Reborn To Run From The Psycho Hero

It was one in the morning when the neighbor from upstairs hammered on my door, claiming a burst pipe was flooding their apartment and he wanted to check if we were affected.
I reached for the knob, but before my fingers closed around it, the text exploded across my vision.
[DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR! THATS NOT YOUR NEIGHBOR!]
[Didn't the old guy upstairs go to Malaysia last week to find his second spring? NO ONE is up there!]
I snatched my hand back from the cool brass of the doorknob.
Just then, the emergency alert pinged from the buildings official text message service.
[ALERT: Unit 1307 has experienced a major plumbing failure. Property management will inspect the entire line. Unit 1207: Please open your door so we can check your ceiling for seepage.]
My unit.
The Scrolling Feed rolled across my sight again.
[Who does plumbing checks at 1 AM?! Theyre working together!]
[Be a good girl, Liz, hide and wait! Your True Love Hero will descend from the heavens to save you!!]
I gave a curt nod, as if acknowledging the voices.
Then I turned, grabbed my emergency climbing rope, and, to the digital screams of the Feed, I shot out the balcony window.
I was reborn.
Last lifetime, Id listened to these idiotic voices and lived a miserable life.
This time, Id rather fall to my death than become a baby factory.
1
I hung suspended nearly a hundred feet in the air, my fingers locked white on the window ledge. The heavy, frantic thudding against the front door was a drumbeat against my ribs, shocking me into a cold sweat.
[Why isn't Liz waiting in the room for the Male Lead? Why is she being so reckless?]
[If Liz dies, who will the Male Lead have his sweet romance with? Go back inside! He will protect you!]
I gritted my teeth, rage boiling in my chest at the sheer, blinding stupidity of the comments.
Last life, I had hidden, waiting for a savior.
The result? Mitchthe man outside my door nowhad smashed his way in, slashed my face, broken my legs, and brutalized me.
Only when I was half-dead did the so-called savior, Owen Parker, finally arrive.
He heroically subdued Mitch for the police, rushed me to the hospital, and was the image of the attentive, caring man. He married me in my dazed, traumatized state.
Everyone called me lucky. So lucky to have a good man like Owen marry me, even after what had happened.
I married him and birthed three children in quick succession, living what appeared to be a perfectly happy, complete life.
But the sweet romance was a lie.
Owen had strong-armed me into marriage, seized my massive inheritance from my deceased parents, and imprisoned me in that house, using me as a human incubator. The truth slipped out one night when he was blackout drunk: he had hired Mitch.
He knew I was alone with a fortune. The assault, the rescueit was all a grotesque plot to acquire my wealth.
Discovering the truth, I set the house on fire, taking him with me. But God, or fate, gave me a second chance. A rebirth.
In this life, Owen Parker would never succeed.
The cold air whipped past, extinguishing the fury and restoring a sharp, cold logic. I analyzed the buildings exteriornarrow window ledges, barely palm-width. My only path was to traverse them, reach the stairwell window, and crawl inside.
I focused, mapping the route in my mind like a complex climbing pitch.
The massive CRASH of the door giving way sent a fresh surge of adrenaline through me, signaling that time was up.
Go, Eliza, go. I bit down hard on my inner cheek and began to edge sideways.
My fingers ached, but the two-meter span felt like a mile. Just as Owen opened the window to peer out, I flipped over the ledge and tumbled into the pitch-black stairwell.
I collapsed onto the cold concrete landing, gasping, weak-limbed, but an electrifying joy shot through me.
The Feed, however, was in chaos.
[Liz is so brave! She actually ran away! What about the Male Lead?]
[Don't worry. Our Liz is a damsel in distress. That was just a fluke escape. The Male Lead will still have his hero moment!]
I scoffed at the idiotic comments. They called me "Liz," but their loyalty was entirely to the "Male Lead," not caring if I lived or died. The pure, unadulterated cult of the savior.
Taking a deep breath, I kept low and moved quickly down the stairs while Mitch was still searching my apartment.
I reached the ground floor and my heart sank. The exterior security door was bolted shut. That monster had locked the entire building, trapping me inside.
The irritating Feed scrolled across my eyes again:
[Liz, stop running! Find a place to hide and wait for the Male Lead to rescue you.]
[Why is a girl so strong-willed? Isnt it better to be a small, cherished wife in a mans arms? All you need to do is have babies to be happy.]
[The Male Lead is going to be a future investment magnate, he won't mistreat you!]
I felt a surge of bile. With my parents' money and connections, any idiot could become an investment magnate! That wicked, criminal sociopath, a "Male Lead"? The Feeds moral compass was utterly broken.
The windows on the lower five floors were barred with heavy security gratesno jumping out there. Mitch would be coming back down. I had to run. Where?
