Consequence

Chapter 3

April 12, 1813

"Thanks again for saving me." I said playing with my hands, trying to avoid eye contact. It was an insane coincidence that he was at the same place at the exact same moment that I was pushed onto the road.

As we stood on the doorstep of the orphanage, a crazy idea popped into my head. What if he was stalking me?

A gust of wind pushed me from behind and a shudder ran down my spine. I looked up only to see that Dominik had vanished.

The door of the orphanage swung open and Mrs. Helen dragged me inside. "I don't know why on earth Mr. Klein insists on marrying you."

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me! Who do you think your talking too?" Um, to you? I asked sarcastically in my head.

"I'm just glad that you are finally leaving this orphanage." I frowned, I didn't nearly have enough money to leave and survive on my own. I had a couple months left of working before I was free of this place.

"Now sit down like a good girl while I sign these papers. Then you will no longer be my responsibility." She led me into her office as she sat on her thrown-like chair.

"And stop frowning or you'll get wrinkles." She annoyingly added.

I looked at the papers she was signing and in bold letters I read CUSTODY. I attempted to read the papers upside down and a name caught my attention Klein.

Uh-oh. What does this mean? Am I being forced into Dominik's family? Why is everything happening so fast? And can someone tell me why the hell he wants me?

I don't want to be wanted. I felt panic rising in my chest. Suddenly the room around me blurred. I saw two of everything and then I was immersed in darkness.

April 13, 1813

I stood once more outside the place I called home when I felt a desperate tear roll down my cheek. I gripped my worn out leather suitcase tighter as I looked up at the sky. It was blue for the first time in seven days.

It had always been my dream to leave the orphanage but since I wasn't leaving of my own free will, I did not feel the way I imagined I would. It was all the fault of Dominik Klein and I honestly despised meeting him.

I hated him for ruining the one thing I could call my own... my dreams. I fought back the tears forming in my eyes but I continued to cry in my mind. I refused to be some tamed woman and I found myself running along the familiar streets.

In the distance I heard Mrs. Helen calling after me and from the corner of my eye I saw Dominik Klein step out of one of those beautiful horseless carriages. But my feet never slowed, in fact my pace quickened when I saw him.

I rounded a corner into an alleyway to catch my breath and placed my hands on my knees while attempting to catch my breath.

The sun was ablaze and I was practically bathing in the heat. Suddenly a shadow appeared behind me covering the sun.

My heart froze as I turned around to see Dominik standing before me. I was too afraid to look up at him but then he took a step closer to me. I backed up meeting his gaze, his crystal eyes were glazed over.

I was still puffing from how hard I had sprinted. I realized his breath was slow and controlled there was no way he could have caught up to me without running. "You chased after me?" I asked skeptically. "Yeah..." he must have lied for not a drop of sweat appeared on his perfectly toned body.

I felt sparks of curiosity followed by a wave of fear. I hadn't realized my suitcase had slipped from my fingers until Dominik bent over to pick it up. I stared at him in confusion. I found myself doubting his humanity.