HIS POSSESSION

Aria perspective

Two weeks later

“Miss Aria, Donna is calling you downstairs for lunch.” A soft knock at my door broke the silence. One of the maids entered, bowing slightly. “Tell her I’m not hungry,” I said without looking at her, waving her away. She hesitated for a moment before leaving. Two weeks had passed since I escaped that hellhole, but it still felt like I was trapped in some kind of twisted dream. I sat by the window in my room, staring blankly at the world outside. The view was beautiful, skyscrapers shimmering under the golden sun, birds gliding through the air, but none of it reached me. My mind was elsewhere, lost in a dark loop of memories I couldn’t escape. I leaned my head against the cold glass, my fingers tracing invisible patterns on the surface. Two weeks. It had been two weeks since I was back in the safety of my parents’ home. My father had tightened security around the penthouse. Guards were stationed everywhere, and my brother, Alex, had insisted I wear a necklace with a tracker embedded in it.

He made me promise never to take it off. They were trying to protect me from every angle, but no amount of security could shield me from the nightmares. Enzo. That bastard. He hadn’t stopped hunting me, even if he wasn’t physically here. He haunted me every night, his image etched into the fabric of my dreams. Each time I closed my eyes, he was there, his cruel smirk, his piercing gaze, his hands reaching for me. In some dreams, he was forcing himself on me; in others, I was running, only for him to drag me back to his cage. Every night, I woke up screaming, drenched in sweat, my chest heaving with fear. Alex would rush to my side, his arms wrapping around me as I sobbed into his shoulder. He was my anchor, the one person who kept me from falling apart completely. But despite his comfort, I couldn’t shake the dread that clung to me.

Why hadn’t Enzo found me yet? He had the resources, the power, and the connections. Why was he holding back? Had he gotten bored of me? Or was he waiting for the perfect moment to strike? Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear the second knock on my door until it opened, and Alex stepped inside. “Hey, Ari,” he said softly, his voice breaking through my haze. “What are you doing?” “Nothing much,” I replied, not bothering to mask the emptiness in my tone. He walked over to the bed and sat down, studying me with concern. “How are you feeling now?” “I’m good, Alex.” I sighed and turned to face him, trying to force a small smile. “So, what brings you to my room?” He grinned, leaning back casually. “Well, I took the day off. I figured I’d spend some time with my favourite sister. Dad can handle all the tasks for today.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his words. “Stop it, Alex. I’m your only sister.” “Yeah, and the stupid one,” he teased, his grin widening. “Shut up,” I shot back, shoving him playfully. He pretended to fall off the bed dramatically, clutching his chest as if I’d mortally wounded him.

“Look, you hurt me,” he said, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably. “Enough with the drama,” I said, folding my arms. “Now tell me what you want, mister.” “Well,” he began, sitting upright again. “I was thinking we could go out. Visit some of your favourite places. It’s been two weeks, Aria. You’ve locked yourself in this room the entire time. It’s not good for you. You don’t eat properly, you barely sleep, and you’re drowning in your thoughts.” His tone was serious now, his playful demeanour replaced by genuine concern. “What do you want me to do, Alex?” I snapped, my voice trembling with frustration. “After everything I’ve been through, you want me to just… go out and pretend like everything’s fine? To party all night like nothing happened?” “Aria....” “No!” I interrupted, standing up. “What if he finds me? What if I step outside, and he’s there, waiting to drag me back to that hellhole?”

My body started trembling, tears welling up in my eyes. “You don’t understand, Alex. I can’t… I can’t go back there.” Alex stood up and pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as I broke down. “Hey, hey… come here. It’s okay,” he murmured, stroking my hair gently. “Relax, Ari. You’re safe. I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re with me now. I’ll protect you with my life.” “Why?” I choked out, my voice barely audible. “Why me, Alex? Why is this happening to me?”