I forced my gaze away from the Feed and focused on escape. Think, Eliza, think.
An idea sparked: the old climbing adage, "The darkest place is under the lamp."
Mitch would search for me away from my apartment. He wouldn't expect me to double back.
I started moving immediately, carefully ascending the stairs. I was breathless in the darkness, every step cautious, terrified of running right into Mitch.
Reaching the fifteenth floor, I heard frantic footsteps abovehe was descending. I pressed myself against the doorframe, praying Mitch wouldn't pause on the landing.
Clang!
The motion-sensor light clicked on. Heavy footsteps approached from above. A thick shadow stopped on the landing, then started toward the door leading to the residential hallway. I watched the shadow stretch toward me and felt a cold despair. My body trembled.
Was this it? Was I caught already?
2
The flimsy door was flung open, but Mitch only gave a cursory glance at the empty landing before turning to continue his search down the stairs.
Hanging in a wide-legged straddle above the door frame, my lips were bloodless, my limbs shaking.
He didn't look up.
I let out a silent, shaky sigh of relief and slowly dropped to the ground. Thank God for my climbing obsession; my upper body strength had saved me.
I waited until the landing light went out, then crept upward toward my floor.
I reached my front dooror what was left of itand slipped inside, running straight for the master bedroom. I locked the door and scrambled into the walk-in closet, curling up amongst the coats.
Only in that tight, dark space did a sliver of safety return.
I pulled out my phone to dial 911, only to find I had no signal.
Damn it. My heart sank. I immediately regretted moving into this brand-new development where few units were occupied. No neighbors to call on.
As I frantically tried to think of a next step, the sickening comments reappeared:
[Oh good, Liz is using her phone! She doesnt know the Male Lead installed a tracker/trigger app! One call to the police and it alerts him!]
[She cant escape now! Get ready for the hero's rescue and the start of a beautiful, redemptive, forced romance!]
A cold jolt ran through me, and I nearly dropped the phone. But I forced myself to hold on. I needed the Feed for intel. They could not know I could see them.
I climbed out, feigning panic, and quickly changed into my most athletic gear. I deliberately left the phone nestled under a pile of scarves in the closet.
Heavy footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door. I scanned the room and snatched up a heavy brass lamp from the bedside table, taking position behind the door.
The footsteps stopped. Mitchs harsh, raspy voice sliced through the silence.
Dont hide, Eliza Reed. I know youre in there.
Come out now, and itll be less painful...
I stood rigid, lamp in hand, waiting to launch my attack.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Mitch began slamming against the door. His voice grew furious, laced with a familiar, toxic resentment.
Women are supposed to get married, have kids, and serve their men!
You non-marrying, non-birthing gold-diggers are a plague on society! Im doing a public service, Im going to teach you how to be a good, proper wife and mother...
I listened to his vile sermon, the ice in my eyes hardening.
The thin door quickly splintered. It was about to give.
I carefully released the deadbolt. When Mitch slammed against the door one last time, I pulled it open and flung myself to the ground.
I timed it perfectly. As he stumbled forward, I swung the lamp with all my remaining strength at the back of his head.
A flicker of triumph died immediately. The staggering Mitch somehow twisted, raising the claw hammer he held to block the blow.
His yellowed teeth split into a sickening smile. Eliza Reed, you should just lie down and wait for me.
He lunged.
My jumping heart stalled for a second, then kicked back into overdrive. I lifted my foot and drove it hard between his legs, then spun around and ran.
Aargh! You little bitch! Ill kill you!
Mitch shrieked, doubled over, staring at me with pure venom. He swung the hammer wildly, catching me as I scrambled away.
I tripped and landed hard on my left shoulder. Excruciating pain shot down my arm.
Fractured.
My face was contorted with agony, but I didnt waste a second. I crawled up and bolted for the door.
The Feed was screaming:
[Liz, stop struggling! You cant fight a man! Just surrender to the Male Leads embrace!]
[He's waiting on the thirteenth floor! Just knock, and he'll open! Don't waste time!]
3
The sight of the Feed, directing me straight to Owen, stiffened my resolve: I would die before I went to the thirteenth floor.
Gritting my teeth against the searing pain, I stumbled toward the elevator, stabbing at the down button.
You bitch! Where are you going to run? Mitchs bellow echoed behind me.
I nervously swallowed as I watched the elevator indicator slowly descend. Too slow. I spun around and staggered toward the fire exit stairwell.
I slammed the heavy steel door shut, twisted the deadbolt, and ran down.
I ran and ran, my mind racing. The entire unit was locked down. My only chance was to reach the second unitUnit Band try to escape that side of the building. To do that, I had to lose Mitch.
A plan flashed into my newly clear mind. I spotted a stack of flattened moving boxes and cardboard debris piled near the utility closet.
I have to take the risk.
