They call him Mr. X

Clara jolted awake with a start when she hears the sound of a door being opened and someone walked inside. Her vision was blinded by the light from the outside before it firmly closed.

The footsteps stopped in front of her, "Wakey wakey princess."

"Who are you?" She croaked, trying to adjust to her surroundings. She was lying on a cold hard floor in an empty small room.

"Please let me go. Why did you do this to me?"

He moved to crouch in front of her, this close Clara could see his features. Surely she would not forget if she ever saw him. Striking deep green eyes, full lips and chiseled jawline with natural olive skin. He had broad shoulder and muscled arms, no wonder she couldn't fight him.

"Clara Anastasia, you don't need to know who I am. You are here to answer my questions honestly. Understood?" His voice full of authority, so she nodded her head.

"Are you mute? Answer me."

"Yes.. I mean no, I can speak clearly." Clara attempted to answer meekly while biting back harsh words.

Play it cool, Clara. Keep calm.

"Nice, because you proved to be a good screamer last night." His sarcasm rang clear in the air.

"Back to our topic.. You studied at Charles Newton's high school, graduated eight years ago. True?" He continued with flat hard voice.

Eyeing the door and calculating how fast she could run to the door, she answered "Yes. How did you know?"

He just stared at her as if she was making a joke, for asking such lame curiosity. Of course he knew everything about her. It was briliantly planned from the beginning.

"Your parents owned a shipping business, bankrupted and left you in debt. So now you're working at some clubs as a stripper. True?"

She was staring at him in disbelief and he smirked a bit. "I'm a pole dancer not a stripper." Clara masked her face again, the fake calm.

"I work as a pole dancer to pay the debts. Are you satisfied now? Just tell me what this is about."

"Looks like selling your body for money is the only way to pay the enormous debt your father owed. How much money did you make a night?"

Standing with such confidence posture while looking down at her as a pauper, Clara wanted to slap his smug face, but her face gave away nothing.

"None of your business."

"Tsk, tsk. Now that's not a smart answer." He moved to the corner of the room, crossing his arms on his muscled chest.

"With that face of yours, it must be easy to snare one or two rich man to make your life comfortable." He made no attempt to hide the disgust in his eyes.

Clara didn't take his bait and shrugged nonchalantly, "Too many of them I could hardly chose."

The deep green eyes regarded her with growing amusement, she was almost sure she saw that luscious lips curved upward a little before it disappeared back into flat line. He averted his predatory gaze to the wall for a moment.

"Your friends from high school. Do you remember them? The 'Four Saints'. That's how everyone called you together, right?"

In a speed of light, her hand was on the door knob. Being small and athletics with long lean legs made her fast and good at running. Her heart pounding but she dared not to look back. It was a mansion, it must be. The rich and soft carpeted floor, the decoration and colors of the wall.

Clara knew it. She knew every turns and how many rooms inside it. She knew because she'd ever lived in this big mansion. It was once her home. Her parents used to bring her here during summer vacation. They said it was inherited from her mom's side of family, but in the end they were forced to sell it when her dad bankrupted.

What kind of psychopath locked their prisoner in such a beautiful place was lost to her. One thing she knew for sure, he was a rich psychopath monster ever alive!

Just when she'd almost reach the big front door, someone yanked her hair from behind and caught her surprised. Clara didn't hear footsteps chasing behind as she ran but suddenly he had her. Maybe it was the ringing in her ears and erratic beating of her heart that made her oblivious.

She inhaled deeply and cried out loud for help.

"Help! Somebody.. Anybody.. Help me!" Her shrill scream echoing in the grand front hall.

Her captor didn't bother to shut her mouth and let Clara screaming all the way back to the small room. It was a fruitless attempt because the mansion was located far from civilization and secluded. Nothing but dense forest around it.

He dragged her back to the room with his fist closing on her loose hair, it felt like her long brown hair being pulled out from the scalp. Despite the hurt, she didn't stop screaming and wriggling, trying hard to fight the strong man.

When they reached the room, he thrown her to the floor, "Scream for help with all your might because no one will hear and help you." With cruel remarks, he closed the heavy door.

