Melody's P.O.V.

Oh God! 

Please save me. I can't breath in this ice cold water. His hand on my head is restraining me from coming out of pool. Just when it's too much to take for me, when water is forced through my nose and mouth, when I thought this would be my last breath, he pulled me out and I immediately gasped taking huge gulps, coughing wildly. My vision blurred as the water got struck in my eyes. They are burning like fire. I shivered as the cold air hits my face.

His other hand circled my throat blocking my wind pipe. My fingers curled his wrist trying to loosen his grip, but it only got more tight. Suddenly his hand on my head leaves and before I could relax, it landed a punch on my jaw sharply. At the same time, his grip on my throat started choking me breathless.

The pain in my cheek and neck is so unbearable. Lungs are burning with the lack of oxygen as I keep fighting for some air.

"Do you try to escape again?"

My mind didn't registered his sneer, cause it is solely concentrated on twisting, arching my back and thrashing my legs to slip away from him. Now his fist connected to my already throbbing jaw radiating the sting shot through my body.

"Answer me you bitch! You try to escape again?" he shouted in my face.

This time, I'm completely tuned to his anger and so I answered.

"N-" I coughed violently, "N- No. Please...No. I won't do it again"

"Ofcourse, you won't" he smirked sinisterly, "Want to know why?"

I shook my head terrified of  what's in his mind.

He leaned down to me, "Because, you'll be fucking staying here for next 3 weeks. You only come out to do the chores. Once you finished with them, you're back in this pool" his words send cold tremors in me as I started to plead him.

"Please... I won't do it again. I promise. Don't make me stay here. Please-" I begged him abandoning the last ounce of pride. 

But like a demon he was, he just smirked and kicked me one last time resulting in me landing with a splash. I quickly scurried over the edge of the pool not caring about the pain in my head and began to beg him to not do this for me and I'll do anything.

But he ignored my cries as always, ordered his men to watch over me and disappeared.

No....No....No..... This can't happen. I won't be alive if I stay in this pool for 3 weeks day and night in the middle of December. I won't be alive in the end of this punishment.

I begged his men silently hoping they would have a heart to melt at my state. But I'm so stupid to think that even possible. I forgot, like him, his men were also demons in their own way. And that was proved again when they smiled viciously. 

Tired of crying my hearts out, I put my head on the pool edge, trying to not think about the quivers my body having due to the cold breeze. Closing my eyes, I prayed only one thing in my mind over and over.

I wish I could die without enduring all this pain.

*******************

I gasped hugely taking deep breaths as much as I could. Coughing loudly as I felt water struck in my throat, I tried to remember where I am. Someone patted my back softly and I quickly tilted my head to look at the them and my breath caught at the sight. Almost all bikers are bending over me and Jenna, Daisy kneel beside me. 

I looked to the side to see who is holding me. It's a man in his early 30's. His clothes are drenched like mine. So, I presume that he's the one who saved me from my worst nightmare. His wet hair glued to his forehead, wore a denim shirt clung to him like a second skin showing. Dark brown hair, green eyes, sharp nose and slightly thick beard makes him so handsome.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I came out of trance before nodding.

"Don't scare us like that sweetie" Jenna stated, "Why are you in the pool if you don't how to swim?" 

I suddenly remembered someone pushed me into it. But I don't want to make things complicate. So, I replied.

"I slipped"

"Oh honey! Just be careful from now on" she said covering a blanket on me to stop my shivering.

I looked at Daisy and the minute my eyes landed on her, she jumped hugging me tightly I can't breath. But I didn't tell her and hugged back. The stress in her touch clenched my heart.

"I'm fine Daisy" I consoled her.

"I shouldn't have forced you" she mumbled with regret in her voice.

"Don't even dare to think like that" I scolded putting some distance between us.

"I'm the one who went to the edge of pool. I'm the one who's clumsy enough to fell into the pool. And I'm the one who don't know how to swim. You don't have anything to do with what happened, okay?" I said sternly.

She nodded mutely at my words.

