You Are Mine

Chapter 8

Aurora's POV

I froze on the spot.

I felt like my whole soul and my courage drained out of my body at once. I didn't know what to say. My lips started trembling.

"I..I.." I stuttered.

"I won't repeat myself, Aurora," he said. His voice was low, calm, and that was what made it terrifying. He stepped closer, bit by bit.

I stepped backwards until my back hit the cold wall.

"No sir... I just kept the book after cleaning its... its spot," I lied, my voice shaking.

He stopped at the table and looked at the book. His book. His diary.

"Such a flimsy liar," he said coldly.

I didn't even realize I was already shivering.

He picked up the book gently. Too gently. Dangerously.

"How dare you, Aurora!"

And then he hit the wall. His fist slammed right beside my neck, into the plaster. The sound exploded next to my ear.

I flinched so hard I covered my eyes with both hands.

"Look at me!" he growled.

He grabbed the front of my clothes and dragged me away from the wall, only to slam my back against it again.

"Arrhh!" I screamed from the sharp pain shooting up my spine.

"Shut the f*ck up, b***h!" he snapped, his face inches from mine. "You have no damn right to touch my stuff! Do you get it?!"

I nodded quickly, too scared to breathe, scared he would hit me again.

"Words, you i***t!" He slammed me into the wall again, harder this time.

"Arrhh!" I cried as my elbow cracked against the hard surface. My vision blurred from tears.

"I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry! I would never dare touch your things, please..." I begged him, sinking lower, trying to hide in the corner.

Oh God, what have I gotten myself into? I thought. Why did I touch it? Why?

He got closer and yanked me up from the ground. I heard the fabric of my uniform rip at the shoulder.

"This will remind you not to mess with my stuff," he whispered.

"No, no... please..." I begged.

HIT.

A heavy punch landed on my stomach. All the air left my body at once. I flew backward across the room and hit something hard. The edge of the bed? The wardrobe? I couldn't tell.

My head hit. My vision went white, then black.

And that was the last thing I could remember.

***

The next time I woke up, I found myself in a room. Familiar, but not mine.

I looked around and saw someone standing near the bed. He was dressed in white, his nose covered with a mask, adjusting a drip connected to my hand.

Who is he?

I tried to move my head but a sharp pain stabbed through me.

"Ahhh!" I gasped.

The man turned to me quickly.

"Hello, miss, are you okay? And oh, you're awake," he said.

"My dear, you're awake!"

I heard Emma's voice from the other side of the bed.

I managed to turn my head to my left. It took everything I had.

"Easy," the man said gently.

I finally turned to Emma. Her eyes were red. She looked sad. So sad.

"Emma..." I called, my voice so weak I could barely hear it myself.

She leaned over and took my hand in hers. "Darling, I'm so sorry you had to go through this," she whispered.

I felt sorry for myself. If I hadn't taken his diary, if I hadn't been so curious, I wouldn't be in this mess.

I rubbed the back of her palm with my thumb. "It's okay. I shouldn't have entered his room at all..."

"Miss, I need to leave now since you're awake," the man said, stepping back. "By the way, I'm Doctor Enzo. Damien's family doctor as well. I'll be on my leave now."

He was about to leave when I called him.

"Sir..." I said. He stopped at the door.

I pointed to the bedside table with a weak finger. "You didn't prescribe any medicine for me. Or leave any."

He shook his head. His eyes looked apologetic behind his mask.

"That should be your boss's order," he said quietly.

And then he left.

I looked at Emma. My eyes were burning with tears I refused to let fall.

"So he won't let me take drugs, huh?" I said, my voice breaking.

Emma sighed. "It's okay. Just try to change the dressing on the injury on your head regularly."

I touched the injury on my head. It was wrapped in thick white bandages. It throbbed. I sighed.

"Let me quickly get you something to eat," Emma said, standing up.

She left, leaving me alone in this empty, silent room.

As soon as she left, my mind started wandering.

I don't think I can survive in this place anymore. I'm sick and tired of it. I'm sick and tired of living in fear every single second. Of being beaten like an animal. Of being nothing.

The door opened again. I thought it was Emma.

But it wasn't.

No.

Damien.

I stiffened on the bed. I held my breath. I didn't dare breathe too loudly.

He was dressed in a dark blue hoodie sweater and black hoodie trousers. His hands were in his pockets. He walked in and casually closed the door behind him, then leaned against it.

"Go... good... good evening, sir," I greeted him, my voice shaking so badly.

He didn't reply to my greeting immediately. He just stared at me. Then he pushed off the door and stepped closer to the bed.

Fear shot through me. I tried to shift away from him, even though the pain made me want to scream.

He reached out to touch the injury on my head.

I flinched violently, thinking he was going to rip the bandage off.

His hand hung in the air for a second.

"Hahaha," he laughed. A dry, dark, humorless laugh.

I looked at him, confused, terrified.

And all of a sudden, he stopped laughing. His face turned cold again.

"How dare you..." He raised his hand, like he was about to grab my neck.

"Arrhh!" I screamed without thinking.

He stopped. He looked at my terrified face, folded his hand into a tight fist, and sniffed, like he was disgusted.

"You should thank your stars," he said coldly. "I would have hit you. Well, I came to tell you something. You have only one hour to spend here. And then you can pack your stupid self back to your abandoned corner room."

Tears filled my eyes. They blurred my vision.

"Understood?" he questioned, his voice sharp.

"Yes, sir," I nodded quickly.

"Good," he said.

And with that, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

I was left in silence again. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst.

What have I done? What did I do to deserve this?

The door opened again and Emma walked in with a tray. Only two plates.

She set it in front of me and picked up the spoon and fork. She scooped some soup and brought it to my mouth, but I turned my face away. She quietly lowered it.

"What is it, Aurora?" she asked softly.

All I can think about right now is running away. Escaping.

"Emma," I whispered, my tears finally falling. "I want to run away."

"What!"