Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 11

==Olivia==

I was rational; I knew that. As a child, I didn't buy the idea that Santa Claus existed. It was just pure nonsense, I'd thought. There was no way in the world that an old heavily bearded man would ride through the skies with his reindeer and go on to distribute presents to kids. It was just too good to be true.

As a tween, I didn't see the truth in a fairy-tale romance, such that there were little to no problems at all. It sounded ridiculous. However, here was I, having the firm belief that my tear ducts had been emptied. I'd so much that it couldn't be possible I'd be able to produce tears ever again.

I was still on the bed. Hadn't brushed, hadn't showered, hadn't eaten. I wanted to end it all. To sleep and never wake up again. And if starving was going to do just that, then I wouldn't pass.

It'd been ages the monster came here. He had the effrontery to switch on the light, making my hopeless state visible. I'd drawn comfort in the fact that the room was dark; I wouldn't have to worry about knowing how bad I looked or even having to deal with knowing what he was like. But like everything else that had been taken from me, that ignorance had been stolen. I had been forced to see the monster. The devil himself.

He looked just as dark as his heart was. Mean, cold, heartless.

One thing was sure, I wasn't going to give him the pleasure he wanted. I wouldn't bend to his whim. Never. I'd rather die than do that.

***

I was awoken by a sound. Footsteps edging close. It had to be him. I braced up, wanting to yell at him. To tell him that there was no way I would take my bath in his shithole of a bathroom. That I would rather chew on a live skunk that indulge myself in whatever meal he had.

The footsteps drew closer and closer and finally made it into the room. But it wasn't whom I was expecting.

"Good morning, Miss. I'm here to inform you that the boss would like to see you know."

She had on an apron, making me realise she was a maid...or something. Was she the one that served me the nachos yesterday?

"Well, go tell your boss that he can go rot in hell."

She remained emotionless. Her eyes staring deep into me, not even blinking.

She gave a slight nod and left.

Fuckers. The anger in my gut rose. I punched the bed, yelling, cussing as I did that. Chapter 13 ==Olivia==

It had been two days now with no food or water. At this point, my body had become alien. A complete stranger. However, I wasn't going to give up just yet. It wasn't really harmful to go on without food for a day or two, but that couldn't be said for water. My tongue was beyond parched, the same with my throat.

No one had come into the room. Not even an echo of footsteps arose. I took it to be that he had gotten the memo. Good. Sooner or later, he would replace my corpse and would have to deal with my hauntings. And even if it was unlikely my ghost would exist, there was the police, the media and other well-meaning people like Leah who would be on his neck. I knew by now that, Leah would have been alerted. She'd have gone to the police and reported missing. That thought alone was comforting. Even if I didn't make it out alive, I knew that someone was looking out for me.

Just then, what sounded like someone working on the door filtered in. Could it be him this time?

No, it wasn't.

There were two guys, like the ones that abducted me that night, standing in front of me.

"The boss wants to speak with you," one of them said.

I offered him a look of defiance.

"We would not like to be physical. Kindly cooperate with us, please."

Physical? Oh hell, I was ready for anything.

I rolled my eyes, a crossing my arms around my chest. They should do their worst.

Some seconds past, and silence pervaded the room. Then, the other spoke up.

"Miss. We would not want to force you."

"Oh please, you've said that like a million times now. You can do better."

That must have set them off. Before I knew it, they drew closer to me.

"What are you doing? Stay back."

They didn't listen. One of them scooped me from the bed even with all my pushing and kicking.

"Let me go!" I kept screaming as I trashed around. We eventually made it into a library of some sort where I was dumped on an arm chair facing a large rococo table. Behind the table and all around me on the walls were shelves. They contained books of different volumes. Despite myself, I stared in awe at what was before me. For a second, I forgot about my captor. "They are my father's."

I jerked immediately by the sound of the voice. That all too familiar voice.

He looked somewhat different today. Although his characteristic cold stare was there. He wore a plain white shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbow. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone, bringing to light the hair on his chest. I looked away, not wanting to be caught staring. He walked behind the table and took a seat. Facing me. Interlacing his fingers, he looked at me squarely.

"Your fierceness is praiseworthy, you know. It will certainly be appreciated outside," he said, "But this is the Malchian Grove. My home, my territory. You play by my rules only."

I puckered my lips, my eyes going all puppy. "Awwn, poor Mr. Beasty wants respect." Then, almost immediately, my tone became caustic. "Well, maybe you should have thought about it before abducting me. I'm never gonna play by your rules. Mark my words." "It's Mr. Roberto-Macini. Matteo Roberto-Macini," he said and I rolled my eyes. "You will have to, Miss. Your survival depends on your cooperation."

"It's Olivia," I said, wanting to spite him, "in case you don't know."

If he was mad, he didn't show it. I couldn't tell from his inscrutable gaze.

"Well, Olivia. This is your abode now."

"Not if I'm dead," I deadpanned.

There, I saw it. The glint in his eyes. That urged me on. If I could just push him more, he would explode. Good.

"And guess what? You're going to deal with your conscience. That's if you have one. And even if you don't, posterity would hold you accountable." He balled his fist. His eyes blazing.

"What do you wanna do? Hit me? Come on." I motioned with my palm. "Bring it on."

He made to sit up but stopped. Looking at me intently, he said.

"You want a reaction? You'll get it soon."