103 Quiet rage (1/2)

Abigail's face was burning red. Her throat was finally better now after the third time Alex made her drink water from his mouth. He didn't even give her a chance to decline him.

”Want more?” he asked, causing Abi to frantically shake her head.

”I… I'm fine now, Alex,” she told him as she covered her lips with the back of her hand. ”I… I can drink on my own. Y-you don't have to do that,” she stammered.

For Abi, what he did was extremely embarrassing and she felt like she'd end up being choked to death instead if he continued doing that. She thought that this man had no idea how his actions were affecting her. No matter how much she told herself that he was only doing that to help her, her heart couldn't take it. She was afraid she might totally forget to breathe or swallow the water if he did that again.

”What. You don't like my method?” he asked, his fingers were already on her chin and his thumb wiping her wet lips.

”T-that's not it.”

”So you like it but you're embarrassed?” he bent down and stared deep into her eyes. ”Answer me, Abigail,” his sweet breath touched her face.

Before Abi knew it she said the word ”yes”. This man was too much. How could she say no when he was asking her this way?

”Good girl,” he replied. At that moment, Abi finally realized that there seemed to be something off with this man since she woke up. He didn't smirk or smile mischievously at her. She noticed that he always did that even in serious moments but now, he actually didn't smirk or smile even once. Also, why did his eyes look like they were colder than ever yet felt warmer than before? Did something happen during the seven days that he was away…?

Suddenly, the memories finally started flooding into Abi's head. That's right, she and Kelly had attended the ball and then… she was…

Abi's eyes slowly widened in both shock and horror the moment she remembered everything that happened to her. The darkness, the pain, the fear, the seemingly endless dungeon and the music… everything appeared in her head so clearly.

It was as if she just remembered a horrifying nightmare! Her hands suddenly clenched, clutching tightly on to Alex's shirt and her reddened face instantly became pale.

The next moment, her arms flew towards Alex's neck as they wrapped around him and pulled him down towards her. Abi hugged him as tight as she could as if she wanted to fix him permanently into her embrace.

”A-alex… I am not dreaming, right?” she asked. Her voice filled with doubt and fear.

”You're not, Abigail.” Alex assured her.

”I… that… that dungeon… I was…”

”Mn… you made it out of that place on your own,” he replied. His hand moved towards her head and he gently patted her hair in comfort. ”You're amazing, Abigail.”

With just those words, Abi's trembling lips and hand calmed down. The panic in her heart started to subside and her grip on him loosened up.

Alex moved and looked at her dumbstruck face.

”Everybody said no one had ever escaped from that place since it was built, but my naïve little lamb actually made it out. I think I can't underestimate you from now on.” He pinched her cheek as Abi looked at him in disbelief.

Abi couldn't speak for a while as she simply stared at him until Alex pulled himself up and sat up.

”You have to eat now,” he said and without waiting for her response, the man carried her carefully in his arms. ”I only have one servant here and she's pretty old. She can't even climb the stairs anymore so I have no choice but take you downstairs,” he added as he walked out of the room.