CAPTIVE
2220 Words
CHAPTER 60: CAPTIVE
“By any chance, have you seen Raquel?” Hopeful, Eliot asked Mary, who came on his room to for her daily rounds.
In spite of what happened, her and Raquel’s encounter, he was still hoping that she might help him find year. It’s been hours since she left, until then she did not showed up. For most times, if he is not in love with her and if the shoes does not fit to Eliot, he’ll c it petty, but now is different. He loves her, he was sure of it, and she feels the same. When he saw her jealous gaze to Mary earlier, that took away his doubts and truly felt that Raquel is genuine.
She was risking her life taking him here.
He knew she was married. It’s wrong, but this affair or whatever it is—it feels right for Eliot.
“Sad to say that I did not.” Mary looked at him. “Why are you looking for her? I thought you two are together..?”
The way she said the last word, Eliot is no fool, it was the macabre of hope, of something she felt, but was afraid of. In a short period of time, Eliot knew how kind Mary was. He learnt her life as she told it freely to him, but she seems wary of Raquel. Now, he knew why.
“We are… We are together, Mary.” Are they? “I’m just asking since she hadn’t gotten back since she left earlier.”
Her expression changes, the hope fades and was replaced by a professional façade.
“I see…” She trailed off. “I just thought you aren’t dating somebody, since the news told so. There are no women and Raquel, no offense but she isn’t the time you should date, like that, Eliot.”
What happened to Mr. Duke now?
“She isn’t the type of woman that I should date?” The kindness in him dissipate.
Is she insulting Raquel now?
“Yes.” Mary did not hesitate to answer. “I saw the women who had been linked to you, they are far better than her—”
“Far better than her?” He couldn’t believe her.
She really think that speaking of her mind would made Eliot to fancy her? That’s how she have gotten it wrong.
No one speaks ill about Raquel.
“She’s not that pretty—”
“Why don’t you speak for yourself then?” Eliot cut her off.
His baritone voice is no longer soft, it was firm, and stone cold.
“Excuse me?” Mary stared in confusion at him with the sudden changes of the air. “I am just giving my opinion to you—”
“Who are you to give your opinion about her?” Eliot hissed. His jaw is clenched, tight. “Who are you to interfere in my life? No one… and as you know, Raquel is beautiful and she was far better than you, so get the hell out of my face before I lose it.”
“S—sir.” Mary gulps.
Fear flashes on her eyes.
“I was just being kind to you, but you crossed the line, now get out! Or I won’t let you off so easily.”
Terrified, Mary scuttled from her feet. She almost before reaching the door, but she successfully left the room with a firming Eliot.
“Tch. Much better?” He clicked his tongue, he was annoyed, but that doesn’t mean he forgot that he was worried. “God, where the heck did you go, Raq?”
But she never came back that night. It was as if she had been taken somewhere or went somewhere that confused Eliot.
Is her jealousy and pride much worth than making sure that they are okay? He thought, his eyes sad, his words are bitter, thinking that Raquel abandoned him…this time.
“O—oh my god! Where am I?” Raquel struggled against her restraint.
It’s been two days since she had been almost caught by those men, since they been shot at, and since she had been taken by this man in custody. She have no idea who he is, and why. A lot of why’s in her head remain unanswered.
“Let me go!”
For cry out loud, she had been yelling nonstop towards the door, hoping that he could hear her out, but whom is she kidding? She is a witnessed to a murder. He killed those men, but if he wanted to hurt her too—he would have done it, so why the heck is he keeping her alive?
The room she was held captive was old. The pain peeled off from the wall, and there’s this smell of piss she could smell everywhere indicating that she is not the first one to be there
The thought made her shuddered.
But I needed to focus now. Eliot is waiting for me! She cheered herself.
But what can she do? Her cries of pleas are futile. That man wouldn’t even bath an eye nor talk to him as if she were a plague.
“God, this is useless!” Raquel grunted.
That’s when she hear the slight screech of the door that scrape on the floor, when pushed open from the outside. The man came, but as usual his face is covered as if he was afraid or maybe, he doesn’t wanted Raquel to see his real face.
It would be a lie, if she said that his identity does not literally intrigues her.
“Who are you?” She demanded.
The man ignored her. He went towards the table, the only single furniture on that room. On his hand, he was holding a tray filled with food.
Her stomach grumbled on an instant at the sight of it.
“Fill your hunger, tomorrow we move.” He uttered, while his back was turned.
“Move? As in we are going to leave?” She gulps upon hearing what he said.
They are leaving, then that only means e would take her away from here. Her fear doubled. She felt terrified. With her hands being chained, and her legs tied, she won’t be able to escape….much worst, she might probably not have the chance to tell Eliot that she was taken.
“No!” Emotions flooded through.
She shook her head. Raquel was stubborn.
“I can’t leave, please… Somebody is waiting for me, I can pay you, if that’s what you wanted. I won’t the police even who you are—” That was her last resort.
But same with the other offer, she was ignored.
