006

Nathan

The increasingly cold and quiet room greeted me as I opened my eyes. I could barely see well since everything felt hazy…it was like the room was dancing.

I knew it had passed 24 hours; I also knew Alessandro had intentionally reduced the temperature of this place, knowing fully well I was naked.

My body was shaking, and worse, I couldn't even wrap my arms around my body.

I could only watch in anger as cold seeped through my bones, and my stomach churned painfully in hunger.

For a moment, the reality I refuse to dwell in hit me—what if no one came for me?

I literally had no friends that would think I'd be in this situation. Was this really going to be my fate forever?

Was I going to rot here until I died? My chest clenched tight as regret filled me instantly.

Maybe I shouldn't have left Italy. I could have anything I wanted at my beck and call, but still I wanted to explore, and look where it landed me.

Staying here was pain...torture...suffering. One I didn't think I could hold on for much longer. Even breathing felt difficult now.

I sighed for the umpteenth time, about to close my eyes when the door creaked open.

My eyes lit up immediately, fixated on the entrance with an anticipating heart.

My ears were also wide open; the footsteps sounded different, so it was definitely not Alessandro!

It had to be her—Seraphina.

She finally remembered me.

The small smile that was starting to form on my face immediately dropped into a frown as I saw who it was.

All the hope drained out of me, but when I saw the tray in his hands, I smiled inside whilst looking unbothered on the outside.

Andrew approached me with a stern look, dropping the food on the ground.

I didn't wait.

I drew it closer and began munching quickly, ignoring the sting from my bruised wrists.

The food tasted like it would soon sour, but I didn't care. I ate without taking a break for a second.

******

Andrew was still standing there until I finished. He had this look in his eyes, one which I thought was pity until—he laughed.

“I never knew a day would come where I would see you this way,” he said. “And I love it, to be honest; you always felt proud and untouchable.”

I didn't reply, not because I couldn't, but because I already had something in mind.

Andrew picked up the plate; he literally had gloves and nose masks on. He turned to leave when I gripped one of his legs despite the pain it caused me. “Wait,” I muttered.

He turned back, disgust written over his face. “What for?”

“I need your help,” my voice was barely a whisper.

He looked at me in disbelief. “What makes you think I'll help you escape? I literally brought you here, dumbass.”

“I'm not asking for escape,” I replied. “I need the toilet, Andrew. I can't keep doing this here, if not for anything, for all those times I helped—”

“You still don't get it, do you?” He cut in. “Every money. Every sex. Every fucking time we spent together was me doing my job, Nathaniel,”

“Just the toilet, Andrew,” I begged.

“I never loved you,” he spat.

“Five minutes, please,”

“I hated your guts,”

“I don't mind going chained, just let me use the restroom for—”

“No, Nathan!” He shouted, and he pointed at the corner. “You can ease yourself over there.”

“My hands are chained.”

“Then do it here. You have been doing it all along; what changed?”

“The odor is unbearable.”

“And you think I care?” He laughed again, one that made my chest tighten in anger. “You never knew me, Nathan…if you did, I would be the last person you would ask for help.”

“Pawn,” I muttered, and Andrew froze.

"What did you just say?”

I slowly lifted my head and met his eyes.

"One day,” I said, my voice laced with venom. “These chains will come off,”

He chuckled. “And what will happen, Nathan?”

I smiled despite the pain. “I'll make you beg exactly the way I'm begging now, Andrew.”

“That's all?”

I nodded. “No, do you really want to know what I would do after you have begged?”

“Enlighten me,”

“You will be my first body,” I spat. “And I won't miss, that's a promise. It's going to be fast and straight into your fucking forehead!”

He threw the tray at me, the plates shattering loudly.

“That will only happen in your delusions, because I can assure you that you won't be leaving here any time soon, psychopath,” he spat, before walking out.

I froze—not from his words.

I had seen something, something that looked like freedom. I checked the camera carefully; they were on me as usual.

I relaxed my back against the pole, hands aching to reach for it.

But if I did, the camera would capture it. I controlled myself counting 1-100 repeatedly in my head, and just as the camera turned, I grabbed the piece of paper.

It had fallen when Andrew threw the plates. I quickly hid it underneath my laps, opening it carefully.

*We will be reunited soon, my love. I'm doing everything possible to make that happen.*

I laughed, a genuine loud laughter that wouldn't stop.

I couldn't even tell why I was laughing, perhaps because of how delusional this girl was or how relieved I was.

Either way, I was going to be patient—my Seraphina will get me out soon.