WHEN SHE WOKE UP, her head was so clouded she couldn't think straight. What happened? It was hard to form a coherent thought when it felt like her skull was going to crack open, her headache piercing through her as she glanced down. She was lying on a bed, tucked in with a soft blanket. With effort she pushed herself up in a sitting position, to be able to look around better. This was her room. There were the books stacked on the floor, her closet opposite her, the windows on her left. The curtains were drawn shut, the sunlight spilling from the gaps, casting a dimmed light on the room.
When had she gone home? To be honest, with how sleep-deprived she had been the past days, she wasn't that surprised that she didn't fully remember it. She was simply glad she had been able to get a good night's sleep, even if whatever combination of pills she had taken this time for it to succeed apparently hadn't worked well. She had woken up vomiting once before because of the side effects, so this headache was fine.
With a sigh she pushed the blanket off her, standing up to stretch out. If the sun was up already that meant it was time for work, so she should just get ready quickly. Where was her phone? She glanced at the nightstand beside her bed, but it wasn't lying in it's usual position. Oh well, it probably wasn't like she had slept more than five hours anyway, so she didn't think she was late.
Nathan. What had been her last conversation with him? She had the feeling it had been something crucial, but if she couldn't remember it probably didn't matter. It felt like gravity was weighing every movement of hers down more than usual today, the way to her closet feeling like an agonizingly long one. Whatever, it was probably going to pass. First, she needed to change. She opened her closet, before staring at the sight in front of her.
It was empty. Why? Where were her clothes? Her mind started clearing up more, panic setting in as she turned and ran to her nightstand, opening the drawers to find nothing as well. The door, she had to get out. Something was wrong. Her hand tightened around the doorknob, but no matter how hard she pulled, it didn't give. It was locked. She let go, immediately walking over to her window then as she pushed the curtains aside, blinded by the light for a brief moment.
She wasn't at home. The window overlooked a garden full with red roses, stretching as far as her eye could see, but more importantly were the bars in front of it, the sight enough to make her blood run cold. Oh God, Nathan had kidnapped her. It was all starting to come back, whatever drug he had injected her with finally beginning to clear up. She pulled the sleeve of her crimson nightgown up to look at the needle prick on her arm, surprisingly finding a band aid on it.
Her initial shock was starting to fade as she told herself to calm down, sitting on the bed as she stared in thought in front of her. He had killed everyone, that she was sure of, but what had happened to Dante? Had he kept his promise? The fact that he hadn't killed her right then and there was proof that he wasn't going to harm her though, at least for now. She wasn't stupid enough to not know the reason he had taken her along. Like he had said, she entertained him, so as long as she continued doing so, would he keep her away from harm?
Probably not. She had lived in constant fear before in a home of terror and anger, so it wasn't like she wasn't used to it. After all, she had learned to act exactly in a place like this. For now, she'd have to see how long he planned to keep her here and then she could form a plan. With the way he had been talking, it seemed like he never planned to let her go, but she knew that couldn't be the case. His interest had piqued quickly, but who knew how fast it would die out again? Before it did, she needed to escape.
Or did she? With how long she had resigned herself to death, was this not the perfect moment to let herself go? He wouldn't do it quick, but this was a surefire way for her to be able to sleep finally, wasn't it? She pushed the thoughts to the back of her head, knowing this wasn't the time to be wondering about when she was going to die. All she had to do was get out of here alive and then she'd focus on the next step. If she died now Zion would make art out of her grave, wouldn't he? More than anything, she couldn't stand that idea.
Footsteps neared, immediately putting her on high alert. Nathan. He wouldn't send someone else to her when he greeted her for the first time here, not when he would want to personally see her face now the roles were reversed, so it had to be him. Fine, if he wanted her to play the part, she would. She fixed her hair, getting to her feet to stand in front of the door, a smile on her face. When the doorknob turned, she could feel her heart skip a beat, though she didn't know whether it was fear or something else.
"Helene."
Nathan was breathtaking. He wasn't wearing his prison jumpsuit anymore, instead dressed in a black blouse and trousers, hair wet from the shower. It was dripping still, droplets clinging to his eyelashes, but he didn't seem to mind. Instead his gaze was focused on her, a warm smile on his lips. He had come too fast, she realized. There were cameras in here.
