C3 3

Layla's POV

I don't know how long I have been locked up in this room for. The only place I'm allowed to go is to the restroom and there is always someone escorting me to and from. I'm only left alone when inside. These people were smart, because there were no windows in the restroom.

I have been wearing the same clothes from the day I was kidnapped. I'm pretty sure I smell disgusting right now and the guards never fail to remind me. It's not my fault that I'm being held against my will and cannot take a shower. The only thing they do is feed me. Apart from that I am a complete mess.

My brown hair is so tangled; I can't even comb my fingers through it without it getting stuck. It is a matted mess on my head, I'm sure the birds would love to make a nest in it.

I would ask to go to the restroom as often as I could, most of the time that I asked, I don't even need to use it. I use the time it takes to walk to and from the restroom to memorize my surroundings. I have been forming this escape plan since my first day here and tomorrow if all goes well, I will be a free woman.

I haven't seen Emilio or Luca since the day they were going to kill me. I was grateful for that, because they scared the shit out of me. I act all tough around them on the outside, but on the inside I am shaking like a leaf.

Sitting in the same cold empty room that I have been in since the day I was brought here, I decided to get some much needed sleep before my grand escape.

Opening my eyes slowly, I smiled to myself. This is it.

I walked over to the door and knocked loudly to alert the guard that I needed to use the restroom. I could already see the scowl forming on his face. He did not like it when I bothered him and he never made an attempt to hide how much he despised me.

As predicted, he opened the door with a scowl on his face. I smiled at him just to annoy him some more before walking off in the direction of the restroom, with him following close behind. When we got to the restroom, I opened the door, walked in and then slammed it in his face. I could hear his curses from the other side and I chuckled to myself.

I pretended to use the toilet then flushed it. I walked over to the door and opened it just enough for my head to fit through.

"Hey you" I said in a sickly sweet voice, just to rile him up some more.

"What do want?" he snapped.

"Umm... I need tampons" I spoke quietly, afraid that someone would hear. I was mortified to ask, but it was all part of the plan, so I had to just suck it up.

"Uh-uh-uh" he said sounding like a broken record as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. I wanted to laugh so badly, but I had to keep a straight face if I wanted this to work.

"I'll be right back" he muttered, walking away.

Phase one was completed and now it was time to move on to phase two. I stepped out into the hallway and headed back in the direction we had come from. Walking quickly and quietly, I came upon the stairs from before. I made my way down and took a right.

There was a door with the words 'exit' on it, so I rushed over to it. Who knew it would be this easy. There wasn't a soul in sight. Just as I got to the door I heard an alarm go off. This was not good.

I did not bother to stick around to see what was going on as I opened the door and stepped outside, closing the door quietly behind me.

I was immediately surrounded by darkness, apart from the few lights outside. All I saw were trees. It looked like we were in the middle of nowhere. I heard voices drawing nearer, so I ran towards the woods.

I feared being in the woods during the day and being in it at night was not a good idea. But what other choice did I have.

I ran as fast as my legs could go, never stopping or looking behind. When I thought that I was far enough, I stopped to catch my breath. I have never run so much in my entire life. I could hear shouting in the distance and I was completely drained from running so much.

I had to find a hiding spot. Bingo. I hid behind a bush and when I eased into it, it completely covered me. The voices were now clearer and closer, so I stilled my movements and held my breath, for fear that if I breathe they could hear.

A flashlight shone on the bushes I was in and then it was gone.

I heard footsteps and just as fast as they came, they were gone. I sighed in relief as I relaxed more into the bushes. I listened quietly at all the noises coming from the animals. I was very scared to be out here all alone, but anywhere was better than staying in that prison.

I don't know how long I have been sitting in the bushes, but the sun was already coming up. I got out of the bushes and began walking in the opposite direction of where I was running from. I have been walking for a very long time and I was very tired, thirsty and hungry. The sun was now at its peak.

Just a few more steps until freedom, I kept telling myself as motivation. I could hear the sound of a vehicle driving so I hurried my steps. Stepping out of the woods, I saw a road and across from it, there was a gas station.

