Pandora’s POV
I sprinted back to the resort, my heart pounding in my chest, and the memory of Derrick’s threat echoing in my mind. I burst through the entrance, nearly colliding with the front desk staff.
Panic clawed at my throat as I searched for Rolan. I spotted him near the lounge, his expression shifting from relaxed to alarmed as he saw me approach.
“Pandora!” he exclaimed, striding towards me, concern etched on his face. “What happened?”
“Derrick’s here! He just threatened me!” I gasped, trying to catch my breath. “He said I’d regret it if I didn’t come back to him.” The words tumbled out in a rush, each one heavy with the weight of my fear.
“Calm down,” Rolan said, his voice steady as he pulled me into his arms. “We’ll sort this out immediately. You don’t need to worry, I promise.”
I could feel my body trembling against him, the adrenaline fading, leaving behind a shaking vulnerability. He brushed a hand across my cheek, wiping away the tears that had slipped down my face.
“Stop crying,” he urged gently. “Let me handle this.”
He quickly turned away, his demeanor shifting into that of a leader. He strode to the resort’s reception, and I followed closely behind, still shaking. Rolan alerted the resort security, his voice low and urgent as he described the situation.
“We need to find this man,” he insisted, his eyes fierce with determination. “He’s a threat, and I want him out of here before he has the chance to hurt her.”
The man in charge of bookings, a middle-aged gentleman with a furrowed brow, started typing furiously at the computer.
“We’ll check the guest list,” he said. But a few moments later, he shook his head, confusion written across his features. “There’s no record of anyone named Derrick checking in.”
A chill slithered down my spine. “He must have snuck in,” I murmured, feeling the ground beneath me unsteady.
Rolan turned to the booking manager, his voice sharp. “Check for any guests who checked in but haven’t checked out. He might be using an alias.”
With renewed urgency, the manager began searching through the records, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. Rolan turned back to me, his expression softening. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, though my stomach churned. “I just want to go home, Rolan. I don’t feel safe here.”
He hesitated, weighing my request against his protective instincts. “Okay. We’ve barely been here a few days, and things are already out of hand.”
Before I could voice my relief, the booking manager cleared his throat. “We found a reservation made under a different name. Room 306.”
Rolan’s jaw clenched. “That’s it. We need to check it out.”
“Rolan, please,” I begged, desperation creeping into my voice. “I want to leave now. I can’t stay here until you’re sure it’s safe.”
He hesitated again, glancing at the reception area, then back at me. “Alright, go grab your bag while I finalize things with the resort staff.”
“Okay,” I replied, grateful and eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere. I turned and hurried back to our room, my thoughts racing.
Derrick’s threat loomed in my mind, a specter of the past that I had hoped to leave behind. I tried to focus on the practical, getting my things, getting out.
As I walked, the silence of the resort felt heavy, as if the walls were closing in. I opened the door to our room and grabbed my bag, shoving clothes inside haphazardly.
Each rustle of fabric reminded me of Derrick’s voice, his claim that I belonged to him, and my heart raced again.
Suddenly, I felt an unusual presence, a shift in the air behind me. I turned, but before I could fully register what was happening, a handkerchief was pressed over my mouth.
A sickening wave of dizziness washed over me, and I struggled, trying to pull away. The world around me blurred, darkening at the edges as I fought to stay conscious.
“Shh, it’ll be over soon,” a voice murmured from behind the cloth, its familiarity sending icy tendrils of fear coursing through me.
I gasped, but the scent of the cloth was overpowering, laced with a sickly sweet smell. My vision swam, and the room swirled in and out of focus. I tried to scream, but it came out as a muffled whimper, and then everything went black.
********
When I opened my eyes, it felt like I had been thrown into a different world. My body was heavy, weighed down by the lingering effects of the drug.
I blinked against the harsh light filtering through what appeared to be a window. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, and when they did, I found myself in a dimly lit room that was completely unfamiliar.
Panic surged within me as I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt sluggish and uncooperative. I scanned the room, my heart racing.
It was sparsely furnished, with a wooden table and two chairs, the walls bare except for a single window that let in a sliver of light.
“Where am I?” I croaked, my throat dry and raw.
A door creaked open, and I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. Derrick stepped inside, a smug smile playing on his lips, and I felt a wave of nausea crash over me.
“Welcome back, Pandora,” He started, his voice oozing with condescension. “I knew you’d come to your senses.”
“Get away from me!” I yelled though it came out weak and hoarse. I pushed myself backward, but there was nowhere to go. “What do you want?”
He stepped closer, and I felt a surge of anger rise within me, battling against the fear that threatened to consume me.
“You know what I want,” he replied, his tone low and menacing. “I want you back. You’ve always belonged with me.”
“I don’t belong to you!” I shouted, each word laced with defiance. “I chose Rolan! I’m not going anywhere with you!”
Derrick’s smile faltered, and the darkness in his eyes deepened. “You think you can just walk away? I’ve waited too long for you, Pandora. You will regret this.”
My heart raced as he stepped closer, and I forced myself to think clearly. I had to escape. I had to warn Rolan. With every ounce of strength, I stood, my legs shaky but determined.
“You’re insane,” I spat. “You’ll never control me.”
Derrick’s expression hardened, and as he lunged toward me, I knew this was my moment. I had to fight back. I would not let him pull me into his darkness again.