Kidnapped By Fate

Chapter Five

Aria

Fresh air feels like a myth to me now being trapped in a room. The four walls I lived in suffocated me in silence. So when Sebastian appeared at my door that evening. The words he spoke stunned me.

“Come with me”

I looked at him “Where”

“Outside” He replied.

Outside? I haven’t left this room for weeks and now he wants me to go outside with him? The thought of fresh air brought me a little bit of hope for freedom.

The corridors were wide, lined with men who bowed at Sebastian as he passed but he didn’t spare them a glance. I felt their gaze on me as we walked. He led me down a staircase and when they opened; Air. I closed my eyes as I breathed into it. It smelt like freedom. I moaned into it “God…” came out of my mouth.

I opened my eyes to see Sebastian watching me intently, like he was trying to read me.

“You look like you’ve been drowning” He said quietly.

“Maybe I am” I replied.

The silence between us stretched. Then the words slipped out before I could control them

“Do you ever wonder what it’s like?”

“What what’s like?”

“To be ordinary, to just be you!. Go everywhere without guards and without holding back” I whispered.

His gaze hardened as he replied “Ordinary is weak, ordinary gets you weak. Freedom is a construct. Outside is only a prettier cage.”

I swallowed but found the courage to reply “But atleast you chose the cage yourself “

This made him pause, his eyes softening for a minute and then it was gone. His eyes were replaced with steel again.

“You talk like you have a choice “

Anger rose through my chest as I replied back “Because I should! I am human Sebastian yet you don’t treat me like one! You dragged me into your world and made me a prisoner”

“Would you rather be dead? I made your choice for you when I chose this instead.”

We stood locked in each other’s stare. The tension so thick, a knife wasn’t hard enough to break it. I summoned courage and moved closer, looking directly at his eyes as i said.

“Then give me a choice that is actually mine” I whispered.

He didn’t move, his eyes searched mine, dark and unreadable.

I pushed still, forcing the courage out of my chest.

“I want to talk to Lena, my best friend, just once, just to let her know I’m alive”

His face hardened instantly, his gaze staring at me. “That Isn’t necessary “

“It is to me, I have to speak to her”

With frustration, he ran his hands through his hair

“Why do you have to be so stubborn butterfly?”

I summoned courage once again and moved closely to Sebastian

“Please just once”

The night held its breath, as his face distorted like he was holding back, he started to reach for me and then he moved back.

“One call” He said at last.

Relief broke over me as I smiled widely “Thank you”

The phone looked too ordinary in his hands as he gave them to me.

“Don’t say anything stupid” He warned.

I dialed Lena’s number. The line clicked almost immediately after.

“Hello”

The sound of her voice brought me to tears

“Lena” I said on the phone as my voice broke

“Aria? Is that you?” She screamed “Oh my God, are you okay?, where are you?”

“I’m okay” I replied amidst tears “I just wanted you to know I’m alive”

“Your dad has been so worried Aria, they said you vanished. I thought something really bad had happened to you. Tell me where you are, I’ll come get you”

Sebastian’s hand brushed through mine as a warning.

“I can’t, I’m fine. Don’t try to find me. I just wanted you to know I’m okay”

Silence. Then a sharp inhale. “Is someone making you say this?”

I bit my lip hard, my tears spilling. “I can’t explain. Not now. Just—trust me, okay? I’ll survive this.”

Her voice broke. “Aria… I love you. Don’t give up. Please don’t.”

I was shaking silently as Sebastian took the phone away from me. I missed my life, I missed my friends and my family.

I turned on him “Was that too much to ask? One call?”

His gaze was unreadable as he said “You don’t understand how risky that was”

“I don’t care” I snapped. “You took my family from me, my life. I hate you Sebastian “ I spat out.

For a moment his eyes shifted and a glimpse of pain showed but was gone in an instant.

“You see me as the villain butterfly, but I’m the only reason you’re alive.”

His words cut deep, leaving me breathless.

And standing under the weight of his gaze, I realized the most terrifying truth of all: I believed him. I believed him more than anything in the world.