Three days ago, so much happened. Not that I expected otherwise.

It was terrible and horrifying. It made me have fears again. It made me have vulnerability again. It was all in all crazy, unfathomable as I did not want to be in that position where I'd sort of argue with the beast then remember the monster of my past and then deny to answer the Beast. All that happened it made me realize that my life was surrounded by two mirrors; The Beast and the monster. Wherever I looked, one of those two always reflected me. What did that mean?

I searched for that question again and again, in those three days instead of being grumpy and sad, I searched my mind where I wanted to find answers not to just one question but to different riddles as well. Instead of shutting people out, I let people in.

Yes!

I let Dean annoy me, I let Jon piss me off. I did. Because I thought that maybe their twisted words could solve any puzzle but their twisted words were not just twisted words anymore when I heard. They were having a veil of forbiddance which blocked them and me. I did not need to know the cause of restriction, I did not need to know the person who not only restricted them from being some help to me but also traumatized them. I knew who he was. He did not come by and said Hi to his slave in three days. Why? Did he forget that I ruined his mood and he needed to ruin mine by popping up in my room? God knows why. But he was definitely up to something, I could feel the pure temple bells signifying his terror.

Anyways, like every morning, that new morning again brought those haunting thoughts and emotions in me. They were all soon taken over by a memory. A memory from last day in which I was hiding in hideous places of that mansion, looking for a chance to pounce on any of his minions and beat the hell out of him while finding the key to the main door. It was obviously an adventurous thought and a foolish act, but I went with that. People should learn stupidity from me, that will make them think about horrendous plans. The memory became more embarrassing when I was caught by Luke while I was trying to get in Madilyn's room for my great search. Though the locks were beyond my imagination, I still had the audacity to give it a try. The only room in which I could reach was Dean's room which is right beside the stairs of prohibited basement.

You would think how could an idiot like me managed to break the lock of the great and tough Dean.

Let me just clear it, I did not break the lock, not that I expected myself to be able to break it. It just that after hiding in places from places, when my eyes fell on the dark brown and white door, they noticed that it was surprisingly not locked and I could have a chance. I took small yet fast steps towards it, keeping my face as blank as I could. My head was continuously turned left and right after few seconds in fear. Thankfully, I was not caught and went inside his room only to find a small note laying on his side table. I checked his drawers, cupboard, the space beneath the bed, the secret place beneath the mattress and every possible place but the only relevant thing I found was the damn note.

"If you have found this, it means you have finally reached to the second last stage of the hide and escape game you have introduced. Second last because there is only one room left where you have not tried your luck in getting inside and find the ticket to escape. But let me break it you Clarissa Martin, you are able to try all of this because I have allowed you. You are not caught because I have not kept anyone as your guard. You are free to try to find a way to escape because I have decided to give this luxury to you. So, if it was not for my permission, you would have been caught and locked in your own room the moment you hid behind the damn curtain." -Romeo.

That cursive clean handwriting belonged to him, the beast himself. The man who gave me the luxury to hope for escape. The man who could bring the stars and moon in my gold cage but wouldn't grant me freedom. The man who instead of catching me red handed, left a damn note on his minion's side table just to make a silly point.

Fucking bastard! I cursed. But as he mentioned that there was one more left, I thought about pissing him off more and went towards Madilyn's room, the biggest bitch of that joint family. That moment, I was not hiding behind, beside or under anything but just walked to her room with my head high and did not look around in every five second in fear. But my eyes fell on the hard door which restricted me from entering as it was locked, I rolled my eyes at his attempts to keep me capture me, if it had nothing then why did he lock it? I huffed as I looked at the sticky note on the door's keyhole. I picked it up and read.

"Told you, you are a game and I am the only player."-Romeo.

Fuck off! I tore it apart and threw the pieces to my left side and then I heard someone grabbing my right hand's wrist, I veered towards him and immediately glared at that quite presentable face which belonged to Luke.

Embarrassing moment happened and that was how I was caught by Luke. "Give up already, you won't find anything, Clarissa."

"Who gave him the idea of writing notes instead of catching me red handed and facing. Is he still annoyed about the fact that I denied answering him?" I snapped. Luke chuckled and it made me frown.

Luke left my wrist before I could shrug his pathetic grasp off me and then he leaned against Madilyn's room door with his legs slightly crossed and his hands folded crossed across his chest, his eyes eyeing me from up to down with his lips having a little curve symbolizing his sinister mind. "What?" I asked, totally irked by his posture.

"Go to your room, Clarissa. Don't try to trick him because he will always be ten steps ahead from you or anyone. He will grant you freedom when he wants, don't stress yourself about it." He shrugged and smiled at me.

My frown deepened as his cruel and careless words cut through my soul and wounded me, I almost yelled, "You don't want me to stress about my freedom? What kind of person are you!? Insane son of a bitch." I spat and ran upstairs to my room.

