Days go by and I spend them in this room, wrapped in the black sheets that seem to reflect Leroy's soul.

Exactly three times a day, Yang enters the bedroom, brings me something to eat and a little love, but I don't manage more than a small, grateful smile. Today, however, I have twice rejected her food.

I just can't get anything down, I already lost my appetite two days ago, but I always ate a little now and then, just to avoid getting even weaker, but I don't feel hungry at all today. Rather, the thought makes me feel sick. I want to get out of here at last! I can't stay here any longer, I just can't get rid of the feeling that I'm incredibly dirty the longer I stay here in his bedroom. Why am I even in this room?

Why didn't he put me in the room I slept in before?

I don't want to be in his bed! In the bed of a murderer.

A monster.

I wish I could just roll up my sleeves and give him a proper smack, but even when I dared to hit him, he just laughed at me.

Sighing, I shake my head and look out the window at the moon in the dark night, clutching the ceiling for support and thinking about my parents. I wonder how they are doing.

I hope they are not too worried about me. If only he would at least let me talk to them on the phone, then I could reassure them and...

I am jolted out of my thoughts when the door suddenly opens. A glance at the clock tells me that it can only be Yang. Just as I'm about to tell her that I don't want anything to eat, a masculine scent that I know all too well rises to my nose and I mentally break out in a panic.

It's too early, he mustn't be here yet!

My heart pumps hard against my chest and my hands clench. I feel him sit down on the bed next to my hips, then silence falls. I quickly close my eyes as I notice him leaning towards me.

"I know that you're awake," he murmurs. Inwardly, I let my shoulders slump.

Of course, he knows, I closed my eyes far too late! I open my eyes again carefully and wince when I now see how close he actually is to me.

I haven't seen him all week by now and I have to admit I was expecting at least a little more compassion, but he still looks like the same asshole he is.

"Stand up," he suddenly orders, at which I furrow my brow. Only then did I notice the tray of food on the dresser.

Oh, so that is what smells so good. Slowly I straighten up and brush a few tangled strands out of my face, meanwhile he now places the tray on his lap. Rice with chicken. As good as it smells - I could puke.

"I'm not hungry," I say softly, so softly that he only understands because it's so quiet here.

"And I didn't ask you."

Unlike me, his voice is unmistakable, firm, and strong. My whole body begins to quiver and my heart picks a faster rhythm again.

My stomach rebels as he holds a spoonful of rice in front of my mouth. Why is he feeding me?

Is he trying to pull the wool over my eyes again, saying he can be nice too? Because I doubt that very much, Leroy is and remains evil by nature.

But do you really want to fight with him right now?

No. No, I don't. I slump my shoulders again and open my mouth. I swallow the food hard.

"I'm full," I confess after two spoonfuls. His green eyes bore into mine as he lifts the spoonful of rice again and puts it into my mouth. This time I turn my head slightly away, whereupon he exhales angrily.

But apparently, he pulls himself together, because he then closes his eyes for a brief moment and takes a deep breath before looking at me again.

"We're getting married in three weeks."

Five words that change my life more than I realize at the moment. Five words that shatter something inside me; the hope of one day being able to leave this hell.

He stands up and is about to leave the room, but one more question crosses my lips.

"Why are you doing this?", I whisper and at the same time wonder how he can hear me.

"One day you will understand and thank me," he replies and wants to leave, but he stops once more and turns to me. For seconds he stares at me appraisingly before he begins to speak again. "I don't know what your reason for being here is. Even though I'm sure you're only pretending and your father really sent you here, I no longer perceive it as a threat. I am getting something back through you and this marriage, something that was taken from my family years ago, but I am not the only one who has something back through you. You are being spared so many things thanks to me, things you didn't even have a clue about." With that, he turns and leaves without saying anything else.

For minutes I stare into space, not knowing what to make of his words. What is this all about? What on earth does he mean? Why doesn't he just explain to me what his mission is? What is he trying to do? My father is supposed to have sent me? Is he completely insane now?!

My father would rather fight an unfair battle that he was sure he would lose than let me go with Leroy! So where did he get such a stupid idea?

I tense up as I notice hesitant footsteps snapping me out of a flood of thoughts. My heart leaps as I see none other than Danny standing at the door.

His poison green eyes look at me warily, the corners of his mouth only hesitantly lifting into a smile. Inwardly, I sigh. Surely he knows he's not supposed to be here...?

But I simply cannot bring myself to send him away.

"Hello Danny," I greet him. He raises his hand and waves at me.

"Can I sit next to you?" he asks, to which I immediately say yes and make room for him.

Just because Leroy is a psychopath doesn't mean I'm going to reject this sweet kid. So let him get angry when he sees him here. Soon I'm going to marry him, doesn't he even think that it's impossible to move me away from Danny when he apparently lives here?

"I'm sorry!" As soon as he sits down with me, he wraps his little arms around my hips and buries his face right under my chest. Surprised, I hold my breath for a moment before feeling my stomach tighten at the knowledge that Danny blames himself for all of this.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, angel! It's not your fault," I whisper in his ear and press a kiss on his soft cheek.

"Yes, it is! It's my fault that Papá hurt you because if I hadn't come to you, none of this would have happened in the first place and you wouldn't have been in trouble. I've already told Papá that you're very nice and I like you, but I think he's just scared for me." He stares with sad eyes into mine and I can still see his hands formulating more sentences, but I don't get much more because all that keeps repeating in my head is the sentence where he says that Leroy is his father.

Leroy is Danny's father.

☼ ❅