Page 97 of Damsel in Disguise

“I gave you an opportunity, and you didn’t take it,” his expression suddenly too composed and unreadable.

With that, he turns on his heels and leaves.

A soft click follows, ensuring the door is shut, leaving me alone in his space.

I push off the floor to move toward the door, compromising my balance a couple of times. Even so, my steps are steadier compared to the pulse hammering through my veins.

My tied hands wrap around the handle.

I twist. Nothing.

A cold drop settles in my stomach.

I try again, harder this time, the metal bites faintly into my palm in return.

Still nothing.

Behind the door, a low chuckle breaks the silence. “Did you really think I’d let you walk out after all that?”

“Open the door,” I say calmly, even though my heart is thudding against my ribs.

“Don’t try the windows,” he says, casually reminding me of something insignificant. “You might hurt yourself.”

My eyes flick toward them anyway.

Tall. Old. Difficult. But not entirely impossible.

“You’re staying here until you give me your answer,” he concludes, leaving no place for argument.

“Are you forcing me now?”

He doesn’t answer. Soft footsteps fade away.

I’m alone. Locked in.

For a moment, I don’t move.

Then panic hits fiercely, clawing up my throat.

I violently bang my fist against the door.

“Alistair!” I call him by his first name, not caring about still being on campus. “Open the goddamn door!”

No sound. “Fuck it!” I scream into the void.

My pulse roars in my ears, loud enough to drown everything else out. Think. Think. Think.

Then I look back at the window. Fuck. I have to do this.

My phone pings, startling me in the deafening silence. With clumsy feet, I walk back to where I left it in my bag last time.

Due to tied wrists, I struggle to reach for my phone in my bag, yet somehow manage to pull it out and find a message from Adrian.

Adrian: You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.

31. NOTHING

ariella