Lauren POV
After much cusses, I walk out of the closet and the first thing I attempt to do is open the door.
It's opened. I creep outside, like I'm some criminal, still carrying the braid I've promised myself a hundred times to loose.
I find myself at a long hall that wears a magnificent facade. It feels like I'm in a castle.
It's a large house with no one in it? Treading further, I intend to climb the curvy stairway leading down but then a loud bang draws my attention.
It's replaced by a loud growl and strain muffle.
At first I intend to shun it but it returns again. Peeping to and fro just to stay clear of anyone following.
I pace towards the direction of the sound. After so many turns that feels like I'm in a matrix, my eyes caught sight of a plain wall.
My ears listen keenly to the thud and figure out it's from under where I stand, on a rug.
Hurriedly, I flung it aside, and saw a door. I shouldn't but I want to.
I pull up the handle and I meet a wooden stair leading down. He's gone and won't be a bother.
My curiousity made me go down this stairs and the gothic sight that befalls me made me nausea as I throw up.
It's like I'm in a slaughter house, housing different weapons.
The muffle comes from an inner room which is seperate from this large one with only a polythene bag that acts as a curtain.
I shove aside the curtain, eager to know even when I'm shaking and considering my life.
My eyes widens as I find Greg tied to a chair both hands and legs with a chain, he makes the chair leap with caused the loud thud.
His shirt is rippled, as he's covered in blood, bleeding from his head.
His lips is sealed with a masking tape and when our eyes locks, there's hope.
I race towards him to take out the tape and it seems his suffocating.
For the first time, I see fear in his eyes, the same fear he instill inside me when I look at him.
I don't even want to know how he got here but it's certain he's now a captive.
"Oh little sister, thank goodness you're here" he cried swallowing hard. I blink at him, maintaining a distance now.
"That man is a monster, save me and i'd take you out of here, he's fucking dangerous" he mutters with a swollen lips.
Strand of tears drops from his eyes as he panics, struggling for hair. Slowly, I bent to his position, feeling his pain.
My eyes stare at him in a piteous gaze as I wipe his tears.
"I'd get you out of this misery"
I stand up and my eyes scroll around, they spot a table adjacent me which has a gun laying on it.
I grab the gun, staring at it, my hands trembles as I turn to face him, pointing the gun at his forehead.
He flinches, brawling his eyes at me.
"You can't Doris, that's not a toy..."
I didn't let him finish when I shoot at his leg.
"Fuck!" He cried and my shoulders jumped to my ears. I almost apologized but he deserves it.
"Oh, I missed" i joked chuckling like stepmom as he wails in pain. I feel like a god, looking lowly at him.
"I'm your brother!"
"I don't have one" I calmly said broadening my smile and almost made another attempt.
This time it aims at his heart. My eyes watches as he slums to the dusty floor, his eyes bugs out.
I look traumatized not until a thud jerks me back to reality.
"I'm still here little sister" he says in a giddy tone as he expects me to free him.
It's Greg and I'm still standing by the table, staring at the gun as tears clouds my eyes.
Killing him is just my imagination, I don't even have the courage to.
I abandoned the gun, pretend not to see him but before I leave, I said;
"I'd attend your funeral"
I didn't forget to glue that mouth back as he screeches, certainly calling out to me in a muffle.
Coming out, I slowly close the door, arrange the rug and for the first time in a while, I smile genuinely.
I see Dante is at work already.
My hand pats the braid on me, complimenting his work.
Now, I'm hungry.
Catwalking from that arena, I arrive at the sitting room only to find another stranger, at the lounge.
One hand in the pockets and the other hand plays with a lighter.
His sturdy back faces me as he looks lost in thoughts, staring at the glassy walls.
Then he suddenly begins to whistle like in my nightmare, the tone reminds me of a lullaby from a child.
I grow unnaturally still as my face turns ashen. It's just a distance because I feel a smiting rage that's ready to consume me.
I'm to walk away. Just I intend to walk away, he suddenly says;
"How do you like his condition?"
I clench my fists wanting to see his face but I can't and he's definitely not Dante.
He certainly knows I'm in that room and his voice sounds familiar.
Silence. Possibly because I stand transfixed at this stranger.
"You he doesn't like it when you snitch around"
"Who are you?" I manage to squeeze out not wanting to sound like I'm freaking out even when I am.
There's more to know about Dante, this house and people he associate with.
I flutter my eyes, confused and rubbing my sweaty palms on my pyjamas.
My stomach is embarrassing as it growls unexpectedly.
"Why should I ruin the fun, enjoy it while it lasts"
He spun around sharply and my face greets a masked man in a polished sleeves and dark pant tailored to fit his posture.
I have a feeling we've met before but I can't recall. The sight of him made me forgot I have lungs as I look at him, up and up.
I fold my arms, perturb, jinx and definitely fading away, maybe Dante isn't the enemy, it's this creepy man.
Cheating out and trying not to be intimidated, I didn't look at his terrifying mask and go on to say;
"I need to know who you are just so I don't mistake you as my husband's errand boy or a servant who wants to belong"
He suddenly stop flickering the lighter as though stun by my words and even the mask didn't do justice to his eyes because I can't see them.
"Well, I believe you have nothing to say, if you're done here, you can leave, Dante isn't attending to you today"
I add beating myself several times for trying to challenge someone I don't know and believing that Dante might just appear like a superhero and save me.
He takes a calculative step forward and I take two steps backward. My eyes studies the place for any object I can use as a weapon.
I almost trip but he grab me with just a hand pulling me to stand up to him.
"Scared?"
"No" I reply wanting to drag his mask away but I realize I was shaking which is obvious and he must be grinning behind that mask.
"Let me introduce myself darling"
"There are better ways to introduce yourself than holding on to me, if Dante finds out, he'd chop off your hands"
"Interesting" he says in a flamboyant tone and immediately let go of my collar as I clear my throat.
"What else would he do for you"
I feel shy suddenly replying this masked man with confidence because he can't hurt me.
"He'd capture the world and watch me burn it"
He suddenly let out a sarcastic whistle and returns to playing with lighter again.
"Go on, he must be a prince charming"
"Yes, and kind and gentle" I fire as though it's a competition, comparing a man I just met with.
"And I'd order your head to be served to me!" I press on glaring into his mask. I can't tell where I muster up such courage from or maybe it's because I saw Greg captured.
"Why do you need my head, when you can have my body love?"
What's wrong with him? He's flirting when he's boss isn't around.
I turn to my heels, not standing the chance of him as his presence burns me softly.
"Get lost" I muse definitely running to the room I came from but I made it look like I'm walking away.
Even the hunger finds a way to respect the situation.
"We aren't done talking" he says, commanding me to stop and I feel his heavy eyes on me.
"Well, I'm done talking! And get ready to be fired masked man" I yell increasing my pace and flailing my hands in the air. He's such a bad energy.
He's close, really close and before he can hold me, I rush inside the room and slam the door at his face.
I'm not scared, I'm just cautious.