Chapter 1
Emmaline’s POV:
I was walking towards my studio apartment, carrying a grocery bag.
My building didn’t have any elevator, climbing the stairs with a big, heavy bag full of groceries was quite tiring.
Standing before my door, I was literally panting.
I entered my hand inside the side bag to find the key. This building was old and the door didn’t have digital locks either.
But it’s a good thing if anyone wants to keep low profile. I was about to insert the key inside the hole but suddenly noticed the door was already opened.
My ears got alerted sensing some noise. Heart thudded erratically when I heard two male voices coming from inside.
Dread crept my heart. They could be robber or worst killer, rapists.
God, please don’t let these men catch me.
Placing the grocery bag on the floor, as silently as I could, I made a mad dash through the stairs.
But God didn’t listen to my prayer this time.
“There she is!”
“Catch her!”
I heard them.
I ran faster than my legs could cover. But it didn’t save me.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Leave me!” I let out a scream when someone caught my ponytail and yanked me backward.
Soon another pair of strong masculine arms clamped around my waist, stilling my all movements.
“Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and screaming in their hold to get free, scratching their hands with my finger nails.
“Who are you? What do you want from me?!” I cried.
Both of them were masked. I couldn’t see their faces. I thrashed in their hold.
“Don’t waste time anymore. We have a long way to go.” One of them said.
It made me more desperate.
Like a madwoman, I began throwing my limbs at them. Suddenly, they pressed a cloth on my mouth and my eyes widened in realization. It was bloody chloroform.
I struggled, but soon my efforts went in vain, as I found myself loosing consciousness.
My head was throbbing. I opened my eyes slowly, my eyelids felt so heavy.
I found myself lying on a soft bed. Then the previous events quickly hit my memory.
I was kidnapped. Panic overtook me, I quickly looked at my body.
Thank God I was still dressed. They didn’t touch or assault me yet. I must escape. Supporting on my elbow, I tried to sit up but my head spun. I fell on the bed.
The chloroform was messing with my system.
I turned my head to look around the room. The room looked oddly familiar.
No, it was way too familiar. My brows joined together.
The white vanity table, stool, a desk, chair, a bed side table, the door to a walk in closet, intercom phone, cabinets - everything was familiar like the palm of own hand.
A cold shiver flowed through my spine. The realization was too hard to digest.
It was my room. It was my room of my father’s mansion where I used to live 5 years ago.
That means my father had me kidnapped. Desperation kicked in, and ignoring my dizziness, I got out of the bed.
I fell on the floor once as dizziness struck me pretty hard. But somehow, I wobbled to the door.
“Let me out!”
“Open the damn door!”
“Open the door!” I banged my weak fist on the door hard. My knuckles were hurting. And I couldn’t muster strength in my limbs.
The door was opened at last.
My eyes met the view of Doris, the right hand man of my father.
“Miss, how are you feeling? It’s already launch time. Would you like to have lunch now?” He asked.
His tone was soft, but eyes were hard and disapproving. He was the perfect guard dog of my father.
They caught me yesterday evening. I was out for more than 12 hours. I was starving but didn’t have any appetite. Because I knew my life was at risk.
I fled from my father and was living somewhere keeping a low profile, changing my name. But he finally found me. Now what he would do to me?
Would he break my legs or chop them off this time? Or cut my ligaments? My father was an animal. He could do anything.
“Doris, why am I here?” I queried, ignoring his judgmental look.
“Miss, you are here because boss wanted you to be here.” Doris replied.
“Why Doris? Why does he suddenly want me here?” I asked.
“Miss, not suddenly. Actually, boss has been looking for you all the time but you kept changing your addresses. You must be hungry, miss. What do you like to eat? The chef made your favorite chicken stew today.” Doris said.
“Doris, forget about food. You know exactly what I asked. Why am I here? What does he wants from me?” I raised my voice a bit.
“Miss, boss is not here. He went to the warehouse and will be coming within a few hours. He called me and told me to feed you properly. You need to eat, Miss. You know if you don’t eat, you will be sorry. Apart from this, I don’t know anything else.”
“Doris, I already know that I will be sorry regardless of eating, otherwise I wouldn’t be brought here. I have this much wit. And bring food for me. Even if I don’t need food now, I will need it very soon. I am going to get fresh.”
I was sure once my father returned, my punishment session would begin followed by starvation.
I needed food. I needed strength for the unimaginable amount of pain that would be showered on me after a few hours later.
Now that I was here, I knew the purpose. The purpose was punishment.
The punishment for disobeying him, escaping from here, five years ago. I entered the bathroom and relieved myself. I took a nice bath and came to my room.
My dresses were same as I left them four years ago. Someone cleaned and took care of them regularly
I took a yellow dress and a white panty from the closet and put them on. While I was combing my hair, a knock took my attention.
“Who is it?” I asked without gazing at the door.
“It’s me, Doris. Would you like to eat now, miss?”
“Yeah. Bring it inside.” I said.
Doris entered my room, a maid followed him inside with a tray of food. He gestured her to put it on the bedside table.
The maid did as he instructed. I went to the bed and sat on it after tucking my dress gracefully. The maid lifted the lids and a smokey delicious smell hit my nostrils.
There were spicy chicken, tomato egg stew, creamy mushroom and garlic bread. All of these were my favourites. Once upon a time I would smile watching this combination. But not now.
“Doris, thanks for making mushrooms.”
“Miss, it’s nothing. If you like anything, I will try to do it for you. You just have to say what do you want.”
“Really?” I looked up at him.
“Of course, Miss.”
“Then how about you let me leave? Before my father comes here?”
“Miss, you already know that’s beyond my power. Eventually boss would find you and you know the rest-”
“Yeah, I know what would happen.” Sighing, I took the spoon and took a spoonful of the stew. It was delicious.
“Doris, for now I don’t need anything. You may go now.”
Doris nodded and left my room.
I tore a piece of bread and put it in my mouth after soaking it in the stew. I was back in the hell. What now?
The cycle would be continued.
