"What's going on here?" A familiar voice so suddenly resonances through the ghostly silence, switching Dean's attention toward the entrance of the kitchen. My heart thumps twice as I know to whom the voice belongs. I feel my whole body in the deep pit of stillness. Silence washes over us.
I slowly turned my head and glanced in her direction. Kareena was standing against the door frame, her brows knitted in confusion. Her eyes were glued on Dean. As if feeling my gaze on her, she tore his eyes from Dean and drifted in my direction.
Her beautiful grey eyes found mine. She narrows her eyes in suspicion. My tension intensified and I lowered my gaze toward the ground, unable to maintain eye contact for long.
"Nothing Angel here is preparing breakfast for me," Dean says as he snaps his attention back to me. His eyes glared at me. Obviously, he is still mad at me.
"Then why were you holding her hand? And why is she crying?" Karina further inqu
The next morning, I was surprised to find Ivan still in bed, since he is normally up and out before I wake up. I couldn't help but stare at him. His hair was messy and a few locks were falling on his face. His lips slightly parted as I could hear soft snores coming from him. His chest rose and fell in rhythm. He looked calm and peaceful. He actually looked like an ordinary man instead of a heartless monster. I felt him stir in his sleep, which made him hold my breath. But fortunately, he did not wake up. I slowly removed my hand from his grip. I sighed, pulling myself slowly from the bed so I wouldn't wake him. I slip off and quietly stroll inside the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I proceeded to take a quick shower. After I clean up, I grab a clean towel and wrap it around me. When I stepped back into the room. Ivan was nowhere to be seen. Where did he go? Who cares? He is out of my face and that's what matters. I went through my closet
I took note of my surroundings. The only thing that this dungeon I was being locked in had was old, tattered, and dirty matter that I was currently sitting on, curled into a small ball. The dungeon looked like it hadn't been cleaned for years. The corners of the floor and the walls were covered in dirt along with huge spider webs, not small but quite big. Only because the floors were covered with dried-up red stains which definitely was blood that had not turned blackish. They must have killed and tortured lots of people here. The thought itself gives me goosebumps all over my body. And the smell. Let's not talk about it. It smells like somebody has been rotting here. I couldn't even breathe properly when I first came here. I had to pinch my nose so I wouldn't inhale the putrid smell. It was totally disgusting and gross. I knew I was definitely going to be sick if I had to spend any more time here. I don't know if it is day or night. Neither do
Three months later People say happiness and sorrow are part of life. One goes and the next comes, but I don't know what is wrong with me. I thought I would have a normal life if not happy after I escaped from hell, but I am still trapped here even after I ran from them. I feel like life has forgotten to give me and has only been taking things away from me. I don't know what to do with my life anymore. I have escaped from hell, but have I? It's been months since I escaped my nightmare. But my life hasn't changed at all. I have been locked in this farmhouse ever since I came here. I can't go out and perform my daily life like an average person. I loathed spending time here. It makes me realize how lonely I am. The silence haunts me, mocks me. Loneliness was eating me away the way termites eat wood. James would only come home every Friday evening and return on Saturday evening. Yes, he doesn't live here with me. A part of me understood tha
I felt well-built forelimbs wrap around my waist, tugging me into a wall of muscle. A hideous shriek escapes from my lips. "Someone's jumpy," A familiar hoarse voice tells me behind me as it rests its chin on my shoulder as the heavenly scent of cologne whirls into my nose and soothes my sensibility. "I didn't even hear you come in." He was so quiet that I hadn't heard him coming up behind me. Another squeaked escapes me when he twirls me around, coming face to face with a wide thorax. I slowly raised my eyes to meet his piercing gaze. "You miss me?" He asked in response. "Yes," I nodded, smiling while I tucked a part of my hair behind my ear." I missed you". He angled towards me and I thought he was going to kiss me instead. He carried his lips to my ear. "I didn't miss you at all," My smile immediately replaced it with a scowl. I couldn't help glare at him. James throws his head back and lets out a laugh, finding it funny befo
Loud noise from the phone's ringing tone wakes me up from my slumber. I let out a groan and placed the pillow on top of my head, irritated by the noise. I decided to ignore it. Soon the ringing of the phone stopped and again a minute later it went off. I went back to sleep but couldn't, so I decided to get up if I wasn't going to fall asleep. I shot up from the sitting position, rubbing my tired eyes. I blinked my sleep away from my eyes, looking up at the clock hung on the wall to check the time, finding it just seven am in the morning. Still early as I usually wake you, from 8: 30 to 9 am. I could hear the sound of water running, alerting me that James was in the shower. Just a minute later, his phone dinged, informing me that he had received a text message. This time I couldn't help the curiosity that sparkled in me. I crawled over to reach for his phone from the nightstand. I looked at the screen to find the number of an unknown number. I k
