The little screen on the dashboard indicates 8am when Harry drives into the bleak propriety. For the first time ever, I can clearly see from the outside what the place he lives in looks like. It was too dark earlier to find it out. It is a huge mansion with dark frontages and high windows surrounded by fir trees and wild brambles. That doesn't really make you want to drop by and say hello to the owner. This isn't the type of place you want to visit, but more to run away from.

I look up at the manor as I slowly get out of the truck Harry parked just a few meter away from the doorstep. The imposing sight of it is intimidating and its shadow stretches far behind me. Behind the castle, the skies are grey and it emphasizes the dismal look of it. Do I really have to go back there?

I turn my head to where we came from. There is a path through the undergrowths that surround the manor and I would be lying if I'd say I wasn't tempted to escape right now.

"Come," his raspy voice calls me to order and I can hear his warning tone in it. Seeing me watching at the woods with such yearning to escape might make him realize that he has to be ready to pounce on me anytime. Even if he has been good with me this morning, that doesn't excuse him for holding me back. Nothing won't ever excuse him. Nothing won't ever be a good enough reason to excuse him.

I sigh and I can tell he relaxes at the very moment when I finally decide to follow him to the house. I do it with regrets as a bitter taste spread throughout my mouth. I experienced liberty for the first time for weeks today and I could give everything I have left - actually not that much - to experience that again. But on the other hand, it wasn't complete freedom since I couldn't go wherever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to, and above all with whoever I wanted to.

I stand right behind Harry as he opens the huge creaking wooden double door with a big old key. He slips it back in his pocket before walking into the house. From where I stand, I can see how dark the inside is. Indeed, the thick dark red velvet curtains are drawn, which doesn't allow the dull light from the outside to illuminate the rooms. Who would live here? I mean, apart from him.

I step inside but doesn't close the door behind me because if I close that door, it would mean I would lock myself in, in other words, it would be as if I'd agree to be held captive and I don't want that.

I'm not yet completely in that a silhouette hidden in the shadow near the staircase comes out of the blue. It is not Harry's since he is taking off his jacket a few meters away in the living room, and I have never seen anyone in this house before. I take a step backwards, fearing of the unknown.

"Harry, here you are," the unknown man speaks, though he keeps staring right at me. "I was wondering where you've been all this time."

Surprisingly, the stranger gets no answer. Harry turns a deaf ear and I don't even know why. Why doesn't he react at the unexpected presence of this stranger in his house? The guy takes a step forwards and the light that comes in through the doorway allows me to see his face. He has short dark hair and pale skin, his eyes are a dull shade of grey and the expression on his face is both cold and devilish. He is probably a bit older than Harry and his likeness with him is indubitable. Maybe he is his sibling, maybe it's the reason why it didn't surprise Harry that much to see him here.

He walks past me and when he approaches I step aside. He then shuts the door close behind me, leaving us all three in the darkness. I do not dare to make a move because it doesn't look good to me at all. My eyes follow his every move as he walks around me in a slow pace. He has a drink of liquor in his hands and he brings it to his mouth from time to time without taking his eyes off me. His simple presence and the way he behaves scares me. Why doesn't Harry react at all? He could at least greet him.

I turn my head to spot Harry in the living room, but he has disappeared. When I realize I am left alone with the man, I panic.

"Wh-who are you?" I ask, frightened. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"First of all, I ask the questions," he says and I can hear in his voice he has been drinking. He comes closer and I step backwards until my back collides with a wall. I gulp when his chest brushes mine.

Where is Harry? What is he doing, for God's Sake? Why did he leave me here alone with him? I panic as the man leans forward.

"So you're my little brother's new toy," he states with a smirk. So he's Harry's big brother? I knew it, they both look alike and they both act with the same insanity. This definitely is a twisted family. "A beautiful creature, aren't you," he whispers in my ear as he gently makes his fingers trail down my neck and I shudder.

I can smell the horrendous odor of the alcohol from his disgusting breath and I immediately turn my head on the side. His big hand grabs my face and forces me to look at him straight in the eyes. At this very moment, I hesitate over screaming, but I don't have the time to because a voice echoes in the room and he is brought up short.

"Step back, Aaron!"

We both turn our head in the direction of the only man whose this voice could belong to. Harry. A little smile appears on my lips as I sigh in relief. The man, Aaron, lets go of me and I have never been so happy to see Harry in my entire stay here.

He walks fast to him with an angry expression on the face. When he reaches him, he pushes him violently in the chest and Aaron stumbles backwards.

"Don't come near her, ever, again," Harry threatens angrily as he points his finger at him. "Am I making myself clear, Aaron?"

I take a step backwards, pressing myself against the wall. Even if Harry came to rescue me, I would be lying if I'd say he wasn't frightening me a bit. They are both very close to each other and even though Harry is the youngest one, he clearly has the advantages over Aaron. He is taller, stronger, and his angriness makes him look more dreadful.

"Calm down, mate, I was just playing around, you know," Aaron says with a little smirk and raises his hands as a sign of surrender.

"I don't give a fuck, stay away," Harry warns him.

"As you wish," Aaron shrugs before stepping backwards and turning around.

Harry watches him walking away in another room to be sure he isn't going to come back. When Aaron is nowhere to be seen, Harry finally relaxes and turns to me. He approaches me and his stern features on his face immediately soften.

"I leave you alone for a minute and you manage to get into deep shit," he speaks but there is no anger in his voice anymore, it's just a statement, but he sounds almost sorry.

This is not my fault! I wish I could tell him, but I'm just too glad he came here in time. I couldn't imagine what this guy would have done to me if Harry hadn't shown up. I don't know what he was doing all this time actually, but I don't care, what matters most is that he came and saved me in time. So I remain silent.

"Come on, I take you back to your room," he whispers and I am taken aback when he gently wraps his fingers around my wrist to pull me with him.

My room? Does he mean that gloomy cell he has locked me in for a whole month? But I don't protest. I have a hunch that I will be safer in that basement he dares to call my room, than here. I don't want to bump into his big brother ever again, I'd rather stay alone in my cell. And with a bit of luck, Harry is the only one who has the key of the basement.

I haven't been down here for a few days now since he let me stay in his own room. It was because I hurt myself physically, but maybe the real reason I did that was that I am mentally hurt.

When we get back to the cell, I head to the mattress and lie down on it. Harry stays in the doorway.

"I'll come back in a few hours with your breakfast," he says. "Try to sleep a bit, you're exhausted."

I nod because he's right, I feel tired and I haven't slept properly last night. He then turns around, ready to leave. Before he does, I straighten up.

"Thank you for rescuing me!" I shout as he's about to close the door.

He slowly turns around and the torch he has brought with him enable me to see the frown on his face. He has a moment of hesitation before walking at a brisk pace in my direction as I am still seated on the mattress. In an act of impulse, he is taken by a urge of desire and kneels down on the beaten earth floor to literally pounce on me and grabs the back of my neck firmly. He brings my face to his with force and I don't have the time to think twice that his lips are already on mine. I widen my eyes as he makes his lips move with such passion. I do not push him back and, in all honesty, I don't think I even want to.

After a few seconds, he lets go of me and gets up without giving me a second glance. He then walks back to the door of my cell and finally closes it behind him, leaving me voiceless and breathless in the dark.

*

And they lived happily ever after. Yay! I ship them.

I hope you enjoyed this, I'm sorry for the mistakes, I try my hardest.

Please tell me what you think of Aaron, Harry's brother. Do you think he'll be back?

There are something like 3 chapters left before the end. I told you it was a short fanfic. So please, check out my new story Sublimation, it will start as soon as it is over. I love you all. Ella. x