Chapter 2 - Freedom's Call

Aria

My eyes open to darkness.

I bolt up from the single bed I’m placed on and get hit with dizziness and a sharp pain in my head again.

I lay back on the bed and try to adjust my eyes to the darkness, confusion still fogging my brain. There was absolute darkness, save for the ray of moonlight flooding the room through the tiny window left open by the upper side of the wall.

The memories of today hit me; waking up, seeing Damon, getting dragged out of the hospital...

It wasn’t a dream. Tears well up in my eyes as I shut them tightly as if to make this nightmare go away. I wish it would. Then I wouldn’t find myself in this hell. I wouldn’t have to face that bastard again.

As if my thoughts conjure him, I hear the door creak open and reveal the silhouette of the devil himself. He’s still dressed in that attire from earlier, except the tie and suit are gone. I notice his white shirt glistening in the dark room.

I shut my eyes and try to pretend like I’m asleep, ignoring the heavy thuds of his footsteps as he stalks towards the bed. I feel his weight dip on the side of the bed.

“I know you’re awake,” His deep voice reverberates on the bed, sending a shiver down my spine.

I ignore the urge to shudder and keep my eyes shut. I’m determined not to say a word to him until he gets the fuck out of this place. If he thinks he got a docile little thing who’ll shiver at the sound of his voice alone, he’s got another thing coming. I won’t be the first to back out from this—

“Why’d you do it?” his voice is barely audible, but I can swear it held a note of vulnerability.

My eyes snap open. My body tenses, anticipating the next words from his mouth. What the fuck did Ava do?

“Running away with my money wasn’t enough, you decided to toy with my heart too?” He chokes out a bitter chuckle.

“Oh, Ava,” he mutters. The amusement in his voice was long gone. “You’ll regret ever crossing paths with me.”

“How many times will I have to tell you that I’m Aria, not Ava?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. My eyes widen, instantly regretting saying anything at all.

Stupid stupid Aria, there goes your chance of getting to the root of the matter. I mentally hit myself.

“You’re awake after all,” his voice held a bit of amusement. He turns towards me and meets my eyes.

“Well, you woke me up. Don’t you know it’s common courtesy to leave someone who’s sleeping alone?” I glare at him. All the anger about what he did earlier today rushed back and licked at my veins.

“You have the wrong person! How many times will I have to say that to get it through that thick skull of yours?!” I’m seething at this point.

My head is pounding, and my heart is beating rapidly too, but I don’t give a shit about any of that. I’m sick and tired of being accused of what I didn’t do.

He raises an eyebrow at me and holds my gaze. The moonlight flooding the room makes the green freckles in his eyes visible. They are swirling with anger now, but I don’t back down.

“Who the fuck do you think you are to show up at my hospital room and kidnap me?” I poke his arm with my index finger forcefully, but he doesn’t flinch.

“I’m not the person you’re looking for. The sooner you realise that you’re making a big mistake, the better.”

His lush lips press into a thin line. He grabs my wrist, poking him on the arm, and pulls me close to him.

“This game of yours has become boring. It was cute while it lasted” he says in that tone that makes the temperature drop a few degrees, “ But it’s beginning to annoy me, Ava.”

He holds my gaze and gives me a look that says, I dare you to deny it. I swallow the lump in my throat and avert my eyes from his intimidating stare.

He reaches out to the bedside table I never noticed was there to put on the bedside lamp. The room becomes illuminated with a warm, golden hue, making everything brighter.

I barely get time to take in the room before Damon throws a paper on my lap.

“What’s this?” I pick up the paper and look up at him.

"'Your ticket to hell,'" he says, looking down at me with a smirk that sends a shiver down my spine.

I ignore it and open the piece of paper. My eyes instantly widen at the content. No! This can’t be happening to me. This is a nightmare.

“Damon, what’s this?” I ask, my voice laced with obvious fear.

“You heard me the first time. Your ticket to hell.” That stupid smirk I want to wipe off his face is still there.

“You're going to jail.”

“No, Please!” I’m on the verge of breaking down now. “I swear I’m not the one you're looking for.” There’s no way in hell I’ll take the fall for what Ava did.

He scoffs, “Yeah, right. Tell that to the cops when they come in the morning. Sleep tight, Ava. You’ll need it.”

He turns around and starts walking out the door.

Fear claws at my throat. I can’t go to jail! I have to find Ava. I have to prove that I’m not the one he’s looking for!

Think, Aria! Think. My eyes snap open. A light bulb goes off in my head.

“I can prove it!” I blurt out without thinking my plan through.

His hand stops on the doorknob.

“Prove what?” he asks without looking back.

“I can prove that I’m not the one you are looking for.”

He turns around this time, amusement written all over his face.

“And how will you do that, Ava?”

This bastard definitely knows how to rile me up. I won’t let him get to me. Not when I’m this close to freedom.

“We have to go somewhere” I look up at him to see his look of amusement morph into anger.

“Look at you trying to make a fool out of me again,” he chuckles darkly.

“Nice try, Ava.”

He turns around again, about to leave this time.

“Let’s go to my house!”

“What?”

“Let’s go to my family’s house,” I repeat with confidence this time. “I’ll show you our documents, both mine and Ava’s.”

He doesn’t take his eyes off me, and I hold his stare. I can tell he's weighing his options. This is the only way I can be free. I can’t—

“I'll send someone to bring you a change of clothes tomorrow morning.” I’m startled by the sound of his voice.

Relief courses through my veins as I nod frantically.

“You had better not be lying again, Ava.” His voice held a hint of warning.

"Bastard," I mutter to myself. “I’m not Ava.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I didn’t say anything. I’ll be sure to get dressed early tomorrow.” I say, feigning innocence as I meet his gaze.

He just grunts and leaves the room, slamming the door shut.

For the first time since getting out of the coma, happiness courses through my veins. I lie back on the bed with contentment, facing the ceiling.

The weight of my chains lifts, and the shadows that haunt me begin to fade.

A warm smile spreads across my face.

Freedom. Finally.