A\N: so I know its been ages but I was just.... All over the place. But now that we're all self isolating, I had nothing to do and decided to finally update. Hope you enjoy part one. Because part two gonna be way more emotional.

Also stay safe and stay indoors if you can. ♥

“Told the mirror what I know she heard before,
I don't want to be you anymore”

⏩Idontwannabeyouanymore - Billie Eilish⏩

"You're aware that your birthday is coming up soon right?" Roman sat at the other end of the small table, asking whilst eating their breakfast.

Brie narrowed her eyes at him in thought. "Yes...." She was wary about where the conversation was going, why he brought it up and why on earth wouldn't she not know that her birthday is quickly approaching.

Roman noted how wary, confused and cautious she was now. "You'll be legal." He blandly told, like he didn't just scare her about what her turning eighteen means.

Brie gasped and shook her head. "Did you bring me here to be a sex-slave?" Her heart had already dropped, her eyes ready to tear up, her fear and worry already in full swing. The only thing she has now is hope. Hope that he would say no. Hope that someone would rescue her before he can do such a thing.

Roman just looked at her before dryly laughing in her face. Oh, her fear was funny to him at times. "No," he told honestly. He won't even say yes to mess with her. He watched as relief washed over her entire being, rolling his eyes. Not her, never her, was his thoughts when it came to Brie being a sex slave, not that he deals up with that market anyway. "I was just saying, that you'd be legal, nothing else." Roman then brought his glass of Rosario Monèt to his mouth.

Brie found it disturbing that he drinks alcohol for breakfast but doesn't make it her business to tell him....anymore. Brie then had to eye him with a side -eye, she had no idea what angle he was playing at and if being here thought her anything, it was to always be cautious and mindful. Some may say this place thought her paranoia. "Okay."

Roman nodded. If he remembers correctly (stalking Tye's documents) he is twenty. Soon she will be of age where age is no object between them. He hated that but he made it a point not to say or do anything about it. It will look a certain way he doesn't want to look because he isn't. At all. Nope.

"Anyway, Seth told me to discreetly ask time what you want for your birthday. So what did you want for your birthday?" Roman did the exact opposite of what Seth asked of him. He did not care. He doesn't even know why he allowed him to even entertain the idea of buying their hostage a gift for her birthday.

Brie was shocked and confused because that wasn't discreet at all. She was more shocked that she was even getting a gift. "I, uh, I don't know." Brie really did not know. She wanted her freedom and her old friends back, but she knew she would not have gotten that. Plus if by some miracle she did get freedom, where would she go? Back in that school after finding out Stephanie is killing her husband and had her stolen? Her parents that kept a whole twin from her, the ones who planned on using her death for more money? She had nowhere. Plus, she liked Dean, Seth and Paige. Yes, and she likes likes Tye.

Roman rolled his eyes at her, finishing his drink, pushing the glass away from himself afterwards. "Okay, I'll tell him. Let's go." Roman stood up, noting for her to do the same, she was lost. Today was her free day and usually she doesn't get carried no where else but there, not that she mind because travelling to and from the centre four out of seven days was more travel than she did in that school yearly.

"Why?" Brie asked looking at her unfinished yogurt and oatmeal, she really did not want to abandon it.

Roman was in no mood to argue or even threaten her, the day had just begun but he was already over it. "Just come on," He  looked at her before walking away. Brie sat there still for a bit, completely bewildered before getting up and going after him to avoid confrontation and his rage if she doesn't. She was thankful she showered and brushed her teeth before leaving her room for breakfast everyday.

Brie met up with Roman outside. He was standing on his porch, looking out into his drive way. "Which car should I use today?" He mostly questioned himself so Brie paid him no mind, she did not care, she was too busy trying to figure out where they were going. "Which one?" Roman then redirected his question to her, having not made up his mind. Brie looked at him with wide eyes, he never gave her choice before, especially of his things. Roman rolled his eyes at what he perceived to be her frantic reaction. "Just choose." He rushed sounding borderline angry, which he was because he never let anyone like Brie choose the car he should drive and he doesn't know why he did. He can even sense the surprise of the guards around them for that.

Brie looked at the car panicked. "That one," Brie pointed to the matte black carmero car. Roman looked ready to bash her for her option but when his eyes landed on her pick he quite agreed with it.

Brie looked at him awaiting his approval or bashing, he just looked at her like she had no reason to be watching him. "Stop wasting time, lets go." Roman hurried, shocking Brie as he stretched a hand out for the guard to place the key of that car in, which the guard quickly did. Brie skeptically looked at him a bit before jumping herself out of it, walking to the car she had chosen.

