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The answer isno.
They have taken every part of me; my body, my mind, my soul.
There’s absolutely no way I’ll ever be able to forget them, or even leave them behind.
Them…me…we belong together. And I know they’ll never let me go so easily.
Isaak takes a seat on one sofa, and Alessandro takes a seat on the sofa beside it. My heart races as my eyes dart between the two spaces, wondering where I should sit, when I decide to sit beside Alessandro, but I do leave a gap between our bodies.
As soon as I’ve sat down, Isaak nods towards the hallway, and as I turn to watch why, I spot a woman, a maid perhaps, rushing forward with a glass of water in her hands. They tremble slightly as she offers it to me, and I take it from her, thankful for this. The woman gives me a tight-lipped smile before she retreats again into the background.
Sipping slowly, I’m grateful for the coolness of the liquid against my dry throat. I reach forward, leaving the glass on the table in front of me, before sitting up straight again.
My body is still tense, every muscle coiled with fear and confusion.
The men speak quietly between themselves, glancing over at me every few seconds or so.
Alessandro turns to face me, his dark eyes scanning me as if he’s trying to read something between the lines of my expression. The weight of his stare makes me shrink back into the plush fabric sofa even further. My heart races as I wonder what he’ll say next.
“How long has it been since you have been here, Chiara?”
His voice is deep, steady too.
I swallow hard.
I don’t know the exact number of days since everything is a blur in my mind. I do try to force the words out, but they only leave my mouth in a stammer.
“I-I don’t know…maybe it’s been a week now? Perhaps even two?”
Alessandro’s frame grows rigid.
He turns back to look at Isaak, his jaw tense, as he shakes his head. When he faces me again…dread washes over me.
“We were made aware of your abduction almost five weeks ago now. Have you been here all this time, Chiara?”
I freeze, all the air leaving my lungs in a bigwhoosh.
I feel numb as I nod my head.
I can’t believe it…
Isaak growls beside us, a low string of Russian words leaving his mouth as his expression grows furious.
Alessandro doesn’t seem satisfied with my answer. He leans in closer to me, practically closing the distance between us.
“I need to know what happened.”
I take another breath in, trying my best to collect myself.
“I was…taken.” I begin saying, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “I was in my new place, in England, and then…they were there. They were dressed in black, masks covering their faces, and a gun was pressed to the nape of my neck. I left with them, because they said that…they told me my friend would die if I didn’t. I think I’ve been here from the very first day I was taken.”
My voice falters towards the end, too ashamed to admit it out loud.
Alessandro seems to notice, but he doesn’t comment on it. He only watches me, waiting for me to continue.
“Have you been treated well, Chiara?”
He asks, his voice softer this time.