Chapter 1

"Are you crazy Sereia? You don't know what world is waiting for you outside this orphanage," Devika said in a moderate tone.

She is watching me pack my things, trying to stop me from leaving this place in the middle of the night, the place where I stayed for how many years.

"I'm old enough Devika, I'm already nineteen years old," I answered and closed the zipper of the black duffle bag.

I need to hurry and leave before the mother superior wakes up and finds out about my plan. I couldn't get caught or else there will be no chance left for me.

"You're out of your mind. What makes you think a better world is waiting for you outside? There are bad people there waiting to commit a crime to satisfy themselves. You have no idea what the real world is, just stay here," Devika sermoned and shook her head.

I looked at her, eye-to-eye.

"I'll stay here and what? Become a nun when I turn twenty and be one of the mother superior in the future? Devika I never dreamed of becoming one of them," I pointed out.

It's not that I have a grudge towards the people inside this place I am thankful to them, but being grateful is enough. No need to follow their steps just to show that I appreciate their help towards me.

"Is that the real reason, Sereia? Or until now you're still hoping to see your parents?" I can sense she's about to get mad.

Pain hit me like a bullet when she suddenly mentioned my parents. She knew my story but I never heard her talk about my parents, not until now.

I just sighed and did not answer. What's the purpose of lying when we both know what's the truth?

Silence filled the room when I did not answer. When I looked at Devika, I saw pity in her eyes while staring at me like the poor kid that I was years ago.

My heart is slowly breaking, remembering what happened twelve years ago. I wanted to cry to release the pain but I would suffer more of it if I would waste my time crying instead of continuing my plan.

"I'm sorry Devika. I love you and you're like a sister to me, but forgive me, I would not stay. The pain is too much to bear, I need to do something before the curtain closes," I apologetically said.

She did not respond so I considered that as my cue. I took the duffle bag from the bed and looked at the wall clock hanging beside the door. It's 1 am already.

Devika did not look at me when I approached her and hugged her for the last time. I don't know when will I see her again but I hope that time will come.

"Thank you for everything."

That's my last goodbye before carefully leaving or should I say escape from the orphanage. Luckily everyone was asleep aside from me and Devika that's why it was easy for me to leave.

I felt sad and at the same time happy when I finally stepped out of the place. I feel free and refreshed to walk outside without worrying about returning.

Though the place healed and satisfied me spiritually, I didn't feel freedom because the chain of being a nun was choking me. I did not want anyone to adopt me that's why the mother superior wanted to be one of them instead, which I didn't want.

That's the reason why I'm here, walking out of nowhere in the street. All I have is the lamppost in this dark street. Maybe some would be scared doing this, especially ladies but I couldn't just stay in a place where mother superior could easily find me.

I don't know what time is it already nor how many hours have been since I left. I don't have a cellphone or a watch to check the time.

I sighed and rubbed my palms together. The wind is too cold and I don't know where exactly am I going.

"Hmm..." I hummed, trying to entertain myself while walking.

As I was about to sing one of my favorite songs, a flash of light suddenly illuminated my way which made me stop walking.

I turned around and I saw a car coming. I wasn't sure what kind of car was it because the lights were too bright for me to see. This is the third car that I saw, two cars passed me a while ago but they did not stop for me, which I found okay.

I continued walking and put on my hood, waiting for the car to pass me because it was moving too slowly. Maybe because it was dark and the driver wanted to drive safely.

When the car was about to pass me, it suddenly stopped beside so did I.

I was confusedly looking at the car when it pulled over beside me.

Was the driver giving me a free ride? Or confused why am I walking alone in this semi-dark place?

For about thirty seconds, nothing happened so I assume the driver did not want anything.

I was about to continue walking again but the passenger seat unexpectedly opened and a tall man came out, facing me. I tried to look at his face but his cap was covering his eyes and nose, making me unable to recognize him.

"Do you need something?" I politely asked.

Maybe they want to ask for directions?

I thought he was going to answer me but I was shocked when he suddenly grabbed my left arm and pulled me closer to him, covering my mouth to stop me from making any noise.

"Hmp!"

I tried struggling to set myself free but he was just too strong for me. The man opened the back door using his right hand and tried to get me in but I refused.

"Let me go!" I screamed when he removed his hand from my mouth.

I dropped my duffle bag already from fighting against his grip but I couldn't do anything.

"Stop wiggling," he said and pushed me hard inside the car when he lost his temper.

I tripped and that was an advantage for him to put me inside the car. I was starting to panic and cry but I still tried to set myself free.

I kicked the door, stopping the man to close it but someone pulled my arm again which made me lose my balance inside the car.

