A prisoner in a mansion
1280 Words
Chapter 3.
Tori.
“Next time, I won’t miss,” Ethan said coldly, his gun aimed straight at Alyssa’s head.
My heart dropped.
I stopped running and slowly raised my hands in surrender. His men wasted no time. Two of them grabbed me, rough and quick, dragging me away. I didn’t fight back. What was the point now?
They shoved me into a black, tinted car parked outside the warehouse. The door slammed shut beside me. Then, a few minutes later, Ethan got in and sat beside me.
He didn’t say anything at first. Just sat there like he owned the world.
“I’d advise you not to try anything stupid,” he finally said, his voice calm but full of threat.
I kept my mouth shut. Talking wouldn't help now.
The car started moving. I looked out the window, trying to figure out where we were going but everything outside was unfamiliar.
My fingers trembled in my lap. “Will Alyssa be okay?” I asked.
Ethan didn’t even look at me. “As long as you behave.”
That was the only answer I got. The rest of the ride was silent.
Almost suffocating.
Eventually, the car slowed down and turned into what looked like a gated estate. The area was clean, too clean. Rich. The kind of place I had only seen in magazines.
Then I saw it.
The mansion.
Huge. Elegant. Like something from a movie. White stone walls, tall windows, expensive cars in the driveway. It was beautiful.
If Ethan lived like this, why did Bertha’s debt matter? Why would a man this rich even care about $500,000?
It didn’t make sense. None of this did.
A group of staff stood outside as we pulled in. They all looked calm and professional, like this was just another day for them. I was led out of the car while Ethan walked ahead, giving one simple order.
“Take her to the guest room.”
One of the maids stepped forward. She was light-skinned, with long brown hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. Her eyes were soft and kind, nothing like the men I’d just escaped.
She gave me a small smile. “Hello, Miss. I’m Nora. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
I blinked, caught off guard by how normal she seemed. “Uh… thanks. I’m Tori,” I said, managing a tiny smile back.
“Come with me,” she said gently.
I followed her through the giant front doors and into the house. Everything was shining. The marble floors, the golden railings, the smell of fresh flowers, it didn’t feel real.
Nora led me upstairs and stopped in front of a wide door. She opened it and I stepped into one of the most beautiful rooms I’d ever seen.
Tall ceilings. Soft cream walls. A king-sized bed covered in expensive-looking pillows. A chandelier hung above. There was even a balcony.
I stared in disbelief. “I’m going to sleep here?” I asked.
She nodded, still smiling. “Yes, this is your room now.”
Nora walked to the closet and showed me that it was full of clothes in my size. “If you need anything, just ring the bell by the door. I’ll come.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
“I’ll leave you to rest,” she said before closing the door behind her.
As soon as she left, I sank onto the bed.
None of this made sense. I was still trying to make sense of what happened back at the warehouse. Of Ethan. Of Alyssa. And worst of all… Bertha.
Was it true? Had she really lied to us?
Had she really stolen from these people?
Alyssa seemed to know more. But I couldn’t ask her now. I had no phone. No way to contact anyone. My entire life was suddenly in someone else's hands.
I stared up at the ceiling, feeling like the walls were closing in.
I wasn’t free.
And this mansion?
This was my prison.
****
I had been here for over a week.
A week of silence. A week of waiting. A week of nothing.
No answers. No updates.
The only person I had spoken to was Nora. She checked in every day with food, always kind, always patient.
I sat on the balcony, staring out at the sky. The view from this room was stunning, the trees, fountains, the soft golden glow of sunset but it didn’t matter. I felt trapped.
Was this how Ethan planned to make me pay Bertha’s debt? By locking me up like some forgotten secret?
There was a soft knock on the door. Before I could answer, Nora stepped inside, balancing a tray of food in her hands.
“I’m not hungry,” I said without turning around.
“Miss Tori, please,” she said gently. “You’ve barely eaten in days. I’m worried.”
Her voice was full of genuine concern, and it made me feel even worse. Nora didn’t deserve this. She was the only light in this place and yet I couldn't bring myself to even smile anymore.
“I just… I’m not hungry,” I repeated.
She didn’t give up. “Your body needs strength. You can’t help Alyssa if you’re weak.”
That got to me, she was right.
“Fine. Just put the food down,” I mumbled.
She placed the tray on the table beside the bed. “Please try to eat, even a little,” she said before quietly leaving the room.
Several hours passed by. I didn’t touch the food.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what the hell was going to happen next. When would someone talk to me? When would I be allowed to do something?
A knock came again.
I assumed it was Nora, maybe back to check on me. “Come in,” I called.
But it wasn’t her.
It was him.
Ethan.
He walked in like he owned the place because, well, he did and he stopped near the bed. He was wearing all black again, his cold eyes locked on me.
“I hear you haven’t been eating,” he said, voice flat.
I sat up slowly, not bothering to hide my irritation. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t,” he said without hesitation.
His words hit harder than I expected. I rolled my eyes and looked away.
“Be in my study by five,” he continued. “There’s something important we need to discuss. Don’t be late.”
“Sure. Whatever,” I said, my tone matching his coldness.
He started walking out, but paused at the door. His eyes landed on the untouched tray of food.
“If you starve yourself to death,” he said over his shoulder, “Alyssa will have to replace you.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
He left before I could even respond, slamming the door behind him.
I stared at the door, heart pounding.
That wasn’t just a threat.
That was a promise.
I turned to the tray and forced myself to eat. It wasn’t much, just a few bites but enough to quiet the hunger that I had been ignoring.
Afterward, I lay down again and somehow, sleep came over me.
When I woke up, the room was dim with the setting sun. I blinked, sat up and glanced at the clock.
5:20.
Shit.
I threw the covers off and jumped out of bed. My heart raced as I rushed to get ready.
Ethan had said "don’t be late."
And something told me he meant it.
- Writer
