Ava climbed the dimly lit staircase of her apartment building. Her each step felt heavier than the last. She was drained from the day, but the lack of a working elevator had turned A simple task into a exhausting journey.
When she reached the second floor, Ava paused to catch her breath. Her backpack weighed heavily on her shoulders. She decided to continue her ascent after a brief rest.
It was in this moment that she heard a faint, but unmistakable sound. Soft footsteps echoing down the staircase from above – footsteps that didn't belong to her. Ava's instincts immediately set off warning bells, and she glanced nervously towards the landing above. However, the shadows concealed the invader's identity.
Ava swallowed her fear, clutching her backpack tighter, and accelerated her pace. The sound of the footsteps grew louder, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She needed to reach her floor quickly.
But just as she reached the landing of her floor, a strong hand clamped over her mouth. The grip was powerful, and she struggled in vain to break free. Her eyes went wide with fear, and she turned her head to see her attacker. And then, Ava saw him – Ibrahim Rahman.
She tried to resist, struggling not to breathe the scent emanating from the cloth that covered her mouth. She clamped her mouth shut, tears forming in her eyes. Her vision blurred as she fought with the unconsciousness, but the toxic odor of the chloroform-soaked cloth overwhelmed her senses.
Despite her desperate attempts, Ava couldn't resist the chemical's powerful effects. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed into the Ibrahim's arms.
He caught her effortlessly. Ibrahim held Ava's limp body. "Ava," he murmured in a low voice, "I told you that I want you. And now I've got you." The unconscious woman in his arms was now entirely within his power.
....
Exhaustion clung to Elara as he stepped inside their apartment. The long day of work weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he yearned for nothing more than the comfort of home.
But Ava's absence did not escape his notice. She was usually home at this hour, perhaps working on one of her projects or reading a book. It was unusual for her not to be there when he arrived.
Elara decided to check her room, and as he pushed open the door, an empty room greeted him. His concern grew, and he continued his search their apartment.
With each empty room, the knot of worry in his chest tightened. Where could she be? Did something happen to her?
He dialed her number, only to be met with the frustrating message that her phone was switched off. Fingers tapping nervously on the phone, Elara decided to check the location-sharing feature he had set up on Ava's device. He'd installed it some time ago, not out of distrust but as a safety measure. He watched the blinking dot that marked her last known location — their apartment building.
Panic started to set in as he tried to call her again, only to hear her phone was off.
....
Ava slowly regained consciousness when the gentle touch of sunlight caressed her face. She woke up from a deep slumber. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her vision blurred at first, but gradually coming into focus. A rush of panic washed over her as she surveyed her surroundings.
This was not her room. She blinked, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar space. Her memory began to return, and she recalled the events of the previous night - the stairs, the scent of chloroform, and Ibrahim. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized she had been kidnapped.
Ava pushed herself up from the bed and rushed to the door, her bare feet making no sound on the smooth floor. Her trembling hands gripped the doorknob and attempted to twist it open. But Her hope was dashed as she found the door was locked.
She began to search for anything that might aid in her escape. Her eyes fell on another door. But when she opened it, she found herself in a bathroom.
Ava returned to the edge of the bed. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as despair consumed her. Questions raced through her mind, each one more daunting than the last. Why had Ibrahim done this? What was his purpose?
Her sobs echoed off the bare walls. Her cries were a mixture of fear, frustration, and longing for freedom. Each tear that fell was a testament to her situation.
Then she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock of the door. Her heart leaped into her throat as the door swung open and revealed Ibrahim. Dressed in a crisply pressed white shirt and sleek black pants, he carried his suit jacket in one hand.
A self-assured smile graced his lips as he greeted Ava, "Good morning, baby girl."
Ava's anger couldn't be contained. She wiped her tears, determined not to show any more weakness. She went towards and questioned, "Why did you do that to me? How could you kidnap me?"
His deep, dark brown eyes bore into Ava's fearful ones. His response was chillingly composed, "Didn't you reject my proposal? I've had to take actions into my own hands to make you mine."
Ava's frustration surged, and she refused to be cowed by his threats, "I am not yours! Yes, you proposed, but I have the right to say yes or no. I chose to say no, and it should end there."
Ibrahim's gaze remained steady, the dark pools of his eyes reflecting her anger. He didn't flinch in the face of her accusations. Without warning, Ibrahim tossed his suit onto the bed. He seized Ava's arm, yanking her closer. Her heart raced with terror as she struggled against his unrelenting grip.
"This isn't the end, Ava. The game has just begun. I told you before, I will make you mine, and I don't care whether you want it or not. I have many ways to make it happen." Ibrahim uttered this words.
Ava's mouth fell open in disbelief and she was left speechless. She felt too powerless and vulnerable in his grasp.
She responded, "You have no right to play with my life. I won't stay here for even a minute." Ava struggled to break free from his grip, but Ibrahim only tightened his hold.
Ibrahim smiled and asked, "How can you think I'd let you go now? From this moment on, you will live here, in this mansion."
Her voice quivered but she managed to speak up. "Ibrahim, you can't force someone into a relationship they don't want. That's not how love or any relationship works."
Ibrahim remained unshaken. leaned in closer, still holding her arm. "I can do whatever I want, Ava. You'll soon understand that resistance is futile."
Ava finally managed to pull her arm away from his grasp. She took a step back and said, "I won't be manipulated or coerced. You might have brought me here, but I won't stay here."
Ibrahim smirked, as if enjoying Ava's defiance. He warned, "You can try to leave, but trust me, it won't be as easy as you think."
With that, he took his suit jacket from the bed left the room, locking the door behind him, leaving Ava alone in the room. Ava stood there in same position for 15 minutes silently without doing any movements.
No, she had to find a way out. She wasn't a coward. She couldn't allow herself to be imprisoned by Ibrahim.
She took a look of the room. There was a large wooden cupboard against one wall, a few pieces of elegant furniture, and a luxurious king-sized bed.
She began her search, scanning the room for any possible means of escape. She approached the window and pushed aside the heavy curtains. To her dismay, she found that the window was secured with sturdy iron grills, making it impossible to open or slip through.
She peered through the window. A view of the exterior was revealed, and it was clear she was in a massive mansion. There was a well maintained garden and in the middle of the garden there is fountain.
A larger driveway connected with the mansion and the road. There were many fancy cars parked there, all shining brightly. The cars looked really expensive and luxurious.
Ava was busy looking outside the window when she heard the sound of the door being unlocked once more. She quickly scanned the room for something she could use as a weapon. Her eyes settled on a glass vase, and she grasped it firmly, holding it as if it were her lifeline.