CHAPTER 3 ~ NOW OR NEVER 

ETHAN'S POV 

I lay on the plush bed, my eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and desperation. I have been held captive by Diablo for what felt like forever but for two weeks now, and I am determined to find a way out.

As I observed the guards patrolling the hallway outside my room, I noticed a pattern to their movements. They seemed to follow a regular route, passing by my door every few minutes.

"I am getting out of here." My mind began to race with the possibilities of freedom. I knew I had to act quickly, before Diablo or his guards grew suspicious. So without making a sound, I slipped off the bed and crept towards the door. I pressed my ear against the wooden door, listening intently for the guards footsteps.

And as I waited for the right moment, my heart pounded furiously in his chest. I took a deep breath while preparing myself for the escape.

The guards footsteps grew lighter and I knew that they are no longer close to my door. "It's now or never." I slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open, slipping out into the hallway just as the guards were at the end of the hallway, talking.

I sprinted down the other hallway, my bare feet pounding against the cold stone floor. I didn't dare to look back, fearing what I might see.

"Oh my God, help me." I panicked when I heard one of the guards shouting for others to follow me. "Where am I?" I asked myself when when I had no idea where to run to, I have never been at the side of the estate before and I really don't know the way out.

"Stop there." I realized that my freedom was short-lived when I heard the guards running after me... My heart sank as I heard the guards closing in. So I darted into a nearby alcove, hoping to lose them in the shadows but it was too late. 

"Let me go." I screamed as the guards caught up to me, grabbing me by the arms and dragging me back to my room. This was a mistake, I shouldn't have tried to escape unless I am sure I will get away.

"Oh my God." My heart pounded in my chest furiously when the guards took me back to my room and I saw Diablo waiting for me, his eyes blazing with anger. 

"You tried to fucking escape?" He growled in disbelief, his voice low and menacing. "You tried to leave me after I made you so comfortable and free." It's obvious that he is made and my stay from now on will probably be rough, he will definitely take away all the privileges I have right now but I won't stop trying to escape.

I struggled against the guards grip, but they are too strong. "I won't be held captive." I spat, while trying to defy Diablo... I won't be his prisoner and he can't force me to love him or be with him.

Diablo's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. "You will do as I say." He hissed. "You will stay here, with me. I understand that I have been too lineint with you, but if you try to escape again, there will be dire consequences." He signaled to the guards to let me go and leave the room and my heart sank as I realized that he is never letting me go and I might never be able to escape. 

I am trapped, with no clear way out and Diablo's anger seemed to be growing by the minute. Diablo's eyes seemed to gleam in the dim light, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "You will do exactly as I say." He said, his voice dripping with authority. "You will forget about your life, your family, and your friends. You will stay here with me and do as I command, or you will ser a side of me you will hate even more." There was a look in his eyes that made me believe every word he said and I honestly don't want to see that side of him because I don't like the side I can already see.

My anger and fear began to boil over, but I knew I had to keep a level head. I needed to think clearly if I was going to escape from this situation. So I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself as my mind raced with thoughts of escape. "I am sorry, I made a mistake and I am really sorry, I won't try to escape again." I lied and his face soften.

"That's my boy, I don't want to hurt you or treat you like a fucking prisoner, so dont push me." I nodded before sitting on the edge of the bed. "You are bleeding." He pointed out and I looked around my body till I saw blood on the floor and I realized that my foot was bleeding, I must have stepped on something while escaping barefoot. Why didn't I wear my shoe?

"Arghhh." The moment I took a look at the injury, my injured foot started throbbing in agony.

Diablo stood before me, a look of concern etched on his face. "Let me see." He sat down on the armchair in front of me, his voice soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the anger I saw earlier.

I hesitated because I am unsure of why Diablo was being so kind to me all of a sudden but his expression was insistent, so I slowly lifted my foot onto his lap... His hands were surprisingly gentle as he examined my foot. He probed the injured area, his fingers searching for any signs of serious damage.

I winced as Diablo touched a particularly tender spot. "Sorry." He murmured, his eyes meeting mine.

As he continued to examine my foot, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "I don't understand why you are being so caring, especially after our earlier confrontation." Trying to ease my pain is just so weird.

He smiled softly. "I may have been angry with you for trying to escape." He said. "But that doesn't mean I want you to suffer. You are my husband, and it's my duty to ensure your comfort." It's crazy that he is still insisting that we are going to be a couple.

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of his words but as I looked into his eyes, I saw something there that made my heart skip. It was a glimmer of genuineness, he meant and believed every word he said, he believes that we will be together.

He began to clean and dress my wound, his touch gentle and soothing... As he finished up and looked up at me, our eyes met, and for a moment, I felt like I was seeing Diablo in a different light. He was no longer just a captor, but a complex and multifaceted person.

"I will come and check on your leg later or you can come to my room, I am going to be your husband, so you can move around."

"You are not worried that I will escape?" 

"You can keep trying if you want but you are never getting out of here except I allow it." He said confidently before leaving my room.