It was the morning and when I woke up, there was no Francis to be seen.

As I exited the room, I looked around to see that there wasn't anyone in the hallways. Perfect.

Sneaking down the hallway, I made sure that there weren't any footsteps of mine to be heard and I tried to find an empty room with a window.

But I was soon distracted as soon as I heard grunts and yells from a large room. Walking close to it I pushed the door open slightly to see that Francis was in there and fighting some other people.

He used his wings to push himself into the air, before swooping back down and knocking them down, disarming them of any weapons they had. He then held them in a choking position until the victim tapped out.

And that's when he let out a breathily laugh and, took off his shirt.

My breath hitched as I saw sweat dripping down his perfectly curved body, and making it shine in all the right ways. His wings were outstretched on his back, matching his dark and shifted hair. He was perfect.

"Like what you see huh?" a sly voice said behind me making me jump.

My head spun around, and I saw that it was the Quinn girl from the day before and she still had her lips pitched with that devious smirk of hers.

I cleared my throat as I stepped away from the door and looked away so that I didn't have to make eye contact with her.

"You know, the moves you pulled yesterday were smart and annoying." she sighed, and I gave her a blank stare.

"Look, I know you don't want to be here, but you have to deal with it. Francis isn't going to let you go any soon," she tried to reason, but I still stayed quiet.

"Is there anything to eat?" I said trying to avoid what she was saying, but I think she was just glad that I was talking to her.

"Sure! Follow me this way" she exclaimed and grabbing my hand and dragging me away from the training hall.

She brings me to a huge kitchen where chefs are fussing around, also whilst eyeing me suspiciously. Quinn went to one of the counters and yelled a name before an older-looking chef walked over with a joking scowl on her face.

"What are you doing here Quinn?" she said in a monotone voice and Quinn smiled gesturing to me. I was hiding behind her, but still keeping my distance.

"My friend here is a bit hungry! What on the menu?" she answered, and the chef lady looked at a piece of paper on the marble counter. I cringed at the word 'friend' and shifted away from her as she talked; we weren't anything close to friends

"There is some soup being prepared." the chef said, and Quinn nodded.

The lady walked away for a minute but returned quickly with some hot red soup and bread, Quinn took the bowls and led me to a grand table, it was at least 4 metres, and it had a big red table runner down it.

Quinn and I took a seat, and I made sure to sit at least one seat away from her. I didn't want to get too close to her.

As I picked up my spoon and began to drink the soup. I felt Quinn's eyes on me, so I shifted my eyes into a glare and slide my sight over to hers.

"Are you thinking of escaping?" she asked suddenly making me splutter on my soup.

"No," I said quickly, wiping my mouth.

"Don't. You'll make Francis go off and he'll change his attitude in a second. It's like he's-"

"Bipolar?" I finished for her, my eyes not leaving my food. I knew it was risky trying to escape from someone like him, including with how serious his disorder is, but I had no choice. He wasn't going to let me be free, so I'm going to do it myself.

"Yes- how do you know?" she says eyeing me down.

"I was his psychologist" I stated blankly not looking up from my soup.

She stopped asking questions after that. And for that, I was thankful. I scoffed the rest of my meal and left some soup over because I was eager to get out of there.

I shot up and speed walked out of the dining room, I didn't hear her follow me, so I let out a deep breath as soon as the door was closed. Only for it to be hitched as I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder, stopping me from walking any further.

"Hey, I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot- given your circumstances, but I would like to be friends," Quinn explained as she walked around to face me.

She brings out her hand halfway between us and looks into my eyes as I do the same for her.

"Would you like to?"

It was a still moment as my gaze switched from Quinn and her hand. I took her hand and shook it with a smile

"Sure."

"Great!" she says enthusiastically "I need to go to a meeting. You won't run away- will you?" she joked.

"No," I say, forcing out fake laughter and she nods before turning to the other direction and running away.

I speed walk to the empty room, a small smirk appeared on my face as I looked around, walking closer to the door before quickly entering and closing the door without a sound.

The room was small, empty, and white. Since it was empty every step I made echoed around the room, but I didn't care.

I was dead set on the window that was on the outside facing wall. It was open and there was a slight breeze going through it. The outer rims of the glass were white, the window was tall enough to fit someone like me to stand in it, and I could clearly see through, there were trees.

Alright. Let's do this.

I wobbly got up on the thin ledge, the metal piercing my bare feet. I bit my lip to endure the pain. I had to do this.

I looked at a tree branch that was fairly close to me. I could make that jump.

I bent my legs, closing my eyes as the sounds of the wind filled my ears.

And I make the jump. My feet leave the ground and I reached out my arms, my body was already halfway through the window when someone grabbed me by the waist and throw me on the floor harshly, making me squeeze my eyes shut in shock.

"What the-" I grunt as I squint my eyes open.

A harsh bang and a large figure were standing in front of the light from the now closed window, making themselves a silhouette.

But I could clearly see who it was.

I push myself up with my hands into a sitting position but also push myself back in fear.

