Chapter 13

Dark. And noisy. I couldn't see anything. And maybe that's because of the blindfold on my eyes or maybe because I don't want to see. The worst of all, I coudnt move my arms nor my legs, I was only limited on tugging the restraints and moving my limbs. My whole body aches...even a simple movement can cause me to grit my teeth hard, trying to not focus on the pain. But I had to move. Someone's waiting for me.

I felt the restraints in my hand disappear as I felt a brush of flesh on my wrist. My heart was beating so fast, expecting the worst that could happen.

Just as I tried to reach for anything to get me out of this dilemma, the dark was gone...replaced by light. It was hazy at first, only a dark silhouette in my view. I blinked a few times to make my eyesight clearer, then I recognized the man. He was dressed in a suit, holding a long black cloth on his right hand and on his left was a bag. There was a coiled tube earpiece on his right ear.

He held out the white bag for me, which I took. I took out the clothes inside and dressed up. It was a button down shirt paired with a black blazer, white tailored shorts and loafers.

The bodyguard was waiting for me at the door, once I was done he opened the door and let me out first before closing the door. I followed him to the elevator. Which felt longer each time we passed a floor. I could never felt more relieved than to hear the sound of an elevator opening for me to get out. Of which I took gladly.

There were people lined up on the way to the front door. Once I was on sight, they all bowed with their waist slanted forward on 45 degrees with their eyes on the floor. And they all said in unison. "Thank you for using our hotel, young master!"

I nod to them all, they're all great people but people like them cannot be trusted. I have spent hours in a single day in this hotel and nothing but smiles can be seen whenever I leave the room. They know what happened.

The porter opened the door for us, who gave us a clearer view of the car waiting for us outside. It was a black limousine. I had hoped better, considering it was the first day of school.

I went inside the back as soon as the bodyguard opened the door for me. I waited for him to get in the driver's seat before I laid my head down and sighed with relief.

It was already nearing dark when we left the hotel. As usual, there were a lot of skyscrapers. I never liked it, everytime I see one, even if it's on a different country, it always reminded of the city with greedy, sinners and immoral people. People who have gone to great lengths to do sins.

The car turned.

"This isn't the way to the house." I told the bodyguard. He looked at me in the mirror and said "Mr. Lorn specifically instructed me to take you to Sir Azazel."

Azazel. I hate that word. I felt my heart beat faster. Faster than when I was in the suite. I shivered, feeling colder than I have ever felt in my entire life. My hand couldn't stop trembling, everytime that word was said, I always felt fear creeping from my limbs to my heart. Making it very hard for me to breath as if i was suffocating.

The car stopped. Everything was in slow motion, the bodyguard came out first, his first step out of the car louder than when I was blindfolded and the door closing in a bang more powerful than the harsh whip on the back. His steps echoed in the dark, louder and more pronounced in my ear.

The door opened. I came out feeling more afraid than I have ever been. Wishing that the man beside me could save me from the devil. Alas, a simple bodyguard could not protect me from pain, only from death. But sometimes, pain is torture. It is death. More awful than death itself. For pain can never give us the eternal peace we'll have in death.

I looked at the bodyguard, pleading for him but he never looked at me in the eyes and just directed his gaze on the ground, bowing. My life seemed to shatter. I know this man. I have known him ever since I was a child. He had always been there for me. Protecting me. Guiding me. Teaching me.

He knows I have always felt fear here than being with the biological family I have. No. They weren't family. They were worst than family. The only family I have are the people waiting for me. Friends who have my back at all times as they have mine.

I closed my eyes, breathed in and let it all out slowly. The thoughts of my friends strengthening me more than ever. I looked up at the beautiful manor in front of me, feeling braver but the fear still in my heart.

I walked steady in the pathway. Cold and afraid. But determined. I stopped in front of the door. And slowly pressed the doorbell. There was a click and then the door opened, slowly, as if the person behind the door loves the suspense the slow movement makes me feel. As if it knows I feel fear.

I clenched my hands to a fist, feeling hopeless and vulnerable. To think that I who have vowed to stand by his side would feel fear to a cruel and ugly man in front me, what a joke. I must not let fear overtake me or else my mind would not let me be by his side from shame.

"You look beautiful." The man sneered at me, ogling at me. Disgusting.

He went to the side to let me inside the manor. The house was beautiful, but the man it lets it sleep inside, was ugly to the bone. I looked at the man, closing the door. I looked outside, at the man who is still bowing in my direction. The man who have made me felt safer at times when I feel insecure.

I felt warmth sliding from my eyes and to my cheeks. I placed my fingers on my face and felt liquid on it. I swiped at it, thankful that he hadn't seen it.

Then the door closed.

"Dinner first, shall we?" The man proposed. It wasn't a question, it was an order. His sneer, giving me shivers on my back.

'Please give me strength to survive this nightmare.'