Dangerously Beautiful Scars

17. You looked happy today

"Are you ready?" He asked as he stepped into the room, his voice smooth yet carrying an undercurrent of authority. Ashely stood near the window, dressed simply in a casual t-shirt and jeans, a stark contrast to the opulence of the room that had confined him for so long.

"Yes, sir," Ashely replied quietly, his head bowed. The words came out automatically, a habit formed from months of conditioning. Even though He was taking him out of the mansion today, Ashely couldn't forget who he truly was—the same monster who had trapped him in this gilded hell for a whole year.

Ashely kept his gaze on the floor, fighting the wave of conflicting emotions that surged within him. He was grateful, undeniably happy, to finally be leaving the mansion's suffocating walls, if only for a few hours. The darkness that had consumed his life for the past year would be lifted, if only temporarily.

But beneath that happiness was a simmering resentment, a bitterness that no amount of fresh air or sunlight could wash away. His gesture, however kind it might seem on the surface, didn't erase the pain, the fear, the stolen time.

Still, Ashely forced a small smile and lifted his head just enough to meet His eyes. He couldn't afford to show his true feelings—not now, not when He was being generous. "Thank you," he added, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

His expression softened slightly, a glimmer of something that resembled satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "Good," he said, nodding approvingly. "Let's go, then."

As they left the room, Ashely followed in silence, his heart a mix of trepidation and anticipation. Today, he would breathe freely, see the world again—but the shadow of captivity loomed large, reminding him that this brief taste of freedom was only an illusion.The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the park as Ashely took in the world he had been denied for so long. It had been a year since He had abducted him, locking him away in the vast, lonely mansion that had become both his home and his prison. Today was the first time in all those months that He had allowed him outside, and Ashely could hardly believe it was real.

He watched with wide eyes as children played nearby, their laughter ringing out like music. A family of ducks waddled by, the tiny ducklings struggling to keep up with their mother. The simple scene brought an unexpected surge of happiness to Ashely's heart, a joy so pure that it felt almost foreign after the endless days of confinement.

He, walking a few steps behind, observed Ashely's every move with a mix of satisfaction and something deeper, more complicated. He had expected Ashely to be grateful, perhaps even overwhelmed, but he hadn't anticipated the sheer delight that now lit up Ashely's face. For the first time in a year, Ashely was smiling from his heart, and the sight made He's chest tighten with guilt.

This was what he wanted, wasn't it? To see Ashely happy? But as he watched, a dark shadow of guilt crept into He's mind. He had done this—he had stolen a year of Ashely's life, kept him locked away from everything he loved, all in the name of a twisted obsession he called love.

Ashely, aware of the ever-present security guards lurking in the background, chose to ignore them for now. He knew their purpose: to ensure he didn't try to escape. Not that he would—he had learned his lesson after several failed attempts early in his captivity. Each attempt had been met with swift and brutal consequences, leaving him more terrified of His wrath than ever before. The fear had settled deep within him, making him tread carefully around He's unpredictable moods.

As the day wore on, Ashely found himself drawn to the busy street just beyond the park. He watched people going about their lives, completely unaware of the nightmare that had become his reality. He longed to be one of them, to have the freedom to walk down that street, to disappear into the crowd. But he knew better than to let those thoughts linger. Today, He had been kind—kinder than he had been in a long time—and Ashely wasn't about to risk losing that kindness.

As the sky began to turn shades of pink and orange, He finally spoke, his voice soft but commanding. "It's time to go back."

Ashely's heart sank at the thought of returning to the mansion, but he forced a smile and nodded. "Okay." He couldn't afford to show reluctance, not when He had been in such a rare, benevolent mood. He had to keep the peace, to keep His dangerous obsession at bay, even if it meant sacrificing his own desires.

They walked back in silence, the heavy gates of the mansion looming in the distance. Ashely could feel His eyes on him, watching, analyzing, trying to decipher every emotion that flickered across his face. He felt like a bird that had tasted freedom only to be caged again, but he kept his face carefully neutral, not daring to reveal the turmoil inside.

When they finally crossed the threshold back into the mansion, Ashely felt the familiar weight of captivity settle over him once more. The air was different here—thicker, colder, as if the walls themselves were closing in.

He led him back to his room, the room that had been his entire world for the past year. He paused at the door, turning to face Ashely, his expression conflicted. "You looked happy today," He said, almost hesitantly. "I...I liked seeing that."

"I was," Ashely replied, his voice steady even as his heart raced. "Thank you for taking me out."

He nodded, but the guilt still lingered in his eyes, battling with the darker, more possessive part of him that refused to let go. He wanted Ashely to be happy, but not at the cost of losing him. His obsession was too deeply rooted, too all-consuming to be easily undone.

"I'll take you out again soon," He promised, though the words felt hollow even to him. He reached out, brushing a strand of Ashely's hair back into place with a tenderness that belied the darkness lurking beneath. "But you have to understand...you belong here. With me."

Ashely forced another smile, nodding obediently. "I understand." But inside, a part of him shriveled at the thought of spending another day, another year, trapped in this beautiful, gilded cage.

As He closed the door behind him, Ashely sank onto the bed, staring out the window at the fading light. He had survived this long by playing along, by keeping His obsession in check. But with every passing day, the hope of ever escaping grew dimmer.

And yet, as he sat there, Ashely held onto the memory of the day—the children's laughter, the ducks, the busy street. They were small, fragile glimpses of the world he had lost, but they were enough to keep a tiny spark of hope alive. For now, that spark would have to be enough.