Please.. no no no no no!

"Francis.." I whisper out

He's now out in the light there's a clear scowl on his face.

"Please-"

"I'M SORRY!" I shriek out

He's been dragging me by the wrist ever since he stopped me from jumping out the window to escape.

He hasn't said anything but all I could hear was a low growl that shut me up. But I didn't stop trying to get his tight grasp off my wrist, there was defiantly going to be a bruise later. We walked in silence for a few moments before we arrived at the door to the room I was staying in.

He roughly opened the door and threw me into the room, so far that my back hit the edge of the bed. And before I could even look up to see Francis's face, the door slammed.

I steadily got up and walked to the door, slowly putting my hand on the doorknob. And just as I did, there was a click on the other side.

I twist the door handle but all it does is click. I kept turning and turning the door handle, but the door would budge, and the clicks of confirmation just rang in my ear.

"Francis..." I knew he was on the other side. "FRANCIS?" I yell banging on the door.

My breathing was getting heavier as I continued trying to turn the door handle. My heart was pounding against my chest as I hit my bald fists on the door.

"PLEASE!" I say, pleading with him to let me out.

No... I don't want to do this again.

"Please!" I sob, hitting the door repeatedly.

I can't do this again.

"I'm sorry.." I whisper as I lean my head on the door, my sore hand at my side, not able to do anything more. "I'm really... really sorry.." I whisper in a wobbly voice, tears sliding out of my eyes.

Not again.

"You're not allowed to go outside and play with other kids Valentina! Never! They're a distraction and will bring down your academics! They're useless entertainment"

"Please, Mother! I'm always inside studying, and I've only gotten A's for the past 3 years!"

"That will never be enough child!" she screamed, and her hard hand came to my cheek.

I yelped out in pain, and she pulled me by the hair up the stairs, even as I tried to slap her hands off me, I was too weak.

She harshly pushed me into my room, and I cried out in pain, tears rolling down my face.

"You'll stay in here until you learn your lesson." she scowled as she closed the door.

I stayed there crying but I stopped as I heard a click on the other side of the door. I ran up to the piece of wood and tried and tried to unlock it over and over, but it didn't work. So, I stayed in my room, studying all night, nearly all of the pages with writing stained with tears.

She kept me in there for 3 days, with little food and a tiny amount of water and when she let me out she only let me go outside to do my job or go outside to get books from a library.

This happened over and over until I finally got money to be able to move out.

After that, I had gotten a medical degree as my foster mother had been pleased over, but after I moved out, I did what I wanted and received my Bachelor of Psychology, I continued my dream profession whilst being prescribed pills, to help calm the nerves coming with my anxiety disorder.

I'd taken pills ever since, and sometimes I would have too much and pass out, but now I've had too little, and all my past was catching up to me.

I cried with my head on the door, I felt my knees buckling and I fell to the floor. Why was I always the one that had to suffer? Why me?

That's when I felt myself choking on my breath and I put my hands on my throat. My breaths were becoming short and heavy. I was losing oxygen in my body fast.

My vision had become blurry, and I couldn't say anything for help. Wearily brought me up off the floor, and put one hand on my bed, to help me push myself up and my nails dug into the covers as I tried to take deep breaths in and out.

After various seconds or minutes- I couldn't keep track- of repeating this exercise and I was able to breathe in and out steadily with only shaking a little.

I haven't had my medication for 3 days, and I was already starting to lose it. I needed it and fast, but I wasn't sure if Francis was in the mood to give me any help.

Sighing, I plopped down on my bed and sat there for hours just staring at the roof. There was nothing to do. Stuck in the room, there was no way of getting out.

Looking out the window, I could see that it was evening.

Even though it was early, I felt like I could sleep the day and night away. But I didn't feel safe falling asleep. I don't know if I ever would after I escape this horrid place. If I ever did.

The negative thoughts were catching up to me.

I sprung up from bed and went to the window, closing the curtains. They were seeing through, but enough to block out the light, just like the ones on my bed.

I did the same to them too, undoing the knots on the pillars and letting them form a little barrier between the outside world and me.

Once again, laying on the bed, I could feel the tears rolling down my face, but I couldn't feel anything now. It just felt- empty. The only sound that I could hear was the dripping on the bed sheets as the tears slid off my cheeks.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the light illuminated outside of this room, only a crack of it being shown and there was a shadow of someone standing in the middle of it.

I already knew who it was and quickly got under the covers, facing the other way, and closing my eyes to make it look like I'm asleep. I couldn't bear to even make eye contact with him right now. The door creaked open and there were quiet footsteps to the edge of my bed. He let out a deep sigh and placed both of his hands on the space bed next to my 'sleeping' body.

"I.." he started, but he seemed lost for words. Cursing under his breath, Francis stood up straight again, removing his hands, making a strand of my hair drop over my face.

He noticed this and leaned over me to place one of his fingers under it and scoop it behind my ears.

And with that, he just walked out of the room, locking it with a loud click, making me trapped again.