Stolen by Fate

Chapter 3: The Game Begins

Chapter 3: The Game Begins

I didn't sleep.

How could I, in this unfamiliar room with my mind racing and fear coursing through my veins? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Adrian's face—those dark eyes that seemed to see too much, the way he called me "Ma" like it meant something more. His voice haunted me, soft and smooth, like a whisper in the dark that I couldn't escape.

I sat up, throwing the covers off and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The floor was cold beneath my feet, grounding me in this strange, terrifying reality. My head was still spinning. I had to get out of here. But how?

The room was as quiet as it had been all night. I stood, pacing around, searching for something, anything, that could help me. My phone was gone. Of course, he'd taken it. There was no clock, no way to tell how long I'd been here. The curtains were thick, blocking out any sign of the outside world.

I had no idea where I was.

But I couldn't let that stop me.

I crossed the room to the door, testing the handle. Locked. My heart sank, but I had expected that. Still, I tried pushing against it, feeling the wood creak under my weight. Nothing.

My eyes flicked to the window. Could I break it? I pulled back the curtain and froze.

It wasn't a window.

It was some kind of one-way mirror.

My reflection stared back at me, wide-eyed, panicked, while someone on the other side—probably Adrian—was watching. Always watching. My stomach twisted in disgust and dread. He was playing with me, testing me, seeing what I would do.

I let go of the curtain, stepping back, trying to control my breathing. If he was watching me, I couldn't fall apart. Not yet.

The door opened suddenly, and my body went rigid as Adrian stepped into the room, his presence immediately filling the space. He had changed, wearing a dark sweater that clung to his broad chest and dark jeans that made him look even more intimidating. He didn't have to say a word; the air shifted when he walked in, charged with something I couldn't explain.

"You didn't sleep," he said, his eyes scanning me in that intense way that made me feel exposed.

"No," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Hard to sleep when you've been kidnapped."

Adrian smirked, as if my sarcasm amused him. "You'll get used to it."

My heart pounded in my chest as I took a step back. "Used to what? Being your prisoner? What do you want from me?"

He closed the distance between us, moving so quickly I didn't have time to react. One second, I was standing by the bed, and the next, I was backed against the wall, his body inches from mine. His eyes burned into mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

"What I want," he whispered, his voice low, "is for you to stop pretending you don't feel it too."

"Feel what?" I whispered, hating the way my voice betrayed me, shaky and unsure.

His fingers brushed against my cheek, sending a jolt of heat through me. "This," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. "You're scared, but not just of me. You're scared of how much you want me."

I jerked my head away from his touch, my pulse racing. "You're delusional," I spat, even though my body was betraying me, reacting to the closeness of him, the magnetic pull that seemed to keep me trapped.

Adrian's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "You can lie to yourself, Ma, but I see the way you look at me. You can fight it, but it won't change what's happening between us."

I shook my head, refusing to give in. "You don't know me."

"I know you better than you think." His voice softened as he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. "You want to run, but part of you wants to stay. Part of you is drawn to the danger, to me."

My breath hitched, and I pushed him away, creating distance between us. "This isn't a game, Adrian. You can't just—"

"But it is a game," he interrupted, his voice smooth, dark. "A dangerous one. And I'm giving you the chance to play."

I stared at him, confusion knotting my stomach. "What do you mean?"

His smile was slow, wicked. "You want to escape? Fine. I'll give you a chance. But if you can't, if you lose, you stay. No more fighting. No more running."

The room felt colder, and my heart pounded in my chest. This was insane. "You expect me to play along with your twisted little challenge?"

Adrian shrugged, that dangerous smile never leaving his face. "What's the alternative? Sit here and wait for someone to save you?" He stepped closer again, his presence overwhelming. "I'm your only way out, Ma. I always have been."

I swallowed hard, fear and defiance swirling in my chest. "What's the catch?"

His eyes flicked to the window behind me, then back to my face. "I'll give you twenty-four hours. You'll be free to move around the house, the grounds, but if I find you—and I will find you—then you're mine. Completely."

A chill ran down my spine. He wasn't just talking about keeping me here physically. He meant something more, something deeper, something I wasn't sure I was ready for.

"And if I escape?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Adrian's eyes gleamed with something dark and possessive. "Then I'll let you go. But you won't escape, Ma."

The way he said my name again, low and intimate, made my knees weak. I hated that he could affect me like this, that even in this twisted situation, part of me was drawn to him in a way I couldn't control.

I lifted my chin, refusing to let him see my fear. "You're on."

His smile deepened, satisfied. "Good. The game starts now."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, my heart racing, knowing that the next twenty-four hours could change everything.