Chapter Two - B
1197 Words
CHAPTER TWO-B — The Price
Elena woke before sunrise.
Her heart was pounding.
Her chest felt tight.
Her stomach twisted.
Sleep had abandoned her.
She stared at the walls of her small room.
The walls were bare.
Silent.
Empty.
Her mother’s scarf lay on the pillow.
She pressed it to her face.
It smelled faintly of home.
Of warmth.
Of love.
Tears came quietly.
Slow.
Soft.
They left streaks on her cheeks.
She whispered into the empty room:
“I’ll save you, Mom. I’ll do this. I have to.”
She dressed quickly.
Her bag packed.
Her shoes scuffed.
Her coat wet from yesterday’s rain, still damp.
Every step toward the door felt heavy.
Her heart ached.
Her stomach clenched.
Her hands shook.
The taxi waited outside.
The city was still gray.
The air smelled wet.
Fresh.
Cold.
Elena climbed in.
The seat felt strange.
Cold leather.
Foreign.
The car moved.
Streets passed by.
She watched silently.
Her fingers twisted together in her lap.
She thought of her mother.
Weak. Pale. Fragile.
The doctors had said it was urgent.
Time was short.
Her mind repeated it again.
One year. One year. One year.
Her lips pressed together.
She swallowed hard.
Tears burned her eyes.
She did not cry.
Not yet.
The car turned into a quiet street.
Everything changed.
Buildings larger.
Gardens perfect.
Gates tall and heavy.
The world of wealth and power.
She felt small.
The Blackwood Estate appeared.
Huge.
Cold.
Intimidating.
The gates slowly opened.
The car drove inside.
The air smelled of flowers and polished stone.
Her stomach tightened.
A maid waited.
Neat uniform.
Calm face.
Hands folded.
“Miss Elena,” she said softly.
“Welcome. I will show you your room.”
Elena nodded.
Her voice had gone.
She followed silently.
The hall was wide.
Her footsteps echoed.
Shadows stretched along the walls.
Portraits of unknown faces watched her.
Her heart pounded louder.
Her mind spun.
She felt small.
Like a child lost in a palace.
The maid led her upstairs.
Past long hallways.
Past many doors.
Rooms quiet.
Clean.
Polished.
Finally, they stopped.
“This is your room,” the maid said.
Elena stepped inside.
The room was enormous.
Bigger than her apartment.
Soft bed.
Curtains brushing the floor.
Desk. Closet.
Everything was perfect.
But it did not feel like home.
It did not feel warm.
It did not feel hers.
The maid left.
The door closed.
Alone.
Elena pressed her mother’s scarf to her face.
It smelled like home.
Like safety.
Like love.
Tears fell slowly.
Softly.
Quietly.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
Her knees hugged to her chest.
Her fingers trembled.
Her body shook.
This is my life now, she thought.
One year. His rules. His control.
All for Mom.
Her lips trembled.
She pressed the scarf harder.
Her chest ached.
A knock came at the door.
Her heart jumped.
Her palms grew sweaty.
Her throat went dry.
Alexander Blackwood entered.
Tall.
Dark suit.
Eyes sharp.
Presence strong.
Cold.
He did not smile.
He did not speak kindly.
He did not look soft.
“Your mother’s treatment has started,” he said.
Elena’s lips trembled.
“Thank… you,” she whispered.
He did not respond.
He stepped closer.
“Rules,” he said.
“You will follow them.”
Her throat tightened.
She nodded.
“You will learn them soon,” he added.
She nodded again.
He watched her silently.
His eyes measured her.
Every heartbeat, every movement.
“From now on,” he said, “you live here. Every day. Every hour. You answer when I call. You obey. You do not leave without permission. You do not lie. You do not disobey.”
Her chest tightened.
Her hands trembled.
Her lips pressed together.
“Why me?” she whispered.
Her voice small.
“Because I chose you,” he said.
No warmth.
No softness.
Only truth.
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Her heart pounded.
Tears threatened.
“What if I refuse?” she asked.
He stepped closer.
Cold air brushed her face.
“Then your mother dies,” he said.
The words hit her like ice.
Her chest froze.
Her hands clenched the scarf tightly.
She shook her head slowly.
“No. I… I can’t.”
He did not blink.
His eyes stayed cold.
Final.
Her body trembled.
Her heart ached.
“I… I love her,” she whispered.
“More than anything.
I’ll do anything to save her.”
His eyes stayed cold.
Unmoving.
“Then the decision is made,” he said.
Her heart shattered quietly.
She swallowed.
Nodded.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Something invisible closed around her.
Binding.
Cold.
Final.
Alexander took one step back.
“You will move in tomorrow morning,” he said.
“Your life is mine from today.”
The rain began outside.
Soft.
Slow.
Like the sky itself cried for her.
Elena pressed the scarf to her face.
Her lips trembled.
Her hands shook.
But she did not cry.
Not here.
Not in front of him.
She stayed silent.
But inside, her heart was breaking.
Slowly.
Softly.
The next morning came gray and quiet.
Elena packed a small bag.
A few clothes.
Toiletries.
Her mother’s scarf.
Her heart.
She looked at her apartment.
The walls familiar.
The smell faintly of home.
She felt a pang of longing.
She whispered softly:
“I’ll come back, Mom. I promise.”
Her fingers lingered on the doorknob.
Her chest ached.
Her legs felt heavy.
The taxi waited.
The city passed quietly outside.
Buildings, people, cars moving.
She felt invisible.
Detached.
Her mind repeated the warning:
One year. His rules. Your life is not yours.
The car turned into the estate’s street.
The gates loomed.
Heavy. Cold.
Judging.
The car drove inside.
Elena’s stomach twisted.
Her hands fidgeted.
Her heart pounded.
Inside, the house was enormous.
Polished floors.
High ceilings.
Long hallways.
Shadows stretched.
Portraits of strangers watched her.
A maid appeared.
Silent. Calm.
Led her to her room.
It was large.
Soft bed.
Desk. Closet.
Everything perfect.
But empty.
Cold.
Not hers.
The maid left.
Door clicked shut.
Elena hugged her knees.
Pressed the scarf to her face.
Tears fell slowly.
She whispered softly:
“Mom… I hope this saves you.
I hope I survive this.
I hope I am strong enough.”
The rain outside tapped on the windows.
Quiet.
Soft.
Sad.
Her body trembled.
Her chest ached.
Her mind spun.
Her life had changed.
Forever.
One year.
Alexander Blackwood’s rules.
Her freedom gone.
And still… she would do it.
For her mother.
For love.
For survival.
The rest of the day passed quietly.
She explored her room.
Touched the smooth walls.
Felt the cold floor.
Watched the rain fall outside.
Every sound echoed.
Every shadow seemed alive.
Every heartbeat loud in her ears.
Alexander’s words replayed in her mind.
Obey. Do not leave. Do not lie.
Her stomach twisted.
Her chest ached.
She pressed the scarf to her face again.
Tears fell softly.
Quietly.
And she whispered:
“I will do it.
I will survive.
I will save her.”
The house remained cold.
Empty.
Silent.
But inside, Elena’s heart began to harden.
Slowly.
Quietly.
For her mother.
- Writer