I sucked in a breath and charged back to the elevator, hammering the Open button, my eyes fixed on the descending floor number.
Mitch was close. The elevator doors opened.
I ripped off my jacket and tossed it inside, then slammed the button for the lobby. I pulled my hand back just as the doors closed.
I quickly pulled off my hair tie, dropped it conspicuously near the elevator, and dove into the pile of cardboard boxes, folding myself into a tight ball.
Seconds later, rapid footsteps arrived, getting closer.
Through a small gap in the boxes, I saw the thick shadow stop right in front of my hiding place.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I froze, praying, Dont look down, dont look down.
Mitch paused, then moved toward the elevator doors, which had just opened on the ground floor. He let out a scoff of contempt, then turned and ran back toward the stairwell, pounding down the flights.
When the sound of his footsteps completely faded, I sagged against the floor.
Time was critical. Dragging my aching body, I reached the corridor connecting the two building units. The door was locked.
I used my good arm to smash the glass windowpane next to the door, carefully climbed through the jagged opening, and found myself in Unit B.
I sprinted down to the ground floor. My stomach twisted with fresh despair. That door, too, was secured with a thick, heavy steel chain.
I bit my lip. No escape at the ground floor. I ran back up to the sixth floor, intending to use the narrow ledge and my climbing skills to jump to the ground-level landscaping.
As I reached the sixth floor, a door opened. A man in flashy loungewear and heavy eyeliner, clutching a bag of recycling, was heading toward the stairs.
I saw a lifeline and grabbed his arm, the words spilling out, laced with a desperate sob. Someone is trying to kill me! Please, you have to let me hide in your apartment!
The young man was startled, but he quickly ushered me inside, throwing his recycling down. He spoke in a bright, concerned voice. Dont worry, sis. Ill call the police right now.
He pulled out his phone, frowning. Damn. No signal?
Exhausted, I collapsed onto his sofa. The man... hes using a signal jammer to block calls.
The young man muttered, Thats messed up. Hey, dont worry, my door is solid steel. They arent getting in here. You just stay here until daylight, and Ill take you to the station myself.
I forced a grateful smile. Thank you. Wheres the bathroom?
He pointed. As I entered the restroom, washed my hands with cold water, the Feed returned.
[The Male Lead is so smart! He anticipated Lizs movements and was waiting in this unit!]
[Liz finally walked into the trap, teehee! The Male Lead prepared a special dark room for her! The exciting, sweet, forced romance is about to begin!]
I stared at the comments, an icy dread creeping up my spine. My teeth ground together.
4
I started to re-examine the man.
His face was obscured by thick makeup. He'd casually mentioned he was a streamer, but there was no camera, ring light, or even a decent PC setup in the living room. I was too trusting.
Sis, you alright in there? His voice, muffled through the door, carried a faint edge of doubt.
I watched the shadow on the bathroom door. He was holding something longa rope.
In a panic, I cranked the shower handle, letting the water blast out. I shouted back, Hey, sorry! I think I need a quick shower. Ill be a minute!
The voice outside chuckled. Take your time, sis.
The shadow disappeared. I wiped a stray tear from my eye and frantically searched for a new escape.
My eyes fell on the windows blackout curtains. The rushing water masked the sound of my efforts. I yanked the curtains down and tore them into long strips, tying them together. I tested the knots, then climbed out the window.
The makeshift rope was not long enough. It stopped just above the third floor.
Dangling in the dark, I looked down at the lawn, took a deep breath, and let go.
I landed hard on the soft grass, rolling several times and slamming into a decorative garden bench before I stopped.
My entire body screamed with pain. I managed a quiet sob, pulled myself up, and began to limp away.
[Why is Liz so stubborn? Isnt it better to just enjoy being the Male Leads pet?]
[Its fine. When she gets to the gate, shell find out the guard is paid off. She can't escape the complex.]
The Feed had given me my next direction. I immediately changed course and headed for the underground parking garage.
I stared at the empty, echoing space with despair. Those monsters would find me here.
Five hours until dawn. Where could I possibly hide?
Heavy footsteps echoed in the garage. I saw only a few cars scattered across the vast space. Desperate, I dove under the nearest large SUV.
I saw four legs approaching. Mitchs foul cursing reached my ears: That little bitch can really run. Im going to have so much fun with her when I catch her.
Hold on, Mitch. No fun until the wedding. What youre doing is a felony right now. Once shes my wife, you can do whatever you want. Owens cultured voice was soft, but the icy malice in it made me tremble violently.
The little fool hurt her shoulder and leg. She cant be far. Lets search the cars.
I was flat on the concrete, watching their shoes as they started their meticulous search, even peering under the vehicles.
As they began to approach the SUV I was under, the blackness of utter despair welled up in my heart.
Was I really going to be caught?

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