The Devil's Debt

I wake up in bed. I hope that was just a nightmare. The sun is pouring through the blinds in a room I don't recognize. There goes the nightmare. I shake the thought away and I look around the room and I find a pair of slippers next to my bed. I put them on and I walk over to the bathroom, looking into the mirror at myself. This is my life. All of a sudden the door to the room opens.

"Did you sleep well?" Kyzer asks.

"Try getting kidnapped and getting asked that question." I retort.

He sighs and leans against the doorframe. "Stop being hostile. You'll have to get used to this. There's no point in being angry:"

"Do you realize what you've done? You ruined my life. My husband, the man that loved me like nobody ever has, is now alone because you took the one person who loved him more than anything, and is forcing her to love you, obviously because no one is capable of loving someone as horrible and self-centered as you. And you tell me to stop being hostile." I scoff and I turn around.

"He didn't love you." he says plainly.

"What the hell? Are you serious?" I say, narrowing my eyes at him, now furious.

"I am. One hundred percent. Do you know why you're here?" he says, looking into my eyes.

"You think I'd be contemplating escaping if I did?" I say, not wanting to look him in his eyes.

"You couldn't if you wanted to. Anyway, he's the one who did this." he says, shrugging.

"What? What are you talking about?" I say, not believing what he's saying.

"He did this. Can I sit?" he asks, gesturing to the bed. With my arms crossed and my eyes narrowed, I nod my head. I want to know more. He sits down and continues. "He came to me one day and said he was about to get married, but the woman to which he'd be wed.. he didn't love her."

"An.. affair?" I say, tears pricking at my eyes.

"No. The woman was you." he says, putting his head down sympathetically.

My heart drops. Is he serious?

"Are you serious?" I say, tears falling from my eyes.

"Very. He said he didn't want to marry you and that his heart... belonged to another woman. So he told me to orchestrate a kidnapping and that when I returned you home, he'd be gone. The whole act of trying to get you back was a show." he continues explaining.

"Do you... are you gonna take me back?" I ask.

"No. Reason being because I was disgusted with the way he treated a woman as beautiful as you. You looked so innocent and.. so fragile... So I told him that I'd keep you here and that I'd try and make you fall in love with me instead. I knew he wasn't worthy, so I thought I'd be. It's up to you now." he says, looking at me. "I recorded this to use against him in case he ever tried anything."

He pulls something out of his pocket and presses a button and I hear Ryder saying everything Kyzer's just told me, and I stand there in shock. When it's over, he speaks up. "I'm just trying to mend you. I'm not as bad as you think I am, I promise. To the outside world, I'm mean, hostile, cruel... but I just want what's best for you. You don't deserve to be treated as shitty as he treated you. You don't deserve to be treated shitty period." he says. "So I want to give you these back." he continues, putting my phone and laptop on my bed. "It's up to you what you decide to tell your family. You just can't let them know who you're with and where you are. I've turned off your location services so they can't trace you here." he says, pocketing his hands.

"You trust me?" I say, looking up at him.

"No. I don't. But I want to. I'm risking my life granting you this.". Then he gets up and turns around, walking to the door. "I'm making breakfast if you're hungry." he says, walking out of my bedroom.

I sit there in shock. He didn't love me? I guess that just goes to show how good men lie. So how can I trust him to love me? A stranger. God, why did this have to be my life?

I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything in hours. I should at least eat something.

I sighs and I wipe my tears away, then I walk downstairs, smelling an amazing aroma coming from the kitchen. I don't want to see everything good with this place, after all, I was kidnapped and dragged here, but it's hard not to be mesmerized.

I walk into the kitchen and I stand at the stool at the island in the middle of the kitchen. As if feeling my presence, he turns around and gives me a plate full of hot, steaming food. I give him a small smile and it quickly fades as I sit down to start eating. He does the same, but instead, he stands while he eats. He suddenly gets a call and he picks up and leaves, going upstairs as he talks. Minutes later, he comes down in a suit and I don't bother to say anything to him.

"I'm going to work. I'll be out for a while. My guards have been ordered to take you out shopping. I'm giving you my black card to buy anything you want with it. I mean anything, I don't care how small or big it is, they'll take you to get it, no matter how far." he says, looking at me as he holds his hand out, giving me his card.

I look down at it and back at him.

"Anything?" I ask.

"Anything." he replies. "Now, take it or leave it. I need to go." he says impatiently. I grab the card and he stops before walking out the door. "Buy a nice dress. We're having dinner tonight. Call me when you finish eating. My number's in your phone. Let me know what you'd want." he says. Then he walks out the door and leaves.

I guess I can't complain. He has a black card for god's sake, he's probably filthy rich.

I finish eating and I go upstairs to grab my phone and it's just then that I notice I have hundreds of text messages from family. I build the courage to dial my mom's number and when the line starts ringing, my heart drops.

What am I gonna tell her? This guy isn't so bad, and if he's giving me another chance at love after the news he gave, I think I'm willing to stay.

"Isa? Oh my god, you've got everyone in a panic! Where are you? You got kidnapped from your wedding and-"

"Mom, I'm alright. I promise." I say, making up my mind.

"What happened? I haven't heard from Ryder since the wedding. He's probably worried sick." she says.

"Oh no, I'm sure he's fine. He.. me and him aren't where we used to be with each other." I say.

"Meaning what?" Mom says.

"He doesn't love me, Mom. He never did. And when he told me, it broke my heart. So I moved, the whole kidnapping thing was just for show, and I made it that way, don't ask me why. I just need a break. I want to unwind and find a new place. A new man to love me, and I think I'll find that where I am right now. Don't worry about me." I say, trying to make it as believeable as I can.

The phone is silent for a second. Finally my mother replies. "As long as you're okay, honey. We love you. We just hope you find what you're looking for out there. Come see us when you can." she says warmly.

"I will." I say, smiling at the phone.

Then I hang up and I sigh. I hope this goes well.

I basically abandoned my family to try and stay here with him. I don't want this whole thing to end up in disappointment.

I pick up the phone to call Kyzer.