And then after two days, I was still in my room with the little amount of food and water in my stomach making me feel as if I was totally starved and dehydrated and was on a verge of dying.

Those past three days were not less than the days before them though. As anyone can definitely guess.

Looking into the mirror, I saw my face. Paler than usual as I was not having food properly and probably lost a lot of energy. All the colors went away leaving me like a dead body having nothing but emptiness inside it. My eyes were prominent than usual as those were the only color on my face. But those green eyes also held loneliness inside them. I suddenly started to have my beauty bones popped out more than usual, my thick arms were lesser than usual, my face was slimmer than usual. Everything about me was not same. Everything was altered. Maybe my fate was altered too. My lips were like dried autumn leaves, though looking down on the dresser I found so many lip balms and lip creams lying there. I did not use them till then, I never thought I would have to use them. I thought I'd leave that place. But then, it started to hit me, the reality hit me, the reality was that I was kidnapped and was not taken away for a walk. The reality was that the beast was ready to offer me anything but freedom. The reality was that I'd have to kill those delusions inside my head about me being able to play a hide, seek and escape game with the beast and get my ultimate escape.

For a second I ignored the pitiful part of my existence and thought rationally that what the hell have I been doing to my life. Was I trying to kill myself? My eyebrows met in suspicion at my own reflected, I asked my reflection that question, but the sad part was that my reflection itself did not know the answer and was questioning me the same way I did.

Neutral eyes suddenly moistened as the tears threatened to come out of them and hurt me again instead of relaxing me. But I shook my head and denied the pain. It worked, I did not cry.

I don't remember that I had ever controlled those tears that always tore me apart. But then at that moment, I did control them, I did not let it get to me, I did pick myself up from the storm of sufferings.

Taking a bath was a brilliant decision as it refreshed me, tiny drops of water slipping down from my chest to stomach to my thighs and then to the floor, it reminded me of the good times I used to have with Mary. The times which slipped out of my grasp just as easily and as quickly as those droplets. Covering myself in a bathrobe, I walked out of the bathroom and walked to my cupboard. Some clothes and stuff were familiar and some were not, he definitely brought all of my stuff there as well. And I thought that it was just a sick game for some days. I had to sink that reality into me that I was kidnapped. But the fact that I was unable to get out of delusions of getting an escape clue, it was terrifying me to no end. Choosing my own jeans and shirt, I was about to untie my bathrobe and slip into my own clothes, someone knocked on my door and before I could form any coherent thoughts, the door was opened with a loud creak and the mighty presence of Romeo came inside my room.

It was quite rare view, my eyes scanned him from upside down and the fact that he was not wearing something haunting like total black clothing...it surprised me. It was too strange for me, because almost every time we met, he was in his trademark dark clothing. Everyone who lived in that huge mansion were also obsessed with dark clothing as if their darkened hearts wasn't enough to showcase their cruelty.

He looked befuddled as his eyes were scanning the room, he was gritting his teeth and his nostrils flared in anger, most probably. He turned around and closed the door with a loud thud, locking it from inside. My breath hitched. I took a step back, even though he was not close to me. His navy blue full sleeved shirt, grey jeans made him stranger for me, he did not look like himself. He carried a very easy aura that moment.

It was definitely not because of clothing but still I was noticing that slight change with curiosity. His hand was gripping a cellphone too tightly, as if he wanted to break that phone.

I tightened the knot of my bathrobe as I loosened it, walked back a bit more and said it, though his back was facing me and he was not turning around to look at me, why? "I thought you loved to talk through notes? Didn't think we'd see each other again." My voice did not shake that time, but yes, it carried a hint of terrible fear.

His unoccupied hand curled into fist and got in contact with the poor door, slamming it hard. He cursed, "Fuck!" with that he turned around to face me, his eyes were on my face and they said to me 'You're so dead, Clarissa.'

Though his words were not that cruel that moment, he walked towards me, that moment he managed to keep a decent amount of distance between us. But still, he was close enough for me to notice how his eyes turned from honey brown to amber in the sunlight that was shamelessly peeking through thin curtains and illuminated his face.

"Didn't Dean tell you about the damn cameras?" he asked. His voice was not harsh but strong, it held power, it held demands.

"Yes, he did. So? Did I break any?" I rolled my eyes which definitely annoyed him instantly as he held my forearm and pushed me towards him, leaving some so called distance between our bodies.

"Do you know that those cameras are seen by my particular people? Or are you stupid?" he asked. I frowned, not at his question. I could expect anything from that man but not politeness, his voice was not loud, it was a whisper which was not even terrifying. It was a whisper that made him even more strange for me.

Ignoring his new found silent politeness, I answered, "I know."

