ELIZABETH...
It felt like my entire soul threateningly jumped in my mouth.
"Y-e-eou..." My voice was lost, deep buried in fear.
His eyes seemed to dim a little. Could it be the illusion of my nervous heart?
"You're scared..." His cold voice described the state of my emotions. "You should leave, Miss Swann." He turned around, once again back facing me, "I did not force you..."
I did not think twice before turning around, pulled the door open and sprinted out of the room.
I ran out...
Did not stop and kept running away. Far, far away from that man.
To where, I don't know. I Don't have a place to hide.
I was soaked all over. Only stopped getting out of the Moore's Mansion area.
I couldn't help the tears rolling down my wet cheeks. I know I am a disgrace to my family, but still, do I really deserve this? To be punished for someone else's mistake? Why did they even bring me to this world?
Drained and distorted, I squatted down at one corner, hugging my knees.
The rain stopped, and the night sky turned clear. Yet, nothing changed in me.
Slowly, the pathetic visual of my grandfather formed before my eyes,
Sounds beeping in the monitor, signalling weak pulse rates of the body laying on the White hospital bed, attached to wears on his skinny pale chest.
A narrow pipe was connected to his nose to feed him and on top of that, an oxygen mask was for him to breathe, with the doctor's simple warning, 'he should go under the surgery as soon as possible, Or else, you might lose you grandfather.'
Even being alive, he seemed so far away from me. Fighting with his life for the last few weeks.
The sudden rush of guilt for leaving the only chance started coursing through me.
I promised him his life. Now Chickned out because the man looked horrible?
'You should leave. I did not force you.' His words rang in my head.
He was right. He did not. I could not blame my messed-up destiny on him. The man offered money in exchange for a bride. I shouldn't have left that way!
Standing up, I turned to the clouded mansion.
I need my grandfather back and if that meant for me to marry a terrible-looking man, I would. What worse could happen than being a corpse some morning?
Once again, I stepped into the Moore's property.
Slowly reaching the huge entrance of the mansion, she knocked on the door. No one answered.
The after-rain breeze shivered me in my wet clothes. Rubbing my arms, I knocked on the door again. "Someone there?" I asked, my teeth clenched.
No reply...
After all the nerve-wracking situations, I did not have much energy left in me. Hugging myself, I slowly slid against the door, hoping for a response.
"Ple-ease, some-one o-pen the door... Ple-ease, Mr. Moore..." I begged again.
The fear of rejection started crawling in me. What if he changed his mind and didn't want me anymore? After what I did inside, it's not surprising. Still, shamelessly hoping for one last chance.
I don't even know if he is here or not. Or, found some other girl for inspection. But, my mind was not ready to give up.
I looked up, "Please, give me one last chance... Ple-ease, I... Agh!" I gasped out, Startled, when suddenly the door was pulled behind me. I almost laid on my back painfully.
"Oh my!" A worried voice came, "Wh-at happened? What are you doing here like this?"
Blinking, embarrassed and ashamed, I looked up at the woman. It was the same housekeeper who escorted me to Mr. Moore.
"I... Can I see him? Please..." The words of alms left my tongue even before I was aware.
She immediately helped me up, "Oh lord, please stand up first. You're soaked!" She kept venting her concern, ignoring my request.
"Come in, you need to..." She pulled my hand inside, and I stopped her, "Please, just this once. I will not disappoint him this time."
She watched me, "Miss Swann, please get inside first. You don't want to see him in this state, do you?"
Pursing my lips, I lowered my head at my condition. I guess, she is right. Once I get inside, maybe, I could beg a chance again.
Slowly, I stepped in toward an unknown future...
She escorted me to the same room I was in before, handing me a fresh towel and a set of dresses.
"Wear it before you see the master." The lady informed, walking out, not letting me have a chance to utter a word.
This time, I didn't think too much. Wearing the dress, I stepped out only to find the woman in front of the room.
Once again, I was taken to the same room where I first met that man. It's a feeling of Deja Vu.
Suddenly, dizziness blurred my vision. Maybe, the fear ignited. Still, I hold onto it. I could not ruin it this time.
This time the light was on in the room. Mr Moore was on the chair behind the huge mahogany desk. His face has no expression.
One glance at him and I lowered my gaze. Frightened to lose it again.
"You returned..." His melodious voice was pleased to ears. "Why?"
I swallowed, "I- regretted running away earlier... I shouldn't have." My words were less shaky this time, but the dizziness overtook me.
"So you agreed to be my bride?" His low magnetic tone was dominating the atmosphere, nearing me.
"Y-es, I am. I am ready to marry you." I blinked, trying to keep my eyes open.
"And you don't even dare to look up." His voice neared me.
I raised my head, welcoming the terrifying face. I could not let him feel disgraced by my behaviour. I Don't know the reason behind his awful appearance, but, certainly not something desirous.
"I apologise for my previous behaviour. It wasn't intentional but the force of the circumstance. Yes, I can't promise to be comfortable instantly. However, I will learn to accept sooner or later..."
Although I spoke, suddenly I started feeling too heavy in my head. My eyelids wanted to close eagerly.
Still, I noticed the flicker in his cold gaze. Everything started darkening. I tried my hardest to be alert. Fluttered my lids only noticing his moving figure.
His lips parted, but, I could not catch it. My brain stopped processing, as the darkness washed all over me, giving me a only memory of hitting a hard wall and a fragrance of woody wine...