I couldn't help but panic, and my heart raced as I quickly stood up. Desperation led me to scan the large bathroom, hoping to find a way out and escape. Everywhere I looked, solid walls surrounded me, crushing my hopes of finding an exit. But then, I looked up at the white ceiling and noticed a slight lift in a piece of white plywood, almost like a hidden small door – a potential escape route.
"Oh come on, baby girl. Open this door so I can come in," Darius called in a calm voice from outside, followed by knocking on the closed door.
No! I couldn't let him catch me. I needed to get out of this place!
A spark of hope ignited when I spotted a white plastic chair in the corner of the bathroom. I rushed over and grabbed it.
I positioned the chair beneath the lifted plywood on the ceiling. Carefully climbing onto the chair, I stretched my body to reach the white ceiling. I needed to climb up to lift the plywood fully. Finally, I managed to raise it, revealing a secret passage just large enough for a person to fit through.
"Hey, open this f*cking door! I can get really angry, baby girl!" Darius called again, his irritation evident.
I didn't waste any more time and immediately started climbing up through the ceiling. Thanks to my older brother's guidance, I knew how to balance my body and make climbing easier.
Once inside the passage, I crawled quickly, filled with excitement. But my smile slowly faded when I realized that there were no more openings to squeeze through. The path was blocked by metal bars.
Frustration surged through me, and I felt like crying. What should I do now? I couldn't go back; they might kill me for sure. This was my chance to escape, but why did it have to be like this? My mom was probably crying by now, worried sick about me. Everyone must be anxious because of my disappearance.
The feeling of disappointment made my eyes misty.
Unable to control my anger and sadness, I slammed my hand against the wall. To my surprise, the plywood I had lifted swung open, and I forcefully fell back down. A scream of shock escaped my lips, and I closed my eyes in fear.
I thought I would fall and hit something sharp, but instead, I was caught by strong arms. I breathed a sigh of relief as I slowly opened my eyes and felt water dripping on my face. The pleasant scent of shampoo and soap enveloped me, and I realized I was in someone's arms.
As I opened my eyes, they widened in astonishment at the sight that greeted me—an almost Adonis-like face of a serious man, none other than Larco. His damp hair was still dripping, and droplets fell onto my face.
"I'm...sorry," I whispered almost inaudibly, my voice trembling, and a frown formed on my face as I felt the urge to cry once more. I felt incredibly unlucky in this terrifying situation.
Larco remained silent, his expression void of any emotion as he continued to stare at me.
Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, I averted my eyes and looked around. I realized I was back in the same bathroom I had been in before, with its all-white surroundings.
Gradually, Larco began lowering me from his arms, causing me to look back at him. He was clad only in a white towel, his short hair damp from a recent bath. Water droplets trickled down his well-built chest, leading to his chiseled abs.
"What are you staring at?" He snapped at me, surprising me with his grumpy tone.
I jolted, quickly averting my gaze once more. Bowing my head, I swallowed hard, feeling a rush of fear wash over me as my hands trembled.
"Trying to escape, huh?" Larco mocked, his irritation evident, as he stepped closer to where I stood. "Do you think I'll let you leave this place alive?" His face turned serious again, causing me to swallow nervously. "You're mistaken! I will torture you here until you spit your own blood! It's your misfortune that you're the daughter of General Carlito Gabriel. Now you'll pay for your father and siblings' meddlesome ways, because you're one of them, you are a f*cking Gabriel!"
His words made me gasp, and suddenly, Larco grabbed my left arm forcefully, pulling me towards the bathroom door.
"W-Wait, where are you taking me?" I asked anxiously, attempting to pull my arm from his tight grip.
He offered no answer, instead, he opened the bathroom door, revealing a large room with the same all-white design as the previous one. It seemed there was no difference at all.
"I'm going to tie you up in the basement until you grow old!" Larco declared angrily, pulling me closer to the closed door of the room.
His words sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a sense of dread wash over me.
I vehemently shook my head, pleading desperately, "No! P-Please have mercy, don't lock me in such a place, please!" I continued to struggle and attempted to free my arm from his tight hold, but he was stronger than me, and my efforts were in vain.
The thought of being sent back and locked in that basement terrified me. I had to find a way to escape, and I knew I had no choice but to take a risk. I don't have any choice!
Just as Larco was about to grasp the doorknob of the room, I swiftly snatched the white towel covering his lower body with one hand.
I was taken aback by the sight of his naked body, causing my lips to involuntarily gasp. His attempt to open the door came to a halt, and he turned back to me with a look of surprise, as if he couldn't believe what I just did.
"I-I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to. You were just so annoying, and I told you not to," I stammered in a trembling voice, biting my lip nervously. I knew I was in big trouble for my impulsive action.
Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, and there was no response or movement from him.
When I finally dared to glance back at him, I found him still staring at me, or rather at my chest. My face flushed red as I noticed how my white T-shirt revealed my black bra, drenched from the water. Quickly, I wrapped the white towel around my chest, the same one I had taken from him.
