Chapter 2 - Sophia
The morning breeze had a coldness to it that was unusual for this time of year.
I was earlier than usual and was sure that was why the air felt so cold.
Before locking my car and heading in, I opened the back door to grab my jacket.
I jumped, knocking my head against the doorframe as a deep voice suddenly spoke behind me. “Excuse me.”
Turning swiftly, I came face to face with a giant of a man. His green eyes looked like gems. Then I recognized him. “Did you get lost, or are you following me?” I asked, rubbing my head, feeling the start of a headache coming on.
His hands moved with grace as he covered my mouth with one and grabbed my waist with the other. There was a sharp odor before I felt my eyes getting heavy. Soon they would close. I felt his arm around me, wrapping tightly.
I wanted to scream and push him away, but my body felt numb. Confusion and fear briefly entered my mind before the darkness overtook me, pulling me into a deep slumber.
I didn’t know how long I had been out. I had no idea where I was or why the man had taken me. The surface beneath me felt hard, like a wooden bench or something similar. I could hear some voices around me. I swallowed hard before blinking and then opening my eyes.
Nothing looked familiar. Absolutely nothing indicated where I was.
The walls were a dirty white, despite the room reeking of cleaning agents.
The place was practically empty except for an old brown table a couple of feet away.
It looked like an antique. The chairs surrounding it matched the delicacy and beauty of the table.
Steadying myself with one hand, I noticed I was lying on a long wooden bench, the kind you’d find in a church. I slowly pushed myself upright. Seated on the other side of the table before me was someone wearing a mask.
My heart pounded against my ribs. It desperately wanted to be free from the constraints holding it in place. Behind the masked man stood a couple more men. They were armed, carrying big guns. They had to be guards. Who was this man if he needed guards?
My breath caught in my throat as I opened my mouth. “Well, look who finally decided to join us,” a deep voice murmured from beneath the mask. The man rested his elbows on the table as he leaned closer.
I shivered as a deep, penetrating cold seemed to fill the air around us. It felt like the temperature had just dropped five degrees. I glanced at the men and around the room. My legs felt weak, but I wanted to run. I had to find a way out.
“Sophia!” the voice echoed through the room as he banged a fist on the table. My lungs burned, seizing up as I jerked my head back to look at him. For a moment, I forgot that breathing was a vital part of living. I felt the blood draining from my face. I was sure I would pass out any moment.
“Sign this,” he ordered as he pushed a paper across the table to my side. His eyes locked on mine. Light green emeralds shine through the slits in the mask. They were so vibrant, I felt mesmerized.
“Sign,” the man said again, placing a pen on the paper.
Shaking my head slightly, I glanced at the guards behind him before shifting closer to the table. Picking it up, I had to use both hands to lessen the trembling. Looking at it, I was baffled. It was a marriage license.
I glanced at him, utterly confused. Glancing back down, I studied the paper.
It was a legitimate marriage license. This had to be a prank, it had to be.
Before I could stop myself, I started laughing uncontrollably.
After the onset of panic and fear, the relief of knowing it was a prank was just too much.
After a moment, I caught my breath. Feeling much more relaxed, I sat closer. Smiling at him, I spoke between laughs. “Okay, so, who put you up to this?” My mind was working overtime trying to think who in my life or my firm would pull such a trick. They really went all the way out on this one.
Over the last year, we have pulled many pranks on each other, but this one took the cake.
I remember filling the sugar pot with salt.
What a morning that was. Then there was the prank holiday one of the guys called in.
Oh, and our Christmas party with the alcohol in the fruit punch, but this.
Getting up, I sat down in the chair on this side of the table.
“Well,” I continued, grinning. “Let’s hear it, then. Who was it?”
The man said nothing, but the sparkle in his eyes suddenly made my skin crawl. His hands were clenched tightly, his posture upright, and his tone not even slightly friendly as he spoke. “Who put me up to this?” His voice was silky, laced with venom.
Looking down at the contract again, I swallowed the lump pushing up in my throat. Was this a prank, or was it real? “No,” I mumbled as I pushed the paper back towards him. “I’m not signing that,” I added, shaking my head and rolling my eyes.
Locking eyes with him again, I could only hope he wasn’t the kind of man who would force me. His one hand moved like lightning as he ripped the mask from his face. I could see the anger in his expression as shock ran through me.
Why wear a mask if he was the one who took me? I was unsure why I felt surprised, but I did. I mean, I should have known, as he was the one who took me. Then the memories came flooding back. He was the man from the coffee shop and the one claiming to be lost at my house.
Had he been stalking me? Why? What have I done to him?
His green eyes now seemed to be ablaze as he ran a hand through his hair. “You know,” he huffed. His voice was a low growl. “I really like children; I wouldn’t want to see them get hurt or go missing. End up in the hands of someone who does not play nice with children, would you?”
