Her Chosen Love

Layla's pov

I woke up to someone carrying me. I didn't feel any sparks, so I peeked at the person, barely opening my eyes. As soon as I got a glimpse of the person, everything came back to me. I had snuck out the castle to meet James, and since I was looking at him now, I knew I had succeeded with the first part of my plan.

"I know you're awake. No use pretending," he said suddenly making me jump. I gaped up at him and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Let me down." I demanded.

"I don't think so. I like how we are." He smirked down at me, and I just wanted to bash his head into a tree. I struggled to get free of him, but he just tightened his grip one me.

Giving up, I sighed, "Are you taking me to my mom?"

"Not just yet. I have to make sure you will behave first." He said looking straight ahead and I followed his gaze.

Standing in front of us was a small log cabin. Already there was smoke coming from the chimney, and now all I wanted to do was go inside and warm up. James carried me inside and set me in the chair by the fire. Shivering, I leaned closer and rubbed my hands over my arms so the friction would help warm me faster.

"Here, change. You're freezing." I nodded at him then grabbed the clothes he held out to me. "Bathroom is the second door on the right, down that hallway.

Without saying anything, I walked to the bathroom that he pointed out to me. When I got there, I shut and locked the door. Looking at what he have me, I noticed a towel and I let out a breath of relief. I could take a warm shower.

I striped out of my cold clothes and hopped into the pouring warm water. I quickly washed my hair and body with the soap provided, then dried off. Thankfully James got me a t-shirt and some sweat pants. I put on the clothes, and unlocked the door as quietly as I could. I was going to try to sneak and look around, but as soon as I peeked out, I saw James staring at me patiently.

I stepped fully out the bathroom, and watched as he pushed himself off the wall and walked up to me. He brushed a strand on hair behind my ear, and I did my best to not cringe away. It was hard, but I somehow managed, and I couldn't be prouder of myself.

"When do I get to see my mom?"

"Patience," he sang. I groaned internally but stayed silent. "Here let me show to your room." He led me to a room and opened the door. He leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Or should I say our room."

When he said this, I jumped into the room, and turned to face him. As he crept closer, I backed away. For every of one of his steps forward, I took a step back. When I tried to take another step backwards, I tripped and fell onto the bed behind me. Before I could get up, James jumped and pinned me down.

"I like your fear. It is a very beautiful look on you," he said stroking my cheek with the back of his hands. "Be mine, Layla. I will train you to be stronger."

I knew what he meant, so I shook my head. His version of stronger meant being able to withstand pain, and I was not going to be willingly tortured. I may want my mom back, but I knew she wouldn't want me to suffer through that just for her. I looked up just in time to see his eyes flash with anger and his hand crack across my face.

"Do you think I was giving you a choice?" he yelled. "You are either with me willingly or not. The decision is yours."

"I would rather die," I said after spitting in his face.

"Too bad. That's not one of your options," he said wiping his face.

Suddenly he yanked me off the bed, and started dragging me out the room. When we reached a set of stairs leading to a basement, he smirked at me then kicked me down. I was breathing hard and struggling to move as he walked down the steps to where I was.

With all the pain in my body, I could hardly move, which made it very easy for James to tangle his hand in my hair and drag me to a chair in one of the four cells. He sat me in the chair and locked me down despite my struggles, however futile they were.

"Now where were we," he said grinning down at me. I just ignored him, which of course made him even angrier. "You don't have to answer. I just want to show you something that may change your mind."

He walked behind me, and started to fiddle with the chair. After I heard a click, I felt the back of the chair drop, so now I slouching with my hands still tied to the arms of the chair. I heard some noises coming from behind me then everything went silent.

Suddenly a loud crack filled the air and excruciating pain cut through my back. It was honestly the worse thing I have ever experienced. It took me a second to realize what happened to me, but when I did, I was mortified. I was just whipped. Just when I was beginning to think the pain was getting bearable, he brought the whip down again which caused me to scream.

"I do love that sound. Do it again." Whether I wanted to or not, I screamed each time the whip came down until I thankfully sank into unconsciousness.

Third person pov

As Layla's body slumped down, James dropped the whip and wiped the blood that had sprayed on his off his skin with a rag that was laying on the table.

Despite what he said to her, he actually did care. He bandaged her wounds then unlocked her from the chair. He gathered her into his arms, and walked to their bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed, and even though he didn't want to, he tied her down. He knew that when she woke up, that she would try to escape, and he wasn't willing to take that chance.

He wanted her to be with him, and he would not have it any other way, so he knew what he had to do. Walking down the rundown hallway, he ran a hand through his hair. He open the metal door and walked into the room.

He has never liked this room. It was filled with glass containers and had a weird smell. It like a mixture of disinfectant and rotting meat. Different parts of organisms were place in jars and pinned to dissection boards.

"Is it done?" James asked the man in the corner. The man just nodded.

"And it works?"

"Oh yes. It works perfectly," came the hoarse reply of the man. He turned around and gave James a vial of liquid with a sinister smile.

■•■•■•■•■•■•■•■•■•■

"Give us answers now!" Adrian growled while punching the man again.

"Ok, ok. I'll tell you, just stop. Please stop," the man pleaded. Adrian stopped his fist in the air and lowered it. Taking this as a sign to continue that man told him everything. From the cabin in the woods to what he has planned for her.

"What will the liquid do to her?" Aaron asked after listening to what the man had to say.

The man paused but after a while he whispered, "It will erase her memories."