The tall, terrifying man in front of me ignored my words and just kept penetrating me with his dark eyes. I began to feel really frustrated and stale.

I really shouldn't let him treat me like this.

"One"

Brandon grinned so big that his teeth showed and the irritation inside of me only grew for each second. He still refused to move a single inch even though I had just begun my count.

"Two"

The seconds passed by much faster than my counting, which was my purpose. I wanted to give Brandon a chance because I didn't want to call for the guards.

Another part of me also felt the strange need of being close to him, like the adrenaline from my fright made me feel like I wanted more.

Even if I was longing for the moment when he would let me go of his grip, I knew the excitement would be over with that second.

"Three"

This was what I had told myself not to let happen. I had shown him my fright. I had let him take my power and put it in his own hands. I had let him win already, and this game just got started.

I felt so disappointed with myself.

This was not what I had studied five years to become. A weak nurse who fell for her patients' games and tricks. A nurse who got scared of her patients when she was very aware that she didn't have to be.

The things I was doing were the opposite of what I should.

"Four"

My patience with Brandon began to run out. Even if I was counting this slow by purpose, I at least wanted him to say something.

"Five"

Brandon bit his lip, looked as attractive as always and I felt my knees get weak. His features were unordinary, something I had never laid my eyes on before. Anyone could see in his eyes that he was broken and dangerous, but that didn't change the fact that he was a very good-looking man.

Once again, he grinned out, which made me feel his breath on my face. Of course, my counting was just another part of his game.

Slowly, he moved his right hand off the wall and carefully placed it on my cheek. I bit my teeth together and tried my best not to cry.

"Oh, come on, Beverly. Why are you shaking?"

The touch of his hand against my rosy skin didn't make it any easier for me to settle.

"Six"

If the words weren't so short, I would have been stammering them out by now.

"Do you think I'm angry with you, Beverly? I'm not,"

I still didn't believe him.

This situation would not help with my trust in him. Why did he want me so badly to believe him? And then he did this?

No matter how hard I tried, I didn't manage to understand or get into his brain.

Of course he did this out of anger?

"Seven"

"You don't think I will let you go when you're done counting?"

"Eight"

"If you don't believe me, then scream,"

The frustration grew even heavier. Of course, he didn't want me to scream, that would just lead to him being punished. He had been here at St: Nicolai before, and I would be surprised if he never got any kind of punishment for some reason back then. He knew about the consequences and the treatments after a situation like this.

The electric shocks and boiling hot baths, and about the solitary.

"Nine"

"SCREAM, BEVERLY, SCREAM THEN!"

I almost couldn't hold it in. He drove me insane.

His dark, loud voice was even more terrifying when he was this close to me. My stomach was turning from the inside and out, and a tear was now running down my face.

I couldn't believe I told the guard to leave. I knew deep inside that something like this would happen.

But it was not too late to scream, so why didn't I?

"Ten"

In a quick move, Brandon took down his hands and took one big step backwards.

He was still wearing the same disgusting grin on his face.

I let my tears out of relief, and my knees gave up.

I slowly fell down to the floor, and I tried to catch my heavy breathing. Brandon was standing completely still in front of me. He didn't say a thing or move a single inch.

So this was a part of the trusting game.

He did indeed let me go the second my mouth spelled ten.

If I didn't play along myself, I would have screamed before I was done with the counting, but I didn't. And that's how he knew he could continue.

He enjoyed this, and no matter how he affected me or how he felt for me himself... So did I.

But I would never come out with that confession.

Not even to myself.