I peeled off my dress from my body and threw it in the basket and made my way to the shower before turning it on. After cleaning most of my body and hair, I dried myself before wrapping it around my body and another around my hair. I opened a cabinet and took out the first-aid kit. I found a gel that can help cool down the wounds. After applying it to the blackish-purple spot, I rolled the bandage. I got dressed in an all-black jumpsuit before heading towards the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw James already seated at the table. He was dressed up in a grey suit and white shirt. Why is he so handsome? My ticker began to beat hastily, suddenly feeling on edge. I looked down and hesitantly took a seat across from him. "Good morning.” He greeted me with a warm smile. Bastard. "M-Morning". I greeted him back with a forced smile of my own. James didn't look bothered at all. To be frank, I was a little taken back after
One and a half months have passed since the day Ivan had broken my leg without showing me any mercy. I have been on complete bed rest since. Life hasn't been easy here. Ivan is discourteous and inhospitable towards me. It's not like I crave his affectation or something, but you don't have to persistently slur me every chance he gets. It's the same story for Dean that he avoids me like the plague. David and others behaved as he did before I ran away from them. Hot and cold. Yes, initially, when they brought me here he was extremely inhospitable to me, but with time, he began to warm up. Actually, warm-up is not the word, more like it ignores me. I still don't understand why they keep me here when they can't even stand me. I mean they could have killed me but they didn't. Not that I want to die, but I don't understand why I am still alive. I am just a liability to them. They have changed the site. It's not the same repository where I firs
Another two weeks have gone and now I have started walking on my own. I still feel reprehensible about what happened two weeks ago. I wish things were different, but I can't do anything other than mourn it. I don't know what to do anymore. Running from here is not an option after what Ivan did to me. Just the memories of his brutality are enough to make me shiver like a wet dog. I don't think I will ever make that mistake again. I learned my lesson and realized that running is not an option anymore. Even if I somehow made the effort to try to escape from here, I still don't think it will be easy because Ivan has been very vigilant after my last escape. I have started doing small chores in the house. Mary wasn't okay with me working at first, but later she gave in. Working helped me take my mind off of my current predicament. At least I won't go insane thinking about everything over and over. Only two good things have happened to me ever
ONE AND HALF YEARS LATER. I glanced over at the clock on the wall. It was almost ten and Ivan would arrive any second. I don't know who I am gonna break the news to and how he is going to react. I pinched my eyes shut as I suddenly felt light-headed and a swell of motion sickness hit me. I immediately jumped up and bolted to the washroom before locking it. I immediately knelt down and threw my dinner into the toilet. I flushed the toilet before getting up and walked towards the washbasin to brush my teeth and splashed some water on my face. I couldn't help but stare at my reflection. I looked normal despite the fact I always feel drained these days. For the past few days, I have been vomiting frequently and I get drained really quickly. Soon I realized I had missed my periods. It didn't take me much to realize what had happened to me. So, I called Rosie my doctor for confirmation. She came and collected my blood this morning a
Two days had passed since my conversation with Ivan. Two days since, I am living in the guilt of taking two lives. I don't understand how Ivan can forgive me, especially after what I did to his unborn child. James, on the other hand, wants me to get a file from Ivan's office. Yes, that is what was written in the message. I was supposed to steal the file and James will come to pick me up on Saturday at noon, which will happen tomorrow. I am petrified. Anything could go wrong. Even though Ivan keeps assuring me everything is going to be okay, I can't seem to relax. But what choice do I have? I had to take the risk either way. "Isabella?" The mention of my name took me out of the trance. My head snaps towards the voice only to find Mary looking at me with her brows furrowed. I forgot to mention it. Mary had returned early in the morning. I was really happy to see her back. At least I'll not be alone now. "Bella?" She called me out
"I want to surrender," I said, looking straight through Ivan's eyes. It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "What the fuck are you talking about?" Dean snapped, obviously not liking whatever I said. I flicked my head towards Dean, who seemed like he wanted to snap my head. But for some reason it didn't scare me like it used to, I felt nothing. I was just numb. "I said I'll surrender," I repeated, emphasizing each and every word. "You will do no such thing," he growled demandingly. "I'm not changing my mind," My voice came out surprisingly strong. Dean needs to know I'm not changing my mind. "But-" Dean was about to say sometime but Ivan cut him off. "Dean, let me handle her," Ivan's tone was too calm for my liking. Even though he didn't look angry, my heart started racing and my palms started to sweat. Something "So you are going to surrender?" "Y-Yes," The word came out of my lips as a hush, but that
