I could feel their eyes glued to every tiny movement.
In my head, only one thought pulsed:
Wait for the moment. One breath. One perfect beat.
I lowered the zipper, opening it just enough for them to lean in, attention locked...
Then I smirked. A thin, blade-like smile.
"You want… something like this?"