sold to a stranger

chapter two

Two

Ava’s heart raced in her chest as Lucy ended the call. “Please, Lucy.” Ava begged, her voice trembling. “You can't…”

“Oh I can.” Lucy interrupted sharply, her smile gone. “You’ve been a burden in this house for too long. Honestly I'm doing you a favor, cause this is the best you’d ever get. You can't survive out there on your own.” Ava felt panic rising in her throat, her hands trembling as she tried to think of a way out.

Lucy glared at Ava one last time, “I’ve kept you here out of pity for years, now it's time for you to repay me. Get ready tonight, and don't keep me waiting.” Lucy warned, and stormed out of the room.

Later that night, Lucy stormed into Ava's room with a satisfied look, plastered across her face. But as she swung the door open, she found the room empty.

For a moment, Lucy stood in the room dumbfounded, then realization hit her hard.

“Ava!” Lucy screamed, her voice echoing through the empty house.

There was no answer, Lucy's heart began to race as she hurried into Sienna's room, she found Sienna sleeping peacefully. She closed the door carefully not wanting to disturb her princess' beautiful sleep .

She hurried to the kitchen, her eyes darting around for any sign of her step daughter, the windows slightly ajar, the curtains billowing softly in the night breeze.

“Damn it!” she hissed under her breath, rushing to the window and peering out into the darkened streets below, there was no one in sight.

Meanwhile Ava had escaped, knowing that she had to gather courage, and leave the hell called home.

Ava stumbled down the dark streets, she had barely grabbed a jacket in her rush to escape, and a father’s special perfume. That was the only thing she had of him. Her heart raced fast, as every shadow seemed to stretch towards her, each step feeling heavier than the last one.

“Where am I even going?” She muttered to herself, hugging her arms around her body. Her eyes darted around, searching for a place to hide or rest, but all she saw were empty streets and closed store fronts. Ava sank down on a nearby bench, her knees trembling from the exhaustion of the night’s escape. Her head fell into her hands as she fought back the rising panic.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car approaching. She instinctively pulled back, shrinking into the shadows of the bench as the sleek black car, slowed down. Ava froze, “Did Lucy already send someone after her? Were this one of her men?” She thought .

The car rolled to a stop just a few feet away, and she heard the slight click of the passenger window being rolled down. Ava held her breath.

“Are you alright?”

The voice that came from inside the car was deep, calm and tinged with concern. Ava hesitated, before slowly lifting her head, her gaze meeting the man sitting at the backseat of the car.

“I….I’m fine.” She whispered, though it was clear she wasn't .

“You don't look fine.” The man insisted, “It's the middle of the night and you’re alone out here. Do you need help?”

Ava but her lips, trusting strangers had never ended well for her, but something about the man’s voice felt safe.

“I…I don't have anywhere to go.” She finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart hurt, as she said it aloud.

The man sighed softly, signalling his driver, to turn off the car, his eyes never leaving hers, as he stepped out from his car, and walked towards Ava. “What happened?”

Ava looked down, her fingers twisting nervously in her laps, “It's complicated.” she whispered, the words feeling heavy in her mouth.

“You shouldn't be out here alone, it's not safe. Let me take you home, so we can talk about it.”

Ava’s chest tightened with uncertainty, her heart racing as she met his gaze. “I can't….just go home with a stranger.” She said bluntly, the thought of trusting someone she didn't know, was too terrifying to consider.

The man straightened up slightly, offering her a small smile, “You’re right, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.” He said, his voice soft and sincere. “Look, I don't know what you’ve been through tonight, but it's obvious you need a safe place. I won't force you to come with me, but at least let me help you find somewhere to say, a hotel, maybe.”

Ava bit her lips, as much as she didn't want to trust a stranger, she had no choice at the current situation. “Okay”......she whispered, “a hotel for the night.”

The man nodded in satisfaction, “Good,” standing up and gesturing towards his car, “Come on, let's get you somewhere safe.”

Ava hesitated for only a moment longer, before slowly standing and following him, into his car. The warmth of the car, was an immediate contrast to the biting cold of the streets.

The man climbed into the car, and instructed the driver to move. The driver rolled u all the windows and locked the doors of the car, before starting the engine of the car.

As the car drove past, the city's lights flickered past the windows as the drive in silence. Ava kept her eyes on her lap still unsure of where her life was heading.

As they drove, Ava caught a glimpse of the man's reflection in the window. The man noticed Ava sided stare.

He cleared his throat softly, breaking the silence, before speaking. “You know, you should be careful of strangers you trust.”

Ava raised her up instantly hearing the man’s words, her heart beating faster than she thought. Has she entered a deeper mess? She thought to herself.

“Please stop the car, I want to leave.” Ava pleaded, her hands already holding the handle of the door.

But the man remained surprisingly calm, and the driver continued driving, ignoring Ava's plea.

“Why?” The man asked, an edge crepping into his tone. “You don't trust me? I thought I was helping you.”

Just then, the small phone she managed to grab from her house, buzzed in her pocket , and she fumbled to pull it out. Her blood ran cold , as she read the text from Lucy, You think you can run away from me. Don't you?

Ava’s heart skipped as she read the text, Has she just been trapped by Lucy?