The Royal bride selection trials

"Don't make this more difficult than it should be," the stranger said, moving closer to me. I turned immediately heading for the door, but before I could reach it, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the floor. my head hit the cold tiles and my vision blurred. He stepped back while I tried to regain myself. "I have your family, you don't have much of a choice" his voice sounded farther than he actually was. He called a name I could barely hear, my ears still ringing from the fall. I wanted to scream for help but the sound refused to find their way out. As I faded to black I couldn't help but think about how I got here and what he wanted from me. *AN HOUR EARLIER* "RICHIEEE, how many times do I have to tell you to lock the front door for Christ's sake" I yelled as I came home to an unlocked door. I sighed as I dropped my bag on the floor and took off my shoes my head felt like it was pressed under a boot. Richie?... Mom? Our apartment was quiet, Mum hadn't even yelled my name. I made my way to my mum's room, hoping to find her asleep but it was empty, I figured she would be in our room, for some reason she was obsessed with sleeping there. Where was Richie though? Instead I walked in on a very beautiful man, his broad shoulders filled up his suit perfectly, his pitch black hair ruffled, obvious that he had been running his hands through them. He sat on my reading desk flipping through my journal. "what the f**k!" I stepped back, scanning the room for any signs of my mum or Richie. "Who are you? He straightened up and turned his head slowly towards me. A small smile stretched across his face "Rue... you've kept me waiting, it's a shame we had to meet like this" His voice was smooth and yet rigid, he had an air of authority like he could walk into a room and silence it. it was instantly obvious that he was no ordinary man I only had two questions: how did he know my name and how did he get into my home. "I asked who you are, what are you doing in my bedroom, are you a friend of my mum or something" "Where's my mum?" I yelled. He said nothing. Instead he stood up slowly and walked towards me. His green eyes absorbing the sunlight I tried not to stare "your mother and brother are in safe hands, I'd like us to have a conversation...you see I'm here on business" I should have turned around immediately or even screamed for help but I was intrigued. mostly because he was the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life. Also because I wanted to know about this business he was talking about. "you're going to do something for me Rue and when you're done you'll be reunited with your family" I snapped back to reality, slowly digesting his words, they almost sounded like a threat. " I don't even f*****g know you, get out or I'll call the police" he smiled, shaking his head slowly he walked back to my reading table. "you will find that the police won't be of much help" he adjusted the cuffs on his sleeves. I rushed out of the room immediately, closing the door behind me, running towards the bag I left on the floor, right by the door. if I could get my phone on my way out then I'd be able to call mum,find out if he really did have them or if he was just an insane person. I found a man holding the bag, standing right in front of the door. "you'll scare her, go outside," a voice said from behind me, I turned around to face him. The man who had snuck into my home and possibly taken my family. I heard the door click close and he heaved a heavy sigh "I'm sure you want your family safe, don't be stubborn" my hands were trembling as I realized the possible danger I had found myself in. I still didn't know where Mom and Richie were "Tell me where they are and we can have a conversation" I took several deep breaths trying to steady my racing heart. "I took them away, somewhere safe...for now. he answered there it was again, the subtle threat. "you're bluffing" I shook my head, I knew he wasn't but I needed something so I wouldn't feel so helpless. He raised an eyebrow and straightened his suit jacket. "would you like to find out" The tone sent a shiver down my spine. "what do you want" "we can't discuss that here, how about we move to somewhere more secure" "what the f**k, no I'm not going anywhere" I took a step back my eyes searching for anything I could use to get away from him. "Don't make this more difficult than it should be" the stranger said, moving closer to me. I turned immediately heading for the door, but before I could reach it, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the floor. my head hit the cold tiles and my vision blurred. He stepped back while I tried to regain myself. "I have your family, you don't have much of a choice" He called a name I could barely hear, my ears still ringing from the fall. I wanted to scream for help but the sound refused to find their way out. As I faded to black I couldn't help but think about how I got here and what he wanted from me. I faded in and out of consciousness, I could feel myself getting carried. I was put in a car and someone put a blanket over me. Then it went dark again the handsome stranger's face flashed in my memory one last time I wondered if I was going to die.