World Upside-down

What Tomorrow Brings

Malorie's view point.

I walk into the bathroom and start chopping away at my hair. I still don't understand how I can look so much older. Maybe it's just the lack of nutrition. I don't know how long I've been held captive by Landon, but it can't be more than a couple months. Come to think of it, my birthday should have passed, making me 15 now. I can't believe I forgot.

I keep cutting my hair until I'm left with nothing more than a pixie cut. I sigh looking in the mirror. I look hideous. I scream and throw the old wooden brush at the mirror and walk angrily back to the bed. I get in and stare at the ceiling until darkness overtakes me, and I fall into a dreamless sleep.

I wake up in the morning to Landon standing there with a big smile on his face.

"I have a surprise for you, sweetheart!" He says as he walks towards me

Looking at him skeptically I ask, "What is it?"

He smiles bigger "You'll have to wait and see, but first eat your breakfast and put this on!"

He places a bandana down on my bed. I pick it up, "What's this for?" I ask inquisitively.

"It's a surprise!" He says. "Now eat, I'll be back when you've finished."

He walks out leaving me with my food and questions.

I eat quickly and wait for him to return, when he does, I point to the bandana. As if knowing what I meant, he walked over to me and tied it around my eyes so I couldn't see. I don't like this, I'm scared, but if it means I'm getting out of here, then I'll play along. He picks me up and cradles me like a baby, instinctively I wrap my arms around his neck. I can't see where we are going and I'm afraid he's going to drop me. We walk through what sounds like hollow halls, they echo with every step he takes. Suddenly I hear a door open, and he puts me down on something soft.

"Can I take this off now?" I ask.

"Yes." He says excitedly.

I take it off and see that I'm on the most beautiful bed I've ever seen. I look at him and he just smiles widely, looking proud of himself and happy with my reaction. I stand up and look around. The bed has beautiful purple tulle hanging from the bed frame, the bed covered in royal purple bedding, and an elegant chandelier above the bed. There's a beautiful vanity across from the bed, and to the right next to the window, there's a beautiful armoire. I walk over to the window and admire the beautiful view. Something seems off but I don't question it, not now, I just got out of that room. I open up the armoire and see beautiful dresses, shoes, and brand-new clothes. I turn around and look at him.

"What is this?" I ask

"It's all yours princess, nothing but the best." He says happily

Without thinking, I jump up and kiss him on the cheek, forgetting momentarily that he is the enemy. I'm just so happy to have something so beautiful to call my own.

"Thank you, Landon." I say shyly.

"You're welcome, Princess, but that's not everything. Follow me."

He leads me out of the bedroom, my eyes open wide as I see a beautiful sitting room. equipped with a huge TV, couch, entertainment set up, and everything I could ever want and need. To the left is the kitchen. It's beautiful and open, everything looks brand-new.

"This is all ours." He says, wrapping an arm around my waist. I'm so taken aback by everything I'm seeing, that I don't even sense the danger I'm in. I'm just so happy right now. Maybe he isn't bad. He did all this for me, right? No, for us. He did this for us. Maybe I had it all wrong.

He clears his throat, pulling me out of my thoughts. "To the right is my bedroom, and if you go straight down that hall, there's a gym. We have many rooms here, you can request anything you want to be in those rooms, but all I ask is that you do not venture into any of the unfinished rooms until I finish with them."

I nod my head, agreeing to the terms he's given me. I start to feel sleepy, exhausted from all the excitement of the day.

Landon laughs. "Go get some rest, I'll wake you a little later for lunch."

I nod again and walk back to my bedroom.

When I walk into my room I'm met with purple eyes.

"Hello, Malorie."

"Hi." I mumble, suddenly remembering that this is not reality, this is all a trap, and I was stupid for letting myself be happy.

"Have you forgotten your mission?" She asks with an annoyed undertone in her voice.

"No, I have not forgotten, I was just excited to finally be getting out of that room!" I say exasperated.

"Malorie you stupid girl, THINK! Doesn't this all look familiar? You have been here before! Open up your brain and think. This isn't our first time here!" She hisses at me

I stare at her blankly. "What are you talking about? I've never been here, not once in my life!"

She sighs. "Malorie, you have been here for 4 years. You have been to this room a dozen times. Wake up! You are 18 years old. Did you not notice you are much older now? You're not a little girl anymore!"

I look at her speechless. What she says, it can't be true! Tears start flooding my eyes.

"I didn't want to do this, but it seems I have no choice." She says. She takes her hand and puts it on my forehead. Sparks start flying, a large ball of white light leaves her hand and enters my mind. I lay there paralyzed.