Dark Embrace

13

It had been two days, my brain ached from lack of sleep and overthinking. I was back in this wretched house - dragged back. I didn't want to come back after what I witnessed the other night. How could he be so cruel? Those men pleaded for their lives, but he didn't hesitate to kill them. Definitely not his first kill; he'd probably killed hundreds more. The door creaked open, disrupting my thoughts. Rosa stepped in.

"Dinner is ready, you should head downstairs." The same creepy expression stuck to her face.

I always had dinner locked up in this room so why do I have to go downstairs to eat now? I pretended not to hear what she said and looked out the window, silently admiring the blurring stars, the only beauty in this prison.

"He wants you downstairs right now." She said again. By "he" she meant that sick of a man. I haven't seen him since that night, since he dragged me back to this room, warning that he had control over me and he had proof for that so I should be a "good girl" and behave like he wants me to.

I didn't move.

"I'll let him know." She turned her heel and left the room. What if he does something worse than drowning me because I didn't want to have dinner with him? I slowly got my feet and followed her.

Getting to the dining room, I saw him, seated, eating grapes. His eyes met mine as he noticed my presence. He chewed slowly, his eyes locked on mine. The lump in my throat thickened.

"Sit." He commanded still chewing on the grape in his mouth. One of Rosa's clones pulled out the chair next to him, waiting for me to sit.

I glanced at the table, where a feast of food and fruits was laid out. It was weird because the fancy plates and glasses seemed totally out of place in this creepy house.

"I told you I hate repeating myself." He glared.

I took my steps slowly and dropped in the chair pulled out for me.

"Do you want to die before you take revenge on that dumb f**k?" He asked. "If you don't want to, start eating, or you'll be too weak to make him pay, and that would be a regret you'd take to your grave."

Right. Revenge on Micheal made me end up here. My eyes trail back to Enzo's. Why does someone like him want to help me get my revenge on Micheal? I won't be in my right sense if I accept his help, that would mean I surrender myself to him in return for revenge. Micheal isn't even worth me surrendering myself to the devil.

He pushed a plate towards me. "Eat." He said.

I picked up my fork and took a bite of the food in front of me.

I forced myself to swallow. The food was okay, but I had no appetite.

The silence was awkward, with only the sound of our forks on the plates breaking the quiet. Then, he spoke up.

"You're not eating enough." He said, his voice a little softer. I looked up, meeting his gaze.

"I'm not hungry." He raised an eyebrow like he didn't believe me. Talk about bad timing, my stomach grumbled.

"Sounds to me you are." He said. My eyes went back to the food but saw a phone next to him. Right. If I can reach 911, they might be able to get me out of here, why didn't I think of this sooner? He was right, I needed to eat to escape from this nightmare.

How do I take the phone without him knowing? Luckily, Rosa rushed to him and whispered something in his ear. He turned to me.

"Don't move an inch, just eat till there is no space for food in your tummy." He said, expecting me to reply. I simply nodded. I was praying inside, hoping he would forget his phone on the table and fortunately, he did and left with Rosa. Thank you so much, God. There was just one more problem, one of Rosa's clones was still in the room, standing at the corner. I needed to act quickly before Enzo comes back.

My eyes scanned the table in front of me. "Hey." I called her and she marched towards me. "I can't find a blueberry, I don't eat any fruit aside from blueberries." She stood there for a moment without saying anything. I raised my eyebrows. "Do you want me to ask him myself and tell him that I told you I wanted it but you didn't listen to me." A sly smile spread across my lips to make her think I meant it. She turned her heel immediately and headed out. I quickly grabbed the phone after she was out of sight. I dashed into one of the empty rooms and knelt next to the bed before dialling 911. They answered on the second ring.

"This is 911, what's your emergency?" A female's voice came through the line.

"I've been kidnapped, please help me." I whispered.

"Why are you whispering? Is your kidnapper close to you?"

"Yes, he is."

"Do you know where you are?"

"No."

"Can you describe where you are?"

I looked around. If I started describing, it'd take the whole day before they can reach me and I don't have much time.

"No, I can't. Can you track this number?"

"I'll try to, please, stay on the line." Seconds of silence followed. I was getting impatient and was looking at the door, making sure I don't get caught. A noise came from the line.

"You said you can't describe where you are, right."

"Yes, yes, I already told you."

"Can you describe your kidnapper?" I heard the door creak open. Fear immediately gripped me and the phone fell from my hand. I didn't have to look, I already knew who it was.

Footsteps approached me and I scrambled to pick up the phone, but it was too late. Enzo's hand closed around my wrist and his other hand took the phone. He knelt to my level, putting the phone to his ear.

"I apologize on her behalf, she's not in her right sense at the moment."

He pats my head from behind. "I'm sure you know this number is familiar. I don't want to trouble you, have a good night." He hung up immediately.

"What did I tell you, Mia?" His hand left my hair and went to my shoulder, giving it a very tight squeeze. I don't dare look at him or move. What was he going to do to me this time? He pulled me up by my hair and I winced in pain.

"You leave me no choice." He dragged me out of the room, still holding onto my hair. I held onto the dresser next to the door, crying. I didn't know where he was taking me nor did I want to find out. Memories of that night at the ocean flooded my mind.

"Please, let me go." I pleaded but as always, he didn't listen. I sighted a knife on the table and tried to grab it. He released my hair and reached for my wrist, still wanting to drag me out. My hands were getting pale from resisting so I used all my strength to twist my wrist out of his grasp. I managed to break free, but I knew it was only temporary. I took advantage of the momentary distraction to grab the knife. I held the tiny knife up, trying to appear braver than I felt. "Don't come any closer." I warned, trying to keep my voice steady. He didn't listen to my warning and still walked towards me.

"I said don't come any closer!" I tightened my grip on the knife. I knew I couldn't defeat him in a physical fight, but I had to try something. Anything.

He didn't stop walking towards me rather he slowed his steps. With each step he took, I took one back. My hands were trembling so were my legs. My back hit the wall, and I froze, the knife still clutched in my hand. He took another step closer. I held my breath.

"You think a little knife like that can stop me?" I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "I'll use it if I have to." I whispered, trying to sound braver than I felt. He took another step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I raised the knife higher, my hand trembling with fear. "Don't come any closer." I warned again but he didn't listen. He got to me and tried to take the knife from me but I kept struggling, refusing to let go of the knife. And then, I felt it stab somewhere. We both stood there, frozen, wondering who had been hurt. But I knew it wasn't me.

He slowly raised his palm, and I saw the knife slice through it, blood dripping from both sides. His eyes locked on mine, but he didn't flinch in pain. He just stared at me.

I tried to release myself, stumbling backwards, but he still gripped my arm. He looked at the knife, then back at me, I was forced to return his piercing gaze.

"You did it." He said. I...I didn't mean to hurt him, I was just protecting myself.

He hoisted me on his shoulder, his non-bleeding hand gripping my leg. I cried out, holding a fistful of his suit as he started walking.

"Please," I begged, my voice shaking. "I didn't mean to do it. Don't kill me."

But my pleas fell on deaf ears. Enzo didn't respond, didn't even flinch. He just kept walking, his grip on my leg tightening.