I was lost; I had no idea what or who he was talking about.
He rose sharply and started around the table as he continued.
“All the misery because you refused to sign a simple piece of paper. A small thing that will resolve all issues and cease your obsession with me. If you refuse, they will suffer.”
Opening my mouth to snap back, I was caught off guard as he grabbed a brown envelope from one of the guards and chucked it at me. “Look at the child before you answer. Consider with care the little one living in the suburb just outside the city.” His tone was less scary and sounded more mocking.
My hands trembled as I opened the envelope. Could he be talking about my brother’s kid, my niece? With a racing heart and shaking hands, I pulled the photos out. As I glimpsed my niece, they dropped from my grasp, scattering to the table and floor.
Some showed her at school with friends. Others were of her playing in the garden at home, and even some photos of my family having supper. “What do you want?” I asked, hearing my voice cracking.
Fear settled deep into my bones. I would do anything to keep them safe. How did this man know their address? Who was he?
“It’s simple,” the man replied in a light tone. “As I said, just sign this.” He pulled the marriage license back to me. “If you don’t, your niece will be dead within seconds.”
My head felt like it was about to explode, and along with it, my heart. Picking up the pen, I reluctantly signed the license. I had barely put the pen down when he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to my feet.
“Well then, dear,” he huffs as he pulls me out the door and shoves me into his car. “What’s done is done.”
As the SUV pulls out and hits the road, I clear my throat. “Who are you?” I ask, my voice sounding less shaky as my nerves start to calm down.
He looked over at me, rolling his eyes, but didn’t open his mouth. How rude, I thought. Looking down at my lap, I folded my hands. I’m not sure what I have done or to whom to receive such a punishment.
We sat in silence for a while as he drove.
But I had to know. “Just tell me your name!” I spat at him but didn’t look his way.
When he didn’t respond, I turned in my seat to face him.
Looking at him, I frowned. “What the hell is it with you? I just asked what your name is. It’s not like I asked for your pedigree. ”
He started laughing but didn’t look at me. It was a soft sound, almost musical. But he was still rude. Feeling frustrated and angry, I folded my arms across my chest. Shifting back in my seat, I looked out the window.
I could feel my anger subside as the view changed and a mansion came into sight. My jaw dropped as the mesmerizing beauty unfolded before my eyes. “Who the hell are you?” I asked. I hadn’t intended to speak again, but I couldn’t stop myself. I could hear the awe in my tone and felt disgusted by it.
It looked like something out of a fairy tale.
The mansion towers over the walls up on the hill.
Green woods and wildflowers spread everywhere I looked.
The four corners of the mansion are slightly taller than the rest, like four towers.
The way the sun hit the roof made it gleam, and for a moment, it looked like it was made of gold.
Why did my voice betray me? Glancing at him, he was still focused on the view before him. He didn’t look my way. But he seemed upset or angry suddenly. “What’s your problem?” I asked, feeling confused. One moment he was laughing, then the next he looked like he was ready to kill someone.
“You are not the one being kidnapped, held against your will, and being forced into a situation that you didn’t want, are you?” I asked, concerned. I was so focused on him that I had not realized we had pulled up to the mansion.
He suddenly stopped dead. I tumbled forward, slamming into the dashboard. “What the hell?” I shouted at him. Once again, he ignored me as he got out. He walked around the car and flung open my door. Grabbing me by the arm, he dragged me out.
“That hurts!” I huffed. I tried pulling away, trying to get out of his grip, but it tightened the more I struggled. Still, he said nothing. He glanced at me, frowned, and dragged me inside.
“You have no right to treat me like this!” I spat at him. “I don’t know who you are or what I’ve done to you!”
He slammed the front door closed behind us as he stopped. Pulling me closer, he firmly gripped both my shoulders, looking into my eyes. His eyes burned with anger. I suddenly felt unsafe. What did this man intend to do with me? Was he going to hit me or kill me?
Opening my mouth, I wanted to scream for help, but there was no sound coming out. Not that it would have done me any good. I was sure there was no one around to help me anyway.
He pulled me up the stairs with him as he moved. His voice was deep and filled with irritation as he spoke. “You are so shady. Cut the crap, asking who I am! What have you done to me? Well, you know. Stop your bullshit!”
I struggled to stay on my feet as we moved down a passage lined with doors. Close to the end, he stopped. Opening the door, he shoved me forward, sending me stumbling as he continued to scream at me. “You’ll stay here until you admit what you’ve done!”
He slammed the door shut and locked it. Turning, I sat down and stared at the door. I breathed in heavily as I fought the tears welling up. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry.
Getting up, I moved to the bed and sat down. I had just sat down when I felt the first tear run down my cheek. How can someone be so cruel? Shifting higher onto the bed, I pulled my legs to my chest and hugged them.