I tried to steal a quick glance at him, but my gaze got fixated right in front of him. It was so big and towering, it seemed as if it was furious or something. My face turned red with embarrassment from what I saw, and I quickly looked away. Oh my gosh!
"If you want to stay alive, I'll grant your wish, but you have to agree to my condition," Larco said, his voice still stern.
Hearing that, I immediately looked up again, feeling a ray of hope shining upon me.
"I'll do anything, just don't kill me or lock me in the basement! Just tell me, and I'll agree to your condition no matter what it is," I replied eagerly, swallowing hard.
A mischievous grin appeared on Larco's face as he heard my response.
I couldn't meet his fiery gaze. It felt like his stare was burning me alive, so I quickly looked down, avoiding his shirtless form.
"If that's the case... use your body as payment to live in my territory," Larco said with emphasis.
I was taken aback, pausing for a moment, but then I quickly nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, sure! I can be your maid! I can be your cleaner or do your laundry, just don't—"
"Damn it! That's not what I meant!" Larco interrupted my rambling with a loud voice, irritatingly cutting me off mid-sentence. His voice echoed in the silent room, filled with irritation and annoyance.
"I-If that's the case... w-what do you mean?" My voice barely came out as a whisper.
I could see the tension in his jaw as he heard my question, and he quickly approached me. I stepped back until I felt the hard wall behind me.
I gasped as Larco suddenly raised his right hand and caressed my cheek, down to my neck, before snatching the white towel from my hand and bringing his face close to my ear.
"I want you to please me in bed using your body. If you do that, I'll spare your life in return. That's the only solution I can offer you, Miss Gabriel." He moved slightly away from my face and wiped his naked body with the white towel, which I quickly averted my gaze from. "Maybe I'm a criminal, a drug lord, but I'm not a rapist. So if you don't want to accept my offer, I won't force you. Choose it or leave it."
Stunned by his proposal, I didn't know if I should be relieved that he said he would spare my life or terrified of the exchange he was suggesting. But I couldn't just give up and die. I'm scared. I'm afraid. I still want to live!
Larco walked towards the bedside table and picked up the ringing cellphone. I remained standing next to the closed door, unsure of what to say, anxious about what might happen.
"Are you having trouble making a decision?" Larco asked, but his eyes were on his phone. He sat on the bed, combing his wet hair with his left hand while the other continued tapping on the phone he held. "There are only two options, Miss Gabriel: Dead or Alive. You die a virgin or live, enjoying yourself in my bed."
Even though he wasn't looking at me, I could clearly see the demonic grin that appeared on his lips.
I couldn't control the clenching of my fist.
"You're a demon! You're worse than a demon!" I couldn't hold back anymore, and it was too late to take back my words.
Larco quickly looked up, his expression darkening, and I saw a terrifying aura in his face. I shuddered, and my fear intensified. He must be angry at what I said. I'm in trouble now!
"I'm a demon?" Larco stood up and, in an instant, quickly approached me. "If that's the case—I'll show you the demon you're talking about!" I screamed as he violently grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room.
"W-Where are you taking me?" I tried to free my arm from his grasp, but I winced in pain.
"I'll lock you up in the basement until you grow old! I'll show you just how much of a demon I can be!"
I shook my head vehemently. "No! Have mercy on me! I'm sorry! Please—I take it back, you're not a demon. You're an angel."
But instead of calming him down, it seemed my words only infuriated him further, and he tightened his grip on my arm as he led me to a corner where the stairs to the basement were located, the same place I came from earlier.
"Oh..." Darius said when he saw us. He was leaning against the headboard, smoking, and still covered with the white towel.
Larco paid no attention to Darius; instead, he pulled me toward the corner where the stairs to the basement were located. He let go of my arm for a moment to open the basement door.
"No, please... no! D-Don't take me back there...please..." I begged, kneeling in front of Larco while tears streamed down my face.
I heard Darius scoff from upstairs. "Oh, if only you had listened to me and not tried to escape, you wouldn't be in this worse situation. It's all your fault, you know..."
I looked at Darius, and he just shook his head at me.
"Help me," I pleaded. I noticed Darius raising an eyebrow.
Before I could speak again, Larco yanked one of my arms and dragged me into the basement. I continued to struggle as we reached the spacious basement.
Larco pulled me to a chair, the same one I sat on earlier. I begged and cried, but it seemed like he paid no attention to my pleas, as if he were deaf and couldn't hear anything.
He's heartless and has no mercy!
I kept struggling as he tied my body to the chair. I only stopped my resistance when he finally had me securely restrained.
"You're so evil! You have no heart!" I screamed at him, tears streaming down my face.
But all I received in response was a terrifying grin before he turned away from me.
No! I can't be left alone here in the basement. I'm scared.
"M-My body is what you want, right?"
Larco stopped climbing the stairs. He remained facing away from me, not even looking back. "I-I'll give it to you if you just let me go!"
But my hope sank as he didn't respond and continued ascending the stairs until he disappeared from my sight.
Left alone, I cried in fear and shivered in the cold of the basement, still tied to the chair.