I woke up feeling like my head was hammered and my sight blurry from some unknown reason. That’s right, I was kidnapped. I glanced at my surroundings and realized I must be somewhere like in an abandoned warehouse. I soon heard footsteps coming in my direction.

“Look what we have here, little Thea is finally awake,” she said in a sarcastic and mocking tone. I swear I want to strangle that smug look of that bitch. I knew she was being too quiet.

“Oh, don’t kill me with that beautiful eye of yours yet darling,” she said smiling evilly. What is this bitch scheming again. I heard a few more footsteps and something that’s being dragged towards this room.

“Ambrose! What did you do to him you bitch!” I said fuming in anger. If only I wasn’t tied so tightly then I would’ve punched that witch. Ambrose was in a terrible state. He was covered in bruises all over.

“Oh honey, don’t worry it was his fault for being something his not,” I was confused by what she was saying.

“All I did was told him that I’ll beat you up instead if he didn’t come willingly. And the stupid motherfucker refuted, so here he is now.”

“Are you saying something my dear ex-husband? Oh right, of course that’s not what only happened, he happily took all the beating when I told him that I’ll tell her something that’ll make you hate him and I laughed at his pathetic state. I mean it’s bound to be known anyway,” she said while laughing manically. She’s really crazy but was it really just part of her wicked schemes or is it something else. We were both silent as she stated her mantra that made her snapped.

“Why is everybody so serious? Well then, let’s take our sweet time, shall we? Let the fun begin,” she exclaimed in a serious tone this time and throwed a piece of paper in my direction. I looked at it and all it states are the rising of Ambrose’s company from 4 years ago. What’s she trying to pull now.

“Wait I think it’ll be better if we take out the blinds, right?” she suggested and I was surprised to how this place was familiar now.

“Brings back memories, right?” she asked mockingly. How could I forget the place where it all started. The one in a million chance where fate brought me and him in this whole situation.

***

I dizzily woke up from the heat I was feeling. I felt someone nudging me, I slowly opened my eyes and saw a blurry image of a man before dozing off once again.

I stirred from my sleep and felt very comfortable wherever I am. I seem to be hugging something solid, so I picked my eyes only to be surprised that it was the arm of an unknown man trying to wake me up and I somehow held it instead.

I crouched in a corner scared of the foreign place along with the unfamiliar man trying to calm me down.

“It’s alright, I won’t come near you; I was only trying to wake you up so that you can eat. It’s not poisoned, look I’ll eat some so you can assure I’m not planning anything bad to you,” he said and ate a spoon-full of the tray of food he brought. I didn’t budge still scared of him. He realized that he’s approach was ineffective so he put the tray of food towards me instead and stayed far from me.

I contemplated whether I should accept the food or wait for the man to leave and escape. As if on cue, my tummy rumbled making its presence known and making me ashamed for how loud it sounded. I saw the man trying to stop himself from laughing which only made me more embarrassed of the current situation.

“I’ll just leave while you feast on the food for yourself,” he said smiling then leaving. I waited for a few more minutes and approached the food. I only tasted a little bit first but the first spoon turned two until I didn’t notice that I already finished it.

The man arrived with some clothes with him while I was drinking the glass of milk and I choked upon noticing his presence.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, here are some clothes, I didn’t touch you but I think you needed some change of outfit and a bath at that,” he said not looking the last word as if he’s shy. I looked at my tattered clothes and smelled that I was really in a pretty bad shape.

“The door to the bathroom is on your left, then I guess it’s time for me to leave you so you can do your thing,” he uttered, careful of his words.

I took the clothes and went to the said bathroom. I opened the knob and got startled by how cold it is that I screamed. I heard hurried footsteps. It must be that man again.

“Are you okay in there?” he asked sounding a little worried but I didn’t answered.

“Can you knock once so that I’ll know you’re okay?” he requested and I obliged. I heard him slanted behind the door so I sat near it to hear him well.

“Can we talk like this? I just wanted to know you, if it’s okay with you?” he asked and I made a knock sound.

“My name’s Ambrose, can I know yours?” I hesitated whether to answer or not. Is this man trustworthy?

“Thea.” I spoke in a swift and whisper like tone.

“Do you know anyone to call about your situation?”

“None”

“Then you’re welcome to stay here, Thea” he said in a warm tone as if he’s consoling me about something. I blushed at the sound of his magnetic voice. I deliberated whether to talk to him more or not. But ended up with thinking of his enrapturing face smiling at me.