Adrian

The mansion loomed, dark and foreboding, above Glenna as she struggled against her bindings. The man dragging her across the gravel driveway to the large front door moved quickly, wanting to finish his objective before his boss got restless. Her hands were taped behind her back, her ankles free. She staggered under the weight of a pounding headache, her left eye throbbing from the pain. She had been struck across the face with the butt of a gun when she was attacked. The tape pulled against her mouth, but she couldn’t get it off of her lips. Her long curly black hair was wild, and hung around her face in wild tendrils.

The man dragging her dropped her onto her knees inside the large door, and two shadowed figures loomed over her. She cowered away from them. “Take her up,” one gravelly voice ordered.

Hands grabbed Glenna under her armpits, hauling her writhing body down a carpeted hallway. Her denim clad legs scraped across the soft carpet, the dimly lit entranceway receding behind them. The two men dragged her backwards, but she had an idea about where she was going.

Uncarpeted stairs bumped under Glenna’s legs as they ascended to the floor above, probably leaving more bruises. Her sneakers squeaked together as she tried to break free from the grasp of the men dragging her. The one on her right gave her one rough shake, and she cried out at the jerk of pain in her shoulder.

Glenna could tell they had reached the top of the stairs, and the ground beneath her hands was wooden and smooth. She struggled again, using every ounce of her energy to try and break free. The unyielding grip on her arms tightened, and Glenna could feel she was losing blood circulation to her hands.

The men dragging her finally dropped her in another room at the end of what she knew to be a hallway. One man left, the other standing next to her now still body. The room was softly lit by a lamp in the corner, the rest of the room in shadow. The carpet beneath her hands was plush, and soft. The room was ornate, what part of it she could see, anyway. She slowly managed to scoot around to face into the room, and froze when she came face to face with the last person she wanted to see.

Seated in a large padded chair in the corner was the man she had escaped from. He wore an expensive fitted black suit, black shoes, and a white button shirt. The shirt was open at the collar, exposing a triangle at his throat. His hair was dark, and messy, like he had been running his hands through it. It was pulled forwards, and Glenna knew the look was effortless. He had dark stubble on his face, which was impassive as he stared at her.

His dark eyes narrowed as he examined the bruise on Glenna’s face, his left ankle crossed over his right knee. The hand resting on the right armrest of the chair clenched into a fist. Glenna could see the tendons turn white. “I told you, not to damage her.” The voice was deep, dangerous, the words soft and slow. But Glenna tried to shuffle back towards the door. She knew that tone, how precarious the situation was.

The man turned pale. “She put up a fight, Adrian. Bill was forced to defend himse~”

Adrian tilted his head, not taking his eyes off of Glenna’s bruised face. His next words were just as soft, just as slow. “Leave. I’ll deal with Bill later.”

The man left, shutting Glenna in the room with Adrian. They were alone. Glenna shuffled back, her eyes darting around the room for a means to escape. Adrian didn’t move for a moment, and then he reached to the table next to him. He picked up a long thin object. A letter opener, Glenna realised. She tried to push up against the door, shaking her head as Adrian stood up and advanced towards her. She couldn’t speak or scream, but she tried, muffled whimpers all she could muster. Her sneakers kicked against the carpet as her shoulders hit the door, but she had nowhere else to go. She stared up at the man towering over her, still regarding her with little expression on his face.

Adrian crouched down around two feet in front of her, holding the letter opener. “I’m going to cut you free. If you scream, if you struggle, I will hurt you. More than they did. It’s in your best interests to remain calm. I don’t want to damage you further, but I will if you force me. Nod if you understand.”

Glenna nodded hurriedly, her dark eyes wide with fear. The one that wasn’t bruised. The bruised eye watered, and Adrian reached towards her face. Glenna instinctively recoiled, the back of her head hitting the shut door with a soft thump. Adrian gently caressed her face, and slowly pulled the tape from her mouth. Glenna took a deep breath, a rush of cool cologne filling her lungs. Adrian reached up and placed the letter opener onto the bookshelf next to the door, pulling Glenna to her feet as he stood up.

Glenna wobbled, her knees weak. Adrian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Hungry?”

Glenna didn’t respond, and Adrian walked around behind her. She felt his hand grab her arms, and winced at the slide of the sharp blade through the tape. Maybe not a letter opener then. Those weren’t usually so sharp. Glenna rubbed her wrists, pulling the last of the tape off of her skin. The skin on her arms was raw from the tape, and Glenna suspected more bruises.

Adrian led the way through a far door, into a large dining area. The floor to ceiling windows covering one wall showed the stars, and Glenna took a moment to appreciate that she hadn’t died, yet.

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out, not when dealing with a man like Adrian. He got what he wanted, and one didn’t stray far. Glenna learnt that the hard way after running. It had taken a week for them to find her, but she was now back at square one. Adrian took a seat at the table, indicating towards the only other place setting available. Glenna looked around, and then sat. She was opposite him, at the other end of a table designed to seat eight people. There was no food on the table, just a glass of water in front of each place setting. Glenna knew the food would be brought shortly, but she didn’t feel like eating.

Glenna took a sip of water, her face and head throbbing. She needed painkillers, and a long sleep. Adrian watched her. “It’s good to have you home, Glenna.”

Glenna grimaced. “You know it’s not by choice.” Her voice was croaky, and not nearly as intimidating as she would have liked.

Adrian didn’t speak as food was brought to the table. They were soon alone again, and Adrian watched as Glenna picked at the food in front of her. “You’re not hungry?”

She put the fork down. “I was hit over the head with a gun. I need pain killers and some sleep. I need to not see you, Adrian. I just need to care for my pain.”

Adrian sat forward in his chair, his fingers pressed together on the table in front of him. “You chose to run, Glenna. You knew the consequences you’d face. You chose this path. If you had come peacefully, you wouldn’t be bruised. You chose that pain.”

Glenna stood up. She was suddenly drained, all of the fight gone from her. She probably wouldn’t sleep, but she wanted to get away. “I’ll see you in the morning, Adrian.”

Adrian glared icily at her, rooting her to the spot. “Sit.”

Glenna sat. Adrian seemed to loom as he stood, and he walked to the glass window. There was nothing but scrubland outside, the mansion having been built in a secluded area. Adrian stared out into the blackness, Glenna watching the reflection of his face. His eyes narrowed, and turned to face her. “I trusted you. I believed you would be willing to stay.” He paced slowly towards her as he spoke. His next words were growled between clenched teeth. “I closed my eyes for one second, and you tried to betray me”.

Glenna felt the blood leave her face, her hand shaking as she held the glass. “I didn’t betray you, Adrian. I left because I needed to live my own life. I needed to be free.”

Adrian slammed his hand down on the table next to her, and Glenna jumped. “I can provide everything! Anything you want, I can give to you! You don’t need freedom, you need me!”

Glenna didn’t move. She was frozen by Adrian’s wrath. Adrian stood over her, his fists bloodless, his teeth clenched. “Go.”

Glenna fled, leaving Adrian alone, and furious.