I sat at the long wooden dining room table directly next to Aidan. It took up most of the room, and the air conditioning was always on full blast, causing goosebumps to flood down my arms. I was wearing a floral button up short sleeved top. It was mostly white with red and golden flowers and incredibly flowy. I was also wearing a red skirt with my shirt tucked into it. Black leggings and brown slip on shoes completed the look.

My hair was styled in long waves and were placed over my shoulders.

The maid had picked out my clothes and did my hair. This outfit was what he ordered me to wear and so this was all I could wear. The maid came in to do my hair every single day while Aidan left the room as soon as he got up.

I didn't have any right in what I wore.

He was taking away my individuality slowly...and, I was trying to not let it bother me. Usually I wore clothes that I could easily run in with my hair secured in a high pony tail, un-brushed, and out of my face.

I placed my hands in my lap slowly, clenching them tightly to release some of my pent up aggression and anger. I wasn't able to do anything in the past couple of weeks. My leg wasn't fully healed yet, but it was only a matter of time before it was.

Then, I would be sure to escape. I would run, punch and scream my way out of this mansion and catch up with my sister. He wouldn't capture me this time. I would make it back home to my father along with Bella and the other high school students that were with her. I never thought I would miss the old country fields of central Florida as much as I did now – to hear the revving of trucks from the hicks that lived there, or to walk alongside the bank of the river.

There was a small chuckle at the end of the table that brought me out of my thoughts about escaping – about home.

I swallowed nervously...almost in borderline anxiety. I didn't like it when I was pulled away from familiarity, especially since it was becoming harder to envision my home with each passing day. I liked the small break away from reality and wasn't too happy when I was pulled away from my own imagination and reminiscence.

In the large dining room, Aidan and I were the only two that were eating with the exception of Dominic and Ben, who were chatting at the very end of the table.

Dominic was snacking on some fries that were on his plate, but he was mostly playing with his food at this point. I had taken a few glances earlier at the start of the meal just to see how long he was holding onto that plate – just how long he was taking to eat his snack.

The answer wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be, as he was just drawing it out while talking with Ben. My eyes lingered on Dominic's plate to see the food that he would pick up with his fingers and then drop as he would raise his hands in the air to quietly talk about something with Ben.

My shoulders slumped as I turned my attention back to my own plate. I was a little envious that he was able to eat whatever he wanted.

Much like my clothes, Aidan was also controlling my diet. It wasn't fair that Dominic was able to eat fries for breakfast while I didn't have a choice. My plate had a half-eaten, hearty breakfast on it which consisted of eggs and bacon, along with two halves of toast.

It tasted fine...I just wasn't hungry in the morning.

Aidan kept a watchful eye on me to make sure that I ate. It seems like we met an unspoken compromise that eating half of the plate was good enough a long time ago. I didn't want a repeat on what would happen if I rejected the food in front of me and said that I wasn't hungry – that lesson was ingrained in my head.

I had considered the fact that he might be poisoning my food to keep me weak and stay in the mansion. But, after the past three weeks, I hadn't felt or noticed anything unusual, which was good. I needed to keep my strength up and keep an eye out for an opening.

I had to leave, but on the off chance that I couldn't...If I really was stuck here forever with him then...

I gripped my hands tightly in my lap as Aidan's phone began to vibrate and ring. I eyed the black sleek device that spring to life on the other side of him. He dropped his fork on his plate and picked up the phone, bringing it up to his ear.

I tried to keep my steady gaze away from the phone that was held loosely up to his ear with his index and thumb. It was like he was teasing me – he had something that I desperately wanted. He knew that if I ever got my hands on that cell phone of his then it would basically be over.

A cell phone would be my absolute last option of getting out. I didn't want to go for it first – then that option would have been exhausted. I'd imagine after a failed attempt at getting his phone...he would never be on it in front of me ever again.

I was still going to chance running away from the mansion and into the woods, just like my sister had successfully done.

My shoulders slumped again at the thought of my sister that I hadn't seen in almost a month now.

Bella...

I was still concerned about my sister and the other students from my school. It was hard going to sleep at night since my thoughts drifted to them. Of course, it didn't help that every single night Aidan would pull me to his chest and keep me there. It was even harder to sleep being held to the man that murdered my boyfriend – murdered so many high school students without any remorse to be found.

I would never forget that – I would never forget what he's done...even though he has.

Most nights I would lie awake, unable to sleep with my brain refusing to turn off. It would bring up the last moments I had with my sister, seeing her crestfallen expression on her face before she was pulled away into the forest by the others. I would remember the maid that had been shot to death in the room that I slept in. The survivor's guilt would eat me alive, making sleep almost unattainable.

Other nights I would just fall asleep from the exhaustion...after sleep deprived nights of my tireless anxiety filled thoughts keeping me awake. The restlessness that I was beginning to feel was beginning to take a toll on my mind and body.

I just knew that it was.

"You're not good enough."

I quickly shook away that thought. I didn't need to think of her at this time. Not when I needed to keep my spirits high – to keep my thoughts positive. I knew it already, but my optimism was already depleting, and it was becoming increasingly harder to keep the self-loathing away.

