Chapter 6

It was cold, unbearable even. The darkness that surrounded me seemed to solidify the cold, and I couldn't feel my feet anymore.

For what felt like hours, I had been confined in this solitary room with no way out. Panic set in as I tried to find a way out of this eternal gloom. But try as hard as I could, there didn’t seem any hope at all. My heart sank in despair and desperation kept building up inside me.

I've had enough, a part of me is screaming to give in and accept whatever comes next. But still, something inside me remains determined to soldier on. Every time I consider surrendering, these incredible events continue to occur. It's almost as if the universe is conspiring against my hopelessness and despair; trying it's best to remind me that there's still beauty and joy amidst all the darkness that life throws my way. I want to close my eyes and step away from all this pain but no matter how hard I tried to run away.

I had always been hesitant to take any action from this point, withdrawing from the situation and leaving it alone.

The door swings open with a crash, after what seemed like hours of anticipation. My eyes slowly flicker upwards and I take in the figure standing in the doorway. Despite the bright light beaming from behind him, obscuring his features from my line of sight, I can tell he’s tall and powerful from his posture. He takes a step forward and my heart rate quickens; how long had I been waiting for this moment?

My mouth is so dry that it's painful to even open them.

“I’m sorry I’m late, darling.”

I scoop away, my hands trembling as I watched him stand before me. His eyes…they held a dangerous gaze that could make even the bravest of men tremble in fear. My heart pounded in my chest as the rain and thunder clashed outside, serving to only further increase my anxiety. The situation seemed almost surreal, like this was something taken out of a dream or nightmare. He didn't move an inch, just stood there watching me with those icy eyes of his.

“P-please…”

I was begging him, but for what? I had no idea myself. All I could do was look to the side at my mother's lover who had since gone still. I felt a lump rising up in my throat and had to swallow it down before slowly looking back up at the man standing in front of me. His face was stone-cold, his eyes emotionless; he gave me nothing but an expressionless stare. My heart broke looking at him, knowing that there was nothing I could do.

The thunder rolled again, and at the exact same moment he suddenly dropped to one knee and presented me with his outstretched hand. Despite the intense storm raging around us, in that moment it felt like everything else had vanished. For a few precious seconds, I was staring into eyes more intense than any I had ever seen before, as if they alone could protect me from every danger that life would ever throw our way.

“Come with me, darling.”

His tongue trailed across his lower lip tantalizingly, moistening it and making it glisten in the light.

“I will protect you from now on.”

The worst decision I ever made was to blindly put my trust in him and agree to be with him, even though he had clearly been fabricating the truth about everything. It seemed like such a safe thing to do at the time, but it ended up being one of those moments that I look back on now and regret deeply. The fact that he couldn't even tell me the truth about his life should have been a major red flag, but apparently my judgment wasn't as strong as I thought.

I'm currently bound to this chair, completely helpless. Every movement I make is met with defeat, no matter how much I strain against the ropes.

My limitations are crystal clear and it's frustrating knowing that even if I persisted for days on end, there would be no escape for me to find.

“You can’t escape here. You are mine now.”

He flicked on the lights abruptly, leaving me momentarily disoriented due to the sudden brightness. I had grown accustomed to being in the dark. I blink and once I open my eyes again, there, it felt strange for him to be kneeling on the ground before me.

The man I believed could offer me assistance in my difficult situation turns out to be a criminal. Here I am, left feeling betrayed and misled. He had seemed so trustworthy, with his helpful words and pleasant disposition.

How could I have possibly known that he was nothing but a liar?

“Just kill me.”

Those words have been echoing in my mind ever since he grabbed me and brought me here. He didn’t utter one word, but I could feel his shallow breathing against my face. His tight grip sealed the fate that was already decided for me; I knew then that I had no chance of escape. Fear was all around, paralyzing me with each passing second as he dragged me through this unfamiliar place.

“Oh, I won't take your life darling. Don't you remember that I escaped just to rescue you?”

“You don’t have to do that.” I grumbled.

"Oh, even if you say that, I will still do it.”

He took my face in his hands and forced me to meet his gaze. As soon as our eyes locked, a flood of feelings surged through me. It was like the world was standing still, and we were engulfed in this deep familiar connection that I just knew would keep me entranced. His eyes seemed take in my entire being, like he knew every part of me and all my secrets. I felt completely exposed, yet strangely safe at the same time - emotions that contradicted each other but somehow safe.

“From now on you will live here with me, darling.”

I felt overwhelmed as a rush of anxiety coursed through my veins at his suggestion. Part of me was genuinely scared that in following his plan, I would be letting myself in for a world of trouble. After all, we were talking about living with someone who had committed a crime - it wasn't exactly the safest idea out there.

“I will give you clothes, water, food, care and everything you desire of. Just favor me with one thing…”

He unexpectedly sprung to his feet, and when I was able to laid my eyes upon him I understood exactly why I had chosen to come here in the first place. His manly jawline, his dark brown eyes and flawlessly unblemished skin were a sight to behold. A surge of admiration ran through me as he stood there confidently in front of me. It almost felt surreal - like it was too good to be true that he stood right before me.

“You have to do everything I say.”

He circles me like a shark, nonchalantly waiting for its prey. I squeezed my eyes shut and yelped in surprise when he abruptly tugged at my hair. It didn't actually hurt me but it felt like he was treating me as if I were his pet dog-- something over which he could assert his authority. His actions were unnerving, making my heart race and my chest tighten with anxiety.

“And when I say strip your clothes off…”

He suddenly guided his hands to cup my breasts and pinch my n*pples. I screamed out in surprise, unable to hide the pleasure that spread through my body. I felt a wave of energy coursing through me, starting from the top of my head and working its way downwards. My breathing was labored as I tried desperately to regain control over myself and push away the sensations that had been awoken inside me by his touch.

“Strip them off, right now.”