IV

Chapter 4

Annabelle

"What are you doing here?" I screamed and quickly turned around. I was met with the creepy guy from the phone cabin.

"Uh-" I suddenly felt dizzy and stumbled to the side a little. Immediately, the guy's gaze turned deeply concerned and he stretched his arms out to me to help me straighten myself.

"Are you okay?" His voice thick with concern. It took me a little second before I could get my vision to stop blurring.

"Y-yeah," I reassured him with a smile but he didn't seem too convinced.

"You should go back to your room and rest."

"No, really I'm fi-"

"It's not up for discussion," he growled out. I didn't know why but something told me to listen to this stranger.

I silently walked passed him and towards the doors. Before I could place my hand on the door to open it, he spoke.

"Don't wander in the hallways alone next time." I turned around with a questioning look on my face.

"Go before you collapse." I reluctantly shifted my body to the door again and opened them.

Once inside my room, I plopped face first in the middle of the bed. The clock indicated that it was 3:12 PM and soon the third meal of the day was going to be served at the cafeteria.

Closing my eyes, I let my mind wander to everything that happened today. How did my life take a huge turn like this? If I'm going to die in this place, I wish I could've been given a heads up or something. I could've taken the day off that day and spend time with Raphaël and Jack. My thoughts then wandered to that creepy guy who I don't even know his name. Hazel eyes and black spiky hair filled my mind and it was the last thing I saw before falling asleep.

Waking up covered by a blanket and my head on a pillow made me confused. I perfectly remember falling asleep without adjusting myself properly. Lifting my head and holding my body up with my elbows. My eyes scanned the room and nothing else seemed suspicious except for the trait of food on the night table. Did they already serve super? How long did I sleep? The clock right next to the trait indicated that it was 7:54 PM. I missed super but, who placed the trait on my nightstand?

Nor really in the mood to eat right now. I got up from my bed and had the intention to leave the room but I didn't get to even touch the door nob when someone on the other side opened it. For the third time today, I was face to face with the creepy guy from the phone cabin. This time his calm composed appearance expressed surprise.

"What are you doing?" I frowned.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He smirked showing that perfect set of teeth before making his way in.

"Sure, I guess you could come in," I scoffed out. I watched him as he placed a bottle of what I'm assuming is pills and sat on the couch. He spotted the non eaten trait of food and scrunched his eyebrows then turned his head towards me.

"Why didn't you eat?" He stared at me straight into my eyes. It made me nervous for some reason.

"I-I was going to?" I didn't know why I just lied but I knew that I wasn't going to touch that trait but he didn't need to know.

"It's cute that you think you could lie to me. You were obviously going to leave this room right when I was entering and the way you questioned your own answer is not really convincing either. Now, sit down and eat," he ordered looking at me dead in the eyes.

"Yes sir," I joked but I don't think he thought it was funny since his expression didn't crack a bit. Without wanting to add more awkwardness, I walked back to my bed and sat on it. I slowly picked the trait and placed it on my lap. I don't know why I'm forcing myself to eat this just because a stranger told me.

"Okay this is ridiculous, I-" I started ranting about how I didn't want to eat but his voice cut me mid-sentence.

"Eat the damn thing already Annabelle," he spat out. His voice audibly thick with annoyance. Not wanting to annoy him even more, I took a bite of the green salad and scrunched my face. I wasn't in the mood to eat so the food didn't taste as tasty as usual. What made it even harder for me to eat was the man who was sitting comfortably on my sofa watching me as if I could make this food disappear with magic and claim that I did eat it.

"What is your name?" I tried to make small talk to break the silence. His eyes who were looking outside the window now met mine again.

"Stefano Moretti"

"Italian?" He glanced back at me and slowly nodded.

"I'm Annabelle Hamilton by the way."

"I know." I'm pretty sure that I've never introduced myself to him before now and that's creepy.

"Okay... how long have you been in here?" He didn't respond right away but when he did I gasped.

"A year." He's been trapped in here for a year unable to see his family and friends.

"A-a year!?" He simply nodded as if this didn't bother him.  Wasn't he missing his family?

"That must be awful. You must be missing your family deeply." I empathized but he just frowned and looked away.

Strange.

After long minutes of swallowing green veggies, my plate was finally empty.

"There, as requested, I finished my food." I smiled proudly. He got up and walked towards me, at a very close distance. I was still sitting on the bed so my head was probably at the level of his navel. I thought he came to me to take the trait but when he just stood there without moving a muscle, I was confused. At that exact moment, Miranda entered my room.

"Hey, Annnab-" She stopped mid-sentence as she saw our position.

"W-well, I'll just wait outside," she stuttered and walked out of my room. I hope she didn't get the wrong idea.

"I'll take this," Stefano said snapping me out of my thoughts. I nodded and right before leaving my room he turned around and said,

"Don't forget to take the pills."