𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬

chapter 3

THREE:
a horrible introduction
♠️

"Life wasn't fair but, damn, did Ellie wish it gave her a break every once in a while..."

ellie

SHOOTING UP FROM the bed, Ellie immediately struggled to put the blankets together to cover her small body, her eyesight blurry from just waking up. However, when she realized that she was alone, her racing heart began to die down and her erratic breathing started to slow back to its regular pace. Ellie looked around, chewing on her lower lip at the unfamiliar room she had been sleeping in.

She opened her mouth to call out to someone but decided to close it again. She feared what would happen if she made any noise; there was nothing she was more terrified of in her life now than why that man had taken her and exactly how long she had been unconscious. She was in a stranger's house, locked in a room, and a plate of eggs and bacon was beside her. Ellie could have been crying now if it were not for the complete shock that she was just kidnapped by a stranger.

Just as her thoughts were getting the best of her, the bedroom door opened. Ellie expected the same intimidating stranger that took her to walk in but, instead, a small boy walked through with a plastic cup of chocolate milk. Hesitantly, Ellie sat up, raising one of her eyebrows.

"Uh, hello?" She mumbled, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth when he finally made eye contact with her. However, the boy stayed silent, walking towards the nightstand and putting the chocolate milk down.

"I brought you that," he told her, his young voice soft but firm. "Are you going to eat? Maya made those; she's a good cook, I promise. Plus, Sebastian had to watch her just in case, but that's normal because Maya's mum tried to poison my tatuś with food. It's okay, though, because I think Maya is amazing."

Ellie glanced at the boy, then at the food beside her. Maya? Sebastian? Tatuś? She had so many questions but she couldn't get them out. The boy would probably look at her like she was crazy. So, pushing her thoughts away, Ellie finally grabbed the plate of eggs and bacon, setting it on her lap. The boy struggled for a few seconds to climb onto the tall bed but when he did, he sat in front of her with an expectant look.

She picked the fork up and took a bite, slowly chewing. He slowly smiled, exposing the missing teeth he lost.

"I'm Dimitri," he greeted, holding a hand out for her to shake.

Ellie glanced at it, her trembling body starting to relax. Why was there a random boy in the bedroom she was put in? And why did he bring her chocolate milk, of all drinks? Not that she was complaining because Ellie loved chocolate milk.

"I'm, uh... I'm Ellie," she said back, biting down on her tongue. Her and her stupid nerves. If only she could go just one day without stumbling over her words. 

They shook hands and Dimitri's adorable smile widened.

"I'm not supposed to be in here," Dimitri rambled, pinching his small fingertips. "My tatuś told me to wait until he got back from the fitness room but your food was getting cold so I brought it upstairs. I got chocolate milk instead of orange juice, too, if that's okay. You seem like you love chocolate milk like me."

Ellie stared at Dimitri, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. Dimitri noticed and, if smiles could grow any more, he would have. He crawled towards her and Ellie's body froze, watching with wide eyes as he moved, situating his bottom on her legs. She didn't know what to do, gasping when he touched her cheek; he touched it delicately like she was some sort of flower he did not want to damage, and bit his lip in concentration.