FOR DAYS, I HAD been trapped within the cold, stone walls of the mansion. It was vast but I could barely glimpse of my own freedom. I couldn't help but to worry about my parents. Where are they now?
They allowed me to roam the halls, as if that was some kind of privilege, but the iron gates at the perimeter never wavered. I felt like a prisoner.
Every day, I tried to find someone to help me. A gardener, a cook, even the woman who dusted the countless, unnecessary shelves. But they all avoided me, like a shadow that wasn’t supposed to exist.
I heard his voice before I saw him that morning. Achilles. The name alone sent a chill down my spine.
"Good morning, Alana," he said, emerging from one of the grand staircases. It was a simple greeting but it brought fear and anxiousness inside me.
His presence was as suffocating as always. He looked casual, unbothered, as if my imprisonment was merely a matter of business to him. His dark eyes were sharp and his face was void of any emotions, making it impossible to decipher his thoughts.
I clenched my fists and stood tall, even though my knees felt like they could buckle at any moment. "G-Good morning," I replied, my voice laced with an edge I didn’t quite feel.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "It was nice to see that you're still holding on. That's good, because I'm not yet done with you.”
I took a step forward, determined not to let him intimidate me any longer. "What do you want from me? Why are you keeping me here?"
Achilles tilted his head, his lips curling into a small, almost lazy smile. "My, my… you're getting feisty, huh?”
"That's not an answer to my question," I snapped, anger flaring up despite my fear. "Let me go. I’m not-"
"I know what you’re not," he interrupted smoothly, stepping closer. "You’re not someone who listens. Or someone who understands the position they’re in."
I inhaled sharply, taking a step back before I could stop myself. The air between us grew taut, and my heartbeat thundered in my chest. But then, a desperate thought formed in my mind… a dangerous gamble, but one I had to take.
"If there’s something you want, just tell me," I said, my voice quieter now, almost pleading. "I’ll do it. Whatever it takes, just let me go."
Achilles paused. For a moment, something flickered across his face… an emotion I couldn’t name. Then his smile returned, darker this time. "Anything, huh? Are you sure about that, little kitten?"
The word hung in the air like a poisoned promise.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Yes," I whispered, though my instincts screamed at me to run.
He studied me, his gaze piercing, as if he were searching for cracks in my resolve. "Very well," he said finally, his voice low and deliberate. "I want your body."
The words struck me like a physical blow. My breath hitched, and I stared at him, my mind scrambling to make sense of what I’d just heard.
"My… body?" I repeated, horrified.
He didn’t flinch. "Yes. Your body. Surrender it to me, and when I’m done, I’ll let you go."
I staggered back, bile rising in my throat. The room seemed to tilt, and my skin crawled under his unwavering gaze. "You’re disgusting," I spat, my voice trembling. "I’d rather die than give you-"
"Would you?" he cut in, his tone almost mocking. "Would you rather die, Alana? Because that’s the alternative. No one’s coming for you. No one even knows you’re here. You have no power, no leverage. But you have something I want."
I shook my head, my chest tightening with panic. "You’re lying. Someone will come for me. My family-"
"Your family… they're gone,” he said coldly. "And as if they'll have the courage to take you out from here. They're just a mere dust that I can easily blew off."
Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I turned away from him, my mind racing. There had to be another way out of this. There had to be.
"You can’t keep me here forever," I said, my voice steadier now. "You think you have all the power, but you don’t. One mistake, one slip, and I’ll find a way out."
Achilles chuckled softly behind me. "Oh, Alana. You’re even more naive than I thought. But I’ll give you some time to think. I’m a patient man."
I turned back to him, my glare burning with all the defiance I could muster. "You’re a monster," I said. "And I won’t let you win."
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "We’ll see," he murmured, brushing past me and disappearing into the shadows of the mansion.
I stood there for what felt like an eternity, my mind replaying his words over and over. My heart was pounding, my hands trembling. But one thing was clear… I had to find a way out of this nightmare.
No matter what it took.
