(Eloise POV)
I did my best to eat solely using my mouth. My wrists are tied together behind my back and my ankle is chained to a metal post so there's no way of escape. My back is hurting from bending up and down just to feed myself. The creepy man arrived with water in a pet bowl. He laid it next to my plate of cold noodles before standing outside the old abandoned basement where I was being held captive.
It's hard to move too much because of the bruises the bitch gave me. I have bruises all over my back, my arms, my legs and my face. It's hard to even swallow because my throat is almost worn out due to too much screaming. Despite my loud screams, no one can hear me still. I am basically a hopeless case scenario right now.
I wonder how Orville and the kids are. I wonder how Gillian and Joanna are. Are they even trying to find me? Do I deserve something like this? Is this a judgment day for me? Is this the punishment for lying to Orville so many times in the past? Is this the punishment for cheating on him with Gillian? Is this the punishment for breaking Zane and Orville apart? I didn't even mean any harm.
As my thoughts are getting flooded, tears started spilling as well. I have regretted everything I did so why do I have to go through this pain. I don't understand. Am I that bad that I have to suffer this kind of penalty?
The door opened and the bitch appeared in front of me.
"Ari!" I sneered.
"We can finally get rid of her later." She said to her posse beside her.
"You're never going to get away with this. This will haunt you, Ari!"
"Say whatever you want to say, Eloise. It's not going to change the fact that you are going to be blown up." An evil smile was formed by her lips.
"Why are you doing this? Isn't this too much?" I cried.
"Because you're useless to me anymore. I thought you were a threat to my chances with Orville so I kidnapped you but I was wrong. I saw him smooching with a guy named Zane and I realized that I have a bigger fish to fry."
"Ari, please! I love my kids, I don't want them to bring the trauma of losing me when they grow old. They still need me, don't do this for the sake of them. There must still be some humanity left inside of you." I pleaded.
"You're wrong. There's no humanity in me at all. I am a monster, Eloise. I have many connections and I will use them in whatever way I want. Orville is mine."
"Orville will never choose you. He will always choose his family over you. He will see right through you, Ari! Face it, you are always going to be the second rate mistress. Always the bride's maid, never the bride." I taunted.
"Don't worry. I see that coming already so to change it up, after I kill you, your kids will follow shortly, and then Zane. That's how simple it is. After I kill you, you shouldn't have anything to worry about because you're still going to see your kids…in heaven right away. Then, I will be Orville's shoulder to cry on. I will pick up the pieces and make him mine. "
"You bitch!" I screamed.
"You, buy me some brand new steel chains and padlock. I have to make sure that this woman can never get away after I set the bomb timer on." She told one of her men.
"There will be a reckoning. Mark my words." I warned her.
"Reckoning is non-existent and so are you." She retorted.
I bowed down in defeat before humming inside my head.
Hush, little baby! Don't say a word, momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird.
Since I am just going to die and I basically accepted it already, I want to hear the song that my mom always sings before I sleep. I want to remember the very moment she read "Sleeping Beauty" to me and sung me that song for the first time. I want to recollect every cherished childhood memories because I am almost near my last breath.
Mama, I love you.
--
(Zane POV)
"Zane, where are you right now? The ambassador's program is about to start." Ava called.
"I just went to home depot for a bit because my shower head broke and I haven't taken a bath yet." I said.
"Oh my God! Fine, I'll just make an excuse for you and get here as soon as possible. The press people are waiting."
We hung up and the man in front of me rudely demanded the cashier to hurry up in bar scanning his items.
"Can you make it faster?" He asked.
I looked to the front to see him buying a huge padlock and steel chains. He probably has a wild dog or something. After the cashier finished in encoding his items, he dropped his ID unknowingly. I picked it up and as soon as I handed the pay to the cashier, I exited the store to follow him so I can give the card to him myself.
"Sir!"
He didn't hear me so he obliviously went inside his car and drove away pretty quickly. I went inside mine and followed him to wherever he's going. What harm can it cause, right? I am just returning his ID. Maybe he's having a bad day and when I knock on his door to return his belonging to him, maybe he'll be nicer to people.
Fuck, I am going to be late.