The Prince Kidnap Bride

Awaken To Darkness

Naomi begins to stir awake. Was it still the night of their engagement party? Like Flashes from a camera, the ballroom's decor by candlelight came into her mind. It was an evening filled with the sound of merriment and the happiest moment in her life. But in her mind, it's all like a hazy fog. Was it just a memory in her head that keeps flashing before her eyes? Because everything seems so distant and like a dream. Her thoughts troubled her as she felt disconnected from reality.  A soft breeze blows over her skin, making her shiver. Her arms and legs felt so heavy.  

Had she fallen asleep in the middle of her engagement party? They hadn't cut the cake or exchanged wine glasses, or even thanked the guest for coming? She didn't want to miss this special night. But, on the other hand, why is it so cold? Did she actually open the window?  Her mind swirled in confusion, unable to hold onto one thought long enough to make sense of another. She wanted to open her eyes, she needed to, but she was too afraid to open her eyes, but she did anyway. 

When they opened, all she saw was darkness, a thick dreadful kind of dark, even when she looked up.  A distant voice on the edge of her mind pleads for her to rise and flee. Naomi shot up instantly. Adrenaline flooded her body. Her chest heaved as if the air had entered her lungs, finally allowing her to breathe, her heart raced. She looks around the dark, dreary room. Not even able to see her hand in front of her face. 

Fear grips her as she tries to get up, only then realizing her wrists have chains on them connected to something. The thought of being confined frightened her even more than she was already.  Letting out a scream as the collar around her neck threatens to pierce her skin. Tears streamed down her face as the chains allowed her to move enough, giving her some mobility. She reaches her hand to her face to wipe the tears away. Naomi sees the color stain on her white sleeves, dark crimson and bright scarlet, fading from old blood to new. Looking at the stains on the beautiful white dress she wore to her engagement party made Naomi question how long has she been here. Tugging on the heavy chain that she can't see. Only feel.

She stops moving when she hears the creaking sound of a door opening. Naomi turned her head in the direction of the sound. A bright flashlight shines in her face causing her head to bow. She tried to see if there was light beyond the flashlight, but there was none. 

"I see you are finally awake again? I see your injuries have taught you a lesson not to fight or scream." 

Naomi remained quiet, shivering. Listening to his every word and trying to distinguish if she's heard his voice before. He continues to stand over her with that flashlight pointed at her and away from his face. 

"Here, I brought something to eat and drink." The man sat it down in front of her.

Naomi lifts a piece of bread to her mouth as she masticates the food. The collar around her neck makes it hard for her to swallow. She coughs, which only makes the pain greater. Tears begin to roll down her eyes.

"Hey, it's better if you don't cough." 

In a whimpering tone, she asks. "Can you please tell me why I am here?"

"You'll leave when I get what I want." 

"What is it that you want? Are you waiting on my fiances to pay a ransom price?" 

"For as long as you have been here, I don't think he'll ever pay. So I'm working on another angle," The man says as he moves the flashlight from her face attempting to leave.

Naomi jerked the chain, scuttling forward. "Wait! How long have I been here? Do you know my fiances?" 

"You don't need to know. It will only break your heart. And no, I don't know your finances personally, but I know you're important to someone. So I'll be back to take you to the toilet." 

Naomi reacted dully, eyes downcast. But, yes, her heart did break anyway. The stranger's words brought a fresh wave of sorrow as she bit hard against her lip to keep more tears at bay. 

~~~

The stranger returned just as he said. Naomi could feel his touch. His long fingers cling to her wrist as he unlocks the chain from the bed leg. At the same time, his other handheld her leash as they walked with the heavy chains dragging against the concrete floor. She was too embarrassed to even think about how she got to the bathroom when she was unconscious. The thought of a stranger assisting her to the bathroom made her stomach twist in all kinds of knots. How much of her body has he seen?  Did he touch her inappropriately? 

"You may go in the bathroom. I will be holding your chains. Don't try anything." 

She extended her hand toward the only glimpse of white she saw; it had to be the toilet. Naomi handled her business and came on out. At the same time, he locked her chains back to the bed. 

She asked him, "Sir, if no one pays you the ransom price, what's going to happen to me?" 

"I will have to kill you." 

Hearing those words stole the air from her lungs, she yelled out. "Why wait, I'm not royalty, and I haven't even married the prince and probably never will at this rate. Why wait? My father won't have the kind of money your probably seeking. Why bother with this spectacle if you are going to kill me?" She raised her voice at the stranger, no longer caring that the spikes on the collar pushed into her neck.

The chain jerks again, sending her scuttling, arms outstretched as she falls forward. He turns quickly, grasping her chains tight in his fist, forcing her backward instead of forward as the stranger catches her in his arms. 

 "Let me go! Let me go! Or kill me now! I prefer death over this darkness."

Even now, he won't let her go. Instead, he sweeps her up in his arms as if she weighs no more than a dry leaf to place her in the bed. 

"Trusts me, your worth more alive than dead." 

The stranger says as he exits the room, leaving her in despair as she weeps her eyes out. One would feel relieved to know that they are worth more alive. But her insides turned cold with fear and anger, knowing for certain. The princes didn't love her, nor did he care about her as a human being to pay the ransom price. Naomi realized her fate was in her own hands, and she had to figure a way to set herself free.

 But for tonight, she will let herself cry.