~ATHENA
Two months had gone by since I'd been freed from the life I never knew I was going to have an escape from. But even though I was free, I still felt stuck living in Reid's huge mansion surrounded by expensive things which made it feel like I was trapped in a fancy prison instead.
My two months here had been spent indoor, I wasn't allowed to leave the mansion, I wasn't even allowed to cross the front door. My movements were limited around the house and at first, I thought I was finally living again but as time went on, the weight of my captivity started dawning upon me and I knew there was no escaping from here, from Reid.
I should've left the night he had set me free. I should've founded my way around instead of wanting to go home with him. I wouldn't have followed Reid if I knew this was how it was going to end up for me.
The marble floors seemed to stretch on forever, reflecting the cold light of the chandeliers like a mirror as I walked around the mansion searching for something productive to do. I wanted to feel the fresh air on my skin, I wanted to feel the sun on my skin and walk barefoot on the grass. The soft rustle of leaves and the smell of damp earth all seemed like a distant dream of mine, a far cry from the sterile, perfumed air that filled the mansion.
I felt like a bird in a golden cage with no way to escape. The elegant dresses I wore and the lavish meals that were served to me all felt like a cruel joke because I was a prisoner who was trapped in a life that I never wanted.
The silence in the mansion was oppressive, punctuated only by the ticking of clocks and the soft hum of the air conditioning. My feet had carried me into Reid's library which was my favorite place because I could escape into books and dream of a different life, the life I craved, the life I wanted but couldn't have. The musty smell of old leather, the feel of worn pages between my fingers and the sound of words that transported me to another world were my solace and refuge.
But even that wasn't enough to fill the emptiness I felt inside. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of nothingness, suffocating under the weight of my own thoughts and it was making me lose the reality of life, my mental health was slowly deteriorating and I hated it.
Reid was like a ghost who was always avoiding me, treating me like I wasn't even there. Nothing had changed between us and the last time we spoke was when he had said those hurtful words to me over the breakfast table. He simply avoids me and acts as if I were invisible, as if I wasn't worth his time and I understood because I'd always end up being neglected and forgotten all my life so I didn't blame him at all.
Even though I was used to this type of silent treatment from people, it still hurts every time I was being ignored by him. I tried several times to start conversations with him but all he does is threaten to blow my head off or gouge my eyes out. He ignores my existence like a plague. The most reaction I've gotten from him was a scowl and that was because I had asked what his favorite fruit was.
His last words to me still hurt, making me feel like I was just a thing to him and not a person. I wondered if he even saw me, if he even knew I was alive and slowly running insane in his mansion he had abandoned me, because I hadn't seen him for over a week and I don't know what to make of his sudden disappearance.
Just like the past days, I stood in the library as usual, surrounded by the scent of old leather and the soft hum of silence, before I heard the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor, echoing through the empty mansion. I turned in fear, my heart beating rapidly in my chest because everyone who worked for Reid were men, so where did the heels came from?
My heart sunk as a woman with sharp features and a piercing gaze entered the room. Her shoulder length silver hair glowed like a halo in the dim light as she scanned the room as if she was looking for something important. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity until they landed on me which made a radiant smile spread across her face like the early morning sun.
"Oh, darling!" The woman exclaimed which made me took steps back. "I'm so glad to finally meet you." Her voice was warm and welcoming as she approached me with opened arms.
I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond because I didn't know this woman and I didn't know what was going on. I glanced around the room, searching for an escape from her but we were alone, except for the guards stationed at the front door of the mansion. I don't think they would have allowed her in if she wasn't supposed to be here so I think everything is okay...at least for now.
"M-mrs...?" I stammered, trying to recall if Reid had mentioned anyone visiting his mansion but I couldn't, because we never held any conversation over the past weeks.
She laughed, her voice was soft and warm as she pulled away from the hug. Her eyes sparkling with amusement as she gazed into mine which made me turn my eyes somewhere else, scared that I might freak her out with my unusual eyes.
"Call me Elena, dear. I'm Reid's mother." She introduced as I stood rigid on my stance not knowing how to react in a situation like this. Her gaze lingered on my face which made her expression softened as she saw the confused expression on my face. "You're even more beautiful than the picture Reid had shown to us." She added which made my cheeks spot a rosy dust.
My mind raced with all sorts of questions. He took a picture of me? What had Reid told her? We barely even talk so what has he told his parents about me and why did he tell them about me in the first place. I tried to process the situation but Elena's warm smile and kind eyes put my raising heart at ease.
"I'm so glad you finally decided to move in with Reid." she said, her eyes shining with happiness. "His father and I had been waiting for him to settle down."