I knew that I was weak and useless right now -- I could do nothing until my leg was better.

I still planned on making Aidan regret taking me.

I noticed from the corner of my eyes that Aidan's jaw had tensed up. He was displeased about something...the conversation must not be going the way that he anticipated it would. "You still didn't find them?" Aidan asked in a stern tone, glancing in my direction.

I cautiously looked away, not wanting him to see my reaction. I wish that I heard what the other voice was saying. I could tell right away that they were talking about my sister and classmates – the ones that had gotten away from his grasp.

It had been about a month, and every day he was given an update about the search he had sent out. I would sometimes be around to hear the one sided conversation, but it seemed like they hadn't found them...dead or alive.

I held onto the belief that no news was good news.

"And you checked the nearby...?" He trailed, now darting his eyes at the end of the table towards Dominic and Ben. They stopped chatting instantly, probably from Aidan's hushed tone. Dominic's fingers lingered on a fry that was on his plate, lightly rolling it around in them.

Aidan narrowed his eyes, and snapped his fingers only once.

Both men stood up and wordlessly exited the kitchen. I noticed the way that they wouldn't meet eye contact with Aidan as they left. I wondered if they were taught similar lessons by Aidan like I was. He was a man that called for complete obedience.

I stared at where they used to be – their chairs were pulled out and vacant. The uneaten fries were left on Dominic's plate. It was just the two of use now – just Aidan and I, making me tense slightly. I refrained from looking over at the man that was at the head of the table.

There was a brief silence, and out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Aidan's left eye twitch in annoyance.

"Find them," he ordered darkly, using his scary voice. I felt my heart skip a beat from overwhelming fear. "Kill the blonde one," my breath hitched, and I couldn't help but let out a small whimper at my sister's death order coming from his mouth. "I want you to bring back her head," I did my best to not let out another sound, lowering my head.

"Severed."

Cruel monster.

He smirked slowly while ending the call on his phone.

There was another round of silence that enveloped the room. I clenched my hands tightly in my lap, refusing to look up at him. Although I couldn't see him with my hair obscuring my vision, I could feel his gaze on me.

Shit...

Shit...!

Now all his attention was going to be on me.

I held my breath, trying to make myself seem small. There was a small thud as Aidan placed his cell phone on the table, the black screen facing up. I was desperate to keep my gaze away from the man in case he wanted to start something.

I had been mostly left alone this morning...I wanted to keep it that way.

I didn't have much longer until my leg was healed and I swear to God that I would be out of here. I would take off running and never look back at this place.

"Do you know that it's Christmas this week?"

It was a question – he hated to be ignored.

One time I had seen a man not respond immediately to Aidan in the hallway. Aidan hadn't liked that, and the next thing the man knew, his throat was being squeezed by Aidan's relentless hand. Aidan had almost choked him into unconsciousness while I watched from the corner of the hallway. Aidan had eventually let go, but only after the man fell to the ground.

Aidan then turned to me and smiled, his eyes shining darkly.

It was an indirect lesson to me – I felt like it had to have been.

He knew that I had been watching.

I swallowed, taking a few moments to gather the energy to answer him. I slowly turned my head to look Aidan in the eyes. When we made eye contact he let out a small smile. It sent unwanted chills down my spine.

Once again I was doing something that he wanted. I hated when I had to follow his rules and lessons, but I hated the consequences of not following them even more.

"I don't even know what day it is..." I spoke softly, not having said anything all morning. "You won't let me know anything."

"That's because you don't need to know anything, Vienna."

I lowered my head again and gripped my hands tighter.

I still hated being called that name – that wasn't who I was. I would never submit to him and bow down. I would find a way out of here right underneath his nose and then I would find my sister.

"You won't find her," I stated, and Aidan's smile fell off his face at my words. Instead, he stood up and walked to where my chair was. For a few seconds I had lost track of the sadistic and psychotic man, causing my entire body to tense up.

I flinched when his chin rested on my shoulder and his arms embraced me.

He kept me trapped where I was on the chair...I was feeling claustrophobic.

"Y-You...won't find any of them."

He let out a hum of nonchalance at my words.

"I was hoping I would find her by now so..." His fingers lightly strummed on my neck, his calloused fingertips beating down gently on my skin. I refused to make a sound, taking in his words, knowing that there was going to be something I wouldn't like to hear.

"I could gift her head on a silver platter for you," he whispered into my ear.

I froze, just the mere thought of having my sister dead was enough to make me feel sick. I turned my head away from him and tried to get up. He placed his hands on my shoulders, keeping me sitting down on the chair.

I let out a shaky exhale and sat there as my heart pounded loudly in my chest.

"She's not back home...." He leaned on my shoulders, placing his forearms on them. He waited a few moments before once more placing his mouth close to my ear. I could feel his breath on my skin, which set me on edge.

I didn't want to listen to him.

"She's out there alone with three other students. In the wilderness...she's cold and hungry," he paused, letting the words sink in.

I didn't want to listen to him – I didn't want to listen to this-!

