This is madness. Just a few minutes ago, my phone worked but now it's jammed. I kept getting out of coverage automated voicemail. The door opened and I quickly rushed out only to be greeted by 3 ladies. They held on to me and pulled me along to the next room. This room had a bed with a dressing table facing the window.
"I'm sorry, I need to go" I tried to push my way to the door but they held on to me firmly.
"Mr Rick needs you to get ready" one of them snapped at me.
They tried to fix my hair and started applying make up to my face. I kept pulling the flowers out and wiping my face with the back of my hand. Two of them watched in despair as one of them leaned forward.
"Please let us do our jobs. It was Mr Rick's instruction. Please help us"
I let them do their jobs but I cried. She gave me a piece of handkerchief which I held tight as I dabbed on my face frequently. My phone was long gone taken from my hands. I didn't know how long I sat there and I was totally absent when they dressed me. I was numb, I could not feel anything anymore. How do I run? If I do make it out, will my parents be alright? Will he kill me if he finds me?
I was distracted by the sound of the door opening and Rick walked in. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt underneath with a bow tie. He had no expression.
"Oh Mr Rick, you look so handsome" the ladies gasped.
I gritted my teeth and looked up at him. He smiled at their compliment and extended a hand to me. I ignored it and jumped off the chair on my own. Despite the circumstances, they managed to make me look like a princess. My dress was white with a halter neck top which flowed to the bottom in a straight line. This was my dream dress but I'm not marrying the man of my dreams. I was miserable.
Rick took my hand and I tried to pull away but just like before, he had an iron grip on me. Fresh tears streamed down my face and Rick glanced at the ladies. I pulled out a tissue from the nearby box and dabbed my eyes.
He dragged me down the stairs and in the hall, decorated with sparkling fairy lights, there were about 30 people waiting for us. There was a pastor of some sort standing in the middle. There was a flower arch behind him and a violinist played the sweetest music as we walked towards him. My hands trembled but Rick squeezed my right one tight.
The ceremony took 5 minutes and we didn't have to speak. Rick held my hand in his but instead of putting it on my finger himself, the rings flew out of the boxes and gently secured itself on my finger. A simple gold ring.
Rick pulled me closer by the waist and kissed me. I refused to open my mouth and just let his lips lingered on mine for just a second before I attempted to pull away. The guests cheered and he dragged me down the walkway.
I literally blanked out the whole night. I was just going through the motion. I don't remember eating, I was working on autopilot, nodding at each guest that came up to congratulate us. Rick took me around the room, mingling with his friends.
Later on, I figured out they were either wizards or witches or some other weird entity. Why are these strangers congratulating me? What the hell for? I'm married to this creature who disguised as a man!
How my life turned since the morning. I woke up, all ready to hit the gym for a class or two but before I could get there, I was interrupted by my mother's distress phone call about my father being frozen. I was afraid then I got angry … then this happened. How? Rick tugged on my arm and my thoughts were interrupted.
"Time to say goodbye to the guests"
No no no .. I don't want the party to end. I just want to stay right here in this moment. I don't want to know what's next but I got up from the chair and followed Rick to the door. We stood by the door as they started walking out.
Please … please someone save me, I pleaded with my eyes but no one understood.
"Rick sure is a lucky fella" an older man walked by with a grin as he smacked my butt. I bit my lips from shouting out.
"Hey George!" Rick called out to that pervert. I watched as Rick rubbed his thumb together and moved him little finger outwards. George's left arm started cracking, turned into ice and dislocated from his shoulder. I gasped and looked away as George screamed in pain.
"What the fuck, Rick?" he shouted.
"That's what you get for touching my wife. She's the woman of the house now and I expect full respect when you see her" Rick pointed to me.
Everyone was quiet as they slowly moved away from the driveway and into their respective cars. Another two men came along to help George up on his feet. Rick slammed the door and took my hand once again. This time, I didn't protest. I didn't want to end up like George. He pulled me up the stairs and I saw the study. We walked past two more rooms before Rick opened this black door at the corner.
It was a long bedroom with a king size bed at the end of the room. On my right there was a closet filled with his clothes and just beside the door was a closet filled with mine. Next to his closet was a couch beside the bathroom door.
Rick let go of my hand and I walked towards my closet, holding on to anything that represented my past life. My yesterday.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
"Did what?" he pulled off his bow tie.
"That man's arm. You shouldn't have done that"
Rick turned to me. "Then he should have known better than to touch you"
"What a hypocrite you are" my voice quivered.
"I hope you're not going to start crying again. Go freshen up" he pointed to the bathroom and I obeyed.
I was not surprised to find all my essentials were laid out for me by the sink. I took my time to untangle the flowers from my hair, remove my make up and stripped off my dress to take a quick shower. I sat on the floor and cried. I didn't want to be here. I want to go home!
I put on my blue t shirt and my sweat pants. I might have been in here for the past two hours and Rick didn't come looking for me. I opened the door slowly and looked out. Rick was nowhere to be found. I quickly ran across the room and tried to open the door. Locked.
"Damn it!" I shouted in frustration.
"Why Ashley, why are you trying to escape?"
I turned around and he was standing by the window beside the bed. He was wearing a pair of glasses with an identical blue t shirt as mine and a pair of boxers.
"Rick.. I " I stammered.
He walked across the room, picked me up by the hips and threw me on the bed.
"You're so beautiful, I can't stand it. When I saw you with those flowers in your hair.. " he buried his face on my neck.
I placed both of my palms on his shoulders and shoved him off. He moved just a little, looking confused.
"Rick, I don't want to do this please" I pleaded.
"Ashley, this is what you promised me"
"I know .. but I didn't know what I was promising"
"Do you want your mother to freeze then?" he frowned.
"NO! No.. I mean, just not now please. I need some time. I can't deal with all this yet.. please.. "
Rick ignored me and gripped my wrists as he tried to kiss me. I tried to roll off the bed but I couldn't move.
"Rick, please .. not now"
He sighed and took a deep breath on my neck.
"My patience has its limit, Ashley" he let go off me and went into the bathroom.
I ran to the door again. Denied. I laid on the couch and slowly drifted off. Under these circumstances, I wouldn't be able to sleep but I cried a lot today and my eyes were tired. I was about to doze off when I felt myself being picked up and thrown on the bed.
Immediately I woke up and tried to get off the bed.
"We're married. You're sleeping in our marital bed" he walked to the other side of the bed. I watched his every move as he get into bed, his back facing me.
"I'm not touching you .." then he turned a little to look at me " .. not tonight anyways" and turned back to sleep.
I slowly did the same and kept to the edge of my side, wiping another round of silent tears.
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