8 chapter 7- becoming well known

Solace. Something everyone wanted but never got to receive it. It's something we crave as humans and something we lust for but guessing how it's impossible to gain in such a world as ours. Corruption. Diseases spread. Bribery. Abuse. There's much more but Sabrina couldn't think of more.

She had been hauled up in her room, trying to figure what had happened to both Akiyah and Hendrik. Amanda has also gone MIA and she's losing her sanity slowly. The manor that she lives in seems to grow colder and eerie, caving in on her. Everywhere she walks, she feels claustrophobic.

"Tea?" The sound of one of the maids make her jump, panting as she realises it's just a maid. Nothing else.

"No thanks." Week after week, she declines more than just tea. She's not only losing herself but she's losing weight. Drastically. Problem is that she has been drugging herself with sleeping pills. Slowly feeling numb and floating around.

"Mr Chase would like to see you in his office." She nods and waves the maid away. Changing her direction, she begins her trek to her father's office. Feeling dizzy, she holds onto the walls. Her breathing becomes short, finding herself panting like a dog.

"Sabrina?" Is the last words she hears. Feeling like her body is floating, she blacks out.

°•°•°

Everyone was surrounding the blue bed, watching over her. Amanda had received news through Toby, frantically telling her that Sabrina was in the hospital.

She felt as though Sabrina had been keeping things from her. As they stood around the familiar room, she realised that this was her family and she had to protect them, no matter what. With that in mind, she leaves the room. No one noticed but she wished someone had stopped her because what she was about to do may be considered dangerous. Maybe more than just dangerous, it's a life or death situation.

Standing far from the hospital room, Amanda dials the number that had sent Sabrina a message a week ago. The dial tone rang for hours but it was only a few minutes. When she called the second time, she heard heavy breathing and a gruff voice.

"Hello?"

Amanda stopped for a second, thinking to herself as to what she was doing but remembered that her friend was in danger.

"Afternoon, I'm calling because you have something of mine. Someone more precisely." The heavy breathing sounded faint but she could still hear it, breathing hard.

"You think you funny girl?" Amanda halted from scoffing and instead laughed– sarcastically.

"I wish I was but you know I'm not. Why do you have her and what are you going to do with her?" Amanda had never felt confidence– being an abused child did that to her. Toughened her up.

"None of your business but you must prepare to be a maid of honour. We're getting married." The line went dead and Amanda's body felt rooted to the sterile white floor.

What did he mean by that?

°•°•°

"Who was that?" Sitting perched on the plush chair –a drink in her right hand and her left settling on her lap– she curiously inquiries about the sudden phone call.

"My darling wife, no need to be nosy." Jasper, her kidnapper's name, circles around the small table and sits directly in front of her. His gnarly finger tips her chin up, gazes into her eyes and smiles.

His genuine smile.

"If we are really getting married, I need to know the in's and out. You can't keep me in the shadow for too long." How she came to agree to marry him, she's still dazed by it.

"Your father owes me money. You are a beautiful woman and I'm sure you're fertile. That's not the only reason. I've been watching you for long enough to know how you work, how you think and what you do to yourself."

They were still stuck in the warehouse, chatting as if they've known each other.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You and I, we think alike. We act alike and we do things that are identical. I know you cry yourself to sleep. Have attempted to kill yourself and you have tried several times to overdose medicines. They always caught you then. I'm here to help."

"How do I know that what you're saying is true?" His rich laughter echos around the room, travelling throughout the warehouse.

"I've just told you what you do to yourself, yet you question me? My dear Akiyah, you have a lot to learn."

"You will marry me if you want happiness. You will marry me if you want to leave this dreadful town. You will marry me if you want to be as well known as that Sabrina girl."

Akiyah struggled to keep her sanity in check. The moment he mentioned Sabrina, she felt something click inside of her. The realisation of being well known and having everyone swoon over her. She agreed and now she's regretting it but she can't turn away.

"True my love just remember. At the end of this year, you're going to love me." She held the glass filled with apple juice, close to her lips. At the mention of love, she lowered her glass and stared at him.

"That's not part of the agreement." Her soft, delicate voice was music to his ears. Her smooth silky voice.

"It may not be apart of the agreement but I'll make it happen. I assure you of that." He slyly winks at her and leaves to make another phone call.

°•°•°

"Where is Amanda?" Sabrina's voice was hoarse, sounding more like a scratchy tune. Hendrik had been sitting in the same spot, blankly looking at her.

"Hendrik?" He blinks and looks around, noticing that Amanda left.

"I'll go check." Tenderness. Yes, that was the affection he had for her and it showed with the tender answer.

Suprised, Sabrina nods and watches his disappearing figure go into the bright hall.

"He loves you." She looks towards Toby and nods absently. The concept of love is clearly foreign to her but she won't tell him that. His had it all since childhood, will he even understand what it's like to live in a loveless home?

"You're scared aren't you?" Toby continues to stare at her, scrutinising her. She shifts uncomfortably, obviously feeling the scrutiny. She nods meekly and he huffs, annoyed at her mice like attitude.

"You shouldn't leave him hanging onto the idea that you feel the same. Be clear about your feelings and tell him already. It's either you love him or not, you can't have an in between."

He leaves Sabrina sitting in the white bed, processing what he said. The room is a clean sterile white– more like an asylum room.

°•°•°