She banged the door, "Let me go! Let me go you monster!" Then kicked it repeatedly. Finally exhausted, she slid to the floor.

Clara was sure he intentionally let her run away. Her scalp was throbbing with excruciating pain, her body was aching from the twist and turn to halt him, but not a single tear she shed. She swore that she would make him sorry.

She sat hugging her legs on the corner of the room. The dark memories playing through her mind, haunting her.

***

Clara lost track of time. Perhaps it was morning already when the darn door opened and a young blonde haired man step inside with a tray.

He set down the tray, "Mr. X wants you to eat this, Miss." There was plenty of foods, but she focused on this new insight.

"He is Mr. X? What kind of name is that?" She asked when he was about to retreat. "Wait, you have to help me. He captured me last night."

"It seems impossible, you see, because I was the one who helped him." He smirked and closed the door.

Clara sat back, suddenly remembered his face. It was him who had helped her abductor last night. She contemplated to eat the foods but too afraid in case there was some sick drugs like they used to her last night. So she didn't touch them even after the new tray of foods was sent to her for dinner.

The next day, man that he called Mr. X walked into the room looking gorgeous yet dangerous with casual clothes and freshly shaven face.

He eyed the untouched tray. "Get up."

Dumbfounded, she followed him and made no effort to flee just to fail again. Oh, she knew she won't succeeded. Thanks to him, her scalp was still aching.

Clara was walking a few steps behind him, she missed her home. It was the place she grew up. She remembered the beautiful tune of piano being played skillfully by her mom, she would stand by her side to watch and hummed. That was one of the happiest memories.

Her last memories in this mansion was unpleasant ones. She watched her dad collapsed to nothing and her mom suffered terribly. After so long, she didn't want to remember and acknowledge her pain, but being here made her want to doubled over.

If she had a knife in her hand right now, she would stab it in his back. She was sure it was not a coincidence her captor lived here. Pride made her stand taller and walk straighter. She wouldn't show this monster that he scored a goal.

"Sit down. You will accompany me to eat." He pointed on one of the luxury dining chair.

Still on her charade playing a meek girl, she didn't protest. She feasted on the abundant delicious foods in front of her after she saw him started to eat. It was a long time since she'd ever had a meal this fine.

"Why the change of attitude?" Clara asked when the silent became unbearable. "Last night you were kidnapping and manhandled me, and now you were treating me like a guest? Funny."

His deep green eyes penetrated her soul, "It's up to me how I'll treat you. I could play you like strings on a violin and you had no choice but to obey me."

"Just who the hell do you think you are?" She dropped the spoon and forks on her plate. "You'll not get away for kidnapping me. Someone will knew eventually and police will hunt you down." She said confidently with high hopes that she would be saved from this monster.

"And who is that person?" He asked while holding her heated gaze. "Your boss at the stripping club or your disabled father at your shabby apartment? Maybe one or two of your estranged friends?"

Her blood was boiling at the mention of her dad. Her poor dad, ever since the accident, he had to spent his life in a wheelchair. Oh God! Who would take care of him now that her fate was uncertain at the hand of this monster.

"Don't you ever touch him or I won't hesitate to rip your eyeball out of its socket." Panic sets in but she veiled it behind empty threat.

He gave a chuckle. The sound didn't quite match his hard face. "Calm down, little mouse. I won't stoop that low to hurt helpless man."

Mr. X was now leaning on the chair with a relax pose watching her. He knew everything about Clara and clearly it was not an ordinary kidnapping, he had not yet threatened to sell her as sex slave or forced himself on her.

She took a deep breath, "Then what do you want? If money the answer, I'm afraid I don't have enough to give you, as of now the debts are piling up. My father bankrupted and left me with his huge debts from gambling. I reckon you already knew that." She got up from the chair.

He laughed aloud. "Money is the last thing I want from you."

Clara shivered when he eyed her from head to toe, lingering on the rise and fall of her breast and finally settled on her light hazel eyes.

"Maybe there is one thing you could do to pay the debts and free yourself from your father's mistake." He advanced towards her.

His footsteps clicking on the marble floor with measured strides.

He wrapped his big hand around her slender neck. "But who will set you free from your own sin?"