But after a while, the city changed, the crowded streets disappeared, the noise faded, tall buildings gave way to quiet roads lined with trees and high walls. Soon, she was comp

a hated that. How could someone be so calm? her entire world had been turned upside

take the silence an

lways kidnap

dn't even lo

so quickly that

hat makes m

for a second she thought he

're not s

tlas returned to whatever he was reading as if the conversati

response, "Has anyone

ly, ahead of them stood a massive black gate. The iron bars stretched high into the air, surrounded by stone walls, security cameras were mounted everywhere, the gates opened automatically and the car drove through, Elena's eyes widened. Beyond t

ople actuall

eady stood waiting. Elena immediately felt uncomfortable. Everyone looked polished, elegant, perfect. And then there was her, wearing clothes she'd left prison in. Hair ruined by rain, shoes falling apart. She

ena hesitated, "I

rst time since meeting him, his expression softened slightly, jus

t belong anywhe

cause it was true.

"Come

s they walked toward the entrance, Elena noticed something. Everyone seemed nervous, not relaxed, not comfortable, but nervous. Like they were afraid of making mistakes, Atlas pushed open the large front doors. The inside was even more impressive, crystal chande

"Mr.

nodded, "Mr

at Elena, not rude

e a room for he

ked, a tiny react

it immediately. Apparently guests weren

ward Elena, "Fo

"What ab

rself, Atlas paused-For a brief second, she th

away, just like that, no exp

ge feeling settled in her chest. She couldn't decid

Hayes's voice

uickly turne

It was the first genuinely kind

hey walked throug

side a large wooden door, Mrs. Hayes opened it, Elena stepped inside and froze. The room was beautiful, a king-sized bed sat near floor-to-ceiling windows

s room is

ayes nodde

standing outside prison with nowhere to go, now she was standing inside a r

rd a wardrobe. "There

frowned

ck had them

they even met? Suddenly the room felt colder, the la

"What

hought crawled into her mind, how long had he been watching her? And why? That question stayed with her long after Mrs. Hayes left, long after the room became quiet, long after