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Claire was reminded of that time, years before, because of what he said. Something that took so long for her to forget, that thing that happened when she was eight years old.

There was a man who tried to took her while she was left at the care of her brothers who wanted to took off on their own and be with their friends. They were at this big shopping center and their parents went inside the supermarket leaving them with a clear instruction to Ethan, who at that time is already fifteen, to watch them - the younger ones. But maybe because of teenage defiance, he left them alone which the others follow suit. When she also went to follow them, she was snatched by someone out of nowhere, since they were in a public place, the kidnapping failed when some people took notice of her distress. She was brought to the mall's customer care service by civilians where her parents were called.

Her brothers were grounded for two weeks because of what - almost - happened. She had several sessions with a psychiatrist to deal with the trauma, she also refuses to go out and be in a public place. That situation made her brothers overprotective, maybe they feel guilty and remorseful of what she experienced.

Her recollection was cut when she suddenly realized something.

"It was you?!" She said in a whisper-shout.

"Yes, it was me who failed to take you when you were still small." He said honestly that made her distressed.

"Why? I do not know you. Why will you do that and why are you doing this to me?!" She said shouting. But the man was unperturbed which is making her more upset than ever especially at his answer.

"I already told you Lizbeth, I will not let you go nor I will let you escape. You will stay with me until we both die, as what a couple promises each other."

"How.many.times.do.I.have.to.tell.you.that.I.am.not.Lizbeth." She said each word with emphasis. Instead of heeding her, Ben keep on his belief that she is someone else.

"You may be called differently, but you will always be my Lizbeth and I will call you only by that and nothing else, eventhough Claire is your second name."

At his words, a sudden realization hit her. She shivered that goosebumps erupted on her skin, for she knows who she is. Though, she doesn't have much memory of her, she has a direct relation to that person.

Lizbeth is her mother - her biological mother - Alessa's twin sister. Whose real name is Elizabeth Claire Sullivan and prefers to be called Lizzie. She died when she was four according to Alessa and they took her in as what Lizzie wants in her last will. She may not be their own child but she was treated as such and she's very thankful for that.

What puzzles her is that Ben/Derrick claims that her mother had been taken captive before and had escaped because of 'Simon' as what Ben said. But Alessa never said anything to her, maybe they do not have an idea about it, otherwise they will be extra cautious with her going out which only hapened after that failed attempt of kidnapping her. They also did not say anything about her mother taken against her will, all they told her is that Lizzie ran away when they were still young and only got a word after she died.

If it is true that Ben took her here before and is pregnant, her question is that, was she taken before she got pregnant or she was impregnated when she was here? For if the latter is the truth then it is possible that this man standing in front of her, who is also her captor can be her real father, which at her current state, she refuses to even think or accept. This monster of a man cannot even be compared to Nathan who had been the best father to her despite not being related by blood.

Her deep thoughts was interrupted by a sudden shout.

"Claire, take this!" Ben was instantly closer, holding the bars and threw something at her, almost hitting her face. But it was not Ben but Derrick who is trying to take control of their consciousness.

What happens next was beyond her wildest imagination for it only happens in movies - a suspense/thriller one and she haven't imagined herself in one of those situations.

A monologue is currently happening in front of her. The man is talking non-stop with himself, an alternating voice between one full of forced confidence and another with a threatening quality. What she can hear and understand is that Derrick is urging Ben to let her go which the latter refuses to comply, stating that she belongs only to him. The monologue continued for several more minutes until the body suddenly collapses on the floor, she doesn't know how long the body stayed there unmoving, she doesn't want to check by calling or making a noise because of fear. She was startled when his eyes jerked open and looked directly at her, she hurriedly took several steps back for it was the look of Ben, eyes full of menace and danger, accompanied with a smirk full of malice. He suddenly stood up and sat at the chair outside her cage. The look he is giving her made her hair stood up on it's roots especially after he spoke.

"Now, we are really alone Lizbeth. Nobody can help you now for I killed them all, Derrick and even Fred. Derrick for helping and befriending you, and Fred, well, eventhough that imbecile followed everything that I made him to, he tried to help Derrick when he is struggling, so that made him a traitor as well. As for Old Tom, let's just say that he also became fond of you, so I also erased his existence from this body, so you do not have any means of getting help."