"You'll get sick," she scolded him, gently pulling her sleeve over her hand to wipe the water from his shoulders.
He stared at her, at the close proximity, her concerned eyes, her fingers grazing his neck. Still, his smile didn't waver as he reached out to grab her wrist. Her gaze flicked to his skin, the imprint from where the chains had tightly imprisoned him these past weeks still there.
"I don't get sick," he said," I am worried about you though, my lovely psychiatrist. I hope you know I had no choice but to inject you to get you to come along. There wasn't much time to leave."
"I get it," she said," thank you for remaking my room. It was to make me feel at ease, right?"
"Right," he said," though I noticed you were still a bit surprised when you woke up."
"I was still a bit drowsy," she shrugged," I thought I was late for work, to see you."
"You sure have your way with words, Helene," he chuckled.
With no warning he lifted her up then by her knees, Helene startled as she placed her hands around his neck to keep herself from falling. He carried her over to the window, paying the open door no mind. Even if he was holding her, he was too confident in keeping the door unlocked right now. The only reason why he'd do that was if he knew she wouldn't be able to escape even if she ran. Where could they be that he was so sure she wouldn't be able to call for help?
She followed his gaze towards the garden, not spotting anyone working there. Even if they did, she doubted anyone of sound mind would defy Nathan. What did he want to show her anyway? The barred windows? The fact that she had no chance to leave?
"Look," he said, eyes glittering," I planted these roses for you."
"What?" she blinked.
"You said red was your favorite color," he smiled," so I made sure this was prepared before I escaped."
"I -" she began, her determination wavering as a blush began to tint her cheeks," you did this for me?"
"I did," he said softly, leaning in so his lips brushed her neck," do you know how long I've wished to be close to you like this? To be able to touch you this easily?"
"I'm glad as well," she said, hand cupping his cheek," I'd love to see the roses up close. Can you take me to the gardens?"
He froze and she immediately knew she had made a mistake. Without a warning he let her fall on the bed, hands on her wrist as he leaned over her. His expression was undecipherable in the shadows, even the sunlight seeming to avoid him.
"I'm not going to escape," she said.
"Aren't you?" he said, turning to look at her with a smile," but I did see you run around looking for an escape when you woke up, Helene. I told you not to lie to me, though I suppose it's natural for you to be a bit shaken."
"I wouldn't even be able to," she said," you and I both know that."
"I know that," he said warmly," but I'm not sure if you do yet. I really like you, Helene, more than I've ever liked someone before. I took care to stack the books right, to get the roses, to tuck you in. Isn't this how love is supposed to be?"
Well, he was conveniently leaving out the fact that he had kidnapped her, but she wasn't about to correct him.
"It is," she said.
"And yet it doesn't seem like you understand," he sighed, letting her go as he walked towards the window. He stared out in thought for a moment, before looking back at her. "I don't mind solitary, you know. You said no place is safe if you're surrounded by monsters and you were right, except that at a certain time everyone became a monster to me. The word lost all it's meaning. I've spend most of my childhood locked alone in a room with no light or stimuli, but after I passed the hallucinations that accompanied the passage of time, it was quite relaxing, if you'll believe it. It gave me time to reflect."
"Nathan -" she began, pushing herself up in a sitting position as panic started to spread in her body.
He passed by the bed, hand briefly grazing her cheek.
"That's why I think it'll do you much good as well," he said," so you can realize you don't have to be scared of me. I'm on your side, Helene. You can look out the window every day and have my love be proven to you until you realize that."
"Please," she said, reaching out to grab his arm but missing," stay with me, I want to speak to you more."
"Later," he smiled," we have all the time in the world."
She got to her feet to run to the door, but he closed it right as her hand reached the doorknob. No, no, no, this couldn't be happening. It was fine if he had kidnapped her as long as she could speak to him, manipulate the events to go the way she wanted to, but he couldn't leave her alone with her thoughts. She'd go insane.
"Nathan," she called out.
"I love you, Helene," he said through the door," remember that. See you in a month, my sweet psychiatrist."
And then she was alone.