22| captain

D I A N E

I opened my eyes to a bright light, and my vision slowly adjusted to the new surroundings. I was in a small, wooden room, with a low ceiling and a single light bulb. I sat up, my body stiff and sore. I slowly took in my new environment, trying to figure out where I was. Was this a dream, or was it real?

The room was sparse, with only a bed, a small table, and a chair. The walls were made of rough wood, and the floor was bare. I felt disoriented and confused, unsure of what had happened.

Where was I?

As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on a door. I wasn't sure if it would lead to safety or danger, but I had to take the chance. Slowly, I stood up and made my way towards the door. My legs felt weak, and I had to lean against the wall for support. But I was determined to find out where I was and how I got there.

As I reached for the door handle, I heard footsteps in the hallway outside. My heart started racing, my palms sweaty. I hesitated for a moment, then I turned the handle and pulled the door open.

As I looked down at my body, I realized I still wearing the ball gown. I must have been dreaming, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was all too real. Then, I heard it - the sound of someone else in the house. My heart started racing, my blood pumping through my veins. I had to find out who was there and what they wanted.

I quickly ran to the window, peering out into the night. The moonlight illuminated the grounds outside, and I saw a dark figure in the distance. Was it a person, or just a shadow? I

As I reached for my bag, my hand found the hilt of a knife. I grasped it tightly, my heart racing. I had no idea what I would find outside, but I had to be prepared for anything. With the knife in my hand, I felt a little more confident but still terrified. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Then, I threw open the door and stepped outside.

The cold air hit me like a wave, and I shivered. I scanned the grounds, my eyes searching for the figure I had seen before. But it was gone. All I could hear was the wind

I lifted the knife, ready to strike, but before I could make a move, my wrist was caught in a firm grip. I spun around, ready to fight, when I saw who it was. "Luka!" I cried, dropping the knife in shock.

He smiled, his expression softening. "I see you're finally awake," he said, his voice low and calming.

I relaxed, my body sagging with relief. "Sorry," I muttered.

"It's alright," he said. "It's understandable to be on edge after what happened."

I nodded, still feeling a little shaken.

"Oh my gosh, what time is it," I gasped, looking through my purse for my phone but lucky for me, the battery had run out.

Great. Just what I needed.

"Where are we?"

"It's late, and we're at my cabin in the woods," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "You don't need to worry. You're safe here."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The last thing I remembered was him dragging me out of the ballroom.

But there was something else I felt like I was forgetting, something important but I  just didn't know what.

"Here, use my phone," Luka said, handing it to me. "Thanks," I said, taking the phone and quickly dialing Claudia's number. But the phone just kept ringing and ringing, with no answer. I tried again and again, but there was no signal. "There's no signal," I said, frustration rising in my voice. "What are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine," Luka said, his voice soothing.

I looked around, taking in my surroundings. It was clear that we were in a cabin of some sort, but where it was, or how we got there, I had no idea.

I walked over to the window, peering out into the darkness. It was pitch black outside, the only light coming from the stars and the moon. All I could see were the trees, stretching up towards the sky, their branches bare in the winter chill.

I shivered, feeling cold despite the warmth of the cabin. I had so many questions, but I didn't know where to start. My mind was racing, trying to make

"Don't worry," Luka said. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" I exclaimed. The thought of spending the night in this cabin, with no idea of how we got here, or how to get out, made my heart pound in my chest.

"I know it's not ideal," Luka said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But we have no other choice. It's too late to go anywhere now."

"You're right," I said, my voice shaking. "I just feel so helpless. I don't like not knowing what's going on."

"I'm going to take a shower," I said, knowing that was the only way I'd relax. But as I did, my eyes landed on Luka's arm. It was covered in blood, and the fabric of his shirt was stained red.

"Oh my God, Luka, your arm!" I exclaimed, my hand flying to my mouth. "Are you okay?"

"It's not as bad as it looks," he said, giving me a weak smile. But I could tell he was in pain, and I felt terrible that I hadn't noticed sooner.

"Let me do it," he said, holding up his hand. "I can't let you treat a wound this seriously. It could get infected if it's not done right."

"Fine," I said, reluctantly. "But I'm not going to just stand by and watch. I want to help in any way I can." Luka nodded, a smile playing

"I'll take a shower first and you wait here for me,"

"Aye aye captain,"

□□□

I emerged from the shower, dressed in Luka's oversized shirt and shorts. It was cozy and comfortable, but I couldn't help but miss my clothes. I toweled off my hair and blew it dry, leaving it down except for two loose strands that framed my face. I felt a little more like myself again.

Walking out of the bathroom, I found Luka sitting on the edge of the bed, his injured arm bandaged up. He looked at me and smiled. "You look more like yourself now," he said.

I sat down beside him, my heart still racing from the events of the evening

As I searched for the first aid kit, my eyes landed on something tucked away in the corner of the cabinet. It was a picture, framed in silver, of a woman and a young man. My heart skipped a beat as I realized who they were - Luka and his mother.

The woman in the photo had Luka's eyes and smile, her dark hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. She looked happy, a soft glow about her. The young man beside her was unmistakably Luka, but he was so much younger. He looked so different, and yet so much the same.

Something about the man in the photo was familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd seen him before. He was younger than I'd ever seen him, but there was something about his smile and the arch of his eyebrow that seemed so recognizable. It was like I'd seen him in a dream or a memory, but I couldn't quite place it.

I turned the picture over, looking for a date or a name. On the back, written in neat script, were the words "Viktor and Isabelle, July 5 2005."

My breath caught in my throat.

I heard footsteps in the hallway, and my heart leaped into my throat. I shoved the picture back into the cabinet, closing the door and opening another, hoping to hide the evidence. I rummaged through the drawers, trying to look casual and not like I was hiding anything. But my mind was racing, questions forming in my head.

My heart raced wondering what this meant.