I tried to stand but in my state it didn't possible for me. Jenna and Daisy helped me with it and I turned to the man who saved me.

"Thank you, umm-" I trailed off not knowing his name.

"Kade. Kade Wilson" 

My eyes widened at his name.

"You're Cara's father?" I asked, more like exclaimed.

"I see you met my daughter" Kade replied.

"She's been living here for a week Kade. Ofcourse she'd have met her by now" Daisy stated.

"Really?" he questioned and raised an brow at her.

"Long story. Tell you later" Daisy responds.

He nodded inspecing me.

"Cara always tells me about you" I started, "She's lucky to have you."

He shooked negatively at me. I'm confused at his reaction.

He smiled, "I'm the lucky one to have her."

It's true. Anyone who knows her will totally agree with him.

"Let's go inside. You're shivering with cold" Daisy's words bring me out of my thoughts.

Giving Kade a last smile, I started walking as Daisy holds sideways to keep me steady. The crowd gave us space to go in. When we reached my room, I gazed at Daisy.

"Alright. I can manage from now. You go"

"No way. You couldn't even stand by yourself. Let's get you clean up. You smell of chlorine" she stated stopping my heart.

"NOOO....." I screamed literally, making her jump in surprise. 

She stared at me quizzically before replying.

"Mel, are you hiding something?"

Shit.....shit.....shit

"What?! No..... Why would I? I don't have anything to hide from you" I said rather frantically.

Lies.....COMPLETE LIES.

She studied me like she's searching for something in me. I awkwardly stood there tightening the blanket around me.

"You know I'm shy, right? You can wait in the room. I'll bath and come out" I explained the reasonable excuse.

Daisy seemed to believe it. "You do know you can share anything with me, right?" 

Yeah I know, Daisy. But I won't pull you in my mess.

I just nodded at her smiling. As I said before, she won't press me for anything I don't want to. Now too, she just agreed and leave the topic.

"Alright. You clean up. I'll bring you some hot chocolate. I hope it gives you some warm" she said and went to get it.

I slowly entered the bathroom with lots of questions and lots of confusions. Who pushed me into the pool? Is it Cassidy? But I didn't saw her in the party. Then who? And last, why did my body instantly relaxed thinking about Hunter. I didn't even calmed when I thought of Mom and Dad. But why Hunter? Why only him?

I agree I like him. But not to the extent of single thought of him would make me forget everything. I thought about everything back there. Every damn thing that exists in the world. But his name alone freed me from my unbreakable distress. 

He broke through me.....

Hunter broke through my shield..... easily.

It can't happen. It took years for me to build such a thick shield around me. Hunter can't appear suddenly in my life turning it upside down cracking my shield.

It's not good.....for me.....and for him.

I have to put a stop to this. Till I live here, I have to be away from him as much as possible. It's impossible. But I'll try it. I have to.

If I don't, things would be gone out of my hands before I could do anything. I didn't even realized that I washed my body 4 times till Daisy called out for me. Quickly dressing after wrapping a towel to my hair, I stepped out of bathroom.

Daisy is waiting for me holding a tray of some bread and hot chocolate like she told.

"Hey" I greeted.

"C'mon. This getting cold" she replied arranging the plate for me.

I looked at the clock and it's already past 10'o clock.

"It's okay Daisy. I can manage now. You go to sleep. It's already late."

"You are the most clueless person I've ever met Melody Jacobs" she exclaimed. Not in angry but in amused way.

Like she said, I'm clueless now why she stated that obvious fact.

"You are crazy if you really think that I'd leave without making sure you ate all of this."

She figured me out so quickly. There's no way I could eat all this completely.

"I promise to eat it, okay. You won't get enough sleep by morning if you stay here any longer."

"Sleep is the last thing in my mind right now. Your health is my first priority" she retorted.

Sighing as there's no energy left in me to fight her back. I nodded. After finishing it, I stand taking the plates to put them in the kitchen. But Daisy stopped me from doing it.

"Give them to me. Now take rest" she declared.

"It's alright. I can-" I cut off my words shortly seeing Daisy'd glare.

