Chapter 1 - Plan B.

ELSA ELKINS' POV,

The ray that streamed into my room that early morning came with the warmth I had always loved. It had always filled me with a renewed strength to push through another day, but not on that Saturday morning that was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

My excitement was far from me, and a great sense of sadness had seeped into my heart. I felt hollow and void and wished I had been dreaming all along. As I lay there watching my life and all that I had dreamt of slip through my fingers, with no control over my own life, the door to my room swung open.

"Oh my goodness, Elsa!" Mrs Catherine's jaw dropped open. Her shock and disbelief written all over her features as she saw me,

"I can't believe you're still shuffled," she added, snapping me out of my thoughts. She was dressed already, in a milky flay gown. She was getting ready for my supposed big day, and her makeup was almost done. I knew she had only come to make sure I was getting ready,

As I stared back at her taking in her agitation, I felt drained, but she seemed not to care about the look on my face as she continued about her business.

"Do you know what time it is?" She said, scampering towards me,

"We can't afford to be late, Elsa. Not on your day." She complained, her shrill cry filling the room, echoing the urgency in her heart. Her nervousness clearly expressed as she uncovered my blanket, making my anger boil at her apathy toward me,

Just then, the alarm bell clocked seven, ringing bells of reality at me. I felt like I was being drawn into an endless sea of misery with no means of escape. Each passing second led me closer to my doom, and right there, it dawned on me, that there was no other way out of my fate. Completely overwhelmed by it all, I sat up, and fixed her with a glare. My fists clenching as I tried to put a peg around my simmering fury.

"That's all you think of Mother," I spat, allowed my heart do the talking instead. I swallowed hard to suppress the anger that was rising within me, in an attempt to calm my already racing heart,

"It's clearly your day... you and Dad's." I added as calmly as I could taking my eyes off her, hoping she'd have pity on her only child, I was unable to stop the emotions that was beginning to surge within me and so my eyes welled up with tears.

"Not so my child, you know it's not true." My father, Mr. Alfred Elkins said as he walked into my room, dressed in a matching milky-coloured suit, his brown hair well arranged towards the back, looking all set and ready,

"I don't know what to believe anymore father, you never considered my feelings when you gave me as a bride to that monster," my words tumbled out of my mouth in a fit of anger with my gaze fixed on a particular point in space,

He exhaled loudly, his hands hanging on his waist as he said coldly, "I wish I had another choice, Elsa. You don't expect me to give up the plantation, it's our only means of survival and has been passed down from generation to generation, I couldn't give it away." He explained, his voice pleading for understanding as he spoke, which made me scoff in disbelief.

"I'm not marrying him, Father," I said, my voice firm with determination, as I wiped the tears that had stung my eyes off, without paying attention to the mask of frustration on my father's face.

"No Elsa, not again. We've talked about this before, and we're not going over that conversation again. So get yourself up and go freshen up." my mother quickly interjected, paying no attention to my feelings, which further broke my heart,

Unable to control myself I allowed my heart do the talking instead, "How could you, mom? How could you even do this to your only child? Do you care about me at all? Do you know how this whole thing is making me feel?" I asked my frustration getting the better of me.

But the look on her face was a mask of nonchalance. Right there, I realized I knew the answers to my question already,

"Right! you don't, all you care about is yourself even at the detriment of your daughter. So you're willing to exchange her for a penny." I answered immediately, my teeth gritted from the pain that had overwhelmed me.

As I stared into her eyes with my eyes wide open, my heart heaving hard against my chest as I tried to communicate my feelings to my mother who I thought was supposed to understand. My tears had blurred my visions, yet, all I wanted was to be heard.

Finally, after about seven seconds, my mother said,

"Elsa, you sound like we did it intentionally. We had no choice, this is the only way out of this." Her words came bearing the weight of her decision. I found it ridiculous and couldn't help but chuckle at her flimsy excuse, the sound of which bore the weight of the pain in my heart,

I shook my head in disbelief, as I tried to comprehend how she could be so cold towards my feelings, my gaze flew to my dad who had gone silent listening to me and my mother, he was peering through the window, out into the distance. His expression that of pain and regret.

Returning my attention to my mom, I said, "You sound like it's an easy feat to pull, but this is my life you're talking about mother, my dreams, and all the plans I have, I'm being traded for your satisfaction."

At that moment, I couldn't take it anymore. I broke down in tears completely given to my feelings. My mother walked over and sat beside me, while my dad exhaled loudly in frustration. I knew he was hurting too, but I was the one being sacrificed. My mom's hands ran through my hair, in an attempt to soothe me, then rested on my shoulders even as she gave it a gentle squeeze,

"Elsa," she called,

"We love you, I wish there was anything I can do, but you know Leonard, we might not survive defaulting his orders," she spoke emphatically. "However it is... It's better to be alive in his house than dead elsewhere," she said partly in thought,

"I somehow believe you'd find a way, he has the money, and you could have anything you want," she added with a wide smile playing on her face, her eyes sparkled at the thought of wealth, which made me stare at her with a mix of anger and disbelief.

