Stolen by Fate

Chapter 5: A Change of Scenery

Chapter 5: A Change of Scenery

I woke up to the soft rustling of fabric and the distant sound of birds chirping. For a moment, I forgot where I was—forgot that I was trapped in this twisted game with Adrian. But then the events of last night came flooding back, and my body tensed. I sat up quickly, scanning the room.

It was different.

This wasn't the dark, cold room I had been in before. The space was larger, the walls painted a soft cream color, with sunlight streaming in through wide, open windows that offered a breathtaking view of rolling hills and distant mountains. The air smelled fresh, the breeze gently rustling the sheer curtains.

I blinked, disoriented. How had I gotten here?

Then I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Adrian standing in the doorway, watching me. His gaze was as intense as always, but there was something softer about his expression. He held a bundle of clothes in his hands.

"Morning, Ma," he said, his voice low, that teasing lilt still there. "You slept longer than I thought you would."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Where am I?"

Adrian stepped into the room, setting the clothes down on a chair near the window. "Somewhere better." His eyes flicked to mine, and there was a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze. "I thought you might appreciate a change of scenery."

I looked around again, my heart pounding in my chest. It was definitely better than the cold, bare room he'd first thrown me in, but I wasn't stupid. This was still a cage, no matter how pretty the view was.

"And the clothes?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.

His lips quirked into a small smile. "Figured you might want something more comfortable."

I glanced at the clothes—soft, loose-fitting pants and a simple long-sleeved top, both in neutral tones. It was far from luxurious, but it was a stark improvement from the stiff, uncomfortable clothes I'd been wearing since I got here.

"What's the catch?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. "You're not exactly the type to do anything out of the goodness of your heart."

Adrian chuckled, but there was no malice in it this time. "No catch, Ma. Not today." He walked over to the window, his back to me as he gazed out at the landscape. "You're free to move around the house, the grounds... as much as you want."

My heart skipped a beat. "You're letting me go?"

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "Not quite. But I'm giving you space. The door's unlocked. You can roam. Explore. But don't think for a second you can leave."

The room felt smaller with him in it, his presence filling every corner. I didn't trust his words, not entirely. This was still part of his game, a new move designed to throw me off.

I stood up, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why are you doing this? Why change the rules now?"

Adrian's gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of something almost... human passing through his eyes. "You need a break," he said quietly, his voice lower, more serious. "I'm not a monster, Ma. Not all the time."

I stared at him, unsure of what to say. He was right about one thing—I needed a break. My body ached from the tension, the fear, the constant fight to stay on edge. But that didn't mean I trusted him. Not for a second.

He walked toward the door, pausing before he left. "There's breakfast in the kitchen. If you're hungry."

Then, without another word, he was gone, leaving the door wide open.

I stood there, staring at the open door like it was some kind of trap. He was trying to make me feel safe, trying to lull me into a false sense of security. But I wasn't falling for it. I'd play along, see what he wanted me to see, but I wouldn't let my guard down.

Slowly, I walked over to the chair and picked up the clothes. They felt soft in my hands, warmer than the cold air that had clung to me for days. I hesitated, then changed into them, my body relaxing slightly in the comfort of clean clothes.

The room felt different now, like it wasn't suffocating me anymore. I walked over to the window, letting the breeze wash over me as I looked out at the stunning view. It was beautiful, no denying that. The kind of view people paid good money for in some fancy resort. But I knew better than to get lost in it.

I wasn't free. Not yet.

I stepped out of the room, my bare feet silent on the hardwood floor as I walked down the hall. The house was massive, filled with long, winding corridors and rooms that seemed to stretch on forever. I didn't know where Adrian was, and part of me didn't want to find out.

I made my way to the kitchen, my stomach growling as the smell of freshly cooked food hit me. The table was set with a simple breakfast—eggs, toast, fruit, coffee. My mind flashed to the small amount of food I'd been given before, just enough to keep me going, and I couldn't help but feel the shift. Something was changing, but I couldn't put my finger on what.

I sat down, hesitating for a second before picking up a piece of toast. My body was screaming at me to eat, and I couldn't ignore the hunger anymore. As I ate, I kept my eyes on the doorway, half expecting Adrian to walk in at any moment.

But he didn't.

I finished the meal in silence, the tension slowly easing from my muscles. It felt strange—having this freedom, even if it was just inside this house. But I knew better than to let my guard down completely.

When I was done, I stood up and wandered back into the hallway, exploring the rooms as I went. There was a library filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a study with rich leather furniture, even a small sitting room with a fireplace. It was all so carefully curated, so deliberate. It didn't feel like a home. It felt like a stage.

I found myself walking toward the back of the house, where I'd been caught the night before. The door to the garden was still unlocked, the keys hanging in the same place. I could leave. I could run again. But something told me it wouldn't matter. He'd catch me, just like last time.

Instead, I opened the door and stepped out into the garden, the cool air brushing against my skin. The sunlight was warm, the garden peaceful, almost serene. For a moment, I let myself enjoy it, closing my eyes and breathing in the fresh air.

But the peace didn't last long.

I felt him before I saw him.

Adrian was standing a few feet away, watching me with that same unreadable expression. I hadn't heard him approach, but somehow I wasn't surprised. He was always one step ahead.

"You're not going to try and run again, are you?" he asked, his tone light, almost teasing.

I shook my head, meeting his gaze. "Not today."

His lips curved into a small smile, and for a brief second, I saw something softer beneath the surface. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the same guarded look he always wore.

"You're learning," he said, walking over to stand beside me, his eyes on the view. "But you're still thinking about it, aren't you?"

I didn't answer, but he didn't need me to. He knew.

We stood there in silence for a long moment, the tension between us as thick as ever. But there was something else too, something unspoken. Something I wasn't sure I wanted to acknowledge.

Adrian finally broke the silence. "Enjoy the view while you can, Ma. The game isn't over yet."

And with that, he turned and walked back into the house, leaving me standing there, torn between the beauty of the world around me and the dangerous pull of the man who kept me trapped in it.