The Forest girl : Luna

Chapter 5 : The Penthouse

I woke up to the bright sunlight streaming through the window, the light stinging my eyes. As I blinked to adjust, I sensed someone beside me in bed. My heart raced as I turned to see his figure sleeping next to me.

He was only wearing pants, leaving his upper body exposed. This was the first time I truly looked at him like this. His chest was adorned with numerous tattoos, but one caught my eye: a Latin phrase, "Usque ad Mortem... Magdala," which meant "until death takes us apart... Madeline."

I was frozen, staring at the tattoo until I realized he was awake. Our eyes met, and panic surged through me as I tried to escape towards the door. But he was quicker, catching me and pulling me back onto the bed. I locked eyes with him, but he simply smirked and settled beside me.

My body felt heavy, as if it were made of lead, and I could barely move. At least I could still speak, so I asked, "Why can't I move?"

"I gave you propofol to help you sleep better after your long journey yesterday," he replied, his gaze unwavering while I turned away, unable to meet his eyes.

"I thought you'd kill me if I tried to escape," I whispered, my throat dry and scratchy.

"I was... then I realized I wouldn't be able to find another like you in this universe. You're far too dangerous to be anyone else's woman, my little beast," he said, settling back against the bed.

He then stood and left me alone in the room. I peered out the window and quickly assessed my surroundings. I was on the top floor of a building—perhaps a penthouse, isolated from the outside world, where my screams would go unheard. The thought of screaming for help felt pointless in this situation.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I crept to the door to eavesdrop on the conversation outside. I could hear Chris talking to Ava and some others. Summoning my courage, I opened the door and stepped out. Everyone stared at me, except for Edward.

"Come and sit here, Maddie," Chris said, gesturing toward the dining area, and he followed me closely.

I remained silent, masking my emotions as I tried to gauge their intentions.

"How did you sleep last night? Did anything happen?" Ava asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

Confused by her fear, I simply shook my head in response. Edward shot her a hard look, then gestured for her to join Chris on the sofa while he prepared breakfast for them. He brought my meal to the dining table, urging me to eat as he settled beside me. I hesitated, my appetite waning, but the smell of my favorite dish drew me in.

To be honest, he cooked surprisingly well—far better than I ever could, having never set foot in a kitchen before. I devoured the food, glancing at him for some sign or reaction, but he only stared at me, inscrutable.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. "How did you find me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you remember when I rescued you from the forest on your 18th birthday? I implanted a tracker in you while you were being treated. Don't worry; it won't affect your health... oh, and there's more than one tracker in you," he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

In that moment, I realized I was trapped in a nightmare far worse than before. My father, with all his flaws, seemed preferable to this madness. Regret washed over me—I regretted joining these monsters, regretted wanting to be with them, and regretted running away from someone like him. Silence enveloped me as I struggled to find words, terrified of voicing my thoughts so close to him. If he could read my mind, I would surely be dead by now.

After breakfast, Edward instructed me to take a bath and wait for him in the room. He warned me not to lock the door, as it had a fingerprint lock system that allowed him access no matter what. Once inside, I noticed a beautiful dress laid out on the bed, accompanied by my favorite black rose. I had to admit, I liked unusual things.

I knew what he was planning, but I was determined not to let him have his way. I searched the room for any means of escape, but everything was locked, accessible only to him. Resigned, I took a bath and put on the dress. As I did, I caught sight of the necklace he had given me as an engagement ring. In a burst of defiance, I ripped it off and tossed it in the dirty laundry.

I knew this could provoke his anger, but I had to do it. After a while, I sat on the bed, contemplating the consequences of my actions. When he finally entered the room with food and snacks, his warm smile faltered when he noticed my neck—the dress exposed my jawline, revealing that I wasn't wearing the necklace.

"Where is it, Maddie? Don't tell me you lost it. You know how much I treasured that for you. So... tell me... where... is... it?" His tone turned cold, and I felt tears prick at my eyes as I silently begged for forgiveness.

As he stepped closer, panic surged within me, and I rushed to retrieve the necklace, holding it up as proof. "See, it's right here! I didn't lose it... I just... forgot to put it back."

I heard his sigh of relief as he realized I still had it. "Well, let me help you put it back on... and do not remove it under any circumstances. Do you understand, Maddie?" he asked while fastening the necklace around my neck.

"Yes," was all I managed to say.

Afterward, we sat on the bed and had lunch while watching the Love and Love series. He had been nothing but a gentleman so far, which made me question everything I had heard about him, especially from his sister. How could she call him a bad person?

He cooked for me and treated me like a princess. Yet, despite the comfort of the moment, an unsettling feeling crept into the back of my mind. Something felt off. I could sense a tension beneath his charm, a darkness lurking just below the surface.

Each smile he flashed felt too calculated, too practiced. I couldn't shake the thought that this was all part of some twisted game.

As I ate, I glanced at him, searching his eyes for a hint of the man I once knew. But the more I looked, the more I felt that he was hiding something—something dangerous.

I smiled back, but it felt forced, a mask over the turmoil brewing inside me. My instincts screamed that I was being lulled into a false sense of security, and I couldn't ignore the sense that something fishy was going on.

What was he truly planning? I had to stay alert. I had to remember who he really was, no matter how sweetly he treated me now.