The Runaway Bride. Trapped in the devil's den

My heart broke into tiny debris as I walked towards the aisle with my dad holding my right hand. My whole body shook inwardly and I felt my knee go numb. Tears trickled down my chin. My body tensed up as I walked. I felt the urge to push my dad's hand away and run far away just as I had attempted earlier but was caught by his bodyguards. My wedding dress was forced on me, my makeup done under threatening condition and I was bundled up to my wedding venue by my father's bodyguards under his instruction. Tears surged up and blinded my eyes and it became impossible for me to see clearly. I slowed down and looked at the evil man I was about to get married to. His face was unsmiling. He was dressed in a top notch dark suit that fitted perfectly well to his body. I turned to look at my dad for the tenth time, pleading with my eyes. He glared at me and used his eyes to command me to move. I wanted to break down in front of the crowd but I was scared of the outcome. I feared taking one more step so much that I preferred to be shot down instead of walking to the aisle. I already received a dirty slap four times from the man I am about to marry in the presence of my dad who did nothing. I prayed so much in my heart for my deceased mom to come to my rescue. If only she was alive. If only she gave me a chance to grow up and be happy like everyone else. I only turned twenty a few months ago before I got to know about my dad's schemes. I was really disappointed with my dad when he told me that I would get married to Damian Macdolf, the CEO of the multi billion Macpower group of companies. I knew that all we were about to say would be nothing but stupid lies. For better for worse! To love and to cherish, till death do us part. Lies! To love who? To cherish who? And till death do who part? Sigh! I had no idea what picture my dad painted of this marriage in public. I know what my father is capable of. I won't be surprised to see the public sending marital blessings and wishing they find my type of man and all. I have been living in torments all my life,but guess what! The public and the netizens always thought I was the most favored young miss in the country because of my looks. One step after another that I took was painful to me. My father helped me step on to the aisle, smiled at Damian and went back to the guests' space. I glanced at the guests in attendance. They were no more than fifty top notch important figures in the country. My body was present in the aisle but my innermost being was absent. I wasn't even paying attention to what the Rev father was saying. I was desperate to run away from this marriage. My eyes dilated from left to right, hoping to see a sign of miracle. Heavy tonardo whirling into the church to scatter this marriage. Warriors armed to the teeth rushing towards the aisle to rescue me. Invisible creatures and all. My imaginations were wild. I prayed in my heart for help, anything at all so far my torments would come to an end. I came back to reality when the Rev father repeated what I was meant to say loudly and was staring at me through his Harry Potter glasses like I was crazy. I had no idea how many times he had repeated after himself but I knew I had to say whatever I heard at the moment. “To love ….and to…cherish.” I stuttered. My teary eyes met with Damian's.He wasn't pleased with me, I could tell it from the look on his face. He was smiling now but I knew it was just a pretense. The smile was meant for the cameras and the journalists. I glanced at my dad who was smiling mischievously in the church rows. He seemed impatient to sell me off to a man I barely knew anything about. “Till death do us part.” The Rev father finalized and I repeated it, like some sort of chanting of crazy sorceress.. The wedding ring was presented to us.Damian took mine and wore it on my finger, mumbling stupid fake vows. I took his own ring and wore it on his finger, telling my own part of the lies. In less than twenty more minutes, the whole thing was done and dusted. I saw my dad with some guests discussing and laughing. I tried to fake a smile when I noticed that the camera men were focused on me. I smiled, showing off my deep two side dimples that were rarely noticed because I never smiled much in public. Damian held my hand like a possessive husband as we walked down the aisle. He looked at me and smiled. “Are you ok?” He asked. I nodded that I was ok, playing the game of pretence along with him. I was now a master when it came to pretending. That was what I have been doing all my life. Always pretending that I was ok when I am not. I never meant any of it but I was scared. Scared of more pains and torments. I didn't know where the press came from but in the next few seconds, more than twenty young men and women surrounded us,or should I say surrounded Damian, asking questions that were impossible to answer at once. “Sir,how do you feel about your marriage?” “Now that you are married, what should the public expect?” “How come the public never knew you were in a relationship with Miss Cross,a relationship that actually led to marriage?” “Why did you keep it a secret?” “Was it an arranged marriage or real?” “What do you have to say Mr CEO?” “Do you love your wife?” ‘There weren't many guests in attendance, was it a private wedding?” ????????? I held my breath mopping at the journalists hunting for gossips.The flash lights from their camera almost blinded my eyes. My head was now hurting. I prayed fervently in my heart that they wouldn't look at me.I wasn't in the right state of mind to answer any question. I glanced at Damian. He was used to this kind of traffic, I guessed. He stood, smiling at the journalists as they threw questions after another, not even allowing him to answer one. He raised his right hand, signaling them to shut up. The journalists froze like an ice bag, their ears pecked up waiting to grab whatever was going to come out. “Answers to your questions.” Damian said and looked at them with the usual CEO mean face. “My relationship was and is still part of my privacy. And yes,my marriage wasn't arranged. I really cherish my wife and please be nice to her in the future. I want to use this opportunity to show the world my wife, Miss Meline Cross. You all already know her, the daughter of the CEO of Spark global group of companies.Thank you.” He replied and turned to leave. The journalists weren't satisfied yet. “Sir, you haven't answered all our questions!” One of the press men remained unsatisfied and was bent to grab more gist for his team. “Sir please wait let's ask your wife a few questions!” They yelled after us, running to catch up with us. I turned and saw security men block their part and finally I let loose the air I have been holding. ………. We walked out from the church with Damian's bodyguards beside and behind us. The door of the Mercedes Benz was opened for Damian but he helped me into the car and got in too. The door was slammed shut and the driver stepped on the accelerator. I sat down like a painting in the car. A picture that needn't move at all. The air around me was choking and I felt hot even though the AC of the car was on. Damian didn't spare a glance at me for a second since we entered the car. He pressed a button beside him and something in the shape of a little refrigerator came out. He took a pack of cigarettes from it and lit two cigarettes, smoking both at the same time. My heart skipped in fear as the ruined air hit my nose. The smoke was choking me but I felt scared to show my displeasure.I could only endure it. …………… The car pulled to a stop in front of a big villa and we got out. Damian walked into the house without looking back, his left hand inside his pocket. One of his bodyguards led me into the house and showed me into a room. I sat down on the bed and curled my hands around my body like I was stricken with frost. The house had this aura that I couldn't explain, like some sort of demon was present everywhere. I broke down completely and wept, scared of every minute of my life.