I couldn't believe she was talking about money over my happiness. After staring at her for a while, lost for what to say, I buried my face in my palms and sobbed my heart out,

After a while, I decided to make her see how unreasonable she sounded, "You think I have any chance with Leonard? I'm sure you know better Mother," I said, and without waiting for her response, I continued, my voice low and deliberate,

"We both know of his disdain for anyone called woman, he's not the type to care for anybody, not to mention someone that was used as repayment. Do you think he'd treat me any differently?" I asked staring into her eyes, even though I wasn't really looking for an answer.

As soon as she heard my words, she stood up and said in a cold and distant tone, "Darling, I'm sorry, but there's no other way." Her words dripping dismissively as she started walking towards the door.

Fuelled by my determination, I called after her, "There is Mom," I said, stopping her on her track,

"I'm not marrying him, not today, nor ever," I added, my teeth gritted,

Without turning towards me, she said, "You don't have a choice, I'll ask Daniella to come dress you up. Be ready we leave by nine, Mass is by ten." she spoke dismissively and walked out of my room, while my dad did the same after staring at me for a while,

As I watched them leave, I wiped the tears that had been trickling down my face and braced myself up for the plan B.

I had initiated that last conversation as a deliberate effort to make them change their mind, but since they had proven to be adamant in their course, I had decided to have it my way,

As I got up from my bed, I heard a knock on my door and I knew who it was,

"Come in," I said, walking towards my mirror stand,

"Good morning my Lady," Daniella greeted me as she got to where I was standing, her hands were joined together, an expression of the hesitation in her heart, at the same time, she avoided my gaze,

"Did you get it?" I asked, staring straight into her eyes,

"Yes my lady," she replied with a nod, bringing out a tiny leather bag that she had hidden in her bra.

"Did anyone recognize you?" I asked, snatching it from her palm,

"No miss, nobody saw me, I was sure of it. I didn't take off my veil." Her eyes sparkled with certainty as she responded, which dissipated my fears,

"That's good then," I replied, looking at the leather bag as determination coursed through my veins. Deep within me, I was grateful I had found a perfect means of escape,

"My Lady, I..." she began to say, snapping me out of my thoughts,

As I stared at her, I could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes, she was struggling to form her words, and I understood what she was scared of. In an attempt to ease her doubt, I said "Don't worry Daniella, I'll be fine."

"I..." She stuttered while I lifted my brows in a quizzical look, my eyes blazing in a fierce intensity. I had made up my mind and nothing could stop me.

"Is anything the matter? Anything you would like to tell me?" I inquired searching her eyes to search for the sincerity in them,

"Nothing Miss, I'm just scared, what if..." She paused biting her lower lips. "You should be careful, marrying that monster is better than dying after all," she added, lowering her gaze as she avoided my eyes.

"I'd rather die than marry that notorious criminal." I replied firmly. "Now come help me get ready, I need to surprise every one of them." I added with a determined smirk on my face, my pain clearly expressed as I thought about what I had prepared for them.

"Remember, it must be taken inside the car, its effect will be felt within five minutes." she cautioned as she unzipped my gown,

Within the next hour, I was dressed in a simple white gown, it wasn't the type I had imagined for a wedding dress, but Leonard had sent it over. From its design and style one could tell it spoke of the contempt in his heart, and as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, flashes of his response flew past my face when I complained about the gown,

"...After all, you're only a property to be added to my possessions." he had an unforgettable smirk on his face. His eyes were cold and icy as he spoke.

Even as I thought about it, I felt chills running down my spine. That was the day I decided never to marry him, even though that was the only day I had seen him, I never stopped having nightmares of him mocking me in my dreams.

Stepping out of my room I saw my mom's face lit up with joy as she noticed the change in my demeanor, but if only they knew what I had in store for them? They went ahead of us, which allowed me to swallow the concoction before entering the car.

Everything went dark almost immediately, and all I heard was the faint sound of Daniella, calling for help,

Opening my eyes, I saw Daniella pacing back and front the room, my whole body felt weak, like I had just been drained of every bit of strength in me. As my eyes adjusted to the room I realized I was at the hospital,

My stomach hurt as I determined to sit up wincing in pain, which drew her attention, making her rush toward me,

"You're finally awake miss, I was so scared, I thought you'd never make it. You slept longer than expected," she said, her words tumbling out in a rush, even as she heaved a sigh of relief,

"How long have I been asleep?" I inquired after I heard her words,

"One hour, twenty minutes, you took an extra twenty minutes." She replied, her concern evident in her eyes as she spoke,

My eyes flew to all corners of the room and found it empty, "Where's everyone?" I inquired, determined to set my plot in motion,

"They just left for the doctor's office," she responded, "but I managed to get a coat" she added, a broad smile playing on her lips, which made me smile back at her.