Chapter 109
~ NYSSA
I was unsure of how long I sat in the darkness, trying to find a way out.
I tugged at the chains in the wall, hoping that by some miracle I would be able to tug them out, but all I managed to do was get cracked nails and bruises on my wrists.
I tested the chains, seeing how far they would let me move. I managed four steps away from the bed before I was tugged back harshly.
There was no food in the room, and no water, there wasn’t even a bucket for me to use the bathroom.
I sat dejectedly on the bed, legs crossed neatly in front of me as I waited for Henry to return.
He finally did after what felt like eons.
I heard the lock turn as the white door pulled open. Henry stood in the doorway, a soft smile on his face and a plate in one hand. My stomach grumbled as the smell of grease and cheese wafted up to my nose, but I forced myself to remain seated and not show excitement,
“Hey, I’m sorry I’m late,” he began slowly. “A lot of my meetings ran longer than I thought they would. I hope you aren’t too hungry p>
He placed the plate on the floor, just within reach of me. “Go on, it’s yours p>
I did not move.
It had to be some kind of fucked up joke.
“It’s not a ploy,” he assured me, as if reading my thoughts. “You have not eaten all day. That is for you p>
I slowly rose to my feet, reaching for the plate on the floor. The mac and cheese smelled amazing and it looked fucking amazing too. I grabbed it quickly before he could change his mind and returned back to the bed.
The first spoon had my stomach rumbling with relief and a small moan left my mouth. It was pathetic how I was doing exactly what he wanted, but there was very little I could do while chained and starved.
He pulled a chair from the other side of the basement and sat down, hands folded neatly in his lap as he watched me. “It’s good, isn’t it p>
I did not pay him or his words any heed. I just shoved as much food as I could into my mouth without choking.
“I hope you see now that I am not trying to hurt you. This can go well for all of us if we just do as we are expected p>
I finished the last spoon of food and looked up at him. “Just because you fed me does not mean that you did not commit a crime. You are holding me against my will p>
He did not seem phased by my words.
In fact, he waved me off, like I was some inconvenience. “Did you rest well while I was gone p>
I just stared at him, wondering if he had lost his damned mind. “What do you think p>
“I know this is a bit of a change, but you will get used to it soon, I promise. You have everything you need down here. You have a bed, and I will bring you food every day. The door on the left leads to a bathroom p>
“And how the fuck am I supposed to use it if I can’t even move so far from my bed p>
He was silent for a moment before finally rising to his feet. He took a few steps closer to me and subconsciously, I shifted back, closer to the wall and away from him.
He stopped in front of me, staring down at me intensely before reaching for the chains at my wrists. He fiddled with them for a moment and the long chain linking my wrists to the wall fell away. I still had the metal bands around my wrists, but I was free to move.
“I want you to be happy here,” he said softly, reaching out to brush my hair out of my face. “You are not a prisoner here. This can be your home if you just stopped fighting. We will be together as we are supposed to be p>
He kissed the top of my head softly.
Bile crawled up my throat and a sickening, slithering feeling crawled up my spine at his touch but I forced myself to remain seated. He smiled down at me, as if encouraging then turned his back.
The key to the upstairs door stuck out of his back pocket. He’d left it slightly ajar. I had barely a second to come up with a plan. It was half baked at best, but it was the best I had and it was better than sitting back and doing nothing.
I stood slowly, reaching for the empty plate of food and I swung with all my might, watching it shatter over Henry’s head.
He groaned, the smell of blood filling the air as his hands flew up to protect himself. I grabbed the key from his pockets and immediately dashed towards the steps, my heart hammering with each step that I took.
My palms grew sweaty and my body swayed, but I blamed it on adrenaline and kept going.
“Nyssa!” an enraged Henry yelled out but I did not stop.
I pushed the door open and my heart fucking stopped when I took in the room. The walls were plastered white with no windows and no furniture. A large wooden door lay in front of me, the only thing standing between me and freedom and I immediately rushed towards it, trying to pull it open but it would not budge.
I cursed, trying to kick it down, but my legs felt like lead, and I stumbled over my own feet, sharp pain shooting up my sides as I fell on my ass.
“I really hoped you wouldn’t do that,” a cold voice scolded from behind me.
“No,” I murmured, trying to rise again, but my arms were too weak to hold me and my legs too jelly-like to move. “What did you do to me p>
“A little bit of wolf’s bane in your food will do wonders for you, Nyssa p>
His footsteps grew closer, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. I fought back the tears, dragging my body towards the door, palm resting flat against it as I willed it to open.
“Help, please!” I yelled out with all my might, but it came out sounding barely more than a whisper.
Henry’s feet stopped in front of my face and he crouched low, one hand gently brushing my hair away as he gripped my chin in an unforgiving hold.
Through my hazy vision I could see streaks of blood running down his face from where I hit him.
“I really wish you had not done that,” he murmured, lifting me in his arms and carrying me back down those damned stairs to my prison.