“Please…” Her eyes are watery as she slowly kneeled on the ground. “I’ll do anything that you wanted me to.” Even if it is the worst.
“You’ll do anything?” The man faced her.
Hope blooms inside her chest.
“Anything—”
“Then shut the hell up before I lose my patience.” He grumbled.
His deeps voice is serious. He was firm when he turned his back and stormed out of the room.
Raquel’s shoulder sagged. A crestfallen look painted across her face.
“N—no.” She slumped onto the floor.
Suddenly, a couple of tears fell from her eyes
“N—no….” Her sobs raked, and soon her whimpers turn into cries of helplessness.
Have she done something wrong? She have no idea. But fate is so cruel to her. Raquel felt miserable. She was here, somewhere unknown, while knowing for a fact that she might or may not see Eliot again, worst—if he took her somewhere far, she will not be able to find out the truth about her biological parents.
She’s been through a lot, but this one life experience is the most horrible scenario. He could either kill her, and nobody would know, or sell her…. The thought made her shudder. It made her skin to shiver as they crawled. The idea added to her anxiety as it rose.
I needed to do something! She tells herself, but what can she do?
For unknown reason, Raquel’s eyes averted towards the fork on the plate. She was lost for a moment, before she realize something.
“From now on, you won’t be allowed to leave this room for awhile, Raq.” Mrs. Roswell harshly let go of her hand. The force pushed her towards the floor, but her supposed mother did not show any concern. Her eyes remain cold, her lips upturned as she snarled to the young her.
“If you disobey me again, I’ll lock you up here… forever until you finally learn your lesson. Are we clear now, Raquel?”
Sobs became her answer. That seems to annoyed her even more.
“God, I hated it when you cry!” She yelled.
Marching towards the door without looking back, Raquel heard her locked the door.
She felt fear crept on her arms. The room is dark, and there are no light, only the one that was seeping from the cracks. A small window allowed her to creep and pry towards the party that was being held on their mansion.
She smiled bitterly. Everyone is happy except four her. Everyone was free, while she was imprisoned, caged that last long for days.
“Eat.” Mrs. Roswell carelessly placed a plate on the table. Some food spill on the surface, and the food was messy, it made Raquel lost her appetite at the sight of it.
“I’m not hungry, M—mama.” But she is.
Her stomach is already growling, but her kind is stubborn. As a young child, she was filled of so many questions that was running inside her head.
Why are they treating her like this? Why her mother always look at her with distasteful gaze and eyes full of hate?
“Then I’ll let you alone to starve.” Mrs. Roswell’s countenance was stone cold.
Her heart is hard for her. She extremely shows o care, and it pains Raquel. And for the second time, she left her again, when she was in need of a mother.
Raquel buried her head on her knees.
She was crying, her eyes are blurry. They had been watering, swollen as she vent out how hurt she was, and more on…she wanted to be free.
I wanted to play. She thought.
Helpless, she looks around but there’s nothing that could help her out. But then, her eyes settled across towards the spilled food. She could se e a plate, a spoon…and a fork.
A fork. At the sudden memory of how did she manage to escape that room she grew to hate, an idea flashed through…and a gateway to escape this room. This is the opportunity she was waiting for!
Carefully, Raquel grab the fork and tucked it behind the jeans she was currently wearing. But her heart almost jumped out, when out of the blue, the door was pushed open, and the man showed up…only this time he isn’t alone.
It was a beautiful woman, whose face is not covered. She have a pinkish lips, and an emerald colored eyes. They look so captivating only if she wasn’t glaring to Raquel.
“She is not supposed to be here!” She angrily pointed at her.
“Me..?” Raquel frowns.
Are they talking about her?
But nobody paid any attention to her.
The woman averted her eyes towards the man.
“Well?” She demanded while tapping her heeled shoes to the ground.
“Why would I explain myself to you?” In spite of her outburst, the man stay calm. “You should leave now, before I report your sudden inference here.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” She gritted her teeth “Or I’ll kill this woman—”
Raquel’s eyes widened. Her orbs were big and round, when she pulled a g*n inside her leather jacket.
“Erika!” The man seems surprised.
“What?!”
“Put the down, or you wouldn’t like what I am going to do to you—” He was threatening her.
On the corner, Raquel fell silent.
Whatever may have been going on between the two, she didn’t wanted to take part of any of it, right when a g*n was pointed at her head.
She gulps.
Oh god, please don’t let me die today.
“I am not scared of you.” Erika loomed him in the eye. “You can’t scare me anymore, and the moment I killed her, you are going to thank me for saving your life—”
SLAM.
But it didn’t take long. As she speak, the man took that opportunity to body slammed the woman, and in a fast reflex take the g*n from her hand. It happened too fast, and the next thing Raquel knew—their guest is already lying on the floor unconscious while the man stood there—panting, but what shunned Raquel on her feet was the familiar face she saw the moment that his mask fell as well.
“Jasper?” She called, confused, and was lost.
“s**t!”
- Writer
