Outside the villa, Rory stopped sleeping.She wondered what had happened to her friend. Adeline wasn't taking her calls neither was she answering her texts Every questioning she made ended the same way—with silence, or with warnings disguised as politeness. Names closed doors. Questions invited danger.When she finally heard Donovan's name spoken aloud, it came with fear."You don't go near him," a contact whispered. "People disappear for less."Rory's hands shook as she ended the call.Adeline wasn't missing.She was claimed and Rory couldn't help but blame herself ---Back in the villa, Adeline stood by the window she wasn't allowed to open, staring at a sky that felt farther than ever.Donovan watched her from the doorway.She knew he was there, she had heard him open the door but she couldn't turnHe still created fear I her and she needed all the courage she could muster to ask him if she was ever going to leave that villaShe cleared her throat," Uhhhmmm sir?""Sir???",Don looked bemused,"Its Donovan, Don for short," he corrected her"What do you want Adeline?", he askedShe stammered,"Uhmmm, I wanted to know when I would be done with my punishment, I know you are punishing me but I have a life out there and I need to be done with this so I can get back to people that matter to me", she rushed not knowing when it all slipped out of her mouth.Don smiled, ' Such guts', he thoughtHe moved closer to her, his gaze intense on her, she moved back impulsively and slowly"Adeline, get this into your skull", he said and she felt her mind shift There was something something in the way he called her name and her cheeks flushed. Embarrassed, she faces back the window"You're safer here than out there," he said.She turned slowly."Safe," she repeated.He smiled faintly."Alive," he corrected and turned too leaveThe door closed behind him and Adeline understood the final lesson:Survival was not freedom.It was permission.Now she needed only the help of an external force or a supernatural being. To leave here
