Unchained #Wattys2020

7. Awakening

I wake up in a dark room and I don't understand where I am because there isn't enough light to identify what surrounds me. I try to stand up but, as soon as I try to move my ankles, I realize that I'm chained.
I lower myself, try to remove them but I can't. The chains' sound awakes the wolves, who start to howl: I'm in their lair. It can't even be described as a lair, because it looks like a normal dependance from the outside. I stay still, trying to avoid eye contact and make sounds that could bother them. I also hold my breath. Suddenly, lights turn on and I see Gabriel on the door, with a gun in his hand, looking at me.
<< Gabriel, what the hell is going on? Why am I here? What happened?>>
He keeps looking at me and, with an evil smile, comes near. He makes a gesture to the wolves who, obedient, step away.
<< Ginevra, I just wanted to make sure that you were fine after the little accident that happened some hours ago.>>
<< Accident? What are you talking about? I can't remember anything! I only remember that I gave a bite to that damn sandwich and anything else!>>
<< Ginevra, my dear, you are just a poor creature who needs some comfort. I saw how you looked at me after you kissed me and how you moved away roughly in a few seconds. You all do this. All the women are charmed by me at first: a beautiful, rich and powerful man. But when I try to bend with them, they turn away. This situation makes me very sad and ashamed and I no longer can accept this to happen again. I just want to understand why you did this: I was kind, I didn't even touch you, but you felt the need to do it anyway. >>
<< Gabriel, listen, it's not what you think. It's just that everything happened too fast and I wasn't prepared. It's not your fault. Believe me, please.>>
His eyes start to look as angry as our first meeting, when I didn't give him what he wanted. And today I did the same thing. I pretend that I'm not scared and try to look more relaxed. I also try to move but he stops me and says: << Stop, stop, don't move. I made sure that the chains were firmly attached to the floor so it's useless trying to move away.>>
<< I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention. I don't care about these stupid chains. I told you, I was surrounded by an emotional vortex and I couldn't face it. You didn't do anything wrong, please, come here.>>
<< I'm sorry, it's not the right time. I need reasons to believe that you are not pretending. For now you will live here: Woolsey, Kaya, Channon and Tehya will stay with you and take care of you.>> says, pointing to the wolves. He expects me to live with them. Then he keeps saying: << As I've already told you, they will not attack you. They will just make sure that you stay here and don't go away.>>
I can barely breathe and, motionless, say: << Ok Gabriel, if this is what you want me to do to win back your trust, I will. I only need to know if you will stay here too.>>
<< I will come here twice a day to make sure that you are fine and to take you some food and water. Now that you know everything, I'll remove the chains and you will be able to walk around but you can't leave the building. There is the bathroom's door on your left, that you can use it whenever you want. Don't try to move away, trust me, they will eat you. If you don't have any other question, I'll show you the bathroom and then go away. I have a work meeting and I won't be back before this evening.>>
I nod, still incredulous of what's happening. He takes a little key from his pocket and opens the lock. He tries to avoid eye contact and takes me to the bathroom: it's big and luminous, since there's a big window on the ceiling. Then he takes me back to my room. He makes some gestures to the wolves, who sit in circle around him, motionless.
He again looks at me but I turn my head to the opposite side. As soon as the door closes, I start to be surrounded by darkness, with the howling of wolves as the only soundtrack of my desperation.