The Door That Stayed Open

The room was quiet again.

Too quiet.

I sat on the edge of the bed, fingers absentmindedly tracing the cold curve of the anklet around my ankle. It glimmered under the dim light—beautiful, delicate… disgusting.

A chain disguised as jewelry.

“…I’ll break you,” I whispered under my breath.

But even as I said it, his voice echoed back in my mind.

I will always catch you.

Annoying.

Arrogant.

And the worst part?

A small, traitorous part of me believed him.

---

The next morning came like nothing had happened.

No guards rushing in.

No punishment.

No threats.

Just silence.

The door opened with a soft click, and the maid stepped in like usual, placing the tray down carefully. She didn’t look at me. Didn’t speak.

Like I was something fragile.

Or dangerous.

“Wait,” I said suddenly.

She froze.

“…how long have I been here?”

A pause.

“…time doesn’t matter here,” she replied quietly. Then she left before I could ask anything else.

What kind of answer is that??

I scoffed, but the uneasiness stayed.

---

Days passed again.

Or maybe it was only a few.

I stopped trying to count.

Instead, I watched.

Observed.

Learned.

Not just the guards this time. Not just the exits.

Him.

When he came.

When he didn’t.

The way he never stayed too long… but never really left either.

Sometimes, I’d feel his presence before I saw him.

Like now.

“You’re staring at the window again.”

I didn’t turn.

“Maybe I like it,” I replied coldly.

A quiet step behind me. Then another.

“You’re thinking about running.”

I smiled faintly. “Maybe I am.”

Silence.

Then—

“You can try.”

…

I blinked, finally turning to look at him.

“What?”

He stood there, calm as ever, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.

“I said,” he repeated softly, “you can try.”

Okay what kind of trap is this now??

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t expect anything,” he replied.

Liar.

“You just won’t succeed.”

There it is. Annoying as always.

I rolled my eyes. “Then why say it?”

He stepped closer, gaze locking onto mine.

“Because I want to see you try again.”

My breath caught.

Not fear this time.

Something else.

Something sharper.

“…you’re insane,” I whispered.

“Maybe.”

He didn’t deny it. Again.

Creepy behavior.

---

That night…

The door didn’t lock.

I noticed it immediately.

No click.

No sound.

Just silence.

I stared at it from across the room, heart slowly starting to race.

(This is a trick.)

Obviously.

(It has to be.)

But still…

My feet moved.

Slow. Careful.

Each step felt heavier than the last, like the roses themselves were trying to hold me back.

I reached the door.

Paused.

My hand hovered over the handle.

If I opened it…

If I stepped outside…

Would he be there?

Watching?

Waiting?

Of course he would.

He always was.

I clenched my jaw.

“…I’m not scared of you.”

Lie. Big one.

And then—

I opened the door.

---

The hallway was empty.

No guards.

No shadows.

No him.

My heart pounded harder.

This was wrong.

Too easy.

I stepped out anyway.

One step.

Then another.

Nothing happened.

No voice.

No footsteps.

No “Had enough running?”

Silence.

For the first time since being here…

I walked freely.

---

I didn’t run.

Not this time.

I walked. Slowly. Carefully.

Testing it.

Like if I moved too fast, the illusion would break.

The hallway stretched endlessly ahead.

Every door closed. Every light dim.

And still… no one stopped me.

“This isn’t real…” I muttered.

“Why not?”

I froze.

There.

At the end of the hallway.

Leaning casually against the wall like he had been there the whole time.

Of course.

Of course he was.

“You said I could try,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

“I did.”

“And now?”

He pushed himself off the wall, walking toward me slowly.

“Now you’re trying.”

I clenched my fists. “Then don’t stop me.”

He stopped right in front of me.

Close. Too close.

“I’m not.”

LIAR.

“Then move.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me.

“…you can go around.”

Oh my god he’s playing with me.

I stepped to the side.

He didn’t stop me.

Didn’t touch me.

Didn’t even move.

I passed him.

Just like that.

And yet—

My heart felt heavier with every step away from him.

Why?? That makes zero sense.

---

“Why did you stop?”

I froze.

I hadn’t even realized it.

My steps had slowed. Then stopped completely.

I was standing there… doing nothing.

“…keep going,” he said softly behind me.

I didn’t move.

Couldn’t.

Because something felt wrong.

Not the hallway.

Not the silence.

Me.

“…why does it feel like I’m still trapped?” I whispered.

A pause.

Then his voice—closer now.

“You are.”

I turned sharply.

He was right behind me again.

“When the cage isn’t the room…” he said quietly, “but me.”

My breath hitched.

“That’s when you understand.”

His fingers lifted slightly—hovering near my wrist.

Not touching.

Never forcing.

“…you don’t need walls to keep you here.”

My chest tightened.

“And you don’t need chains,” he added, glancing briefly at the anklet, “to come back.”

Silence.

Heavy. Suffocating.

“You’re lying,” I whispered.

“Then leave.”

…

I couldn’t.

And we both knew it.

---

He stepped back first this time.

Giving space.

Too much space.

“You can keep trying,” he said calmly. “It won’t change anything.”

I hated that he sounded so sure.

I hated that he might be right.

---

That night…

I went back to the room.

Not because I was forced.

Not because I was caught.

But because…

I walked back myself.

And that terrified me more than anything else.

---

Yeah… now she’s mentally trapped too 😌

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***