Aria had lost track of time. Days and nights blurred together in the dim light of her prison. She was given enough food and water to survive, but Elliott made sure she was never comfortable. The constant chill of the room seeped into her bones, and her body ached from lying on the hard floor. Her mind, however, remained sharp, fueled by a mixture of fear and defiance.
Elliott visited her at irregular intervals, sometimes spending hours in silence, simply watching her. Other times, he would ask questions—probing, unsettling questions that made her skin crawl.
Elliott sat in the corner of the room, his gaze fixed on Aria. She was sitting against the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest. He studied her with the intensity of a predator, searching for any sign of weakness.
Elliott: “Why do you think you’re here, Aria?”
Aria looked up, meeting his cold blue eyes. There was no point in pretending anymore; she had to engage with him if she wanted to survive.
Aria: “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Elliott’s lips curled into a smile, but there was no warmth in it.
Elliott: “You’re here because you took something from me. Something I can never replace.”
Aria’s mind raced, trying to recall any possible connection to this man, any action that might have led to this moment. But she came up empty. She had never met him before, she was sure of it.
Aria: “I don’t understand. I don’t even know you.”
Elliott’s smile faded, replaced by a look of cold anger.
Elliott: “You don’t need to understand. You just need to listen. I’m going to make you feel the same pain I felt. And when I’m done, you’ll wish you had never crossed my path.”
Aria felt a chill run down her spine, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to show fear, not now.
Aria: “What happened to you? Why are you doing this?”
Elliott’s eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, Aria thought he might strike her. But he simply stood up, pacing the small room like a caged animal.
Elliott: “What happened to me is none of your concern. All you need to know is that you’re paying the price for it.”
He turned to leave, but paused at the door, glancing back at her.
Elliott: “We’ll continue this discussion later. Think carefully about your answers, Aria. Your life depends on it.”
After Elliott left, Aria’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What could she have possibly done to deserve this? She was just an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life. There had to be more to this, something she wasn’t seeing.
Aria pulled herself to her feet, pacing the small room. She had to find a way out, a way to turn the tables on Elliott. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon or a tool for escape. But the room was bare, stripped of anything that might offer her a chance.
She walked to the door, pressing her ear against it. She could hear faint sounds from the other side—voices, footsteps. She wasn’t alone in this building, wherever it was. That meant there might be a way to get help, to reach someone who could save her.
Aria stepped back from the door, her mind racing. She had to stay strong, had to keep her wits about her. Elliott might have the upper hand now, but she wouldn’t let him win. She had to find a way to outsmart him, to use his own game against him.
The next time Elliott visited, Aria was ready. She had spent hours rehearsing her responses, planning every word. She needed to learn more about him, to understand his motives if she had any hope of escaping.
Elliott entered the room, his expression guarded. He seemed to be studying her, looking for signs of defiance or submission. Aria met his gaze, her face calm.
Aria: “You said I took something from you. I want to understand. Maybe then, we can find a way to end this.”
Elliott raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her change in tone.
Elliott: “Why the sudden interest?”
Aria: “Because I want to survive. And the only way that’s going to happen is if I understand what you want from me.”
Elliott watched her for a moment, then nodded slowly.
Elliott: “Fair enough. You want to understand? I’ll tell you. But first, you need to prove you’re willing to cooperate.”
Aria’s heart raced. This was her chance to learn more, to find a way out. She nodded, her voice steady.
Aria: “What do you want me to do?”
Elliott smiled, a predator’s smile.
Elliott: “Simple. I want you to answer my questions truthfully. And if I sense you’re lying, there will be consequences.”
Aria: “What kind of questions?”
Elliott: “Personal ones. About your life, your past. I want to know everything about you.”
Aria hesitated, but she knew she had no choice. She had to play along, to gain his trust if she wanted to survive.
Aria: “Alright. Ask your questions.”
Elliott: “Good. Let’s start with something simple. Tell me about your childhood.”
Aria took a deep breath, her mind flashing back to memories of her small hometown, her family, the life she had left behind. She began to speak, her voice calm and steady, carefully omitting any details that might give Elliott too much information.
As she talked, she watched Elliott’s face, searching for any hint of his true intentions. But his expression remained unreadable, his eyes cold and calculating. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she had no other choice. She had to survive, no matter what.
In the dim light of her prison, Aria made a silent vow—she would find a way to escape, and she would make Elliott Wilson pay for every moment of her suffering. She would play his game, learn his secrets, and when the time was right, she would turn the tables. The fight had only just begun.
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Broken Ties
Romance**"Broken Ties"** Aria Grace was living a normal life until the day she was abducted by Elliott Wilson, a man whose enigmatic charm masked the darkness within. Held captive for half a year, Aria endured unspeakable torment at the hands of her captor...
