NOWHERE TO HIDE
1095 Words
Scarlett’s heart pounded as Nathaniel’s words hung in the air, thick with emotion.
“Be my woman, Helena,” he whispered again, his eyes pleading, vulnerable in a way that made her chest ache.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“I… I—” Her voice trembled, her throat tight, her mind racing.
Nathaniel stepped closer, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek, but she flinched away, wrapping her arms around herself.
“I—I can’t,” she finally stammered, her eyes darting away.
“You can’t?” he echoed softly, a flicker of pain crossing his features.
“I… I need to go,” Scarlett whispered, bending quickly to scoop up her clothes. Her fingers fumbled as she yanked her dress over her head, struggling to zip it with shaking hands.
Nathaniel moved toward her. “Helena, wait—”
“No, please,” she said quickly, her voice breaking. “Don’t. I just… I need to leave.”
He caught her wrist gently but firmly, forcing her to stop.
“Helena, talk to me,” he pleaded, his voice low and desperate. “Why are you running?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she yanked her hand free. “Because I don’t deserve this! I don’t deserve you!”
Nathaniel’s expression crumbled, but he didn’t let her go that easily.
“Helena,” he said, softer now, stepping close enough that she could feel his warmth. “I don’t care what you think you deserve. I know what I want. And I want you. All of you.”
She shook her head, biting her lip to keep it from trembling. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, Nathaniel. I’m... broken.”
His hands gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Then let me help you heal.”
At that, Scarlett let out a choked sob, burying her face in her hands. The tears she’d been fighting poured out of her, her body shaking with every breath.
Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, holding her as she cried. “Shh... it’s okay,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “You don’t have to say anything. Just let me hold you.”
She clung to him like a lifeline, terrified by the emotions crashing over her. After a long moment, she pulled away, wiping her face.
“I should go home,” she whispered.
Nathaniel hesitated, searching her eyes. “Let me drive you,” he said gently.
Scarlett opened her mouth to protest but then closed it, defeated. “Okay.”
He didn’t let her walk out alone. Instead, he took her hand, leading her down the grand staircase. The night outside was quiet, but inside Scarlett’s chest, a storm raged.
Nathaniel opened the car door for her, helping her in before getting behind the wheel.
The drive was silent for a while. Scarlett stared out the window, her fingers twisting in her lap. Nathaniel kept glancing at her, his jaw tight, as though he was holding back everything he wanted to say.
Finally, he broke the silence.
“Scarlett,” he said quietly, “you don’t have to push me away.”
She didn’t look at him, but her fingers stilled.
“I’m not like the men you’ve known,” he continued, his voice deep and soft. “Whatever you’re running from... whatever scares you... I’m not going anywhere.”
Her throat tightened, and she blinked fast to keep more tears from falling.
“You say that now,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “But if you knew the truth, you’d walk away.”
Nathaniel reached over, taking her hand in his. “Then tell me. Trust me.”
Scarlett looked at him, her heart breaking, because she wanted to trust him. But how could she? How could she bring danger into his life?
She didn’t reply. Instead, she squeezed his hand weakly, as if to say thank you and I’m sorry all at once. When they reached her apartment building, Nathaniel parked the car but didn’t turn off the engine.
“I’ll walk you up,” he offered.
Scarlett shook her head quickly. “No. It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
He frowned. “Helena..."
She leaned over, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you. For tonight. For everything.”
Nathaniel’s eyes searched hers, as if he wanted to say more, but finally he nodded.
“Call me if you need anything. Promise?”
She smiled faintly. “Promise.”
Scarlett climbed out of the car, pulling her coat tighter around her. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked up to her apartment and disappeared inside.
The moment the door closed behind her, the weight of everything hit her like a punch to the chest.
She leaned against the door, breathing heavily, her hand pressed over her heart as if that could stop it from breaking.
Her apartment was dark, silent. Too silent.
Scarlett let out a shaky breath, wiping her tears. She moved to the window, glancing out to see if Nathaniel was still there but his car was gone.
The ache of loneliness hit her hard.
With a deep breath, Scarlett turned away from the window and started toward her room. That’s when she felt it.
A chill crawled up her spine, and a strange sensation washed over her , like someone was watching her.
Her eyes darted around the dimly lit apartment, her body going rigid. She was halfway to her room when something in the corner caught her eye , a shadow that hadn’t been there before.
Her heart skipped.
“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice sharper than she intended.
Silence.
She took a cautious step back, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
And then , the shadow moved but before she could react, a figure lunged from the darkness.
Scarlett gasped, but a gloved hand was already covering her mouth, muffling her scream. She struggled wildly, but another hand pressed a cloth over her nose and mouth , something soaked in chemicals.
Panic surged through her as she fought, kicking and thrashing, but her limbs were already starting to feel heavy.
Her vision blurred.
The last thing she saw before darkness swallowed her was the cold, hard eyes of the man holding her and the sickening realization that they had found her.
They had finally caught her.
She had just been kidnapped.
- Writer
