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"I was in hell on earth."

16

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16

"Slow down, take your time." I laughed at the adorable group of brown baby cows. I watched them for a minute before deciding to go into the house to see Lydia baking in the kitchen.

"If I recall, you mentioned how much you loved to bake." Lydia held out the spatula for me to take.

"It's a cupcake batch, I'm going down to the basement I'll be right back." She rubbed my shoulder before leaving. I swiped my finger in the batter to taste test and it obviously didn't disappoint.

I kept whisking adding in more ingredients till I got it how I liked. Once I knew it was ready for the oven, I began looking through the cabinets for the cupcake tray, but I couldn't find it.

"Lydia!" I called out.

No answer, I called her name again, still nothing, which is strange she's always near. I walk further down the hall towards the basement, it was like no one was in the house. My brows furrowed at the sudden silence.

"Lydia?" The door to the basement was open, I gulped down my anxiety. I've been afraid of basements my whole life, you couldn't get me to make it down the steps. Instead I went back towards the kitchen, thinking I'll just wait for her return.

I had only taken a few steps when someone suddenly grabbed my face, their leather-gloved hands clamping over my mouth and pinching my nose shut. The fear I'd barely begun to shake off surged back instantly. My screams were muffled and indistinct as I thrashed, trying to free myself. But then, a sharp pinch in my neck—something was injected into me.

A man's voice whispered softly in my ear, "Shh, shh, shhh... you're okay, you're going to sleep now, angel." His words were gentle, but the voice was unfamiliar, sending a shiver down my spine.

•••

My eyes fluttered open, and my blurred vision slowly focused on the ceiling above me. I tried to move, wiggling my fingers, but I quickly realized I was strapped down, bound from head to toe to a cold, hard surface. The four walls of the small room seemed to close in around me, the air growing thick with tension.

I let out a low groan as the ropes began to dig painfully into my skin with every slight movement. Tears welled up, slipping down the sides of my face, falling onto my ears as I struggled to comprehend my surroundings.

"Hel— help! Please someone!" My throat burned as I screamed.

"Ami." I will never get used to his distinct voice, so full of power it almost made me want to always act right.

I instantly froze, as if my brain had lost control of my own body, but the tears didn't stop—they continued to fall, steady and uncontrollable. Then, I felt it. Reign. His presence always carried that darkened cloud, an oppressive weight that filled the room whenever he entered. It was unwanted, yet, somehow, eerily familiar.

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