Captivated

CHAPTER SIX

What I would give for a hot bath right now. So many things I could offer up in exchange for this one thing. I feel dirty and disgusting. My whole body aches from my fall down the stairs and I actually have to pee now, but I think I blew any chances of them taking me to the bathroom again. I really don't want to go in the bucket. What has my life come to? I want to cry but somehow feel my tears are dried up. I can almost predict when it's five o'clock because my stomach usually starts growling around this time. And dinner time means Dane is home from work and I dread his nightly visits that consist of him trying to make conversation with me. It isn't much longer before I hear the sound of footsteps thumping down the stairs. Not a moment later, the door knob twists and my door swings open. It's Dane. And he's holding a dress.

"Hello Reign," he smiles. "I brought you something nice to wear. Time to get you out of those dirty old clothes." He walks over to the bed and I flinch backwards. He lies the dress down beside me. He looks at me then notices the cuffs on my wrists. "What are these still doing on?" I don't respond. He removes the key from his pocket and brings his hands out towards me. I lean back at first, trying to avoid his touch at all costs, but then realize how badly I want my hands to be free, so I stretch them forwards and he unlocks them. He walks around the room, finally stopping to stand in front of the dresser.

"Do you even have a dog?" I ask as I glare at the back of his stupid bald head.

He turns around to face me, then. "I did. When I was younger."

"So that whole thing was just a lie."

"It wasn't a lie Reign. Don't think of it that way. It all happened for the better. Because now you are here with me. You are home; where you belong."

"This isn't my home!" I yell.

He chuckles. "It will feel like home soon. When everybody else forgets about you. When you have nowhere else to turn. When you start to get comfortable here. When you feel like giving up. It is then, Reign, that you will realize you are home." I feel a chill run down my spine and contrary to my earlier thought of the tears being dried up, they begin to fall down my face.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because you are special, Reign. Don't you see that?"

"You're delusional." I spit.

"Don't say things you will regret," he says as he walks over to me. "Now hurry up and get dressed. Dinner is almost ready."

And with that final comment, he turns and walks out of the room, leaving me to stare at the hideously poufy dress that lies in front of me.

___

I stand in the centre of the bedroom staring at my feet. The dress is a light shade of pink with small white polka dots on it. It looks like it's from the fifties or sixties maybe. My long blonde hair, which is stringy and unkempt, hangs over my shoulders and slightly over my chest. I don't realize how cold I am until I feel the goosebumps rising on my arms. Why is he doing this to me? I need to get out of here. Avery comes down shortly after to summon me for dinner. When he opens the door, he stops in the frame, staring at me as he analyzes my appearance. I notice the light bruise on his forehead from where I hit him earlier. I wonder if he hates me. "Sit down." he instructs, and I do. He brings out the handcuffs again and latches them onto my wrist. He's wary of me and I don't blame him. He probably thinks at any minute I could kick him and make a run for it again. Once they're on securely, he gently pulls at my ankle. I lift up my leg to meet his hands. Before he unlocks it, he looks up at me. "Can you try to control yourself this time?" I nod. He unlocks the cuff, dropping it to the floor, and pulls my arm to help me stand. We walk across the basement and start up the stairs. This is it: I'm actually going to the Great Upstairs. To think, just earlier I was willing to do anything, including hurt Avery, to make it to the top. And now, here I am being walked by the man himself. Under much different circumstances, understandably. He opens the door and I'm greeted by bright lights and an elegant looking hallway. Nicer than I suspected it would be. There's a long red carpet that we follow down the hall. There are picture frames hanging on the wall and decorative light fixtures hang from the ceiling. I hear classical music playing in the background. What is this place? So much for my idea of the dungeon. This place is actually.... Nice. He leads me into the dining room, I assume, where a long table sits in the centre, set with plates, glasses, and silverware on top. And there sitting at the table is Jo. Her eyes light up when she sees me, as do mine when I see her. Finally a familiar face that I don't despise. Avery pulls out a chair and sits me down across from Jo.