Chapter 4 YOU ARE SPECIAL

"This is nothing Lauren. This is just your punishment for bringing that friend of yours here, without my permission."

"She was here to bring me my work stuff so I don't have a sit and do nothing here," she shouted at him as if she knew everything. "Why should I ask for your permission about my work."

"Because I own you Lauren. You are mine and you will obey everything I say. So before you do anything stupid, ask."

"Skrew you Danny. I hate you." She said and shaded more tears. But Danny continued to stare at her. Gently she tried to wipe her tears but she looked away.

"Don't, don't touch me."

"Lauren, you're the one making things difficult here. All that is needed is a simple answer,"

"Is that even a question. You're already forcing me to marry you against my will and yet you tell me to answer you."

Danny left and came back with a box. "Here," he handed out the box and went to take a bath.

Taking her laptop off the box, she couldn't stop thinking about her family. She kept on asking herself how he could have reached them. Her phone rang. Looking at the caller, it was an unknown number. Immediately she wiped her tears and answered the call.

"Hello, Lauren. It's me Marcos."

"Marcos, tell me where you are. Are you alright? And mom and dad?" She asked, panicking her soul out.

"Lauren, some people came to our house and pointed guns at us. We're locked up. We were told that this is just the beginning. If the answer that they are expecting doesn't gets delayed, then they will be crucial punishment."

Lauren held her mouth in shock as she listened to her brother. Now she knew that this man was capable of anything.

"Lauren, mom said you should be careful. Don't do anything stupid. And don't agree to marry him...., Lauren, I have to go," he hung up immediately.

"Marco, Marcos?" She cryed. She didn't want to do anything stupid now. She took the box, trying to place it on the bedside table so she could lie down, but the box fell and all the papers were scattered all over.

She didn't have the energy to clear up, so she let it be and dozed off.

Not wanting to wake her up, Danny pulled the blanket and tucked her in.

"I promise, you will not regret anything, Lauren. You're different from the rest. You're special." He said removing the hair from her face. Her eyes were still shading tears. Gently he wiped them out then left the room.

...

Waking up, Lauren looked at herself in the mirror. She looked awful. The were dark circles just below her eyes. She felt her head heavy. Her skin was a bit pale. Her hair was unmaintained. "Gosh, I look like a zombie," she said wiping her face with her palms.

Looking around the room, it was messy. It didn't even look like her room but instead, it looked like a dumping area.

She filled the tab with hot water and dipped herself in. She didn't know whether it felt relaxing as she thought or what. She just kept on wondering what they'll do next. "No, I have to be. This is my family we're talking about. I can't go weak now." She washed herself up. And started tidying up the room.

"This isn't mine. It's Kayler's. She must've placed it by mistake." She pointed out to a magazine. Wanting to page it, she got interrupted when someone knocked on the door knocked.

"Go away Danny." She said.

"I'm dear, it's not Danny." a voice of an elderly woman could be heard. Quickly, she rushed to the door and opened it.

"I'm sorry, I thought it was someone else," she apologised.

"That's alright dear. Now come on. Food is ready. It's not good to lock yourself up and not feed your stomach."

"But I'm not hungry, plus I have a lot of work that needs to be completed."

"No, no. Work can be done later. You need to eat. Come on. I'm not taking a no for an answer." She pulled her to the dining.

There she found Danny sitting there. He seem to be in deep thoughts. A frown settled on Lauren's face while relief came to Danny. She knew why he called Mrs Hughes here. Probably to make her leave the room. Moreover, so she should eat.

"I'm not feeling hungry Mrs Hughes. I will eat later," her face was emotionless. She stared at Danny for long.

"It's not good to start the day without breakfast. Now sit and let's eat."

'Is he really being serious. Now he is sending someone to make me eat. Why can't he just apologise and release my family,' she complained within herself.

A small smile curved up on Danny while she watched Lauren stuff food in her mouth. "This is good Mrs Hughes. You should give me the recipe so I can give it to my family," she said staring at Danny.

After a while of silence. Lauren stood up and tided up the place. Taking the dishes to the kitchen. While doing the dishes, her mind ran far that she didn't realise that Danny was staring at her. She kept on harming and beautiful tune.

"You have a beautiful voice," Danny said making her freeze.

"I have work to do," she said looking at him. Her eyes were about to shed tears.

Danny cought her arm just as she was about to pass him. She stopped but did not look at him.

"Lauren..."

"Can you please leave my family alone. It's me you want, not them."

"Lauren listen to me."

"All I want is my family to live a normal life. Not cage them like they are birds. Who does that. The are so ladies in this world...."

"None of those ladies are like you Lauren. You're different from them. Your beauty is mesmerising." He brushed her skin and she closed her eyes immediately. Not wanting to fight him.

"What I see in you, no one has it. You're special." Lauren pulled from his grip and walked towards her bedroom.

"I don't like being ignored Lauren. That could just make me want to make a call."

"Don't you have work to do, because I do."

Walking to her room, she started to work with her laptop, but she couldn't stop staring at the magazines. She felt like there was something that was meant for her to read.

She took a pause and paged out.