The sun shone in through the sheer curtains. Rousing Chris from her sleep. Her body ached and felt heavy, she had fallen asleep on the side of the bed with her clothes still wet, but she found herself dry and tucked into the heavy down blanket at the head of the bed. She sat up slowly, using her forearm to prop herself up.
The events of the previous day all came flooding back to her. She had lost everything. Everything she had worked for was gone. The unfamiliar room screamed at her, taunting her for the mistakes she had made.
Chris took a steadying breath and swore that she would make it back home and claim what was rightfully hers. But in order to do that she had to escape this hell house and its demon ruler. Her plans had all failed to this point, but doing nothing wasn't an option.
She stood up, and noticed her wet clothes from last night had been changed. Instead of the pink nightgown Zeven had chosen for her, she was in a long sleeve shirt with cotton shorts. The clothes were still too large for her, but they were definitely not the ones she had fallen asleep in.
Chris felt nauseous. Someone had changed her clothes while she slept, and she could only guess who it was that did it. She headed for the door. Not bothering to check if anyone was on the other side, she pushed the door open and stepped into the hall.
Curled up by the door fast asleep was Zeven. He looked so small the way he had curled into himself. Chris could hear the soft snoring, if the situation was different she might have even laughed.. He looked like a child who fell asleep waiting for his mother. A small blanket was thrown around him keeping him warm. She got lost looking at Zeven, forgetting that she was being held against her will.
Brown eyes slowly peeled open, and a gaze full of sleep met Chris from down below. "How did you sleep?" Immediately Chris snapped out of her daze and started to walk briskly back down the hallway, ready to run if needed.
"I can only deal with the silent treatment for so long before I lose my patience Chris." His voice was still sleepy, but she could hear the implications he was making.
"My name is Christopher."
She looked back at him over her shoulder and that was her mistake.The blanket that had been wrapped around him prevented her from realizing it was the only thing he was wearing.
Frozen to the floor, Chris blinked a few times trying to make sure that this was real and she hadn't dreamt it all.
"Like what you see? You're staring." Zeven looked directly into her eyes and winked. Still frozen Chris's cheeks turned scarlet. "What the hell are you doing like that?" Forcing herself to look away, she couldn't find the voice to yell at him only to run the words together in an almost incoherent manner.
"Would you believe that you are the first woman to see me like this in the light of day?" Zeven laughed brightly. Bending down and grabbing the blanket to wrap around his waist to protect Chris's fragile modesty. His body looked like a greek statue. He was well built, and strong. Even with clothes on Chris had a fairly good idea what he was hiding under his shirt, but seeing it was a different story. His olive skin was practically glistening, and he looked undisturbed to be seen in this state. "Well you did take my pajamas and then slept in my room. So- I think that you should know that this is partly your fault." His smile was even brighter now. "Besides it's only fair that you get to see me like this. I did help you out last night. Why, if I wasn't so charming you may have even caught a cold."
Zeven stayed in the same spot but leaned on a wall and propped his foot up on the wall too. He was so casual in everything he did it drove Chris absolutely insane.
"Well, this has certainly been an experience, but I'll be going now." Chris turned and walked down the stairs and Zeven gave no chase.
"I'm going to change, Gunter has prepared breakfast, I'd suggest you try it before you leave." Zeven called out after her. She kept walking, she heard a door upstairs open and then close. Fearing it was another ploy Chris walked faster to the front door. Practically running it down as she fumbled for the handle.
"Pardon me, Little Miss, but it won't open. It locks from both the inside and outside with a special key. This key." Chris turned around, keeping her back to the door. An older man was off to the left in the recess that Chris had never looked in. He had one hand supporting a silver tray and the other was holding up a silver key. "Now please come have a seat and eat some breakfast."
Gunter gingerly tucked the key back into his breast pocket and walked calmly back to the kitchen. "I know Zeven, if you don't eat now, he may insist you eat with him," he called over his shoulder from the other room. She couldn't see Gunter but his voice was still audible.
Chris quietly took a few steps towards where Gunter had disappeared. Peering around the corner she saw a small Kitchen with a small dinner table off to the side. The table was set, but there was no decorations, save the wilting flowers laid on the table. She stood in the small dining room space looking with curiosity and sparing any judgment.
Gunter, who learned to read the smallest of expressions, watched quietly from behind the countertop. He still didn't understand why Zeven had brought her here, but having seen her, he noticed she did bare an uncanny likeness to the woman in Zeven's picture.
"Little miss, your chair is the one at the far side of the table." The table was only large enough for four people, which told Chris several things. 1. This was not a house used for entertaining large groups- meaning Chris couldn't expect anyone to find her here. 2. Zeven probably ate alone- there was no one else in the house outside her, Gunter, and him; 3. And lastly due to the close spacing of the chairs- those Zeven did take a liking to, he kept close.
Being so deep in thought Chris was startled to find a plate of scrambled eggs set before her. Gunter who had placed them there was now a good few feet away. "Little Miss-" "Christopher, my name is Christopher."
Understanding the meaning of what she had said, Gunter picked it up without a hitch, "Christopher, I should warn you- Zeven is a kind man, but he is not infallible. It would benefit you to be slightly more agreeable, especially after-"
"Don't tell her useless things, Gunter. I like her just the way she is." Zeven had appeared, seemingly out of thin air. Leaning on the wall he could have been there for ages and she never would have known. He and Chris made eye contact for a brief moment, and then he winked at her, knowing the effect it would have. "Gunter, I'm heading out for an hour or two, make sure she doesn't do anything dumb. She has a tendency to do that you know. Also, no more stories or tips- I like being mysterious, I feel it adds to my charm." Stealing one more glance at Chris he pulled a silver key out of his pocket and waved it tauntingly. Turning on his heel humming softly as he went.
Chris and Gunter were the sole people in the house now, and She intended to take full advantage of that fact. She picked at the eggs with her fork, they looked delicious to Chris who was hungry. Their soft yellow and fluffy appearance combined with the warmth radiation off them left Chris's mouth watering. But something in the back of her head screamed to think about the situation before eating the food her captor had provided. Zeven had left her alone, and he had done so after breakfast, why? Escape was her main goal, and he wasn't stupid enough to give her a fair chance, so why leave her alone. Possibilities swarmed in her head, until she settled on one she thought to be the correct answer. He must have waited until after breakfast because there was something in the breakfast that would prevent her from reaching her goal.
Glad that she had waited to eat, even as hungry as she was, she good naturedly laid down her fork, gave one last longing look to the eggs, and politely excused herself from the table.
"I would advise you to eat something now, Christopher. You'll only get hungry later." Chris had made up her mind and would not be swayed. She didn't look back to see Gunter sigh as he grabbed her plate and moved back behind the counter.
She looked around as she walked, trying to figure out the best option to gain her freedom. Already ruling out the front door she searched for a different route. Zeven had given her a timeline and she wasn't going to waste a single second of it. All the windows on the first floor were locked, as well as any secondary exits. The only window that Chris had seen unlocked was the one in the upstairs bedroom. It was risky, but it did give her an idea.