The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the quiet streets. Everly sat cross-legged on the floor of her cozy bedroom, her sketchbook resting on her knees. The soft hum of the air conditioner filling the room.

Everly's pencil glided across the paper, sketching the intricate details of a fantasy world she often wished to escaped to. Her green eyes sparkled with creativity, her brunette hair falling in loose waves down her back.

She was lost in her art, oblivious to the world outside. The sun started going down and it was becoming late, so Everly decided to go to bed. Later on in the night the sound of shattering glass pierced the silence.

Everly jumped, her heart pounding in her chest. She slowly got up from her bed and slowly started walking towards the sound. Then bedroom door creaked open, and a masked figure stepped inside, their movements swift and deliberate.

Everly screamed, but her voice was muffled by a hand clamped over her mouth. Everly struggled, her mind racing, as she was dragged out of her home and into the night.

Later, in Everly’s perspective…

I woke up in a room that is dark but not too dark, and huge. tied to a chair, in a corner of the room. “Heh… from the books I read, wouldn’t I be put in the middle of the room?” I mumbled under my breath.

“If you’re gonna speak, say it out loud. Mumbling isn’t gonna get you anywhere… especially when you’re gonna be screaming by tonight,” says a man emerging from the shadows.

“Screaming? why would I be screaming? You’re not gonna rape me, are you?” I ask

“Maybe,” he smirks, “It depends,” he says mockingly.

“On?” Why am I here? I’m only 16, I have no possibility in having beef with anyone besides… crap! “Did Nathan sign you up for this? If he wanted to talk he could’ve just came to talk to me,” I say, starting to get a little annoyed.

“Hm. Not necessarily. We know you have connections with him. And he has something we want,” he says it in a tone that gives a chill down my spine.

“Connections? I guess you probably think he’s a friend or a brother or something. But actually, he’s not anything to me at all. More like an enemy I suppose. And now that y’all know this, you can let me go now.”

He laughs and turns away and heads towards the door. “If that’s the case, why did he go to your house earlier?”

“What? What do you mean? I don’t remember him coming over at all,” I say this hesitantly. Why would he go to my house?

“Apparently he found out you were missing and came rushing over.” He says with a slight grin.

….rushing over? Why would he be so concerned about me of all people? He hates me.

Seeing my confusion he says in a semi-flirty tone, “Enemies or not, you’re clearly important to him, therefore you’re not going anywhere. And that leaves you to all to myself.”

“Wha-what do you mean by that!?? D-don’t touch me, I’m not a toy for your… your selfish desires. Pervert,” I say concerned.

Nathan stood in his high-rise office, staring out the window at the city below. His blonde hair was perfectly styled, his tailored suit immaculate, but his brown eyes were haunted by the weight of his empire.

He had built his business with ruthless precision, but with success came enemies—enemies who now had Alexis. His phone buzzed, and he answered with a curt, “Speak.”

“You have something we want, Nathan,” a gravelly voice said on the other end. “And now, we have something you want.”

Nathan's grip tightened on the phone as a photo of Everly appeared on his screen.

She was bound to a chair, her green eyes filled with fear, but also a defiant spark that made his chest ache. “If you harm her,” he growled, “I will make sure you regret ever crossing me.”

The line went dead, and Nathan slammed his fist against the glass, shattering it. He had always been possessive, obsessive, but this was different. Everly was just a girl, a girl who hated him, a girl who had somehow burrowed her way under his skin.

He had to save her, not just because his enemies had taken her, but because he couldn't live with himself if anything happened to her.

Back in the dimly lit warehouse where Everly was held, she sat quietly, her wrists raw from the ropes. She thought of Nathan, of the way he is worried about her.

She didn't understand him, but she’s starting to feel like he would actually save her. Days passed, and Nathan’s search for Everly became an obsession.

He scoured the city, his resources stretched thin, his mind consumed by the thought of losing her.

In Nathan’s perspective..

