Twisted Deal

Chapter 6

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Lisa

I woke up slowly, the events of yesterday weighing heavily on my mind. My body ached from the punishment, a constant reminder of what happened, and the unfamiliar bed beneath me felt too soft, too luxurious. It was nothing like the hard, lumpy mattress I was used to.

I hadn't really looked at the room when Matteo brought me here last night; I'd been too tired, too overwhelmed to notice anything beyond the fact that I wasn't in my old, cramped apartment anymore. But now, in the soft morning light, I could see just how beautiful it was.

The room was large, almost as big as my entire apartment had been. The walls were painted a soft, calming shade of blue, and the furniture was elegant and tasteful. There was a large, ornate wardrobe in one corner, its dark wood polished to a gleam. A matching vanity table stood nearby, with a mirror that reflected the sunlight streaming in through the tall windows. The bed I was lying in was huge, with a carved headboard and covered in soft, silky sheets.

Everything about the room was perfect, as if it had been designed specifically for me. It felt strange, though, to be surrounded by such luxury when I had grown up with so little. The thought of Matteo choosing this room for me made me shiver.

I sat up slowly, wincing at the soreness in my muscles, and looked around again. The soft carpet underfoot, the delicate curtains, the gentle colors—everything was beautiful, but it also felt like a cage. This was my new reality, and no matter how lovely the room was, I couldn't forget why I was here.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, the cool air brushing against my skin. As I took in my surroundings, I tried to push away the fear that lingered from the night before, focusing instead on the beauty around me. This was my new home, for better or worse, and I needed to make the best of it.

I slipped out of bed and rang for food using the dumbwaiter, feeling the ache in my muscles from the day before. My thoughts were a chaotic mix of fear and uncertainty, but I pushed them aside for the moment. I needed to get dressed and prepare for whatever the day would bring.

I went to my unpacked bags, retrieving my favorite blue sundress. As I dressed and went through my morning routine, my mind couldn't help but drift to Matteo and what he might have in store for me. The fear of his power over me was suffocating, but there was also the looming threat of James. I had to find the information James needed, or he would kill me. The weight of that realization made it hard to breathe, but I couldn't afford to falter. I had to survive—somehow.

As I begin to unpack my things, I feel a pang of nostalgia mixed with the weight of my new reality. I carefully lay out my studies, sketchbooks, and books on the desk, arranging them with the familiar precision that used to bring me comfort. My dresses and clothes are next, each piece a small reminder of my former life, of days spent in the sun and nights filled with laughter.

Among the items, I find a few photos of my best friend, my other friends, and my mother. Their faces are frozen in time, a painful reminder of what I've lost. I place them gently on the desk, each one a testament to a past that now feels like a dream. It feels as though I am cursed, doomed to lose everyone I care about. The thought is heavy, pressing down on me, and I struggle to push it away.

I come across my ballet suit and hold it up, the fabric soft and delicate against my fingers. For a moment, I let myself remember the joy of dancing, the freedom of movement. But as I look at my bruised and battered body, the reality of my current state sets in. There's no way I could dance now. The thought is bittersweet, a reminder of what I've lost.