The first thing Elicia felt was warmth.

Not the suffocating heat of a damp, filthy room. Not the burning pain of a fresh wound.

But real warmth. Soft. Gentle. Unfamiliar.

Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim glow of the bedside lamp. The scent of clean sheets surrounded her—a scent she barely remembered.

For a moment, she didn't move.

She couldn't.

Because if she did, if she let herself believe this was real, the illusion would shatter.

She swallowed hard, curling her fingers into the blanket. It's a trick, she told herself. It has to be.

Then the memories came rushing back.

The chains. The bruises. The endless torment in Gabriel's hands.

And then—him.

The masked man.

Aaron.

She had been taken before. Passed from one cruel hand to another. And now, she was in his care.

No chains held her down. No leering gazes loomed over her.

But freedom was a lie she had fallen for once before.

Her breath hitched as she turned her head, her pulse quickening when she saw him—standing by the door, arms crossed, his unreadable gaze fixed on her.

Watching.

Waiting.

Elicia shrank back, her body tensing. Why? Why hasn't he touched me yet?

She knew how this went. They were always patient at first. Always waiting for the moment she let her guard down.

Aaron tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction. Then, with a sigh, he turned away.

"Come eat," he said, his voice as distant as ever. "Before it gets cold."

Elicia didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

Because for the first time in years... a man had spoken to

her without cruelty in his voice.

And she didn't know what to do with that.

I already wrote more chapters. I will release it more when there's more people interested in this story:D

Im a new writer, sorry if the language or grammar is bad..

Thank you for reading!