Chapter 03

His breathing hitched as he roused from his deep sleep. Andrei felt... Well rested since what seemed to already be a far away memory. It was like he was sleeping on a cloud, the warm rays of the sun blessing his tired features. It was not cold, nor was it too hot. His body was enveloped in warmth that everything felt just right.

Sheets rustled as he tousled in between his wake and sleep, his fingers brushing against the silk\-like fabric of the sheets he had curled in. He cannot remember the last time he felt so relaxed, so safe, that he wanted nothing more but to dwell in his current bliss.

But there was this niggling anxiety persistent on crawling its way up to the front of his mind, forcing him to stay awake.

Andrei slowly opened his eyes, unwilling to witness whatever reality was forced unto him by his cruel fate. He groaned as the throbbing pain in his head returned, wincing at how the pain made him feel like his head had been wrung dry. It was not good.

When the ache became more tolerable—even by the slightest bit—he began to let his eyes roam the space. From the bed, he knew he was in some sort of bedroom but other than that he couldn't tell anything else but that he was \*\*\*\*\*. His vision only showed him darkness even when he blinked his eyes a few dozen times.

His heart sunk at the thought of still being blinded and he sobbed, feeling helpless and weak. He tried to move his limbs as well, to see if he was still tied up like earlier but thankfully, no. At least his limbs were free. He pat around for the cover in his eyes... Nothing.

The room was simply too dark. Thank god, but even though he was alone he still flushed in his embarrassment to have panicked like that. He was busy being embarrassed over nothing when a thought disturbed him in his moment.

What if he was alone? What if... What if he could quietly escape without anyone noticing? What if.... What if he could soon call himself a free man?

Shifting on the bed into an upright position, he wrapped the blankets around his waist as he scooted over to the edge. He brushed his fingers over the soft fabric, not wanting to part with it but his heart ached for his freedom more. With a push, he stood up. His legs were still weak, shaking from the lack of strength but he believed he can somehow manage.

He has to if he wanted to leave wherever this place was.

Dedicated to accomplish his task, he felt around the room for a door. It took him a long time to navigate in the darkness, bumping over couches, walls, tables, even stubbing his toe a few times—which hurt like a bitch—but he pushed through... Only maybe cursing here and there.

Adrenaline coursed through his body, the excitement of possibly getting caught trying to escape growing as time passed. He couldn't see anything, couldn't even hear a single sound other than his heavy breathing which served as both a relief and a threat. Finally, a familiar and most welcome feel brushed against his fingertips.

The outline of a door.

He scrambled for the knob, feeling around until the spherical metal was wrapped around his hand. He mentally cheered, ecstatic and high on his relief that he wanted so much as to burst out and run screaming... But he held himself back.

Deep breaths. In... Out... He sighed, feeling the calm wash over him and he turned his wrist. The door did not creak as he expected it to, and the door opened to a bare and short hallway. There was not a single soul in sight, not even an ornament to decorate the walls. It felt cold. Lonely. But he wasn't here to judge the interior, he was here to escape.

Weary of how smooth things flowed, he took anxious steps forward, leaving the door open as he walked down the hall into an open space. It was brighter with the floor\-to\-ceiling windows making up most of the wall and he was in awe at the sight of the city before him.

He walked closer, unconsciously drawn to it while his bare feet brushed against the warm carpeted floor.

Then a man came into his vision. Tall framed, broad shoulders relaxed, legs spread apart, hand warming a glass of wine as he looked out into the majestic view like a king, the man emanated an aura of confidence without even an ounce of effort. And Andrei couldn't help but stare.

If the view of the city attracted him enough to draw him in, the man's back glued him in place, unable to move and just stare. Awed and dumbstruck, Andrei took a sharp breath which turned out to be a little too loud than he intended.

The man didn't show any signs that he was surprised, it was like he knew Andrei was there right from the start. "Like what you see?" The man asked, turning around to meet Andrei's curious gaze. Andrei flinched as he did, cursing at how he just missed his chance to escape but said nothing. What was weird though, was that he didn't feel as bothered about being caught as he should be.

The man raised a brow at him, placing the glass he held on the table beside where he stood by the window. He strode closer to Andrei, shoving a big hand into his black slacks. "Who allowed you to leave the room?" The man added, his voice a low rumble as he reached his free hand to Andrei's face, cupping his chin with his fingers.

"What?"

The man drew himself lower, pressing his lips onto Andrei's as he slid his hand to his nape, gripping on it tightly, not even allowing Andrei to pull himself back.

He didn't, though. Instead, he unconsciously welcomed it.

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