“Why her of all people? Do they think she’s important to you or something?…… Is she important to you? Cameron said

“Well no, but she doesn’t deserve this, she’s just a kid. And she has no business in grown up problems. Who knows what they are doing to her, all because of me. I can’t live with the guilt of a child dying because I was careless in what I do.” I say.

“Soo she is important to you. Got it. For enemies y’all sure don’t act like it,” He says with a sly grin. “Do you li-“ I cut him off, “Shut. The. Fuck. Up Cameron.”

He raises his hands in defeat, “Sorry, not a great time. Anyway, have you found anything to help find her?”

“Actually, yes. I tracked down the number that called me to a warehouse just outside of the city. But the problem with is that it’s heavily guarded and it’s one in sex trafficking….”

“Well.. she’s is pretty, and some people like an attitude from a person who’s usually very quiet and innocent.” He mumbled

I sigh, “yeah, I know. Another reason why we- no I, Need to get her out of there.” I thought for a few moments, “isn’t her brother in the business? If he were to find out he might compromise with us.” I ask

“Aaron Quire? Maybe. I’m not sure, he isn’t one to play around with you. Even if it is his sister, and for all we know he could be the one who knows about you and her relationship.”

“Relationship?” I ask, “We don’t have a relationship, well not a good one at least. I’ve known her for a long time, yes, and I know everything about her. But I absolutely despise her, just as much as she does me.”

“Wha-what do you mean by that!?? D-don’t touch me, I’m not a toy for your… your selfish desires. Pervert,” I say concerned.

“My selfish desires? Hah! That’s funny, but true.” He starts walking to me and I try to wiggle my way out of the chair in a panic.

“You look cute when you’re struggling, you should definitely do it more,” he says while untying me from the chair. 

“Uh- what.. leave me alone, I’m just I child! I don’t deserve this. Whatever you want from Nathan I can give you. After all, I know where everything is in his office building,” I say, trying to get out of being harassed. “I-if you let me go, I can get it for you, o-or tell you where it is.”

“I’m sure you could, but I don’t think I trust you enough to go running to him for protection. Besides, I think I’m gonna absolutely love having you here,” he licks his lips, staring intently on my body, “Definitely gonna love it.”

“Fuck off! Pervert. Don’t touch me” I say. He grabs me by the throat and says, “Listen here, brat. You may have not noticed it yet but you’ve entered the dark part of this world, and the best part is I’m the one who brought you here. You’re mine to do whatever I want with you. Got it?”

The tears start to blur my vision as I close my eyes, not wanting to be here. He laughs hysterically and tightens his grip on my neck, “Got. It?” He asks again.

I nod, tears now falling down my face. “I.. I got it,” I mumble.

He tightens his grip once more before letting go. I drop down to my knees gasping for air.

“Now, follow me. I have some really hot clothes for you waiting to be worn,” he says with a slight grin, looking me up and down a few times pausing at certain areas.

“Clothes? For me? I-I actually w-want to stay in the ones I have a-already.”

“Quiet, you don’t have a choice. You are to obey and please me, so shut up.” He says firmly.

He turns away and goes to unlock and open the door. I roll my eyes as he faces away from me. “Let’s go,” he says. I follow him, as I walk out of the room I see people dressed in suits walking into a room and one looks right at me. Then it hits me- Aaron?!

Why is my brother here? After he sees me his eyes darken and he snarls and looks at the man leading me out of the room, looks back at me and walks into the room.

We get to a door painted all black, he opens the door then he yanks me by the arm and throws me onto the floor. “Ouch..” I mumble, he throws a red laced dress at me and says, “Put it on,” and stares at me.

“R-right now? But yo-“ he cut me off, “ Put it on before I do it for you, damn it.” Tears forming in my eyes again, I slowly get up shakily and pick up the clothes. I walk to the opposite side of the room and pick up my shirt to take it off. “Come closer, I want a better look at you, he says while licking his lips, almost drooling.