I was now flanked by the men who had pulled me from the house, their features blank and austere. My heart ha

k back. What was there to see? The only home I'd ever known had betrayed me, j

e unnerving. "Where are you taking me?" I demanded, my voice

of them

ainst the partition that separated us

the two men and swallowed hard. These weren't the kind of people who res

to the seat, my b

twisted with elaborate motifs. A long, winding driveway lined with lanterns ca

whispers, spoken with both awe and drea

, my palms damp. The home, a massive glass and stone building that appeared both

opened my door, and when I didn't move, he leaned in, his shadow bl

e reason. As I stepped outside, my legs shook, the cool

toward the massive double doors at the top of

I pushed myself to ascend. Before I could k

way like he belonged there, as if this was his domain and I was an intruder. He was

ed. I swallowed my trepidation and entered. The bang reverberated throughout the empty room as the door behin

gestured for me to follow him through a grand hallway lined with toweri

ed, my voice shaky but firm. "You

m. When he turned to face me, his expression was u

said, his tone clipped. "Y

d to argue, but I was at a loss for words. He was

ain. "You didn't make that choice." His comments were so definitive that the

yment. It was gone too quickly to be sure. "No," he said quiet

, as if my resistance was nothi

. "Why go through all this trou

e faltered, his jaw tightening.

"This is where you'll stay," he added, pointing to the room; I glared. "Stay? You think I'll just settle in like it's a vacation?" "You can oppose this all you want," he added, his voice low but stern, "but it will not improve you

ng as I stood there with my hands clenched. How had

were large, but not large enough to climb through. Even

door. It wasn't locke

could finish thinking. My heart

t black hair slicked back, her dark eyes assessing

voice clipped. "You'll an

" I echoed, my

emarked, her face somewhat softening. "But here we are." She stopped in the doorway as she turned to go. Additionally, avoid attempting to run. The previous girl who did not make it very far. I stood there with my knees weak and my head spinning as the d