NYA

up to s

For a brief, stupid moment, I thou

I saw

ikt

chair across th

the time. He wasn't doing anything except wat

outside cast long shadows over his face.

e pounded in my ears.

stuck in m

the tension coil tight. He wanted me to

d the sheet

ly, he

id you think

low, smooth, a

dn't a

resting his elbows

, my thoughts sluggish, but my mind was raci

lready

ng where I was going. He wa

nted to hear

jaw, refusing to

nose, then tilted his head

. I latched onto it, and let

d, shaking his head like I had disappoin

nails into

scent of his cologne curled around me. Hi

I didn't se

ran down m

t know exactly

d my br

ly-too softl

od turned to ice. "I let you taste free

omach d

The calmness in them, the quiet amu

won. And he wante

od and walked

? He wasn't going to hurt me?

d to scream, to throw something, to fig

I did

Silent and burn

Paused. Then, without

well, kul

Leaving me alon

now when I f

cing, my body aching. The next, I was drowning in the

ad lo

do it. That I could escape, find help, b

I wasn't just trappe

ere. How dangerous. But one thing was clear-Viktor had let

ad no idea wha

the same thing I was? Were they locked away in at lea

into myself

would be w

elf out of bed. My body ached, covered in bruises, my mu

under the shower for what felt like forever, letting

ng could wa

still echoed

I didn't see

reedom... just so I

I stepped out of the shower. He wanted me to feel

fresh clothes left for me-simple, soft, b

ening the last button, a k

froz

mmed against m

subsided. For a moment, I thought about ignoring i

tepped forward. My bruises t

nd hesitated. Then, swallowin

blin

oung man stood there in

f he'd just run his fingers through it. His jaw wa

ored, full of something I couldn't qu

he kind of smile that didn't

ng a tray with ointment and bandages an

His voice was smooth, and calm.

onfused. Who was he

till clung to me, but someth

stepped back.

th an easy grin, like we were old f

asavitsa." He

ened imme

mock surrender. "Relax, I

playful. It was so out of place in this cold, suffoc

Viktor's nephew,I've been out of town for some busine

eph

If he was related to Viktor, then

didn't look

way he spoke. His golden-brown hair was slightly messy, as if he d

omplete opposi

to the maid behind him. "I figured you migh

wned. "

d the hall. "Big dining table, serious faces, no

ter on the table. The second the scent hit m

ched my

I was given food after-after everything-I

e soft sheets, the food-none

ng like he had no idea what k

" he urge

ayed s

n, huh? Well, while you decide, th

man moved toward me

hammering. "Some kind of trick? What

's smile

re on my own, okay? No one sent me. And as

ying to find the lie.

uiet sincerity. Slowly and hesi

e me wince, but compared to eve

ms crossed, that same

ou know, you don't have to st

frow

say. "You can explore the house, go wherever you want. No one's gonna stop you. But if yo

. "Just ask anyone to call me, and I'll come keep you en

m. But I didn't fee

ssed the maids, then turned bac

he food, k

e left. I sat ther

ached for the food an