His Crode Clutches

Confused!

Author Pov

The morning sunlight entered through the window, flashing rays on the girl’s soft face.

Her gentle breathing filled the silent room. A white duvet wrapped around her tiny figure, and her cute snores faded softly. Her eyelids fluttered before she opened them halfway.

Her vision landed on an unfamiliar ceiling, startling her. Her mind recalled the incident from last night. Her fist tightened around the duvet as she realized she was in a different room.

Where am I?

The question echoed in her mind. A small, uncontrollable whine escaped her lips. Clutching the duvet tighter in her palms, she slowly sat up. Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar room.

She remembered being outside her house. How did she get here, somewhere she had never seen before?

Was she kidnapped?

Rosa shook her head, but thoughts kept flooding her mind. The duvet remained clutched tightly in her small fists.

Was she dreaming?

Did her aunt really throw her out of the house?

She remembered her aunt’s angry voice, the slamming door, and the heavy ache in her chest. It didn’t feel real or maybe she just didn’t want it to be. Her aunt’s harsh words replayed in her mind over and over.

She tried shaking them away, but they stayed. Her chest hurt, and a lump formed in her throat. If this wasn’t a dream, then she had nowhere left to go.

Tears welled up in her soft eyes as she recalled how cruelly she’d been thrown out. She couldn’t believe all of this had really happened. The tears rolled down her cheeks as, for a brief moment, she forgot she was sitting in an unknown room. She let the pain swallow her whole.

Her trembling hands slowly wiped the tears away as she looked around again. Fear throbbed in her chest.

Where was she?

Who brought her here?

She chewed on her lower lip, still clutching the duvet tightly. There was no one to help her—so who could it be?

“I-I need to escape.” she whispered softly, her voice trembling with fear.

Rosa flinched when a sudden knock echoed from the door. Her heartbeat raced. She didn’t move or speak. She just sat there timidly, frozen in place. Another knock followed, louder this time.

Her lips quivered, tears rolled down again, and soft hiccups escaped her. She was terrified. She had no idea who the person behind the door was.

Was it a man? A bad man?

Panic filled her mind. She jumped up from the bed and looked around desperately for an escape. Her eyes found the window, and she ran to it, peeking outside. But as soon as she looked down, she stepped back, there was no way to climb out from that height.

Wiping her face again, she walked toward the door. Her eyes landed on a vase sitting on the drawer beside it. She grabbed it with trembling hands and held the doorknob.

Her fingers shook badly from fear. Taking a deep breath, she twisted the knob slowly. Her heart pounded as the door creaked open from the other side.

Rosa stepped back instantly as the door was pushed open. The vase trembled in her hands when she saw the tall figure standing before her. Her eyes barely reached his clothed chest. Her lips trembled as she looked up and froze.

Her lavender eyes met the cold, familiar blue ones. His dark gaze flicked down to her hand holding the vase. His expression showed no emotion as his eyes returned to hers.

Rosa felt like she was seeing a ghost. Was this real? Or another dream?

She swallowed hard, confusion clouding her thoughts.

Why was he here?

Killian raised an eyebrow, watching the small girl tremble before him. Rosa’s eyes flicked away, focusing on his chest and she tried to process everything.

Rosa took a step back when he stepped forward. A small gasp escaped her lips as he closed the distance. It didn’t feel like a dream anymore, it felt real. Without thinking, she kept walking backward until her back hit the hard wall beside the door.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at the unbelievable man with those cold eyes. He was close—too close.

“Did you sleep well, or not at all?”

His deep, hoarse voice filled the air, and she froze. He knew she had slept peacefully. The realization hit her, this wasn’t a dream.

Her throat went dry. She lowered her eyes in embarrassment. He saw her sleepy face.

Killian chuckled silently at her red cheeks and glanced at her hand. Taking another step forward, he leaned over her small frame. She gasped when he caged her between his arms, one hand beside her face, the other near her waist.

Rosa couldn’t look up, her eyes fixed on his chest. His cold blue eyes roamed over her tiny height before settling on her hand. With one swift motion, he took the vase from her grasp and placed it back on the drawer.

