Chapter 14: Secrets
It was a new day, and I awoke with a start. The sun was streaming through the window, and I could hear birds singing outside. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that everything was normal, that I was just waking up like any other day. But then, a knock at the door brought me back to reality. Audrey, Mike girlfriend, poked her head in. "You're needed downstairs," she said, her voice betraying no emotion. I sighed and got up, not sure what to expect. But as I descended the stairs, I felt a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach. What could have happened again?
Only for me to find out that it was Toby that needed me downstairs, I thought to myself today was gonna be a long bad day.
Since you are so jobless to be roaming about where you are not meant to be, I decided to give you a work your pathetic hand can work on, you will arrange all the books in the library" Toby said with a smile
And I wondered why this devil was smiling, cursing him under my breath hoping he did not hear what I said...
As I followed Toby to the library, I could feel the tension between us thickening with every step. The silence was almost suffocating, and I could feel my heart racing in my chest. We entered the library, and the room seemed to close in around me. Toby walked over to a shelf of books, and began to pull them off, one by one. He then turned to me, his eyes cold and hard. "Time to earn your keep, dollface," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're going to sort these books by author." I felt my anger rise within me, I can't believe I'm a prisoner and a slave in this hell
I could feel my face flushing red, and I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something I would regret. I turned my attention back to the books, trying to focus on the task at hand. But my mind was racing, and I couldn't seem to concentrate. I was stuck, and I didn't know what to do. All I could think about was how much I hated Toby, and how I wished I could get away from him. Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me, and I turned to see Toby standing there, a smirk on his face. "You're not very good at this, are you?
"You missed a spot," Toby said, pointing to a pile of books that I had apparently overlooked. "This is just the beginning, you know," he continued. "I'm going to make your life a living hell from now on. You're going to be my personal servant, and you're going to do everything I tell you to, no matter what." My blood ran cold at his words, and I felt my heart sinking. "Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, my voice quivering. "I've never done anything to you!" He laughed, a cruel laugh that sent a shiver down my spine
As I reached for the book, the shelf above me gave way, and I braced myself for the impact. But before I could be hit by the falling books, Toby was there, pulling me out of the way just in time. I found myself in his arms, In Toby's arms, I couldn't help but notice the comforting scent of his perfume, feeling safe in his strong embrace. As I lingered there, I found myself admiring the features that had not been unnoticed before.
In that tender moment, Toby's gaze locked onto mine, a hint of romance lingering in the air. It felt as if he was about to lean in for a kiss. However, reality struck, and I drew back, my mind racing as I remembered he was the one who had kidnapped me.
"Toby," I stammered, my voice shaky, "you saved me, why?"
He chuckled, his devilish attitude returning. "Oh, clumsy dollface, I just wouldn't want the shelf to be the one to hurt you I'm the only one that can hurt you he remarked with a sly grin.
As I regained my composure, my eyes caught sight of a mysterious picture in the dimly lit library. A photograph tucked away on a forgotten shelf, depicting a girl whose eyes seemed to tell a story of secrets and unspoken mysteries.
Unable to resist my curiosity, I turned to Toby and asked, "Who is she? What's the story behind this picture?"
The question seemed to hit a nerve, and Toby's eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher. Suddenly, his demeanor changed, and he snapped, "Mind your own business, dollface! Some things are better left untouched."
His sharp words echoed through the library, leaving an uncomfortable silence. The air thickened with tension, and I couldn't help but wonder what dark secrets were concealed behind the beautiful girl in the photograph.
Driven by a persistent curiosity, I pressed further, determined to unravel the mystery behind the girl in the photograph. "Why won't you tell me? Even someone like you must have a heart hidden somewhere beneath that devilish exterior."
My words seemed to strike a chord, and irritation flashed across Toby's face. "You think you can just dig into my past, dollface? Maybe you should worry more about yourself."
An edge of frustration crept into his tone, and I, fueled by a mixture of defiance and frustration, retorted, "Maybe your heart is as elusive as your honesty. Is there anything real about you?"
The insult hung in the air, and suddenly, Toby flared up. His eyes narrowed, and he barked, "You have no idea what you're talking about! Don't push me, or you might find out how real I can get."
Undeterred by his warning, I stood my ground and said defiantly, "Do your worst, Toby. I won't be intimidated by your threats."
His eyes glinted with a predatory gleam, and he approached me like a dangerous animal stalking its prey. In a low, chilling tone, he whispered, "You won't like what I want to do with you, dollface. You're playing with fire, and it might just burn you."
Fueled by a mix of fear and frustration, I couldn't hold back my anger any longer. "You're nothing but a coward, Toby. Just a scared little boy hiding behind a mask."
Toby's eyes flashed with fury, and he snarled, "Shutup dollface! Just keep your fucking mouth shut before you see how real this 'scared little boy' can be!"
With that, he turned on his heels and stormed out of the library. Left alone, I couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious girl in the picture – the one who seemed to get Toby so worked up.