His New Wife

༺ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕆𝕟𝕖 ༻

    A knock at the front door causes Mona and her mother to pause. "Are you expecting anyone, mama?" Mona asks, standing as she dusts off her skirt. "No, not that I know of..." Agnes stands as well. "I'm going to find Kristoffer and Leif. Don't answer the door just yet." Mona nods as another knock rings out through the small farm cottage. She shifts uncomfortably before her mother returns with the twins. "Alright...I'm answering the door now." Agnes nods as she holds her youngest sons close to her. Mona approaches the door and lets out a breath before turning the knob and opening it. In front of her stood none other than Red Leader himself, his two armed right-hand men behind him. "Good morning young lady. Is this the Johansen residence?" Mona nods. "Yes dear Leader, it is. How can I help you?" Before Red Leader could speak, the twins break from their mother's grasp and run to their older sister. "You're Red Leader!" Kristoffer squeals and Leif holds onto his twin. "I can't believe you're here to see us!" He giggles and Red Leader smiles at them. "Please don't mind them, dear Leader. They love watching you on the television." "We wanna be in the army too! Just like you!" Leif chirps and Red Leader laughs. "Maybe one day, boys. But for now, I'm here for something else." He gently shoos the twins back to their mother before he and his men step past Mona. The young woman goes to protest when she spots her mother shaking her head. Agnes turns her attention back to the leader, smiling. "Dear Leader, what could we possibly have here that you may need? It's only a small farm." Red Leader smiles back at Agnes, sharing the same unlying expression as she did. "Is there a man of the house I can speak to? Preferably one named Kåre Johansen?" Agnes's smile fades as she looks away. Mona gently leads her brothers to their room. "No sir...my husband succumbed to illness five years ago." Red Leader cocks an eyebrow, turning fully to Agnes. "Is that so? Unfortunate." He shakes his head.

   Mona returns just as Red Leader turns his attention to her. "Patryk, Paul, grab the girl." Mona cries out as the two armed men grab either one of her arms. "What's the big idea?!" She shrieks, squirming in their grasp. Red Leader smiles as he watches Mona squirm. "See, your father owed me quite a bit of money to help support you. Especially when he found this plot of land and wanted to not only buy it, but have a few livestock and crops to go with it." Mona continues to squirm. "But it seems he has passed on before paying off his debt. So I'm taking something of...equal value. His daughter should do, don't you think?" "Dear Leader, please! How much does he owe? I'm sure I can find something in my savings! Please, just don't take my daughter!" She pleads. Red Leader looks at Agnes, frowning. "I doubt you could. I know you work at the market in town and sell what little crops you grow and what little livestock that's birthed." He smirks. "But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and tell you what I'm owed anyway. Patryk, will you do the honors?" The taller male who held one of Mona's arms nods, using his free hand to pull a small notebook from his overcoat pocket. "Kåre Johansen owes exactly 92,000 krone, which he hasn't even made a dent in." Mona and Agnes pale at the number. "Th...That much...?" Red Leader snickers. "He told me he wanted the best for you and your mother...and the twins that were on the way. I will give credit where credit is due, however. Your home is lovely, as is your clothes and farm...but sadly, I still have a due to pick up." He snaps, the two men lifting Mona. "Mama!" The young woman wails. "Mona!" Agnes cries, tears running down her face as her one and only daughter is dragged out the door. "Thank you for your payment, Ms. Johansen! Let's hope this is the last time I have to come see you." As Red Leader turns to leave, he hears small feet approach Agnes. "Mama?" "Where are they taking Mona?"

    Mona looks out the window of the car she was shoved in as they rode to Oslo. The two men, who she found out were named Patryk and Paul, sat in the front. Paul, the shorter male with the bushy eyebrows, sat in the passenger's seat while Patryk, the taller male with the long hair drove. Red Leader sat in the back with her, but didn't say anything. Good. She didn't want to hear a single word from him right now. He kidnaps her from her home just because of a payment that her father owed. She's seen the soldiers. The bases. The weapons. 92,000 krone wasn't that big of a deal, she concludes. "So..." Red Leader begins, but Mona keeps staring out the car window. He cuts his losses early and remains silent. Patryk looks to his boss in the rearview, frowning slightly. "Paul, what's our ETA?" Red Leader sighs. "ETA is two hours, sir." Great, Mona groans internally. Two more hours stuck in this stupid car with this...this stupid man! She clenches her jaw momentarily before calming down and continuing to stare at the scenery as it passes by. She wanted to be mad at Paul and Patryk too, but she knew they were just following orders. They probably didn't even want to kidnap her. They were just doing what they were told. Mona sighs, running a hand down her face before closing her eyes. She was going to nap these two hours away...