"To think that you could have saved her if you had taken my offer before the game."

"Shut up!!" I yelled, pulling away from him as I took shaky steps back. The moment that my weight was on my bad leg, I let out a hiss of pain and quickly placed my palms of my hands on the table. I leaned over it and steadied my breathing, keeping any weight off my bad leg.

I couldn't stand even thinking about my sister out in the wilderness without me. The thought that I might have sent her to her death – encouraged her to keep running into the unknown...

Aidan knew...he had to have known that it was still bothering me. He was torturing me with the uncertainty of her. I didn't even know if she was still alive and it was eating me up inside. Maybe...the reason that his men couldn't find her was because she was dead in a forest somewhere.

That thought hadn't escaped my mind – I just didn't want to think it was possible.

Aidan slowly stood up straight and walked over to where I was. He reached out a hand, but I smacked him away without thinking about it. "Just...!" I couldn't help the tears that were trailing down my face. His eyes flashed dangerously before he softened them. I hadn't even realized that I had smacked his hand away in my panicked state.

"Don't come near me -- Just stay away from me!"

"I'm the only person that you have left," he calmly stated, standing in front of me. He looked at me for a few seconds, before taking a step towards me. I tensed up from seeing how close he was to me – he was within arm's reach of me.

"Here," he took a box from his pocket and held it open for me to see. After looking at the box, expecting to see a dismembered finger...or toe...I blinked in slow realization. It was a bracelet of some kind. I regarded it with no emotion, looking up into his eyes.

Did he want me to feel thankful that he got me a present-?

He was keeping me captive...He even shot me...twice.

I made no move to accept the present and he merely smiled slowly. It was as though he were expecting that response, but it didn't bother him at all. He took a few more steps towards me, taking the bracelet out of the box.

He held it in his hand and unclasped it in an effortless motion.

I took a step away, bringing up one of my arms to my chest. "I," I spoke, knowing that I didn't have much room to walk away. "I-I don't want it."

"It's not a matter of what you want, Vienna."

He latched onto one of my arms and forcefully pulled me closer to him. I let out a gasp and stumbled a bit as he placed the bracelet securely around my wrist. I hobbled a bit from the action, scared to place too much weight on my bad leg.

I was forced to use him to balance my one good leg...I hated having to depend on him.

Once it was on, I brought my arm up to my chest and hobbled backward to the table. I looked at him wildly but he placed his hands up in mock surrender. I could tell that he wasn't doing it with much emotion behind it, his hands were tilted, not at all meaning the 'I mean you no harm' gesture with them.

His eyes glanced down at my wrist, admiring the piece of jewelry that was forced on my wrist. "It's beautiful on you."

I looked down at the bracelet to see that it was silver and pink.

I didn't want this on my body – I didn't want it anywhere near me.

Immediately I went to take it off, and Aidan remained silent as he watched my efforts. My fingers instantly went to the bracelet. They danced around the metal-like bracelet to undo it. After a couple of seconds of failing to get it off, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion and fear.

I couldn't find the latch.

I turned it around frantically with my finger to find that the latch had disappeared. The bracelet had become seamless, and it was impossible to pry off. My heart sunk at the realization that I would be wearing this for a long time.

Another thing that Aidan was in control of.

"W-What is this?"

"A branding," Aidan stated, walking over to me. My breath hitched in my throat as he was standing right in front of me. I didn't have any more personal space. My back was already against the table. "You're mine," he said, looking at my face which had contorted in panic. "You sometimes forget that."

"I'm...!" I began to argue, but stopped after remembering the last time I defended myself. The words died in my throat. I didn't want to think about the force feeding. I looked down at the ground, not wanting to look at his controlling eyes.

His hand found its way on my face, and he took another step closer to me. I couldn't help it when I looked back at his eyes with fear. He looked at my lips and I tried to take a retreating step away, but the table was directly behind me. I collided against it with my back as a harsh reminder that I was trapped once again.

"A-Aidan, please, don't...."

Aidan leaned in closer to me. "Vienna..." He spoke, not being able to look away from me. I began to sweat, I didn't want him to touch me. His head leaned towards me but his phone suddenly rang on the table.

It vibrated madly while we continued to stare at each other.

The man let out a small sigh and walked away from me. He leaned over the table to the spot that his phone was at, and then brought it up to his ear.

"You have ten seconds."

I took a step to the side, not being able to feel my legs underneath me. His scary voice was back again, and I didn't want to be anywhere near him when he was like that. I was mostly limping away from him, not wanting to put any weight on my recovering foot. I made a small noise as I bumped clumsily into one of the chairs.

He slowly turned towards me and crossed an arm over his chest as he leaned against the table with his back. I stopped where I was, now that his attention was back on me.

"Yes. That is acceptable. Make preparations. I'll sign the paperwork."

He ended the call and placed the phone in his back pocket. We kept staring at each other. I didn't know if he was going to forcibly continue where we had left off.

He then took a step away from me.

"Then, I'll see you at dinner."

"What?" I asked, watching him intently as he started to walk away, my eyes