CHAPTER 2 : Kidnapped

Cladded in navy blue dress that reached below her knee, Hazel's flawless skin was glowing under sunlight. Her light colored eyes were twinkling under light rays.

Each soul around her felt parlayed undee her beauty, not being able to take their eyes off her.

Hazel stifled a giggle, giving them polite smiles on her way which they almost immediately reciprocated, not wanting to look rude to miss lovely.

She was referred as miss beauty of her department.

Hazel's undefined beauty was one thing, but innocence leaking off her features was other.

With slow and steady steps, she stepped out of university and began to walk on the pavement, feeling fresh air stroking her warm skin.

The orphanage she had taken refuge in wasn't far from her institute, so she preferred walking most of the time.

Being foreign exchange student, she was given facility of hostel, but she turned down the offer. It was her last year in Australia. And she wanted to stay nearer to her late parents as possible.

And what could bring her more closer to them than by staying in orphanage her parents built for orphans.

She has heard that her parents were the most compassionate people. Of course, she didn't remember. She was three when their demise took place by deadly accident.

Sometimes Hazel wondered, had her parents ever thought whilst building the orphanage, that someday their own daughter would have to stay in it, as an orphan.

Hazel felt her eyes welling up at their thoughts due to which she tried to blink the memories as well as her tears away.

Her constant contagious smile made the natives warmed up to her as they walked past her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by phone ringing. She pulled it out from her purse and stared at caller id.

Her beautiful smile stretched more seeing the name.  She hurriedly picked the call.

"Afternoon aunt Mona." Her soft voice greeted. The only woman who gave her love after her late mother was aunt Mona, her mother's best friend.

She was brought up by her until she turned eighteen two years ago and decided to return to her home country for further studies.

"Afternoon." Mona's chirpy voice came. "How's my little girl doing?" Hazel couldn't help but laugh at her aunt's way of babying her.

"I'm good. On my way to hostel." Hazel bit her lip in guilt, hating to lie to her. Her aunt didn't know Hazel was staying in hostel. Or she would have never allowed her to come here at first place.

Or rather someone else wouldn't have permitted her.

"Oh alright and be safe baby. And when are you coming back? Don't you miss your aunt?" Hazel couldn't help but sigh softly. Her course for which she came here completed two months ago.

Now she was purposely attending small courses here as an excuse to stay back.

"I will come soon, aunt." Hazel murmured, gazing around. The path was becoming deserted now as the orphanage was in middle of no where.

Hazel would always creep out whilst taking this path.

"You always say this." Her aunt complained making her giggle. She could imagine the baby pout her fifty years old aunt make when things don't go according to her.

"And I always mean it." She chirped. Suddenly, hair on her nape stood up in alarm, feeling someone's gaze. She halted her walk and stared around. There was no one. Gulping softly, she began to take as large steps as her small legs could form.

"Like I don't know you." Her aunt's disappointed voice came, diverting her attention. She was about to console her, when she heard a deep voice from her aunt's background.

The voice that held the power to freeze each cell of her body.

"Give me the phone." Hazel tightened her hold on the phone anxiously. The throaty voice of him made her heart skipped a heart.

"Aunt, I'll call you late-" She rushed, anxious to disconnect the call when she was interrupted in middle by husky chuckle. Her face heated up, pink blush forming on her pale white skin.

"What's the hurry, Hayati?" She pulled her lower lip in between her teeth, feeling herself going speechless. Her heart was skipping rapid beats. His thoughts made her forget her surroundings.

"Hmm? Speak Hazel. Going mute won't save you. " Hazel loved her name from his voice. His rich voice was driving her somersaults.

"H-Hey." She finally whispered, knowing Theodore won't spare her that easily. Teasing his shy Hayati was his principle priority.

"Let's leave the greetings for later Hayati, shall we?" His voice had hint of amusement in it before it took a flip, turning all serious and stern. The rough tone that would make her wince inwardly.

"When should I expect your return?"

Hazel tensed up. Knowing, Theodore can't be brushed off like her aunt. He had certain power over her reflexes. He would declare her statement a lie before she would even finished stating it. He wasn't LAPD'S top notch Deputy Chief for nothing.

"F-Few days more." Her soft voice mumbles. She crossing her fingers of other hand, hoping he would buy it. Even when knowing, he won't.

"Hmm." His throaty voice had gone more deep. That could only indicate one thing. He was getting angry and she knew it wasn't a good sign.

Theodore Alexander's temper was that flaring falk whose igniting flames would effortlessly compete with blazing fire. His mere glare would make even brawny men shrunk back to north.

