Maya's POV

"They warned her, don't go there

There's creatures who are hiding in the dark"

I guess her mother must have said the same to Little Red Riding Hood just before she set off to her grandmother's place - just as Izzy said to me but look who didn't listen .

"She knew she was hypnotized

And walking on cold thin ice

Then it broke, and she awoke again"

I guess I was a fool though I always had the feeling all along. I was treading on thin ice but welcomed it with open arms, fooled by his good looks and sugar coated words just like the wolf in the story, but now I was jerked back to the reality of life .

Feeling so embarrassed, I walked away through the back entrance because I didn't want to encounter the reporters - they would definitely have a field day after this event.

Tina must be over the moon right now while Eden would probably be like "I told you so " and Izzy…., well Izzy would probably chide me with that attitude of hers " I warned you , didn't I ?"

I was so mortified right now, wishing nothing but for the earth to open up and swallow me whole. How could they do this to me ?

Though my mind kept telling me Niklaus was fooled into this, I didn't want to believe it ; it gave me a reason to hate him .

Right now I just wanted to hide from everybody, away from this cause my heart was hurting terribly - I even told him I loved him!

What a great fool I was! Perhaps Kim was right, I am a curse, a failure, destined not to see good things .

I had to disappear, away from sight, away from the Spencer family, away from all this craziness, away from Niklaus .

But then I realized I was not with my purse. In that moment of panic I had left it at the table - my credit cards, cell phone and cash were in there .

"Shit! " I cursed, realizing just how much I screwed up. I shook my head, there was no way I was returning to that ballroom , no way - I would rather trek to death than do that .

But then I couldn't go through the entrance either, some of the reporters were still outside and they had seen me ride with Niklaus.

They weren't called reporters for no reason, they would probably figure out something was wrong and bombard me with never ending questions.

I thought of the back entrance but Niklaus men were there and he has probably ordered them to stop me from leaving so I can listen to his

"explanation" - note the sarcasm.

So I chose the underground parking lot, it would be the perfect hiding spot to vent out my frustration and cry myself to sleep unnoticed or luckily catch a ride from a good Samaritan and get out of this hellhole .

I stuck to my plan and thankfully the place was lonely - much to my comfort, I could now bawl out my eyes undisturbed.

But the tears began dropping and clouding my vision before I could find a good hiding place .

It hurts too much, I felt like dying . Why is everyone so cruel to me ? What did I do so wrong?

Maybe because I was so emotional,I hardly noticed I was being followed until the hairs on my body stood on edge .

I've always had a good instinct and now it was warning me of danger, but it was too late .

A strong arm hooked around my neck before I could react, followed by a white cloth pressed against my nose .

My eyes widened, I've lived long enough, read and watched enough movies to know that rag was drugged and the fact I'll be knocked out in seconds if I dare inhale whatever substance that was in it .

So I held my breath and struggled with him but he was so large and strong - unfortunately I was one tough cockroach to kill .

Perhaps my abductor noticed the drugging was taking too long, so he tightened his grip around my neck nearly suffocating me .

I choked and gasped for air and breathed in the substance mistakenly. My nose burned and my face scrunched up from inhaling the vomit inducing chemical pressed to my nose .

As expected, my body began to weaken as my vision turned blurry and the next, I lost consciousness .

Earlier, I had confidently cried-stomped into this parking lot because I was confident I could take out anybody that dares to mess with me .

But I was distracted nor did I expect those cowards to launch a sneak attack - they should have come head-on - and now I was the one taken out instead .

Whatever happened next, I could not tell but I definitely jumped off the bed the moment I awoke.

Perhaps because I was too abrupt, vertigo overwhelmed me, the room spinned and I almost fell to the ground had I not supported myself by grabbing onto the edge of the headboard.

Wait, Bed? Bed?!

Why was I on a bed? Eyes wide, I quickly checked my body for any discomfort of any kind.

Phew, that was close! I was not violated, aside from the fact I was changed out of my clothes without my consent - I didn't even dare to think about who changed me.

It was a simple yellow dress that wasn't revealing nor thin but the hem stopped just above my mid-thigh thankfully.

But this made me all the more confused, what kind of abductor gives her abductee a comfy bed and dress

I was expecting to wake up to myself sitting on a cold metal chair or the bare floor, hands tied behind or to a pole and gagged - I was definitely not expecting this strange reception.

My eyes narrowed suspiciously, either this was a plan to make me lower my guard or this abductor was too kind or he was clearly a fool who likes to flaunt his resources.

I began to think, who would dare to kidnap me? I thought of Kim's mother but no ; she wouldn't dare after Niklaus almost bankrupted their company.

Tina?She was the most likely afterall, she has the motive to do so - she hates me, even the air I breathe - even though she has an alibi but it just doesn't make sense.

Yeah,Tina could hire some men to do the job for her but she was trying to get into Niklaus good book at the moment - congrat though, she succeeded and got to be the fiancée instead - Tina is a smart woman, she wouldn't burn the bridge she hardly built today.

Then who?

But there was no more time to indulge my thoughts, I had to get the hell out of here.

My abductor might have been kind - as I chose to believe - but I don't know how long this strange kindness would last.

My feet were bare, so I tiptoed to the door and tried the doorknob, surprisingly it was not locked.

My frown deepened, was this some kind of sick game or what? What kind of kidnapper leaves the door open.

I placed my head on the door, and tried to pick up any approaching footsteps but heard nothing .

Heart pounding against my chest, I turned the doorknob and opened the door a few metres apart, stuck my head out and scanned the long passageway.

I walked out of the room and shut the door soundlessly, and walked down the passageway on tiptoes.

I could tell this place was a very large mansion judging from the number of rooms I passed and the long hallways with turns and rooms coming off of it.

So far I had managed to dodge the men guiding this place and they had guns, like real rifles!

My heart almost stopped dead when one nearly spotted me had I not ducked behind a wall on-time.

But where was I? Was I captured by a terrorist group? would I be moved across the border? Sold? Or forced to trade my body against my wishes?

My heart jumped into my throat as I thought of all possibilities and I wrapped my arms around myself, but it seems the universe was against me today.

Immediately, I heard voices coming down the direction of the hallway I was heading to and it caused me to gasp from shock.

Without wasting time, I turned to the left side but I saw the silhouette of an approaching figure - Oh my God, I was stuck in the middle.

I began to panic cause at this point undoubtedly, I would be caught. I tried to think but my brain already malfunctioned, so I turned the doorknob and entered the nearest room before they could catch me but then, I was totally screwed.

I entered the main den.

Thanks to my panic, I entered and closed the door without checking out the room first.

"Yo Farley, what took you so…..?"

The stranger with tattoos running down his arms faltered as soon as his sight fell on me.

I was resting against the door with my eyes closed and a relieved sigh when I heard the comment.

The room was very large and seemed to be their relaxation centre, because some men were seated on the rugged floor watching and arguing about the football match going on.

Few others were playing pool at the far end corner of the room while the others were drinking, smoking, playing cards and chatting .

The strong and nauseating smell of cigarettes wafting into my nose worsened the knot forming in the pit of my stomach.

The once lively environment died off as soon as they saw me - not less than forty intense gaze focused on me.

I gulped, "Maya, why is your life so damn hard