She nervously gulped, realizing she had touched something without his permission. Her lips pressed together as he leaned his head closer. Her fingers clutched her dress tightly.

But confusion still clouded her mind. Where was she? Why was he here?

Rosa gulped again and slowly parted her lips to speak—

“No questions.”

Rosa sealed her lips and blinked looking down. His blue orbs observed her for a while.

“You’ll stay here until I come back.”

Rosa slowly lifted her stare, and finally, their eyes locked.

Her eyes were soft yet confused, carrying a helpless look all over her face.

Was he really going to leave her like this, drowning in those unanswered questions?

His face was hard as stone, emotionless, those cold eyes piercing into her, the very ones she feared.

But still… she trusted him.

If he told her to stay here, there must be a reason.

But how did he even find her?

She was right outside her house, then how?

Unable to meet his gaze, Rosa lowered her eyes. She couldn’t look at him straight, after all, he was her professor.

She nodded hesitantly. Killian broke the cage between them, straightening up, towering over her like the beast he was.

Rosa stepped back from the wall, standing small in front of a man who seemed almost monstrous in his silence.

He gave her one last cold glance before walking out of the room, leaving the confused girl behind.

Rosa turned toward the door, her mind spinning.

What should she do now? Where should she go?

Could she ever return to her mansion again?

Why did Kevin do that? Why did he have to hurt her like that? He was her brother, then why?

The girl stood there, tears spilling again. Those cruel words still echoed in her ears.

Rosa wiped her tears away and went into the washroom to clean her face. Soon after, she returned, her expression was pale and distant.

She sat on the bed, her heart aching from last night’s events. They were her only family. How could her aunt throw her out? She couldn’t process any of it.

Her aunt had loved her, then why? Why throw her out over something that wasn’t her fault, when she was the one who was harassed?

Rosa’s heart broke again as Kevin’s disgusting touches replayed in her mind.

Everything felt unreal, like the truth itself was betraying her.

Why was the world so cruel? Did she even have anywhere to go?

Even if she went back, Kevin would hurt her again.

“Mmph—” a small sob escaped her lips.

Why was God so pitiless? Why did he take her parents away, leaving her alone in such a cruel world? Just why?

Rosa sniffled and wiped her tears again when a knock suddenly sounded on the door. She hesitated, then approached and opened it.

A young woman in her 25s stood there. She smiled gently at Rosa, confusing her even more.

“Can you come down? Your breakfast is ready.” Her voice was soft and kind. The little girl just stared at her, unsure.

“Are you sad?” the woman asked gently, careful not to invade her space. It was obvious the girl in front of her was broken.

Rosa stared quietly, then shook her head. She couldn’t eat, she knew she couldn’t. It took everything in her not to burst into tears again.

“I’m not hungry.” she said unevenly. Her voice was small, childlike.

The woman frowned, hearing the frail tone. “I know you are. Please come and eat something.”

Rosa looked up at her, her moist eyes glimmering with exhaustion. The woman sighed inwardly, realizing the girl wasn’t in the mood to eat.

“It’s alright. If you don’t want to, then you don’t have to. Rest well. If you feel hungry, just come downstairs, okay? I’ll be there for you.”

She offered a warm smile. She wanted to comfort Rosa, maybe even hug her but she couldn’t. She was only a servant here, and she had to hold herself back. Rosa reminded her of her younger sister.

She turned to leave, but the small trembling voice stopped her.

“Wh-where is he?” Rosa asked quietly.

The woman turned back. “He’s out,” she replied politely. She didn’t know where Killian had gone, she was new here herself.

Rosa nodded slowly, her face ghostly pale, as if she had forgotten how to smile.

“Go, take some rest.” the woman said kindly before leaving.

Rosa exhaled a shaky breath. Her chest felt hollow. She was homeless now. There was no one left for her.

She walked to the window, her heart heavy and her mind clouded.

So many questions, so much confusion and not a single answer in sight.