EMMA

He slams the door so hard it bounces back slightly, leaving it open as he strides away while I am frozen in place. His anger at my treatment was palpable. I should run. I should run and then swim if that is the only way I can escape. Instead, I stare at the door cracked, frozen in place. I slowly move forward, my fingers reaching for the door and grasping the handle. I begin to pull the door open, a millimeter at a time, my heart pounding as I move my face to peak out into the hallway. Footsteps pound up the stairs, and I slam it quickly, leaning back against the frame. Tears threaten to fall as I hear the automatic lock slide into place.

I realize now that I'm going to die here. I don't know when or how, but he will kill me. I am reminded of a friend Aislin and I had that worked in the Quarter, Sally. She was such a sweet woman. A sweet woman who often had bruises, bruises that turned to broken bones. She wanted to leave him but couldn’t. No matter where she went, he found her, dragged her home and beat her worse. Every time he told her how much he loved her, showed her with his fists, left his love tattooed in marks across her body. The day he killed her, he told her he loved her more than anything. I'm sure he still tells everyone the same thing. We met him once, and oh how he hated us because we tried to take her from him. The crazy leaked from him. I could see it when I looked in his eyes. The mask he wore for the world never covered his eyes. Arias had those eyes when he left this room.

I jump when the door swings open to a different guard, and his face is grim.

"He wants me to bring you to him." Is that sympathy I hear tingeing his voice?

This is it then. I can't help thinking of all the things I wish I had made time for. I was always too busy trying to get out of my neighborhood, pushing to be something, earning more and more money to help daddy. I don't regret it, but I regret what is being stolen from me. There was never time for love, children, or family, other than Aislin. We have talked so many times about trips and meeting someone but never did anything. Hell, it took a gift from her dead mother to make her go, and I only followed her. She had asked me to go with her, but I was too busy trying to land a part in a ballet to get my name out there, more publicity to garner greater interest in the dance studio. If I am honest, I no longer find joy in dancing; I no longer love it. Tears fill my eyes as I realize I've never even lived. I’ve always been focused, driven to succeed. How many times has daddy told me to go live? He had seen too many die young - life isn't for work, it's for a living. I never had, and now my chance is gone.

We pause outside the door, and the guard looks at me one last time before knocking. I can tell he doesn't want to, but maybe he is just as much a prisoner as I am. The door cracks and Arias peers out at us. Later I will realize what is splattered on him but at this moment I feel cold and shaky as reach grabs my hand and pulls me in the office slamming the door on the guard.

The coppery scent hits my nose first, and I think back to all the crime shows Aislin and I have binged… Blood. Arias is looking at me with a sweet smile, one that is in total contradiction with the wild look in his eyes. He is standing in front of me blocking my view, but he can't block the sounds. I blink, and my head tilts slightly as I try to figure out what I'm hearing. There’s a wet sound, and then I hear a squeak like I've heard late at night in the alleys at home -- a rat. My head jerks back, and I look at him waiting. I feel hot as sweat begins to run down my temple.

"I promised I would take care of you, that no one would hurt you. Well, John has something he would like to say to you." He steps aside, holding his arm out. My gaze travels the length and lands on the guard that shoved me. I puke all over the floor, gasping for breath and my ears ringing. I flinch as this madman rubs my back, murmuring, trying to comfort me. His arm comes around my shoulders, and he moves me forward, even as I resist, dragging my feet, trying to pull away. He pushes me right in front of the poor man.

"John…," menace fills his tone, and the man starts sobbing silently. "Oh yes, I forgot. You may speak."

"I'm so sorry. Please, God, I'm so sorry. Sorry I touched you. Sorry I suggested I would do more." He is breathing so fast, chest heaving, eyes filled with terror and pain.

Movement catches my eye and I can't stop my eyes as they look down. Shiny black eyes look up at me from the bloody cage and I scream, stumbling backward trying to get away. I trip over Arias' chair and fall to the ground. Crawling to the far wall and pushing into it, I cover my face as I pull my knees up.

"Emma, you understand now, right? I will never let anyone hurt you. I'm not certain John here is truly apologetic though."

My eyes fly to the guard's face, understanding in his eyes. He knows he isn't leaving this room, we both do. Arias moves behind him. My head shakes, and my hand reaches out to stop him, but he just smiles, slitting the man's throat. I hear my heartbeat in my ears as his lips are moving, but I can't hear him. Black spots appear in my vision, and then darkness takes me.

I wake in my bed, dressed in a beautiful gown. He brought me here. I curl in on myself and squeeze my eyes tightly. Fabric moves against fabric to my left. He is sitting on my bed. I refuse to open my eyes. I want to because all I see with them closed is the horror in that office.

"I know you're awake. I'm sorry you had to see that, but you had to understand that I will do anything to keep you safe. Now you understand how much you mean to me. We will be happy, you'll see. I'll leave you for now, but I'll be back soon. We can have drinks here in our room." His fingertips slide down my arm, and I clench my jaw to keep from sobbing.