Prey

'1 of 2 sequels to my original 'Prey''

Each gentle sigh of her chest made her tiny silver chain necklace rise up and down. Up and down. Lying peacefully on a silk deep purple duvet covered bed. A blood soaked bandage rest on her head. A vein slightly throbbing underneath her skin. There was no hint of pain identified in her features. Eyebrows were relaxed in their perfectly groomed state, resembling that of Audrey Hepburn’s.

Her middle finger twitched, then her right eyebrow. Her lips smacked together and she wriggled and stretched her arms out slightly. Her clothes folding to her movement and she opened her eyes, which were bleary. Sophia rubbed them and opened them fully. She lay staring at a white ceiling with a glass chandelier, each sculpted piece of glass that hung off the stems looked like water droplets. She sat up confused and her head exploded with pain. Sophia touched her wounded temple and felt a soft bandage and a hint of blood settled on her fingertips.

Her heart rate increased. She was meant to be at home with her children. She racked her brain to where she might be. Looking around she was in a large bedroom with oak cabinets and antiques. A wall size mirror stared back at her and she noticed she was still in her work clothes. She searched for her handbag but could not find it anywhere in the spotless and tidy room. Suddenly, her breath struggled to escape her lungs. She was having an asthma attack. Her eyes bulged with the possibility if she could not find her bag with her inhaler, she may suffocate. She turned to the door, but the door was locked. She banged and banged.

“Help, someone!” She breathed. But no one did. She held onto the bedpost as she began to see stars around her eyes, she was going to collapse. But a familiar gentlemen burst through the door and held out an inhaler. She snatched it off him and inhaled as much as she could and felt relieved as her chest eased up. She sat on the bed with her head in her hands and collected her breath and thoughts. The man continued to stand there watching. Sophia looked up and noticed the man was whom she bumped into on the street. Her senses became alert and she stood up dramatically. Hair ruffled and clothes disorganised. He stared at her waiting for a response. He had extremely good features, scorching blue eyes with long lashes, straight nose and full rosy lips. Dark brown hair that flopped around his forehead and cheeks. He had slight wrinkles on his face, but not enough to say he was old. Aging handsomely would be the term.

“What happened?” She demanded. “Why am I bleeding?”

He took a few seconds to answer, calculating his words. He gave nothing away in his poker face. He was wearing a navy blazer with a checked shirt.

“Sophia, cutting the story short.” He paused. “You’ve been abducted. By me.” He stared at her, biting his lip slightly. He was giving Sophia time to sink in the news. She burst out laughing; a loud but short boom of laughter filled the room. But tears shortly followed filling her eyes as instinct and truth dug their way through her chest and gut.

“Don’t lie, just take me home.” She said, bunged up with moisture. She looked around the room for an exit. Tried the door again but it was locked.

“Let me out!” She raised her voice. She pulled on the doorknob.

“Sophia, struggling is not going to help you. If anything it makes conditions worse for you.” He stated placing his hand on her shoulder. She violently shrugged him off and stared at him with anger.

“Don’t you touch me, I don’t belong to you.” She sneered with tears.

“Actually, you do Sophia.” He chuckled. Scratching his stubble on his jaw line. Sophia backed away from him and headed to the giant window, which she opened and looked down to see that she was a few floors high off the ground. She held her position holding the window open and breathed shakily.

“Sophia.” He gently spoke, as he was standing right behind her. “Don’t fight this.”

She spun round sharply letting the window come crashing down.

“I have kids. I have a family. Let me go.” She shouted and shoved past him causing him to stagger. She tried the door again yelling and crying for help. A strong grasp grabbed her hair and pulled her backwards, causing Sophia to squeal and sob and crumble to the ground. He yanked her hair again.

“Don’t you test me, don’t you fucking test me, Sophia. Now stop fighting it.” He spat in her ear, inhaled a deep breath smelling her hair and threw her on the ground. Stood upright and shook back to the character he just intercepted. Straightened his blazer and walked out the room leaving Sophia sobbing on the floor. Her heart ached for her loved ones. Bundles of energy and panic, oozed inside of her, yearning to be with her children. She scrambled to the door banging and scratching begging to be freed. She tried this for 8 hours.

Those 8 hours turned into a full day and night.

Exhaustion kicked in and her head hummed with pain. She sat upright against the wall with no emotion. Her expression was dead. Worry had taken over her body to the extent she couldn't do anything with it. She was useless. She decided to try and rest.

After a few hours of light sleep, her eyes opened to the sound of the gentleman, sitting on the bed in a fluffy white dressing gown with a hint of dark chest hair poking out, slippers and a glass of water placed on the floor. Without thinking, she downed the drink and stared at him blankly. He looked down at her sympathetically.

“I meant it when I said your conditions would be worse. And this was being easy on you.” He explained. He looked at her eyes and crawled on the floor in front of her, like a lion about to eat it’s prey. His claw extended and wiped the dry tear marks from under her eyes. Each hair on her body stood up on end with disgust. But she did not flinch. She just stared at him without blinking. How she remained to look so beautiful after all that had happened in the past 24 hours amazed him.

His expression softened, “Sophia. Marry me.”

E.T.