"Get your bags ready." His authoritative voice ordered suddenly, halting her dead on her tracks. "I'm booking your flight for tomorrow."

Hazel's felt her breath hitching in anxiety. She wasn't yet ready to face him.

But the finality in his tone told her another story. He had it all decided. And when Theodore Alexander would decide in her matter, no one would get a say in it anymore.

Nevertheless, it wasn't in her genes to give up so soon. Often times, she knew the outcome of her rebelling, still she would oppose his words to stroke her almost non-existent ego.

"No I will com- ." She tried as always. But was interrupted by his terrifyingly intimidating tone which he would often use on his preys, when he had to play as predator.

"No?" His dark voice dropping octaves down. "Do you think being away from me will give you liberty to say no to me?"

Hazel felt her breath hitching in slight fear. Even when he was miles away from her, his mere threat had her trembling like leaf.

"Theo stop scaring her." She heard her aunt's voice in background, relieving her. Only for minute though, because his next words made her wince.

"No mother, it's enough now. Don't you see how she has been using excuses to stay there? Now I feel like like she doesn't even wanna come back to us anymore." The hurt and agony behind his words were that top notch puzzle, only Hazel Abram could solve.

Although it did nothing but brought excruciating pain to her restless heart that was scolding her on hurting it's cause to beat.

"I will talk to he-" She heard her aunt before she was interrupted again by her furious son.

"Listen here, Hazel." The authority in his voice had her senses high in attention. She sniffed softly, to melt his cold heart. But was brutally ignored and dominantly ordered.

"I want you in my house tomorrow. If you didn't come by then, then I will."

His tone had turned calm, but his meant words had created havoc inside her.

No, no. He would bury her alive if he found out she was staying in an orphanage. Even when every month he would send her ample sum of money that could effortlessly afford her a good sized condo.

"And believe me, the latter won't end well for you." Saying so, she heard him tossing the phone on table. The loud noise near her ear made her flinch.

Tears started dripping down her cheeks knowing she lost her freedom in this matter.

"Oh baby, don't cry." Her aunt's worried voice came from phone, hearing her soft sobs.

"I don't w-want to come, aunt." She cried out.

"He is just worried for you. Don't worry, I'll talk to him." Her aunt tried to console her, but both knew it didn't matter.

Theodore's words were unalterable. Although, he would never deny his mother, but all knew he had the last say in Hazel's matter.

He had straightaway told his mother that he wouldn't appreciate anyone's interference between him and his Hazel.

Hazel exhaled a defeated sigh, knowing her tomorrow would be in Los Angeles.

"Okay, aunt. I'll go now." She murmured, once the distant building of orphanage entered her sight of vision.

"Alright, sweety. Take care." She smiled, although it's contagion had gone. Disconnecting the call, Hazel placed the phone in her purse and started taking fast steps towards orphanage.

Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her. Startled, she was about to turn around a stung on her neck made her whimper.

She tried to scream when her soft lips were covered by large palm. Her damp eyes began to shut down, before darkness enveloped her.

***

Hazel whimpered as her senses slowly began to return. Her hands slowly lifted up to rub the sides of her head.

Her head hurt.

Opening her squinting eyes after some struggle, first thing her blurry eyes caught sight of was black ceiling.

Where was she?

Hazel tried to recall. Suddenly, her memories began to rush in like torrent, making her heart to throb mildly.

She was kidnapped on her way to orphanage.

The realization turned her blood cold. She tried to sit up but was halted by burn on her wrist.

Wincing quietly, she turned her head and felt her eyes watering at the sight. Her wrists were chained to a wall.

Her heart dropped to her stomach, intensity of her situation sinking in. 

Why would someone kidnap a foreign exchange student? There must be some mistake.  She tried to console herself.

Her slightly damp eyes inspected the small room she was tied in. A dim light bulb was hanging from ceiling that was barely illuminating a thing.

Her cautious eyes caught sight of purse, laying on small table. A hiss left her parched lips when she struggled against the chains.

The metal had dug in her sensitive skin, instant bruises forming on the spot.

The sight of her red injured skin made her more frightened. Tears slowly began to drip down her cheeks.

She was alone in this country. No one would discern her absence in that old shady orphanage, she was taking refuge in.

She tried to recall if anyone would notice her truancy. She didn't had any friend. Her introvert nature didn't permit her.

Suddenly her hope began to rise in her doe eyes remembering girls she shared her chemistry class with .

Chloe and Evelyn.