Lately, I'm noticing the so many similarities in Daisy and Hunter. The most obvious one is their glare. Both of them can shut their opponent with just a single look. It's.....menacing.

"Okay okay. Drop that look" I said surrendering to her.

She instantly smiled and exit the room taking my plates.

Laying in the comfortable bed, I'm trying to welcome my sleep. But it's far away from me. All my thoughts are revolving around Hunter. I tossed for sometime to get some rest as my brain is so heated with various thoughts and I couldn't do anything to cool it off. Suddenly the pool incident flashed infront of me. A lone tear escaped my eye as soon as my mind consumed with the familiar darkness.

A darkness I'm so accustomed of. The darkness in my soul heaviness in my heart won't ever leave me alone. All my life, living with those, I'm used to it to the extent that if I ever see a light to hold on, I would be scared of it backing more into blackness. It makes me think that if something good happens to me, I would take it as a hint of more pain to come. 

Always hanging by a thin string, I'm afraid if I let go of it, I'd fall into the abyss of the pitch blackness where there's no end of it. And the most obvious and heartbreaking truth is, if I ever got languid to hold on, no one would catch me preventing my fall. I'm so naive to think there would be anyone. To think someone made an effort to do that for me.

After that incident, I'm fully and totally traumatized that a fear of water grew in me enormously. Not like the way to be scared even to take a bath. But I get those flashbacks at the large amount of water. Just like pools. That's the reason I couldn't learn how to swim. Every time I muster up some courage, all I do is to froze at the sight of water.

It bring back those awful memories I wanted to bury. Every single time it gets very hard to forget it like they never happened to me and live my life normal again. I'd have died by now if it's not for the promise I made to them. I'm so tired of living in this dark. After every breath I took, I wish the next one would stop. There's no day I didn't wait for my death. Only thing stopping me is the word I gave to them. To my parents.

***************************

"Listen to me princess..... Whatever the situations you face, whatever pain they give to you, never ever lose hope. You deserve the every happiness in the world" Dad whispered slowly trying to catch his breath.

He's laying on his back, his white shirt now covered with blood. His blood. All over the floor. His face held so much pain while speaking to me.

"Promise to me princess. Tell me you won't ever lose hope. Always fight for yourself. Always believe that you'll find your happiness" he croaked trying to sit up.

My 10 year old body is not strong enough to take his weight and can't do anything but stare at him with tears of fear. Fear of losing him. I finally came out of my daze and helped him sit up slightly wrapping my small hands around his shoulders and lay his head in my lap. 

His hand reached next to him for Mom. She is almost as dad laying in her pool of blood. The bullets were shot through her stomach and near her heart. No. Mom is not like dad. She's worse. She can't even move.

"Momma" I cried out reaching for her.

Her lips trembled calling me, "My doll."

"Shh..... Don't cry" Dad wiped the tears on my cheek.

When I looked down at me, he smiled at me taking my hand enclosing with his both.

"Daddy"

"Promise me, princess. No matter how much they break you, you'll pick up your pieces and live on with your life happily. With or without us. Give me your word, honey" he rasped in the end.

"I promise, daddy" I cried, "I promise to live on happily."

Closing my eyes, I shook my head negatively, "You are not going anywhere, dada. Please don't leave me alone. Momma please, please" I sobbed in his hair.

"You always listen to your dada, right. Now too listen ti him, doll. Keep your word. For us" Mom gasped in pain shutting her eyes. Dad hold her.

"Shh.... Don't cry anymore. We may not be with you physically. But I promise we always look out for you" he coughed and smiled at me.

And that smile stilled on his face. Not moving. Just stilled. Calm. Motionless. And I just began to stare at him.

When I gazed at Mom, she sobbed hardly looking at Dad. Her cries are heartbroken. They held grief.

She turned her eyes at me and whispered, "Remember your promise, doll."

That was it. It's all over. Her lifeless eyes struck on me. Her last words still echoed in the room. They are still ringing in my ears. It's over. And I didn't do anything. 

