Quicksand

Chapter 22

As I sat on my wheelchair looking at the breathtaking landscape, my heart felt like it was shrouded in a thick, impenetrable fog. The serene beauty of the rolling green hills, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the soft caress of the cold breeze on my skin all seemed to mock me.

This was the life I had always yearned for – peaceful, tranquil, and filled with nature's splendor. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

I was here on a honeymoon, a farce of a marriage that I had never wanted. And by my side stood the man who would stop at nothing to keep me captive, the same man who wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger if I dared to defy him.

The world around me seemed to whisper cruel taunts, reminding me that this picturesque paradise was nothing but a prison, a gilded cage that held me hostage. And I was trapped,suffocating under the weight of my own despair.

My husband, adrik, wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close as we gazed out at the breathtaking view.

"Isn't this perfect?" he whispered, his breath hot against my ear.

I nodded, my heart heavy with the knowledge that this was far from perfect. This was a nightmare, one that I couldn't wake up from.

We'd been married for only a week, and already I felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of Adrik's expectations. He was a man who got what he wanted, no matter the cost. And what he wanted was me, locked away in this gilded cage, forever bound to him.

I glanced up at him, his eyes gleaming with a possessiveness that made my skin crawl.
And then, Adrik's grip on my waist tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like a vice. "Shall we go back inside?" he asked, his voice dripping with an unsettling intimacy.

I nodded, my heart sinking. I knew what awaited me inside.

My senses were on high alert, my body tense with anticipation, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every move he made, every word he spoke, was laced with an undercurrent of tension, a subtle threat that left me perpetually on edge.

Even the simplest gestures – a touch on the arm, a brush of his hand against mine – sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was just biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

The air was thick with unspoken expectations, and I knew that I was walking a tightrope, balancing the need to appease him with the desperate desire to protect myself.

As we stepped back into the luxurious honeymoon suite, I couldn't help but wonder what the night held. Would adrik mask of civility finally slip, revealing the true nature of our relationship?

I steeled myself for what was to come, my heart racing with a mix of fear and adrenaline. One thing was certain: I would not go down without a fight.

I made have dinner" Adrik said. He expertly carried me from my wheelchair to the dining chair, one thing I'm grateful for is that I take every day waking lesson and my chances of waking again has increased.
Adrik's hands lingered on my shoulders, his touch sending shivers down my spine. I tried to shake off the feeling, focusing instead on the meal in front of me. But my appetite was gone, replaced by a growing sense of unease.

"Eat," Adrik commanded, his voice low and husky. "You need your strength."

I hesitated, my eyes locked on his. I picked up my fork, my hand trembling slightly as I brought it to my mouth. Adrik's eyes never left mine, his gaze piercing and intense. Adrik's hands released their grip on the chair, and he stepped back, his eyes never leaving mine. He moved to his seat, his movements calm and deliberate.