They couldn't be labeled as her friend. Albeit, They were the only people who knew her. But how would they notice? She was kidnapped outside the university. If possible, they would get to know of it in two three days. And Hazel didn't even want to imagine the worst possibilities that could take place in mentioned time lapse.

"A-anyone here?" Her cracked voice was hoarse, barley above a whisper.

"Please!" She tried again, this time bit loud. "Help me!" She cried out, struggling against the chains and damaging her already bruised flesh.

Her parched throat had started struggling for oxygen. She raked her puffy eyes on her self.

A relieved sigh escaped her lips finding her in her own dress. Although, few stains of dirt were glimmering in different spots.

"PLEASE" She screamed, her voice breaking apart. Her body trembling in cold room. Her mind fearing for her fate.

She wailed and weeped till her tongue parched up, leaving no more saliva to consume, driving her throat to agony. Closing her teary eyes in defeat, she leaned her head against the concrete wall and tuk herself in smallest of possible ball.

Had she known that's what awaited her here, she wouldn't have dared coming here.

Suddenly, her cries halted hearing sound of heavy footsteps echoing. Hazel swallowed a lump in her throat, sniffling softly. The dreadful anticipation was killing her nerves.

Whimpering, she tightened her hold around herself hearing the sound of key inserting in keyhole, followed by barely audible click.

Hazel slowly lifted her head from her knees, watching as the wooden door creaked up.

Her lowering gaze first caught sight of denim sneakers stepping inside the room, tauntingly slow. Hazel's ears were calculating the erratic beats her heart was missing in fright.

Ever so slowly her puffy eyes shifted upward, discovering a male silhouette standing there, darkness enveloping his surroundings.

"Who are y-you?" Her voice was hoarse from all the screaming. The weakness in her body didn't let her move, though she made sure to covey her hatred for the kidnapper with her glaring eyes.

"Why did you kidnap me?!" She tried to sound stern, but ended up failing miserably. Anger and sterness didn't settle with her beautiful yet innocent features.

Suddenly, sound of playful whistling echoed in silent atmosphere. The noise was so sudden that it made her flinch back, resulting in her head getting slammed into concrete wall.

"Ahh." She hissed, and lifted her hands to clutch her spinning head when they were blocked by chains.

The man whose dark eyes were following her every movement, let out an amusing chuckle witnessing her antics.

"Careful there, sweetheart." The familiar deep voice of her kidnapper halted her movements. She lifted her slightly cautious orbs and squint them on him.

She has heard the voice before.

The way her curious eyes were trying to detect his identity was entertaining. She resembled a beautiful, curious kitten.

Although she was struggling to veil her fear, but her eyes were the spokesperson of her inner turmoil.

Terror. Her hazel orbs were displaying utter terror.

He felt the need to scoff in irony.

If only she had felt even a fraction of this fear while trying to sabotage in reputation, both of them wouldn't have to go through this much trouble.

Too bad her own sinful deeds became her downfall. He would make sure the rest of her life would be spent in fear of her own shadow.

"Why." Her painfully low whisper brought him out of his thoughts. Turning his head in her direction, he arched his brow, stifling a scoff of irony.

He took two steps forward, halting below the dim bulb. Hazel felt her breath hitching in disbelief once her scared hazel eyes met the charcoal ones.

"Does this answer?" His deep voice rasped with chilly smirk as he slowly crouched down to her eye level.

No, No, No.

Hazel squint her eyes and gazed at him again, analyzing the dark features of terrifyingly dangerous man.

He couldn't be.

"E-Edward sir."

He was none other than Edward Arnold, son of powerful mayor. His arrogant eyes glimmering with something vile. Nefarious.

His features were hard, not even bit resembling with playful polite man who had once rescued her from the bullies.

The disbelief and astonishment reeking her features made him smirk. Shaking his head in taunting manner, he leaned forward making her cower back. 

"I'm pleased, you remember me." He murmured. Hazel's cautious eyes were glimmering in confusion.

Remember? Hazel had never confronted him before other than the time he saved her. Yes, she'd heard alot about him but she'd always made sure to avoid his path.

He carried a every extroverted aura around him. Something, Hazel had disliked.

"You look confused, sweetheart." Edward mockingly coeed, bringing his hand up to her face making her flinch. The back of his fingers began to tenderly run through her damp cheeks, relishing it's softness

"Why?" He raised a brow at her. "Are you that much busy in screwing your clients that you couldn't keep track of their names in brothel."

Her blood went cold hearing his words.

***