My cries stopped. Tears are no longer leaking out of my eyes. I couldn't move. I couldn't reach out for her. Only one truth is playing in my mind.

They left me.

They're gone.

Leaving me alone.

That's the only thing running in my head over and over. I didn't do anything even when his men pulled them away from me, dragging them out of the room, shutting the door with a force it's sound boomed in the silent room. Darkness surrounded me again. But I didn't bothered by it like always cause all I think is about them.

They left me alone.

In this darkness.

In this hell.

**********************

I jerked awake sweating profusely. At first I thought it was because of the nightmare. But after I came to my senses, I realized it's because of someone at my door. Banging it loudly to open.

I got up quickly, rushed to the door and opened it. As soon as I opened, I shrieked loudly in surprise and fear cause they hugged me. Tight.

I stood there paralyzed not knowing how to react. With so much difficulty, I raised my hands putting them on his chest and pushed him. But he didn't budge. I sucked a deep breath calming my raging nerves.

Relax, Mel! This is Hunter's club. No one will come for you. And no one will hurt you.

I again tried to put some distance between us. The more my hands pushing him, the more his hands tightening around me making me breathless. Breathing heavily, I started thinking about who he is and how to get away from him.

Just then a familiar scent touched my nose answering my unasked question. 

Hunter.....

Something in me burst explosively as blood rushes throughout my whole body but mostly to my cheeks. I bet they now look like someone painted red on them. Butterflies in my belly roaming freely giving me a pleasurable shiver. My body suddenly feels like it's burning. But it didn't ache. Instead, it soothes me. His cool body cocooning me, giving me a sense of safeness, security.

My hands raised on their own accord up to his shoulder blades to wrap around him. Placing them on the back of his neck. The coldness of his skin makes me wonder how is it possible for such a cold body to warm me, to send heat in my entire self, to leave me hot.

"Melody"

Hearing my name escape his lips, I came out of trance and realised what I've been doing. Quickly unwrapping my hands I yet again tried to push myself away from his iron like hold.

"What are you doing?" I gasped breathless tired of trying.

As a reply, he shifted only to bury his face in the crook of my neck inhaling my scent heavily and sighed resulting a hitch in my breathing. His hot breath fanning over my skin there tickling me and making it sensitive. Shots of thousands of tingles exploded in me all at once.

Sometime later, I found myself wrapping an arm around his back and another hand stroking the ends of his hair on his neck.

Shit!!! What am I doing?!

Hunter drew me more closer into him burying his face more in my neck like he wants to lst in me. Like he wants to fade away in me.

But all those thoughts froze when his lips grazed my skin and instantly millions of fireworks ignited within me. My body stilled involuntarily and going weak in my knees. Only support I got from falling is his tight grip on me.

Putting aside all the pleasurable feelings I'm having with a great effort, I pushed him strongly with everything in me.

This time he reluctantly let go off me but not completely. I'm still caged in his arms, but we have some distance between our torsos. His fingers curled my arms preventing me from moving back. I finally got courage to look into his eyes. 

The way he's looking at me with such an intensity made me speechless. I feared I'd see the lust in them. But it's the last thing in his gaze. Maybe it's not even the last thing. What his eyes held is concern, relief, adoration, yearning and fear.

Why fear?!

"You fell in the pool today" he asked. No..... He stated.

Is that why he's scared? I wondered but didn't dare to ask him.

"Yeah. I'm fine now though" I replied.

He kept staring at me intensely making me lower my eyes. I suddenly feel like covering myself even with fully clothed. At last, I started talking without raising my head.

"You don't need to worry. I'm good now. Go to sleep. It's already-" I looked at the clock on the wall.

Instantly my eyes widened itself at the time. 3 a.m. Shit! When I turned to Hunter I can easily tell that he's lack of sleep. 

"It's already 3 in the morning. You need sleep. Look at those dark circled around your eyes and how dull they are. You-" 

I stopped talking abruptly. Not by myself. Not because I wanted to stop.

But because of Hunter.

Hunter stopped me from talking more.

By placing his lips on mine.