The splashing of water drops, over and over again at the same speed, reaches my ears like an echo through the mountains and makes me open my lids in a single second.

At first, it feels like a dream; the sound barely identifiable, until it gets louder and louder and you involuntarily shake your head, feeling yourself panic, before waking up terrified and realizing it was just a nightmare.

But this time it is not just a nightmare.

The smell of gasoline and varnish makes its way into my sluggishly hanging head, slowly causing me to look up. I wince as a sharp pain runs through the back of my neck.

Where am I?

Exhaling in bursts, my eyes search the surrounding area, determined by panic.

A warehouse?

A rough rope scrapes around my wrists, which I only notice as I rub my burning eyes. I am also tightly bound. As if I had murdered someone and not the people who kidnapped me.

God, they just took me with them!

Only now, I realize what actually happened and my body reacts accordingly. Panic overtakes me like a tidal wave, constricts my throat, and takes my breath away. Where the hell am I? And what are they going to do with me? Are they going to kill me? All the questions cause a pulling pain in my head, so I hastily put an end to it.

Calm down, Rina...

Only freak out when you know, that you won't get out of here alive.

"Such a mistake is shameful and must never happen again. An innocent girl has to suffer for it now. It would be wrong to just kill her," an angry voice rings out, snapping me out of my thoughts. Frowning, I quickly hold my breath and listen.

"Why? I mean, we can just throw her out of the world. Her life isn't that important, anyway," someone else replies.

My heart skips a beat. They're going to kill me.

"Shut up before the boss can hear you! Do you want him to cut your ears off, you idiot? He decides what's going to happen with the girl," someone else answers now.

Or was it the one I had heard first? I don't know. My head is buzzing and black dots dance briefly in front of my eyes. I clench my teeth to keep myself from losing consciousness. I have to stay awake and see how I can get out of here!

"Boss," the guy now clears his throat. I hear firm, yet slow footsteps coming closer and closer.

"I don't think she's even awak-" he adds but is interrupted by a deep voice.

"Silence." Calm and melodious at the same time, but firm enough so that no one dares to contradict. I shudder.

The metal door opens with an agonized scream. My body acknowledges this with unpleasant goosebumps. My gaze is lowered - until I feel his presence. He is slowly approaching. My heart starts beating faster at the thought. My cold hands sweat and I wipe them on my pants.

"You're awake."

I startle, tensing up completely as I follow the deep sound of his voice. My head snaps up and I look at him. Slowly, I let the pent-up air escape my lungs as I realize that he's not even that evil-looking.

His tall, erect stature looks menacing and casts a shadow over me. He has broad shoulders, muscles adorning his impressive body - not too many, but enough to intimidate me. Shyly, I let my eyes wander, seeing his sand-colored hair combed back in waves, his perfectly arched eyebrows slightly furrowed. His cold, distant poison-green eyes show no emotion, don't even blink. My gaze slides further, spotting the end of a tattoo, visible only because of the bent collar of his black shirt, making him look more dangerous. His dark clothes enhance the effect. A dark, sinister aura surrounds him.

Empty, I swallow. The sinking feeling in my stomach grows stronger.

"It was stupid and really suicidal of you to keep an eye on us. The police are looking for solid evidence against me and you are now perfect for them and perfect for my downfall. Now listen to me carefully, girl." His calm and dark voice puts me in fear and panic. He has clearly changed. The twinkle in his green eyes is gone and the charming crooked grin he used to get every girl in his pants, is nowhere to be seen. His face has only become more attractive than it already was. My gaze falls on his beard shadow, which makes him look wicked and aloof.

He grabs me by the chin and forces me to look at him. Startled, I tear my eyes open, gasping frantically for air, but my throat seems to be constricted. His eyes sparkle at me expressionlessly. I recognize a small scar under his right eyebrow.

"I don't have the time or the nerve for this. You made a mistake and this has now consequences. Decide. Either I have to kill you or...-" he breathes, coming frighteningly closer to my face. My heart throbs painfully hard as he tightens his grip around my chin slightly.

"Or you'll have to spend the rest of your life by my side," he adds softly. I choke on my own spit and cough wildly.

Excuse me?

I'm getting hot and cold at the same time, and I feel my blood begin to pulse hard through my body.

"Relax, Mother Teresa. You can die if you want," he replies as soon as I calm down a bit and finally takes his hands off me.

"What do you mean -", I begin quietly, but stop because I don't know if I'm actually allowed to call him directly as well as he just calls me.

Do not underestimate, Rina...

"A life with you?", I ask quietly, hesitantly.

"What do you mean?", I add.

"The way you understand it," he replies firmly, at which I flinch.

"You live here and with me."

"I will not say anything. I swear it on my unborn children," I breathe, unable to stop my lower lip from beginning to quiver. All I can do is plead.

He raises his eyebrow slightly and narrows them a little bit. He seems confused. But before I could look closer, the corner of his lips lift slightly, disappear again.

"By your unborn children, yes? And what if you're not procreative after all?" He's making fun of me, I can bet my ass on that, even if it's not directly apparent to him. There's just so much mockery in his tone that it's immediately obvious.

Speechless, I watch him sit up with a sigh.

"As I said before, I don't have a choice. So. Decide. Your death or a life with me. I'll give you a little time to think about it." With these words, he leaves the hall, where I sit tied up on a chair, and leaves me alone again. 

For minutes, I stare apathetically at nothing until my eyes begin to burn and fill with tears. I am lost.  

Because whether I choose to live with him or to die, both mean death to me. But if I decide to stay with him, then one day he must let me go. He can't keep me until I die...

Besides, my parents would involve the police soon. Then I would get out alive. Hope sprouts up in me. But what if I don't make it? If I can't get out of here, if the police won't come at all, or if he won't let me go? What should I do then? Sooner or later I'm going to die anyway. There's no point in choosing life. 

But my parents...

Mom would be devastated and Dad would have an epileptic fit. Because it happened once before, when I was fifteen, I went to a party and didn't come home until the next day, because I fell asleep on a sofa there. That's why they didn't know where I was or if anything had happened to me. 

I can't do that to them. 

At least, not without fighting. 

Determined, but with my heart racing, I raise my head. I will stay with him. He can't keep me here forever. And there will be for sure an opportunity to escape in the next few days. 

Yes, that's what I'll do... 

Hours probably pass, in which I still sit tied up and now also hungry in this hall, until he finally enters the room again. Standing tall, he crosses his muscular arms in front of his broad chest. His gaze is sharp, penetrating me, spreading a bizarre coldness that makes me want to stroke my arms. But I keep my eyes on him until I can't stand it any longer and look away. 

"I hope you made your decision," his sonorous voice rings out. You can hardly call it a question. It's clearly a command. 

God, help me... 

"Yes," I rasp. "I don't want to die," I breathe softly, looking up at him. 

His lips curl up and he is immediately so close that the pleasant scent of his expensive perfume reaches my nose. My heart skips a beat. This guy is going to kill me. 

"Good," he replies roughly.

"So that means a life with me." His breath grazes my neck. 

"A life with you."

☼ ❅

Let's go...

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