I smiled to myself in happiness, as I hurried across the road and towards the gas station. I had a strange feeling about this place, but I just shook it off and blamed the queasiness in my belly on hunger.

As I opened the door to the gas station, the bell ran alerting the cashier of my entrance. I walked over to the cashier. Behind the counter was a man, probably in his late 50's. He had a warm smile on his face as I approach.

"Do you have a phone I can use?" I asked politely.

"You look like you have been to hell and back" he said eyeing my appearance.

"Something like that" I muttered.

"Here" he handed me a cellphone.

I dialed my best friends number and it went straight to voicemail so I tried again. This time it rang. Come on Avery, pick up the phone. No one answered. She was probably hangover, sleeping or just ignoring the call because it's an unknown number.

I gave the man back his phone and went outside to think. What am I going to do now? I was so deep in thought; I didn't realize the old man was standing before me trying to gain my attention.

"Here, you look like you need it" he handed me a bottle of water.

"Thank you" I smiled gratefully. He nodded and turned around to head back inside.

I gulped down the much needed water as if I was drinking water for the first time. Standing here all day won't get me home. I didn't know where I was so I needed to ask for direction, so I went back inside to ask.

"Where am I?" I asked. He didn't look me in the eyes as he kept looking around nervously. He was hiding something.

Just as I was about to open my mouth again to ask him where I was again, two SUVs pulled up outside. He kept looking between me and the SUVs as four men got out. Two of which I recognized instantly.

I shot the man a deadly look, which I am sure would kill him if looks could kill. He called them. There wasn't anywhere for me to run as they walked it, each sporting a pissed off look on their face.

"Gotcha sweetheart." Emilio smirked at me. I could see in his eyes how much he was enjoying my trembling figure cower away from him.

He walked over to me and grabbed me by my long hair, dragging me out through the door. His grip never loosens, no matter how much I kick, scream and scratch him with my nails. He dragged me all the way to the SUV, where he picked me up and threw me inside. He got in shortly after me and the SUV sped off down the road.

"I tried to be nice to you" he said turning to me in anger.

"Nice to me? If your definition of nice is kidnapping and locking me up in a room, then I'd rather die than go back there" I snapped angrily at him.

"That can be arranged sweetheart" he said pressing a gun to my head. My eyes widen in fear as I stare into his menacing eyes, daring me to make a wrong move.

He pulled back away from me without another word. I sat beside him in the back seat shaking from fear as he looked out the window as if nothing happened. The rest of the car ride was spent in silence.

* * * * *

It wasn't long until we were pulling up in the driveway of a mansion. He opened the door and grabbed me by the arm to drag me out of the SUV. He never let go of my arm, as he dragged me along with him towards the entrance.

I took a look around and was mesmerized by the sheer size of the mansion. It was the most beautiful mansion I had ever seen.

There were also a few guards patrolling the area. Walking inside Emilio went straight for the stairs still dragging me along, his pace never slowing down.

He was 6'1 and my 5'5 body was finding it hard to keep up with his long strides. Maybe I should just stop walking and have him drag me on the floor, I thought laughing to myself. He gave me a questioning look over his shoulder, still not stopping.

When we got to the second floor he led me down a hallway, and then stopped in front of a door. Opening the door, he shoved me inside. He walked in after closing the door. I heard a click and knew that he had locked us both inside.

I gulped nervously as I took a step backwards away from him. Every step back that I took, he took a step forward. I could feel the back of my thigh pressed up against the bed as he closed the distance between us.

"You really need a shower. The bathroom is right over there" he said pointing in the direction of the bathroom and taking a step back. I guess my stench was the only thing saving me from his wrath, for now.

He was just staring at me and it was making me very uncomfortable. He ran his hands through his hair, then turns around and walked out of the room leaving me confused. I think my stanch chased him away.

Looking around the room, I realized that this room belongs to someone. It had grey walls, floor to ceiling windows and a king sized bed in the middle. It was fully furnished with the dominant colors being grey, white and black.

I walked over to the walk-in closet, which only consisted of men clothing. I was in his room. He brought me to his room, but why would he do that. Unless... I was cut short when the room door open.

"Who the hell are you?" a high pitched voice shrieked.