Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

"Are you still a virgin Sofia?" He asks, as my heart sinks.

My stomach lurches, the sudden question hanging in the air like a dark overpowering cloud.

The words hit me harder than I had ever expected, leaving me breathless, trapped between the crushing weight of fear and the sickening truth of just how far Ashton was willing to push this.

His eyes gleam with something dark, something predatory, and I want nothing more than to retreat into myself, to escape the situation, but I can't.

I have literally nowhere to run or to hide...

My hand tightens around the water bottle, the plastic creaking under my grip as I try to hold it together, to keep the panic at bay. I force my breath to remain steady, but inside, I'm unraveling quicker than I can even comprehend.

I know the question isn't just a question. It's a test, a way for him to see if he can break me, if he can control me any further. He wants to see how I react, whether I'll flinch or crumble or whether I'll just give in. But I won't give him that satisfaction.

I can't.

I look at him, my heart hammering in my chest, trying to project that I was calm, trying to keep the mask in place.

"That's really none of your business Ashton, come on now..." I reply, my voice shaking despite my best effort to sound firm. It's a weak answer, but it's the only defense I have.

His smile widens, but there's no warmth in it. It's a cold, calculated expression, one that only makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up even more.

"Oh, I think it is though, Sofia. I think I have a right to know if my girlfriend has wasted herself on another man..." He states, before his smile quickly falls and he looks straight through me.

I shudder, hearing him refer to me as his girlfriend.

I knew that I hadn't slept with anyone before but had certainly came close to it with Vincent... he was the only guy in my life that I felt it would have happened with eventually... since I felt safe with him, unlike how I had ever felt around Ashton. "We aren't together though Ashton... we haven't been for a long time now. Isn't this the whole point of you keeping me here? To build back that trust?" I attempt to talk him round, hoping that he would realise this was doing the opposite of building trust.

I didn't know what he would attempt and that alone terrified me.

"You see, it's all just a part of the game with you isn't it? You've been running, hiding, avoiding everyone who's ever tried to care about you... but you can't run from me anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I actually think you love the idea of being chased and sought after... but I've eventually caught you now Sofia, so does that mean you're mine to keep?" He suddenly stands, causing my muscles to harden and tense at the sudden movement.

What was he saying? He sounded insane!

I can feel the walls of the basement closing in on me and I try to suppress the urge to curl into myself, to escape into my mind and away from his gaze, but I just stay still.

I keep my eyes trained on his, fighting the tremor in my hands as he takes a moment to tower over me.

The silence stretches between us like a taut wire, and every second feels like a lifetime.

I can feel the cold sweat forming on my skin, the burn in my chest, and the bile rising at the back of my throat as his words echo around in my mind. But no matter how much I want to break down, no matter how terrified I am, I refuse to let him see that.

Or at least I try...

"I don't want to play your game," I finally say, my voice firmer now, though it's a struggle to keep it steady. "You can't force me into anything. I won't let you." I stumble out, referring to a topic that I so dreaded becoming a reality. He wouldn't go there, would he?

He doesn't even flinch.

If anything, the sadistic look on his face only deepens, as if he's enjoying the struggle between us both. "Oh, Sofia, you don't have a choice in the matter because I just love to win. It might be forced in the beginning, but soon enough, you'll love me. I'll keep you down here until you worship me. As long as it takes!" He states, before moving to take a firm hold of my wrist as I instantly scream.

What is he doing now?!

I try to tug my arm back through the struggle but it's no use against his strength, as he pulls me up to stand beside him - knocking the remains of the food on to the floor.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"W-What are you doing?! Stop this!" I argue, before he begins to tug me back towards the bedroom, sending my heart rate in to overdrive.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to keep from crying as he shoves me towards the bed. "I'll never let you break me, Ashton. No matter what you do, I'll never give in." I yell, panicked by what he had in mind.

I didn't think he would take things this far, but it seemed that I barely knew him...

I scramble to pull my knees up to my chest on the bed, as he remains stood by the door, breathing heavily and watching me.

"You'll shower and clean yourself up, there's shit in the bathroom already. You're filthy and your face is horrific to look at. I'll be back down for you later and you don't want to piss me off more than you already have..." he states, shocking me as he does a complete one-eighty and leaves me there - shaken up and petrified that he was about to assault me.

Was this all part of his game? Tormenting me until I fully break?!

There's a moment of silence as he walks off, before I hear him climbing the steps, jingling his keys before locking the basement door - trapping me once again.

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It is only then that I drop my guard and break down in deep sobs, choking as I fall in to a fully blown panic attack as everything seems to crash down on me all at once.

The weight of the silence after he leaves is unbearable.

I can't breathe, can't think, can't do anything but feel the crushing fear wrap around me. My heart is pounding, my hands shaking as I try to steady myself, but it's impossible to think straight. Every breath feels like a struggle, and I can feel the panic rising, swirling inside me like a storm that won't let up.

"Why me?! Why is this my life?!" I cry out loudly in to the silent space, enraged at the universe for cursing me.

Was I being punished? Because that was how it felt at this point...

I bury my face in my hands, unable to stop the sobs that rip through me. The tears come out in violent waves, each one more intense than the last. It feels like everything is slipping away my strength, my will to fight, my hope. I don't know how much longer I can keep pretending that I'm okay, that I have control over this when I don't.

I try to take a slow, deep breath, to calm myself, but it's useless. Every time I manage to steady my pulse, another thought crashes down into my mind which forces me to cry harder: 'What if he does come back for me? What if he does make good on his threats?'

The idea of him coming back down here of him 'taking' me in some forceful way that I can't fight back or control - sends a shudder down my spine.

It was as though I could still feel his presence in the room even although he was gone.

Why did I ever leave Vincent's house? Maybe I should have stayed, should have heard him out. Anything would have turned out better than this...

Why did I not tell him I was in danger? That Ashton was in town? That was a major red flag right from the start!

Nobody will ever find me down here now...

It was soon going to be over for me, in a sad twist of fate.

Ashton would destroy my life once and for all...