How does it feel living with a monster?

Freda's POV

"I would fuck you mercilessly before shoving a bullet down your throat" Hardin replied almost immediately, looking at me straight in the eyes, and I could see that he wasn't Bluffing.

"Just let me and my friend go, and I will forget this ever happened I promise," I said trying to beg my way out of the situation but it seemed as thou it only made him mad as his grip on my hands tightened.

"I don't think you understand what is going on," he said angrily bringing a gun out of his pocket, I froze at the sight of it as a wave of panic surged through my veins. Is he going to shoot me? I wondered to myself "This is what is going to happen to your friend if you ever think of escaping this place"

He brought the gun to my face tracing it gently down to my throat, I shut my eyes close unable to breathe properly, suddenly I heard a loud bang which made me jump in fear.

I opened my eyes immediately only to see that he had put a bullet through the door. my heart leaped into my throat, pounding with a mix of shock and fear. His sudden action had caught me completely off guard, leaving me trembling in its wake.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Why would he do something so terrifying? Was this some kind of sick joke, or was there something more sinister at play?

The room felt suffocating, the air thick with tension. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I struggled to steady myself. Every nerve in my body was on high alert, anticipating the next unpredictable move.

Fear gripped me tightly, like icy tendrils snaking their way through my veins. I could feel my breath quicken, shallow and erratic as if my lungs were refusing to cooperate. Panic threatened to consume me entirely.

Images of the bullet going through my throat flashed before my eyes, intensifying the terror that coursed through my veins. The sound of that gunshot echoed in my ears. I felt trapped, cornered in a world where danger lurked around every corner. Every creak and whisper intensified my unease as if the world itself had turned against me.

"Next time that bullet would be going through your friend," he said with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

As I managed to look at him I couldn't help but wonder What kind of a mess have I gotten myself into? "I am sorry" I apologize with my heart pounding rapidly on my chest.

"It's fine, now let me take you to your new home," he said with a smile on his face as he brought out his hands for me to take it. As I followed him out of the room my heart heavy with regret, Meeting Hardin had seemed like a whirlwind of excitement at first, but now it felt like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

The weight of my decision pressed down on me, suffocating my thoughts. If I had just listened to Miranda that night and never had gone to the club or if my stupid boyfriend hadn't cheated on me I wouldn't have found myself in this situation I thought to myself as I questioned every choice I had made, every step that had led me to this moment. How had I allowed myself to be drawn into his tumultuous world?

Fear gripped me tightly, as Hardin's icy fingers squeezed my hands gently. I felt trapped, like a bird with broken wings, unable to escape the cage I had willingly entered.

In no time we arrived at a very big old mansion, it looked sophisticated yet ancient with a very beautiful garden surrounding it. The atmosphere of the surroundings gave a dark Aurora just like Hardin's heart.

"You are welcome sir" A beautiful lady in her early thirties approached us as we entered the mansion.

"Thank you candy," he replied as he turned towards me "This is Freda, I want you to show her to her room and make her feel comfortable"

"Yes sir, let's go, Freda," Candy said to me with a bright smile on her face I could tell that this was not the first time she was doing this.

"Be a good girl, Freda, you don't want to make me mad" Hardin said as he tugged my hair behind my ear before leaving me with candy.

"This way dear," Candy said gesturing me to follow her upstairs, as we walked through the halls of the mansion I couldn't help but admire it, the inside of the mansion was quite magnificent, unlike anything I had ever seen before.

"Does he stay here all alone?" I asked Candy curious to know how many people live in this big house.

"Yes dear, he is hardly at home anyways so it doesn't matter" she replied calmly, we stopped at the room almost at the end of the hall she swung it open and motioned for me to enter. "You must be very tired, I will make you a bath"

"What does he do?" I asked again, I had so many questions running through my mind and I was hoping Candy would be able to answer them because if I wanted to escape from Hardin I needed to at least know how powerful he was.

"That's not in my place to answer love, I will make a bath for you" she replied waving my question away, it was clear she didn't want to answer any more questions which made me even more curious and scared.

who is he? What does he do? Why does everyone tremble at the mention of his name,? I stood there watching her make my bath as so many questions ran through my mind.

"I am done dear, not too hot and not too cold, it will help calm your nerves," she said as she helped me with my torn clothes.

"Candy" I called her name, she raised her head and looked at me and I asked, "How does it feel living with such a monster?"