Chapter 72 No Other Choice
The morning sun broke through the small window in the corner of the room, illuminating the cramped, stuffy space. Audrey slowly opened her eyes, her body aching in every inch. She tried to move, but the pain in her shoulder made her wince.
Her gaze drifted down to her body. Her clothes were dirty, torn in a few places, and there were cuts and bruises starting to show on her arms and legs. Her breath caught as the reality dawned on her that she was still in this place, a place that was clearly not her home.
Audrey sat up with difficulty, her hands fumbling around her, searching for her bag. It wasn't there.
She sighed heavily, her eyes red. "Henry ... he must have taken it," she muttered softly, panic beginning to set in.
Her phone was in that bag. All the important documents she carried were also there. She was truly cornered now. Before she could think further, the sound of the door opening made her look up quickly.
A large man entered with heavy steps. Audrey recognized him as the man who had slapped her last night, making her even more vigilant.
The man looked at her coldly, then stepped closer. "Get up," he said curtly in a deep voice.
Audrey looked at the man with a wary gaze, her body retreating slightly until her back touched the wall.
"What else do you want?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite her heart pounding wildly.
The man did not answer. Instead, he towered over Audrey and roughly grabbed her hand. He began to tie Audrey's wrists with a rope that was stronger than before.
"What are you doing?!" Audrey protested while trying to struggle.
Again, that man not care. His hands worked quickly and deftly, ensuring the knot was strong.
"Quiet!" he said shortly, slightly snapping.
After making sure the bonds on Audrey's hands were tight enough, without saying anything, the man immediately pulled her roughly to follow him.
Audrey was reluctant to obey the command, but she knew she had no choice. With her body still aching, she finally moved, although her body swayed a little.
He gripped the rope in his hand, then dragged Audrey out of the room.
Their footsteps echoed in the narrow, damp hallway. The cold air enveloped the basement, making Audrey shiver. She observed the rough concrete walls around her, trying to remember every detail, as if looking for a way to escape.
When they finally reached the stairs, the man pushed Audrey forward. "Up."
Audrey swallowed, hesitating for a moment, but she complied. The stairs led them to a room that was very different from the basement earlier.
This room looked modern, minimalist, and clean - with white walls, marble floors, and minimalist furniture.
Audrey could only stand still, her eyes scanning the surroundings. However, she couldn't ignore the strong grip on her arm. He then took her to a door at the end of the room. When the door was opened, a fairly large room was visible. The room had a large bed with clean white sheets, a dressing table, and a small bathroom in the corner.
He pulled her in, then roughly released the bonds on her hands.
"Get ready," he said briefly. "Don't try anything stupid!"
Audrey looked at him with hatred. "What is all this for? What do you actually want from me?"
The man did not answer. He merely gestured with his chin towards the bathroom. "You're smelly and dirty. Clean yourself up. The Boss doesn't like seeing someone unkempt."
"The Boss?" Audrey hissed. "You people are crazy!"
The man looked at her coldly, then stepped back to the door. "You have one hour. I'll be back."
"What if I refuse?" Audrey asked sharply.
The man smirked faintly. "You don't want to know the consequences."
Without waiting for an answer, the man went out and closed the door loudly, leaving Audrey alone. The sound of the key turning was clearly heard, making Audrey realize that she was truly locked in this place.
Audrey looked around the room again, then rushed towards the window there. She quickly pulled back the white curtain covering it and could only stare at the sturdy bars with despair.
She moved her hands, trying to shake the cold iron bars and even trying to squeeze through the gaps between them, but it was too difficult to pass through.
"Damn it," Audrey hissed, clenching her fist, her breath slightly ragged.
Frustration poured out, but Audrey knew letting it out would only drain the energy she needed to survive. She scanned the room once more, trying to find something, anything that could help her. It seemed the room had indeed been sterilized of anything.
There were no sharp objects, no windows that could be opened, and the door was tightly locked. She felt like a bird in a cage.
Audrey sat on the edge of the bed, trying to regulate her breathing, but anxiety continued to overwhelm her. The image of Henry and the "Big Boss" the man had mentioned returned to haunt her mind.
"What are they actually planning?" she muttered softly, feeling like crying.
Audrey closed her eyes, hoping to find peace. However, all she found was fear.
A few minutes passed until Audrey finally realized one thing. Fighting without a plan would only make her weaker. She needed a strategy. She needed to play smart.
"If I keep fighting like before, they will only hurt me worse," she thought.
She bit her lip, trying to push away the fear that kept growing in her heart. "Maybe I should play along with their game for a while. If I can gain their trust, I might find a loophole to escape."
Audrey knew she was entering dangerous territory, and she had no other choice. She stood up slowly, her eyes returning to the bathroom in the corner of the room.
With heavy steps, Audrey walked towards the bathroom and did what she was told.
For now, that was the only thing that might save her...