   "Mona? Min kjærlighet, we're here." Mona's eyes flutter open, coming face to face with Red Leader. She narrows her eyes and sits up, opening her car door and sliding out. She looks to Patryk, who gives her a small sympathetic look. At least he wasn't enjoying this. Patryk was nudged by Paul and the two stood at attention when Red Leader passed. "Come Mona, let me show you to our room." The young woman growls softly. "Our room? I'm having to share a room with you?" Red Leader snaps, Patryk and Paul once again grabbing Mona up (albeit more gentle this time) and leading her along. "Would you rather me set you up in a cell and let you live like my prisoners of war?" He snaps, causing Mona to flinch slightly. She remains quiet and Red Leader huffs. "That's what I thought." Mona once again glances at the men, her eyes landing on Paul. He glances back at her, the eye that wasn't patched up showing sadness. "I'm sorry." He whispers, using his free hand to flick the ashes off his crushed cigarette before returning it to his mouth. When they arrive at the room, Red Leader scowls as his watch beeps. He checks it and sighs. "Patryk, Paul, you're in charge of Mona while I'm in a meeting. Guard her with your lives." The two salute and Red Leader exits.

    After Patryk and Paul finish setting up what little items were brought with Mona, they look at each other sadly before looking at Mona. She was sitting on her now shared bed, knees to her chest and face hiding in them. Paul nudges Patryk, the more comforting of the two. Patryk gulps before making his way over, sitting beside Mona. She doesn't move. "Look...me and Paul...we apologize for how Red Leader is acting and...for how we treated you back in your own home. We were just following orders and—" Patryk stops talking as Mona gently takes his hand. "...I understand...I'm not upset with you or Paul...only him." She moves her hand. "...But I guess I'm going to have to deal with this. I'm his prisoner now." Patryk and Paul look at each other before Paul speaks. "I know he seems like an asshole now, but Tord—" Patryk glares at him. "...I mean, Red Leader, really is a great guy. He just doesn't know how to handle himself. Or his emotions." Mona thinks for a moment. "...I hate to admit it...but Tord is a nice name." She giggles to herself. Patryk lets out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head. "I know it seems bad...but I promise, me and Paul will do whatever we can to make this less horrible for you." Mona smiles, hugging the two soldiers. "Thank you guys...really..." She mumbles as they hug back.

   Three hours pass and Paul, Patryk, and Mona are on the floor playing cards. Mona suggested rummy, and she was currently kicking both their asses. The large oak doors open, Red Leader coming in looking exhausted. Paul and Patryk scramble up, saluting quickly. "Red Leader, sir! How was your meeting?" Patryk asks, relaxing as Tord waves him off. "Fine...I'm running myself a bath. Please make sure Mona is comfortable and then you're dismissed for the day." They salute once more before looking at Mona. "Well uh...do you need anything?" Paul asks and Mona smiles. "No thank you...I'm just going to change and lay down. Thank you, though. Will I see you two tomorrow?" Paul nods. "We're Red Leader's right hand men. You'll be seeing us a lot." The duo wave before exiting the room, then the connected office. Mona slides off her day clothes and rummages around for something to wear to bed. She finds a large enough shirt, sliding it on and getting into bed. The sheets were so warm and inviting...she was glad she was allowed to sleep here. The blankets back home weren't nearly this comfortable. The bathroom door opens revealing Red Leader in nothing but a towel. Water drips off his caramel colored hair and Mona stares in awe. Despite the circumstances, he wasn't bad looking. "Hello? Mona, you there?" The leader's voice shook Mona from her thoughts. "Sorry sir, I—" "Please...call me Tord. But I do need to talk to you." He rummages through his top drawer, pulling out a pair of boxers before moving down and finding a pair of pajama pants. "It's...about your current arrangement." Tord slips back into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked so he could continue talking. "Um...what about it...?" Mona questions carefully, training her eyes away from the cracked door. Tord soon exits the bathroom.

    Sitting beside Mona, Tord runs a hand through his damp hair as he sighs. "I...want to apologize for being so harsh. To you, to your mother, and especially to your brothers. I just...I don't know what came over me." He nervously plays with his pants' drawstrings. "But I want to make one thing clear: you're not leaving this place. However...I will personally take you back and forth to Lillehammer to visit your family. Maybe one day I can have them moved here." Mona looks to Tord in confusion. "What do you mean 'have them moved here?'" Tord plays with the strings more nervously, then suddenly makes eye contact with Mona.

"I want you to marry me, Mona Johansen."

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