After Dark

Chapter Three

Anastasia,

I hope you slept well. You will notice a bell beside you. Ring it should you get hungry and my maid will bring you whatever you would like to eat. I will see you this evening.

Christian Grey

The note surprises me. Why am I still alive? A maid? Will she help me? Curiosity bites at me and I ring the bell. Like clockwork I hear a knock on the door. When I don't reply it slowly opens. A round, middle aged woman peers in. Her eyes are wide and she looks nervous.

"Miss Steele, is there something I can do for you?"

I jump out of bed and run towards her.

"Please you have to help me! Get me out of here!" I shake the woman and she steps back, wide eyed.

"I'm sorry Miss Steele but I can't. Please what would you like for breakfast?"

I shake the woman.

"I don't want fucking breakfast. Can't you see I'm being held here against my will? This man is going to kill me."

I start to cry and the round woman gently caresses my cheek.

"I'm so..so sorry Miss. But you don't understand. If I help you he will kill me to and my family."

Her admission halts my tears.

"Are you a prisoner here to?"

The round woman gives a dry laugh.

"Heavens no. I am free to come and go as I please. But if I were to help you then the consequences would be dire. That's a risk I can't take no matter how bad I feel for you. I hope you can forgive me."

"Fuck you." I spit at the woman.

She gives me a sad look and quickly shuts the door. She locks it before I can turn the handle.

"Let me out!" I scream over and over, pounding on the door. I slide to the floor with my head against the door and once again cry.

..

I stare out the window and watch the sun set. I know he will be here soon and I am terrified. Like clock work there is a knock on the door. I don't answer but I know he will come in anyways. The hair stands up on my arms as I hear him enter the room.

"Anastasia, Gail tells me you have refused to eat."

Gail, that must be the name of the maid.

I continue to stare out the window.

"I'm not hungry. Why don't you just fucking kill me and get it over with."

Suddenly Christian is a foot behind me. I didn't hear him move a step. I turn around shocked and meet his penetrating gaze.

"Is that what you want? To die?"

I glared up at him.

"No obviously not. I want to go home. You know people are looking for me. People know that I went to your office. You are going to go to jail."

Christian's gaze becomes sullen.

"It's been taken care of."

A terrifying thought creeps into my brain.

"Oh my god, you've killed Kate haven't you?"

Christian glares at me.

"No, but the thought is very tempting. By taking care of it I meant that I've had your car tossed into the sea. Everyone thinks you're dead."

I felt my knees buckle and the last thing I remember is my head nearly hitting the floor before big hands catching me.