"Then why were you stupid enough to offer them free strip show?" Like always, that man carried tons of questions for me. But that particular question made my frown deeper and then in a second, my eyes widened at him and he huffed.

The fact that I was in a room, full of cameras and was about to change my clothes in there...it never came into my stupid brain. What was I thinking? I stammered, "I-uh, forgot."

He left my arm and lifted up his left hand, his hand held his cell phone and he showed me a video, it was basically showing my room having both of us. "I don't deal with your room's cameras, dumbass. My people do. And even I do, why would you be so stupid enough to change your clothes here?" That time, he yelled. I looked down, knowing that he was right, it was my fault. I should have known that whatever Dean told me, it was for my own use.

"You will change your clothes in your bathroom, I don't see you doing anything like that ever again. What if I hadn't looked at my cellphone, what if those dickhead perverts had kept looking? Because they did not inform me, I surprisingly opened the camera view. They are going to get what they deserve for this though but you...are you so dumb!?" he continued shouting, taking his steps towards me and I walked back, as usual.

I looked up and asked, "Are you so kind that you did not have any camera in my bathroom because Dean said that we have cameras on every corner of this crazy house? Are you not afraid that I can do something fishy in my bathroom against you?"

He looked away, his eyes were shut and he frowned at that sunray that was bothering his face, he turned around and moved towards the window. Instead of closing the curtains, he looked outside. His one hand was under his pocket, he seemed comfortable standing in the window, looking outside at the damn beautiful nature. Ignoring to answer my questions obviously.

"Go get dressed, I want to talk to you," he stated.

I didn't do what he said, if that was a surprise. "I asked something."

"No, Clarissa. I didn't put any camera in your bathroom. Why would I?" he huffed again, he was irritated, but he responded anyway. His little question was not just a question, it had a few more questions layered in it. He was basically asking why did I think he would and why did I not trust him on that. He was offended.

"You are my kidnapper, Romeo. I should expect anything like this from you. That is what the most kidnappers want. Their victims' body, money, dignity and all the crazy stuff," I sighed.

He looked over his shoulder at me, "Go get dressed! Don't ever try to find any escape from the damn bathroom because there is not. You are too curious and it will put you in danger, not my fault though."

"What do you want from me?" I yelled. I was annoyed by his presence in front of me, it was strange yet it was beautiful, it was dangerous yet it was soothing. He was a mystery which I hated, which was too jumbled.

"Go get dressed!" he yelled in return. I trembled on my spot due to his loudness. 

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Middle Author note: Continue reading!

This italic part shows the events happening with Mary, Luciano and etc. So they sometime might not follow the timeline of Clarissa's events. Though Clarissa's arc has taken three days leap, this italic part will pick up the story from the previous chapter's italic part track. Hope you understand. In the last chapter's italic part, Mary and Luciano finally meets Alfred, and now the continuing part...

"So what exactly brings you here, Luciano and Mary?"  Alfred questioned the two people sitting across him on the sofa, looking around but not meeting his gaze. He pulled out a cigarette from his pack and put it into his mouth, he then brought the lighter closer to his mouth and finally savored the metallic and dry taste of smoke. 

"I thought you'd be in the basement," Luciano spoke up, trying to start the conversation with easiness but deep down he knew that sitting in front of Alfred would never acquire him easiness. He was looking down and sometimes towards Mary but avoiding to have an eye contact because Alfred due to his age and experience used to have a good quick guess about secrets. And Luciano wanted to have a secret. He wanted to hide the kidnapping case of Clarissa from him and his people.

He snickered and glared at Luciano which made him straighten his back and look fierce, because that was how Luciano always look. "Yah boy, I am here, that should matter. Now, tell me." 

"Ah, we are here nothing really special-" Luciano started, finally his sea-blue eyes meeting the dark brown eyes of Alfred which immediately started its analysis. Alfred cut him off.

"Why is Mary with you? No one despises you more than my little kitten-"

Mary interrupted, her strong tone silenced them both and Alfred seemed taken back, but then a small crazy smirk crept onto his lip by hearing her order. "Don't call me that, Alfred." 

"Okay, your grace," he rolled his eyes and leaned back on his sofa and shifted his gaze from Mary to hesitant Luciano, he felt there was something different in Luciano's eyes, he was trying to get rid of the barrier that Luciano had kept, "So, Luciano, explain. And why haven't you brought me my new toy till now? What is the matter?" He frowned for a second and then got rid of it, bringing his trademark disturbing smirk back.

Mary's face turned to Luciano who avoided her eyes as well, because they both knew so damn well that what toy was it. It was definitely Clarissa. "Um, I go to Mary's club a lot nowadays, you know why. So Mary and I were just being civilized to each other and we became..." Luciano coughed to delay his answer so that he could make up a good lie, because Mary being comfortable with Luciano again was a shitty lie, Alfred was never going to buy it. "we became acquaintances, I just tease her a lot, you know how I am...and she gets angry. So, it is all fun. But we decided to hook up..." Mary grunted, Luciano got the hint that he stepped on the mine. "We did, Alfred, today. So, I wanted to come to talk to you, she wanted to tag along." Luciano sighed and cocked his head to his right side and saw Mary fuming in rage.

