Astray in the Dark

Chapter 5

Alicia's POV

I was rudely awoken with a sudden start. Without warning, the door suddenly flung open and crashed against me. I groaned and grunted in pain as I heard the door creak slightly, followed by slowly paced footsteps.

"Why are you on the floor? I gave you a mattress for a reason."

Grumbling at the sound of his voice, I peered upwards. There he stood, looking down at my pitiful self. He had some fresh garments draped over his arm, his other hand resting on his hip.

"No reason," I responded with a croak, upheaving myself using my elbows before leaning my back against the wall. I suppose I fell asleep...

He mumbled underneath his breath before sighing. "You'll want a shower, right?"

I raised an eyebrow and narrowed my eyes. "Sure..."

"Good, I brought you some of my clothes. Unless you'd rather be nake-..."

"Your clothes sound great..!" I interrupted, and he pushed the oversized clothes into my arms. Is he up to something..? "Why on earth are you offering me a shower and fresh clothes? What're you trying to achieve?" I questioned.

"Such wild accusations," he mused. "You see, I prefer my things to be clean... and you also kind of stink."

"Excuse me?!" I frowned at his response. Thing? Did he actually just call me his thing?! "I don't belong to anyone but myself!"

"You certainly became feisty," He concluded, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at me intently. "What happened to your hands?"

My hands..? Realising, I quickly hid them behind my back. "Why do you care?"

He squatted down next to me, forcefully bringing them forward by gripping my wrists. "They're covered in splinters."

"It's your fault!"

"Wait, did you actually bash against the door all night?"

"You didn't hear me..?"

"No, I left around five minutes after you started."

"Seriously?!" I snapped.

"Mhm. I had to get some crap for your stay."

"You really are a complete f*cking asshole..."

"You're welcome," He replied sarcastically, amused by my frustration. After a moment, he held up a black cloth and some handcuffs. "Now, hold out your wrists."

"Why..?"

"No cuffs, no bathroom."

"But.. why a blindfold too?"

"No blindfold, no bathroom."

I grumbled to myself, this man is infuriating. I allowed him to tie the cloth around my eyes and chain my wrists together. Once he checked everything was on securely, he unlocked my ankle shackle and grabbed my forearm, dragging me outside the room. We walked for a little while, before he escorted me up some stairs, taking me through many twists and turns.