SAPPHIRE
My shoes made clicking noise on the marble as I walked through the hallway of this place. Despite its modern architecture, there was something weird about this place that I couldn't exactly pinpoint. The air here was filled with a strange scent, probably that of the jungle and all the wild animals.
The walls of this hallway were painted bright red, like the color of the blood. I wondered why someone would paint their walls with such color? How creepy.
I was about to turn back when at the other end of the hallway, a door caught my attention. My curiosity took over my sanity and I walked over to the door. I gently pushed it and it opened with a creak.
The room looked like a normal study room but ten times more massive. The front wall was covered by a huge book shelf containing books of every size. I moved forwards and gave a closer look to the large array of books. From the dust on the top ones, they looked like they had been here for centuries.
On the wall next to the bookshelf, there was a painting hanging that covered almost half of the wall's height. I gulped as I watched the pack of wolves in the picture. They were painted with every detail clear that it almost looked surreal.
I extended my hand out to touch the white wolf in the middle, it's eyes were closed and his face raised towards the sky. It reminded me of the wolf that I saw earlier, the night I met Connor.
"Outsiders are not allowed to enter this room." I heard a feminine voice and I jumped up in surprise. I turned around and stared at the woman I saw earlier, the one who was Atticus West's younger brother's wife.
"Sorry," I whispered slowly.
"It's okay." She passed me a brief smile and stepped forwards, her eyes left my face and focused on the painting behind me.
"Grace? Is it?" I asked.
"Yes," she nodded without looking at me. "Hope you are feeling better now."
"Yes I'm perfectly alright. Actually I wanted to ask, when can I leave?" I asked her in hope-filled voice.
"When Atticus decides." She smiled at me, a smile that looked like it was hiding many things. My spine got a shiver and I sighed in hopelessness. "Don't worry, it's better for your health."
"I don't live here. I have to go back to the city." I exhaled in exasperation but her expression didn't change.
"You should take some rest. You look pale," she said and walked past me. While she was leaving, I saw the mobile in her hand, the screen showing someone's number.
'There is no signal here.' he had said.
My heart jumped up in my chest as I realised the possibility of being locked here forever.
°°°°°
There was darkness all around me. I tried to move my hands but felt like they were tied. I tried to scream but no voice left my mouth.
Suddenly I heard the door creak and then footsteps came towards me; muffled, scary footsteps. I wanted to turn my neck to look at the intruder but my body didn't help me at all.
Then the footstep came closer, until I felt a presence behind me. The person leaned down and I felt warm breath on the side on my face.
"Sapphire!" The voice was masculine and I have heard it before.
The voice was followed by a soft touch on my cheeks. He touched my forehead with his finger and trailed it down my face, all the way to my chin, causing goosebumps all over my skin.
The dream ended soon and I shifted in my sleep. There was something about that touch that felt so surreal, as if that person was right there with me.
After letting out a deep exhale, I opened my eyes and the moment my gaze landed on the person leaning against the dresser of this room, staring at me with his piercing blue gaze, my heart leaped out of my chest and I let out a small scream.
"Did I scare you?" he asked, walking towards me with his hands still buried in his pocket.
"What are you doing here?" I gulped, trying to calm my racing heart.
Before he could reach me, I scooted away on the bed, still in my shocked state.
"I guess you had a nightmare," he whispered. Supporting his knee on the bed, he extended his arm and lightly touched my face, the touch similar to what I had experienced during dream.
Once again, I scooted away from his touch and his jaw clenched at this, the fake smile already evaporated. "If you need anything, ask Stella."
With that, he straightened up and made his way out of the room but before leaving, he stopped for a moment and turned to look at me with his icy glare. "Sweet dreams, Sapphire." he said and the familiarity of his voice caused a shiver down my spine.
After that, I couldn't sleep the whole night. I got up from the bed and took a warm shower, all the while thinking about the look that he gave me. I had no idea what he wanted from me or who he was. I didn't know him, I have probably never met him then why was he after me?
After changing into some fresh clothes that the housekeeper had given me earlier, I walked out of the bathroom and stepped towards the window.
By what I have gathered till now, this room was on the ground floor of this mansion. Despite being larger than a billionaire's house, it had no security as I haven't seen any guard out there.
Maybe it was a good thing for me as I can easily run away.
I made my way out of my room, not to run but to just look around. I have already suffered one night because of being alone out in the jungle. I won't do the same mistake again.
I walked towards the main gate, my sandals making noise on the floor. Like I said, there were no guards here so I just easily stepped out of it, planning to just amble around in front of the mansion.
The air was infused with particular smell of jungle and it made me nauseous. I walked along the pavement made in front of the mansion. The jungle was silent at this point of the night and it just added to my fear of this place.
When the walking didn't help, I sat down on a bench in the corner and watched the huge mansion towering over me. It was ivory white in color, the walls clear despite the earthy environment. There were almost four floors and I had no idea why three people needed this much place. They could turn it into a hotel and earn millions. But then again, they probably didn't need me to tell them ways to earn money.
I was busy admiring the mansion when I felt something move behind me. I quickly turned my head but found nobody in my sight.
Paranoia once again filled my mind and I decided to walk back to the mansion but then something scary happened.
A howl erupted from somewhere close, loud enough to cause my heart explode inside my chest. I let out a terrified scream and dashed towards the main gate.
Another howl erupted and my feet grew quicker. Once I reached the main gate, I walked through it and shut it with a loud bang.
Heavy breaths left my mouth as I attempted to calm myself. I was safe inside, I reminded myself. After almost two minutes of rapid exhaling and inhaling, my breaths finally became rhythmic and I let out a deep sigh.
Just when I was about to walk back to the room, I heard the voice of main gate opening and someone came inside. I kept standing in my place and watched as the person came closer and closer in the dark.
"What were you doing outside?" The man asked once he was closer to me, his eyes stared into mine. If I thought I would get used to his icy glare after a few encounters, I was wrong. They sent a shiver down my spine every time, no matter how hard I try to act tough.
"I... I... I was... Just taking... A walk." I stammered as the ball of nerves in my throat grew bigger.
He didn't say anything. Instead he just narrowed his eyes at me. He was so close that I could feel his minty breath on my forehead. From this close, I could see the faint stubble over his jaw and the light freckles over his nose. How could someone be so scary yet so beautiful?
"Careful." He said and then walked past me, turning me cold.
"Oh God!" I breathed out in relief once he was out of my sight.
Atticus West! Who are you?
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