"Really? Hook up? No, don't lie!" Alfred chuckled and exclaimed in fake surprise, he dramatically gasped.

"We did because of some drinks, I regretted obviously," Mary started her story then. A part of Luciano just got broken again, he couldn't decipher the amount of times Mary has torn his insides, he couldn't guess how much damage she was going to do to him in future. But he knew that he was getting what he deserved.

"Hm, that sounds...satisfying," he blew the smoke out and then kept his index finger on his chin and nodded his head, while narrowing his eyes. He was giving a picture of a man who was actually buying all of that shit, Mary rolled her eyes at him drama and gave a curt look at Luciano who sighed in disappointment. "Anyways, kids, tell me what do you want, Luciano?"

Luciano got up and walked to the table at the corner of the door, it had some drinks, he brought it to the center table as he definitely needed some. He offered to pour some for Mary and she turned away from his sight and Luciano got his response so he poured it for himself in his glass. "Nothing special!" he exclaimed with a smile. Alfred nodded. Luciano continued, "I am getting threats from someone, do you have any idea what that is?" Mary's head veered towards tall frame of Luciano and she glared at him, hoping that he'd look at her so she could put some sense into him.

Enjoying the smoke, Alfred shrugged and spoke up, "Not really but who is threatening you? And I heard you were shot. Goodness, you are alive. You are a useful man." Mary's laughter invaded the room for a second.

Luciano looked to Mary who held her stomach as she laughed harder, "What?" he mumbled.

"Nothing...it is funny how you are just a tool to get his dirty work done for him." Luciano understood the infamous taunts of Mary and decided to ignore, but whatever Mary says, it never used to leave Luciano. It was always used to be printed  over his stone heart or empty mind.

Alfred raised his eyebrow at Mary and she looked away, Luciano started again, "I was coming to meet you here but a man came and threatened me, he occupied me with his words and someone shot my from behind. The one who was verbally shooting me had his face covered, before I could fight him, I was shot."

Alfred racked his hand in his thick brown hair and looked at the glass table for a few seconds, a small smile played on his lips, Mary noticed that. Then his lips suddenly pursed, his playful eyes turned all serious and he looked towards Luciano standing sipping on his drink, "There is someone strong enough to take some of my people. Maybe he is the one who made his man shoot you and threaten you."

Mary's eyes widened but Luciano was a bit drunk to sink all of that in, but he frowned at that revelation. "What do you mean?" Mary looked invested in the discussion and asked.

"I mean, my dear one that someone is out to get us, one by one." Alfred smiled brightly, what a sick man! Mary thought but continued listening, "He is basically succeeding in his venture, we are not doing anything except failed attempts of finding him or his men because he holds the key to our secrets; he holds our best and powerful men, Luciano. And if they open their mouth..." Alfred stopped, he did not need to say more.

Mary was reminded of a scenario for a second, that memory haunted her for a second but she kept quiet. She ignored thinking about it as it was not possible.

Luciano spoke up and lied, "I will find him and his men for you, I will make them pay for what they are doing to our people." He leaned down and patted Alfred's shoulder, Alfred did not flinch but he stood up immediately, putting off his grasp on him. 

"I hope you follow your oath," Alfred enunciated, his tone started to sound rough and strong, it sounded like the Alfred Mary knew and felt and met and entertained. Mary felt disgusted hearing that tone and she held the forearm of Luciano who narrowed his eyes on her and wiggled his brows at him, saying nothing as he was almost wasted. 

"Let's go, Luciano. Give me the car keys. It is too late, Nate must be going mad. You can come back here later..." she pushed Luciano out of that room, he tried to say something but Mary mumbled to him, "just keep quiet, you dumb fuck. Silence!"

"Mary," Alfred called her out, they both were about to step outside the room but they instantly turned to him, "You and him both know I don't like secrets. You and him both know the consequences of hiding anything from me." Alfred warned them, specifying Mary as she was the sober one between the two.

Mary nodded and Luciano copied her, nodding at Alfred, he said, "I don't lie or keep secrets, boss." They turned around and left the cottage. Mary satisfied her mind that she got an idea at least, that someone was behind Alfred and his people. It meant that Alfred was not in Clarissa's kidnapping and it meant that Alfred was also sufferer of the new threat. But she did not know if she should believe him or not. But a part of her did. She accepted that Alfred's men were being kidnapped too.

Both of them did not know what Alfred was thinking.

Late update I know. My apologies. I hope you liked it.

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