Airy

Chapter 20

I wasn't exactly scared of him. Deep down, I knew he wouldn't hurt me.

In a way, I could empathize with him, sharing his feelings about what had transpired. But then again, I was the victim.

But even with that understanding, a lingering unease settled within me. Despite knowing he wouldn't physically harm me, the emotional turmoil of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders.

"I don't want to lose you," he said looking at me and slowly approaching me.

Surprisingly, I held my ground, rooted in a mix of defiance and curiosity.

He stopped a few feet away from me, his eyes intense as he spoke. "I thought I could just ignore you and move on with my life," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "But you've become my only weakness," he whispered, his words hanging in the air like a delicate confession.

I stood there, speechless, unsure how to respond to his unexpected honesty.

"You are mine," he declared, taking a step closer. Instinctively, I tensed, ready to retreat, but before I could react, he reached out and pulled me into a hug.

I just stood there letting him hug me.

-------

I woke up. The clock read 5 am.

I could barely sleep last night. After Damien left last morning two men came and moved the desk and replaced the door fixing the cracks on the doorframe as well.

After our hug, he just left I haven't seen him since then.

I walked to the bathroom and took a shower. This cleared my head better.

I wasn't sure how within these few weeks things could change. I wanted to cry to see if maybe that would help. But I couldn't.

After the shower I got dressed just brushed my teeth and left my hair damp. It was cold but that didn't bother me. The fireplace hit up the place nicely. I thought of my other room that I had and my heart sank, the memories flooded back to me. I sat on the floor of the bathroom trying to catch my breath. 

I felt like I couldn't breathe. 

a few moments passed and as I was about to get up I heard the main door open abruptly and then a knock on the bathroom door.

"Y...Yes," I stuttered.

"Are you okay?" Damien asked, sounding breathless.

"Can I come in?" he asked again before i could reply.

The bathroom door lacked a lock, so I was relieved when Damien didn't barge in.

"Yes," I replied, pushing myself up with the sink's edge.

Damien opened the door and swiftly came to my side, offering assistance as I struggled to stand.

"What happened? Did you fall?" he inquired, concern etched on his face.

"No, um, I... I..." I stumbled over my words, unable to articulate what I was feeling.

Unable to speak, I simply gestured that I wanted to leave the bathroom. Damien nodded in understanding, following me out into the room.

As we both settled onto separate sofas, I found a sense of calm in Damien's presence.

"I wanted to ask you something?" I said.

"Anything," he replied.

"The place where you," I stopped myself before saying, "Bought, me from"

His face changed emotions for a split second I couldn't pinpoint what.

"My friend Lily was also there" I continued "Is there any way to know to know what happened to her?" I asked.

His face showed a hint of sadness like he already knew the answer.

"I will try to look for her," He said. "That place has been shot down for a few weeks now." I said with a sigh. "I didn't buy you, I just took you away from that place. My initial attempt to visit that place was to shut it down," He said. 

This took me by surprise.

"But I'm sorry about your friend. I'll find her, I promise," Damien's voice held a solemnity that resonated with me.

"Thank you," I replied, grateful for his assurance.

I wanted to ask how he knew I wasn't feeling well, but the books on mates had explained that once the bond was fully formed, they could feel each other's sadness and pain. There was no turning back from that kind of connection.

I didn't feel anything like what the books described, but I assumed Damien did. Did he truly feel everything I was feeling? My sadness, my pain? It seemed he did, and that's why he came to check on me. 

I am human, unlike him. So it did make sense.

I felt a slight pity for him for being stuck with me. I also did not want to believe anything. Those books. These past several weeks. I just wanted it to be a dream that I would wake up in my bed back at the orphanage.

"Were you asleep?" I asked looking at the clock reading 5:40 am.

"No," he replied. "I Wass um working"

"I want you to know that you can tell me anything, okay?" he looked me in the eyes. 

"Okay," I replied not being honest.

He stood up on his way to leave with a sad and dull expression on his face. 

"Damien" I called.

He stopped and turned to look at me. I Got up from my seat and walked a few steps towards him. I had to look up at him, jut now noticing how tall he is.

"I want to leave this room," I said looking straight into his eyes.

"I will ask Jay to escort you out today at noon" he replied with a stern face.

"No," I objected, meeting his gaze with determination.

His eyebrows furrowed in surprise.

"If I'm going to stay here, I need to be able to come and go as I please," I asserted, the weight of my words hanging in the air. I knew deep down that he did not like the idea. 

"Okay," he said looking down and closing his eyes.

I won't escape," I assured him, hoping to convey the sincerity in my words.

His skeptical expression told me he wasn't convinced. I couldn't blame him after my previous attempts. But this time, I meant it.

He left, and faintly, I heard him instructing the female guard to let me out whenever I wished. Yet, despite the newfound freedom, I remained rooted to the room. Fear held me captive, tethering me to the safety of its confines.

Days blurred into one another, marked only by Vivian's occasional visits. Still, I couldn't bring myself to step beyond the doorframe, I was scared. Scared that something might happen again.

Five days passed without sight of Damien. Perhaps he was giving me the space I desperately needed. And for that, I was grateful.