I fell from the car's chair that's why the man had the chance to close it. I looked at the person who pulled me and saw that it was the driver.

I tried opening the door and pressing everything, hoping to unlock it but until the other man hopped in and the car started moving, I wasn't able to unlock it.

Tears started coming out from my eyes because of fear, my body was shaking as well. I was afraid of what might happen to me knowing they're guys and I am a lady.

"What do you want?!"

Fear succumbed to my soul yet the question escaped my mouth, trying to know what they were up to.

I saw them put a black mask on their faces which made me crease my forehead but before I could react, a smoke coming from nowhere suddenly took place and the next thing I knew, I fell asleep.

—

Dried throat and mild headache, that's what embraced me the moment I opened my eyes when I woke up.

I am currently lying on a black soft bed in a spacious cold room which seems unfamiliar to me. I jolted when I remembered the last memory I had before fainting inside the car.

I looked around and noticed that the light was dim, enough to see things around me but not enough to see them clearly. There was a couch and bed, that's the only thing here. I tried moving but immediately stopped when I felt something tight on my ankle.

I gasped and my heart started pumping hard when I saw a chain connected to the bed and my ankle. I tried pulling away but the chain was too big and the bed was too heavy.

What is happening?

I scanned my body trying to look for any wound but I didn't see one. I'm relieved no part of my body feels different.

"I need to escape," I whispered to myself and was about to search for something that I could use to break the chains, but before I could do that, the door of this room unexpectedly opened.

A man who was unfamiliar to me came in and closed the door immediately after he got in. It was a bit dark but I can still see the figure of the man and his face.

I couldn't deny that I was stunned when I saw his face and met his eyes. He has the face that a lady like me would surely like and a height that many would dream of. He is wearing a jacket so I couldn't tell his body type but I am sure he has a fit one.

"Good to see you here, finally."

I came back to my senses after hearing his baritone voice.

That's when I realized that I was kidnapped and the man in front of me could be the person responsible for this.

"Why am I here? Did you order those men to bring me here?" I bravely asked.

He started stepping closer to me and I alerted myself. I shouldn't let my guard down because of his physical appearance. I once learned in the orphanage that the devil uses their attractive appearance to easily lure their victims.

The man stopped beside the bed where I was sitting, having enough distance from me. I couldn't help but stare at his gorgeous face. The more he comes closer, the more he becomes attractive.

"How do you feel? Are you hungry?" he asked as if he didn't hear my question.

The way he talks to me, he sounds very casual like he's just talking to someone whom he already knows for many years.

"I am not, and I don't need food. I want your answer, Mister," I said in a demanding tone.

However, instead of receiving an answer, he only smirked at me like I was entertaining him.

"Your voice really calms me. Do you know that?"

I furrowed my forehead.

"What?"

I moved a little and the chains made noise because of it. His attention then disported to my foot.

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly as if he was talking to a child.

His tone was the same tone we use whenever we talk to the younger orphans so they wouldn't fear us.

I panicked when the man continued taking steps closer to me. He was closing our distance and it was scaring me, I wanted to run away but the chain was not long enough.

"Stop! Stop right there!" I shouted.

He did not listen until he reached me. I thought he was going to do something that's why I tried pulling the chain for me to move away. To my surprise, he did not touch me.

He pressed something on the chain and I heard a click. The thing fell off the floor so I pulled my foot away from him as fast as I could.

He saw what I did but he didn't react.

"Thank you, but I am leaving now. I am not going to report you for kidnapping me because you didn't do anything bad to me but I would like you not to do this again. This is bad and you shouldn't do it."

I turned my back at him and I was already ready to leave the bed and leave this place but I was stopped by a large strong hand.

"Ah!"

The man pulled my body back to the mattress and pinned me on it.

"Let me go! I said I'll not report you!" I screamed and tried to free myself from him.

I am starting to panic again. Who knows what is running on his mind and what he's planning to do? He is a man and I am just a weak woman.

"Report me or not, I don't care Sereia. You're not going to leave this place unless I let you," he said in a cold shivering voice.

The soft tone that I heard from him a while ago was now gone. What I see now is a scary man, using his strength to pin me down.

"What did I do? I-I don't even know you. Please, just let me go," I weakly said.

Is this the real world? People would abduct you even if you didn't do anything bad to them?

"Shh, it's okay baby. I will not hurt you, in fact, I am here to take care of you."

My breath hitched.

"What do you mean?"

Why do I feel like he knows a lot of things about me? He doesn't seem ordinary. And why would he take care of me?

I looked straight into his eyes, they were very beautiful.

I was looking at him intently direct in the eyes and the same with him. We were just looking at each other.

"I own you from this very moment, Sereia. You're my property and no one could change that.... even you."