Anastasia
Once my tears dry, I decide that I am not going to waste this opportunity to explore the city. Adrien said I wasn’t a prisoner. If he won’t take the time to get to know me, then I’m going to take the time to know his city. This is my city now as well.
The house is so huge, it’s like a maze, and it takes me a minute to find the front door. He said I had to take a guard with me when I go out but I say bullshit to that. I’m tired of being treated like a prisoner. I’m going out on my own.
I go outside and see a guard down the driveway but that’s it. It’s day out now, so I guess the guard duty is lighter this timecompared to at night. I just have to get past that one guard and then I’m free to explore Paris on my own terms.
There’s a tree-lined area next to the driveway that I can hide in and slip through. Taking a deep breath, I run to the trees before anyone can stop me. My heart is racing as I hide behind a tree, waiting to see if Adrien or any of his guards come rushing out to grab me and force me back into his house.
But nothing like that happens.
I move slowly through the trees to limit the sound I make. The guard at the end of the driveway doesn’t even see me. His eyes are trained to pay attention to threats and I’m not a threat.
I make it out of the trees and onto the road before I take off running. I quickly lose breath. I was never one for cardio that much. Thankfully, I have my phone with me so I get an Uber once I’m far enough away from the house. The driver shows up within fifteen minutes and takes me into the city proper.
I have him drop me off near the Eiffel Tower. I mean, if I’m going to see Paris might as well do some of the iconic things first. I spend the day looking at the famous sights and getting a bite to eat from a cute café. The one thing I was not prepared for is the fact that practically everyone smokes here. It makes the city stink but the city is so beautiful that I’ll forgive the people for it.
I don’t have a lot of money on me so I can’t buy anything but that doesn’t stop me from going to nice shops and trying on clothes. My mom used to take me and my sisters shopping for clothes all the time when I was a kid but after my dad died and Denis took over, I lost those moments. I laugh as I try on different clothes, feeling like a kid again.
Once that gets boring, I spend time just walking around the city. Taking in the architecture, checking out a museum, eating more food. Denis limited how much food we could eat as he wanted to keep us weak. The past few years since I lived withNatalya I slowly allowed myself to eat more. Now, I let myself indulge.
I don’t even realize how much time I’ve spent in the city until the sun starts to go down in the sky. I really need to get back.
I get another Uber and wait on the street for it. A car pulls up to me. “Are you my ride?” I ask.
The man in the driver’s seat nods. I get into the backseat and he takes off. I have Adrien’s address in my phone and it becomes apparent that the driver is taking me in the wrong direction.
“You’re going the wrong way,” I tell him. As I look at my phone, I see it ding, letting me know that my Uber is here. I frown. But I’m in the car now…
A weight settles in my stomach and I realize: this isn’t my ride. I got into the wrong car. I was never taught how to tell the scammers from the trustworthy people because I was kept too sheltered.
The driver catches my eye and smiles.
I have to get out of this car now. I wrench open the backdoor and fling myself from the car. Thankfully, he’s not driving too fast. My body still lands on the ground, pain running through my arm. He stops the car and gets out, coming right towards me. We’re at an intersection full of other cars. Surely someone can help me.
Before I can push myself to my feet, the man grabs my shirt and rips it down so the neckline is hanging low. I slap him across the face and it makes him back away with a grunt.
That’s when I take off running.
Fortunately, the driver doesn’t follow. He must realize I’m a lost cause. I make it to a café and ask for help behind the counter.
The female worker gives me a sympathetic smile. “I will make sure you get into the right car.”
“Thank you.” I get another Uber and make a point of checking the app to make sure the driver is the right person.
The barista waits with me before my car comes. I triple check that this is the right person before getting into the car. Somehow, I manage to make it home without any other issues.
I don’t even know what that man was going to do to me. Rape me? Kill me? Sell me into sexual slavery?
I shudder at the thought.
I have the driver stop down the street from the house so I can sneak back through the trees to the house without the guard spotting me. Somehow, I manage to make it back inside without being seen.
But the second I step through the door, I’m confronted by Adrien’s angry face staring back at me. He descends the stairs and comes right for me. I gasp when he grips my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.
“Where were you?” he asks.
“Out. Exploring the city.”