"Who is Jasmin?" I said softly, afraid I would anger him. Even though I was frustrated, I still know my limitations. But, as expected, he didn't say anything. He only gawked at me. I was getting apprehensive as time passed by. And the way he was gawking at me wasn't helping at all. It's been months since I've been living with this man, but I don't think I will ever get used to his stares. "Why are you all quiet? Tell me who Jasmin is," I repeated when I didn't get any answer. I know I was supposed to keep it a secret, but now it's done. I can only hope whatever James claimed is wrong, otherwise we will all be in great trouble. "Little bird, listen," David began, but I immediately cut him off. "No, I don't want excuses. All I want is an answer, plain and simple," I replied honestly. I didn't even care about my tone. I was sick and tired of people keeping me in the dark. I just wanted my answer and nothing else. "But Ang-" Dean st
It's only been a couple of days since Ivan murdered Peter and I've noticed how Ivan didn't feel the slightest repentance. It made me debate with myself. Is Ivan the right person for me? I tried to get the conversation going about it, but every time I talk about it, Ivan either ignores me or shuts me up. I don't know why he hides things from me. I know there is no justification for killing someone, nothing that can justify it, but I still want Ivan to tell me anything or even make any excuse for what he did. Peter wasn't exactly an honorable man, and it didn't take much to figure it out. I still remember how he was staring at me despite being a married man. The memories themselves make me grimace in disgust. But no one deserves to perish and no one has the right to take away someone's existence. A cold chill ran through my body as Ivan brutally ended his life. Peter's cry of agony still rings through my ear. I rubbed my now throbbing head. I hav
Days were going on, another few days had passed by and things were the same except the fact men have been uptight most of the time. They are hardly present at the house. Most of the days they come home after I have fallen asleep and they are gone before I wake up. I didn't know what they were doing because they were so busy. I wanted to ask him but for some reason, I felt like Ivan wouldn't appreciate my interference or interrogation. In those two months of living with Ivan, I had realized he was a very private person. Ivan had informed me in the morning that some people were coming over tonight for dinner and he had asked me if I could cook for them. Yes, he didn't order me. He asked if he was okay with ordering the food from outside. But I assured him I could cook for them. But the only problem was there weren't any groceries left to do the cooking. He said he would send someone with it and here I'm still waiting for the groceries. It
I still can't believe Ivan raised his hand on me and, worse, he didn't even bother apologizing. He storms off the house right after it, but after shooting me a glare. It wasn't a big deal, no matter how much I think, I fail to understand why he acted the way he did. All I asked was to go out. Sometimes I even wonder why I am even with him. He's too aggressive sometimes. Like something switches inside him. He goes from caring to scary mode. Yes, he is caring, understanding, good-looking, smart, everything, but that doesn't give him the right to manhandle me. Glancing out the window, I realized it had started getting dark. I still had to cook dinner. Yes, I am angry. That doesn't mean I will keep them starving. I headed downstairs and cooked white pasta because that was all I found. I had my dinner in absolute silence, but for the first time, I didn't feel lonely eating alone. Instead, it was rather comforting. After my dinner, I headed b
Seven days have gone by since the day of our argument. Ivan was very touchy from that day on. He would touch me and kiss me, every chance he got. I even caught him staring at me several times, but he didn't care and he kept staring at me regardless of whether he was caught. I still remember when Ivan had returned home. He was very angry when he did not find me lying naked on the bed as he had ordered me. He stripped me of my clothes and spanked my ass until I couldn't sit down. In the last seven days, we've been so close both physically and emotionally. I can tell I'm starting to feel things for him. There is no point in hiding it or denying it, at least not with me. No, it's not love, I'm still far from loving him, but his appearance is enough to make my heart swell. I don't know what was the definition of a perfect man for me in the past, because I don't remember anything, but now he is all I want in a man. And I don't mind giving our
They both turned their attention to me. Ivan's eyes widened for a split second before returning to his usual blank face and I didn't miss the way the woman's lips curved slightly. What a witch, I already hate her. Feelings of resentment flowed throughout my being. My mind was overwhelmed with all kinds of feelings. I was humiliated, embarrassed, betrayed, angry, and a little hurt. Yes, it hurts. I can't help feeling the weight in my heart. I didn't know what I was feeling or why I was feeling this way. It should matter what he's doing and with whom he's doing it, but for some reason he did. I really couldn't understand why I felt like that. I stood there for what felt like an eternity but it was only a matter of minutes before Ivan broke the silence. "Isabella" My name tumbled out of his mouth involuntarily. This is the first time I've heard him take my name. He always calls me a princess. "Princess, it's not what you think," He