EVE'S POV
The deeper the elevator descended, the heavier my heart felt. Hot tears streamed down my face, fueled by the thought of the pain everyone must be enduring because of our disappearances.
The elevator chimed as it reached the bottom floor, and the doors slid open.
We stepped out into a massive warehouse-like space. People moved with purpose, carrying guns and shifting boxes. They all stopped abruptly when they saw us.
"Boss!" one of them called out, jogging towards Frederick and bowing slightly.
"What about the shipment?" Frederick asked the burly man.
"It's on the sea, entering the country tomorrow night," he answered. Frederick nodded.
"Good. Continue with what you're doing, and keep a close eye on the surface," he commanded before grabbing my arm and dragging me along.
Shock and disbelief warred within me. This felt surreal. He was a stranger. I couldn't believe my once best friend might be a leader of a mob.
He flashed a card over a reader beside a door and pushed it open, pulling me inside with him. Once again, I was separated from Stephanie and Lexi.
"Where are you taking Stephanie and Lexi?" I asked the moment the door shut.
"They'll be fine, as long as you cooperate," he said simply, turning towards the door.
"Who are you exactly? Because you can't be the Frederick I grew up with," I couldn't help but ask.
He stopped and turned, his gaze intense, before walking towards me. I started to back away as he closed the distance, but he kept coming until my back pressed against the cold wall. He stopped inches away.
"Why?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. "Do you despise this Frederick? Do you wish I was more docile and... pretentious like your boyfriend?" His voice was thick with anger, the emotion twisting his face.
He grabbed my jaw roughly, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. Without warning, he pressed his lips on mine. I struggled for a moment, then pushed him away with all my strength and slapped him hard across the face.
"Stay away from me," I spat, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.
He looked genuinely shocked for a moment, cradling his cheek. Then, a wry chuckle escaped his lips.
"I hope you'll make yourself comfortable because you'll be here for a while," he said, then turned and left the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, my legs gave way and I slumped to the ground. The tears I had been desperately holding back finally broke free. I clutched my stomach, remembering my babies. The doctor had cautioned me to avoid any activity that caused stress or tension, but at this moment, I couldn't help it.
As I sat there on the cold floor, I heard the door open. I looked up and saw a woman walk in, carrying a stack of clothes in one hand and a tray of food in the other.
"The boss asked you to change into this and eat when you're done," she said, placing the clothes on the sofa and the tray on the glass coffee table before leaving without another word.
I looked down at my wedding gown. The dirt clinging to the delicate fabric, the rips and tears marring its beauty, broke my heart. This was a design Chris had commissioned especially for me, and it had quickly become my favorite dress. Ever.
Wiping the tears from my face, I stood and grabbed the clothes. I found the bathroom, took a hot shower, and changed into the clothes. I also carefully clasped my diamond necklace back around my neck. The clothes were a simple tank top and tight pants. Perfect for an escape, I thought as I finished dressing.
I walked back into the living room, feeling refreshed and more clear-headed. Thankfully, Frederick hadn't returned yet. I walked towards the food, lifted the lid, and inhaled the aroma of Bolognese pasta. My stomach grumbled in response. I sat down, ready to eat, but then stopped.
'What if he added a sleeping pill to the food?' I thought. 'What if it's part of his plan to have his way with me?'
A thousand similar thoughts raced through my mind, and I finally gave up on eating the food altogether. I grabbed the three chocolate bars beside the plate and went to the bed. I tore open a pack and munched on it. It didn't stop the hunger entirely, but it gave me a much-needed boost of energy.
I looked around the room for something, anything at all that would give me leverage against Frederick, but found nothing.
Just as I was snooping around, I heard the doorknob click. I immediately ran and sat at the foot of the bed, feigning nonchalance.
Frederick walked in, having changed his clothes. He glanced at the untouched food on the table, then stared at me, as if to say he knew what I was thinking when I saw it.
He quickly devoured the food, then set the plate aside.
"You must think the worst of me, and I tell you... it hurts... it hurts right here that you would ever think I'd poison you," he said, pointing to his left chest. But I felt no remorse for my thoughts. He had, indeed, shown me the worst of himself.
"Then let me go... let me and my friends go, and I'll forget all of this," I said, standing.
"Let you go?" he asked, making a face as if I'd said the most ridiculous thing ever. "Let you go so you can go back to that loser?" he said angrily.
"Get in here," he commanded through the walkie-talkie he held. Instantly, the door opened, and two burly men walked in, as if they had been waiting right outside.
"Since you already think the worst of me, then don't blame me for what I'm about to do next," he said, and with his signal, the two men moved towards me. I tried to run, but one of them caught me, hoisted me into the air, and threw me onto the bed.
"Let me go!" I screamed, cried, and thrashed, but they held me down and tied my arms and legs to the bed frame in a crucifix position, then left, leaving me alone with Frederick.
He pulled a switchblade from his ankle sheath and stalked towards me, wearing an evil smirk on his face.
"Things would have been good, easier, and simpler if only you'd chosen to be with me," he said, leaning closer, tracing the pointy edge of the knife from my legs upward to my thighs, the move cutting through the tight pants and leaving my legs and thighs bare.
"And I'm glad I didn't choose you because you are sick. And to be honest, there wasn't a time I ever gave it a thought to choose you over Chris. You could never be the man he is. You can go ahead and do your worst. I'll never give myself willingly to you," I spat angrily.
I didn't miss the shock, anger, and frustration that flashed across his face simultaneously before he raised his hand and struck me across the face.
"Shut your mouth!" he barked. I felt a metallic taste in my mouth, but I was glad I'd said what I said. He ran his fingers through his hair as he paced back and forth in the room, then finally stopped, turned to me, and removed the gun from his back, the walkie-talkie, the switchblade, and his belt, placing it all on the table.
He climbed onto the bed and straddled me, before leaning forward to try and bring his face close to mine, but I turned my head away and screamed Chris's name.
"Scream all you want, but no one will hear you from up there. So you might as well relax and let's enjoy ourselves," he said, chuckling. But I just screamed louder.
"Shut your mouth, Eve!" he said, trying to cover my mouth, and just then, I heard a deafening crash as the door was forcefully kicked open, falling from its hinges. And there, framed in the doorway, stood Chris, his bloodshot eyes blazing.
"Get away from my wife, you bastard!" he bellowed.
I felt tears stream down the side of my face, soaking into my hair, at the sight of him. He looked disheveled, stressed, and still wore his wedding clothes.
I couldn't believe he'd found us. My knight in shining armor.