After speaking, he stood up and slowly walked towards the door of the cage, as if taking his time and savoring his triumph. He then search something on his pocket or pockets rather when he didn't find it the first time. He searched several more times, checking and rechecking all the pockets of his clothes. He suddenly stopped and eyes wide, stared something on the floor near the bed, that's when she remembered that Derrick threw something at her. She snatched it from the floor, it was a crumpled piece of paper, what it contains almost brought her tears for it was a key. From the distress look on Ben's face, the key that she is holding is the one that can only open her cage.

More tears came rolling out of her eyes not from relief but of terror, she also whimpered and shrinked herself in one corner, for Ben roared, kicked, rattled and shook the bars as if the things he does can magically open the cage door. He is also alternatingly shouting and cursing Derrick's name repeatedly. When he thought that his actions are futile, he took the chair and thrown it at the cage, splinters of wood scattered everywhere. He even punched the wall so many times making his knuckles busted that blood continuously dripped into the floor making a small pool.

She saw him walked towards her, and stopped by the cage bars. He whispered-shout something that made her more helpless than before.

"You are going to pay for this Lizbeth. I will leave you here with nothing until such time that you will beg for food but even then I will give you nothing, unless you will exchange the key that you are currently holding. Until then you will rot here with that bastard you are carrying in your womb. I will make sure it will perish from the face of the earth and you cannot protect that the same way as last time for nobody knows you are here except for me. Think about what I said, repent and be remorseful, I can be forgiving sometimes especially if I know that you are honestly asking for one and promises to be a good girl and will follow everything that I will order you to." After his long rant, he left quietly. She heard he locked the door.

When she was alone, that is the time she openly cried for she really felt helpless and the only source of strength is the child she is carrying whose life is also in danger. She cannot imagine what her mother suffered at his hands. Was she violated by him during her captivity? Because if yes, she will go back to her earlier question, is it possible that he is her biological father? But if he is, why did he said that she is carrying a bastard child like last time, does that mean that Lizzie, her mother, was already pregnant when she was taken? So many questions, but the answers are so hard to find.

When she felt all her tears were gone, she willed herself to focus at what she should do. She still had some food saved since Derrick is also giving her packs of bread and liters of water, with the reason that she should not be hungry for she is eating for two with her condition. She can also find, every now and then, some bicuits with her newly washed clothes that 'Fred' send. Maybe it is true that Fred is helping her quietly as well.

She stood and decided to go to the toilet to wash her face and there she saw something that brought more tears. There was a pack of food again with a note that says:

She clutched the note and thanked whoever is above for sending Derrick to help her. Now, she just needs to make sure that her hoard of food will be enough until such time that she can do something in order to escape from this place and from him. She segregate the food into groups, for she needs to consume first those that are perishable. She hopes that Ben will not do anything drastic. She just needs to be quiet and looked miserable so as not to anger him more.

***

Several days passed, Ben will check on her every now and then and will ask for the key which she refuses to give to him. He made use of his promise that he will not give her food or water until she will comply to his wishes. On the seventh day after he went crazy, he stopped coming. She thought he is still planning what to do with her stubborness which is making her anxious to the point that she cannot sleep. This continued for several more days which is making her more worried, her food is already depleted. She cannot sense him as well for she can sometimes hear him walking to and from the wooden door going into this place. But for the past days, that noise is not present.

She fears that he really left her here to rot as what he treathened to do.

It's been three days now and she doesn't have any food left, the last drop of water was already consumed as well. She can now feel herself getting weak from lack of food, all she can do is sleep. She refuses to drink from the tap water at the toilet for she doesn't know if that is potable.

She just lie on the bed at the most part of the day like right now. She is still praying that someone will come and rescue her, though she started to surrender into the abyss that is slowly pulling her into.

When she suddenly saw a light, she followed it and felt herself being lifted and carried. She tried to open her eyes but it refuses to, and instead tried to break free but her efforts are futile so she just let herself fall into the depths of nowhere. Her last thoughts were of her family, of Lucas, of Penny, of everyone else who have been good to her, it came in quick succession. She saw their faces flashed at the back of her eyes and finally her thoughts went into the child that she is carrying. Her regret that she cannot bring him or her into this world. That last thought made her whisper 'sorry' and a lonesome tear fell off from her eye.

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OMG! Revelations! What do you think happened to her? Was she rescued or was she dead?

Please type in your comments and insights regarding this chapter. Your vote is highly appreciated as well.

Thank you for reading!

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