¶¶¶¶

"Where are we?" Brie asked stood by his side. She was seeing a medium looking cozy home. It frightened her to think she was going to get traded to someone who treat her horribly or worst yet married off.

Roman rolled his eyes, not having time for her questions. "C'mon," he announced, digging into his pocket, she walked up the entry way. Brie looked around, for a quick place to bolt but she knew she would get caught and all things would go even more wrong. Plus, Roman had barely put her in any physical harm yet. Maybe this time she can trust him.

Brie exhaled and jogged up behind him, as he reached the door, unlocking it with a key.

"This is like a second office. I needed to get away from the big one." For whatever reason he explained to her. That eased her wrecked nerves a bit. Roman pushed open the door and entered, motioning for her to do the same. Brie shyly entered, giving him enough room to gently close the door as she looked around.

"Then why did you bring me?" Brie asked following behind him, in the strangely homey looking house that was meant to be an office.

Roman had no clue. "Don't know. You need to see more places. Maybe consider it as bring your pet to work day." He looked back after saying only to give her a crude smile.

Old Brie would have remarked she wasn't a pet but new (trained) Brie just brushed it off, not letting it get to her.

"You know yet?" Roman shrugged off his jacket as he asked, back facing her. Brie looked away still not use to the slightest act of a man undressing near her.

"Know? I'm sorry I'm confused as to what  you mean." Brie sounded as lost as she was. Roman sighed, turning to face her in his black shirt, chucking the jacket on the nearby white sofa.

"What you want for your birthday from Seth...." He started. "Obviously."

As you can see his attitude hasn't gotten much better but Brie's gotten......acquainted with it. She won't say use to it fully because it still scares her. He still scares her.

"Nope." She shook her head. "Tell him he doesn't have to get me anything. I'm just a hostage.." Her voice trailed at the end. She been filing weirdly unidentified  since finding out about her twin, parents, Stephanie and whatever else. She felt like she does not know anything or anyone (even herself). It is hard to realize the people who thought of as good were horrible. Hard to know that the sheep protect her were really wolves. It was heartbreaking that she broke down and needed the protection of a monster. The same monster who flipped her life upside down. The one she sadly feels like is the only person truthful with her.

She is going through so much. She isn't only being changed from the news but also being taught how to act like a 'normal' person. And look, Brie always knew she saw things differently from seemingly everyone else but, but she never thought she needed extensive training on the art of being an 'average' human being.

So, yes, she is at a crossroad or cross area in her life because she doesn't know who she is anymore. She still thinks and acts like the girl she was but at the same time she doesn't. But the one thing that she knew; she was a hostage. And maybe she always was even before Roman. Maybe she was a hostage after all in her old school, and did not know it. Maybe. But she knows it now. And that's the only definite thing she knows about herself. And maybe that is truly all she is now,and then and possibly forever. It was a realization she had made when her heart couldn't possibly feel more broken but it broke even more the moment she realized it.

Roman felt a bit of a sting at the way she called herself only a hostage. But like hell he was going to show her that. "Tell Seth? Tell Seth?" He reiterated sounding incredulous and not in an amused way. Brie felt nervous and confused instantly. Not seeing why he was acting this way. "Do you tell me what to do now?" Brie's eyes widened at how he took her words. That isn't what she meant. She shook her head, she had not meant it like that. Not at all. "You don't tell me what to do. You don't even deserve to be getting a gift. Don't order me again." Roman knew he was being a bit of dick but man she angered him.

Brie was panicked and sorry. "I didn't mean it lik-," she cut her words off when she saw how uninterested he was in what she saying, half glaring at her. "I'm sorry." She simply settled for. Roman eyed her up and down, grunted and turned and started to walk again. Leaving behind a confused Brianna not knowing if she was ought to follow him or what. "Why am I not hearing footsteps behind me?" Roman bitched, and she was thankful for his words as cold and scary as they sounded at least they told her what to do. She urged her feet to move behind him.

**

"It is really beautiful." Brie spoke softly, not really hoping for a response or to be heard, it was just she felt like it needed to be said. Her eyes never leaving the window. "It is." Roman agreed sat behind his desk, like he was for most of the time. Brie was seated across the room by the bay window, looking out at the rocks and ocean.

Her eyes left the window in a sort of shock but a smile made its way to her face. It was shocking he actually replied without any disrespect or sarcasm. He felt her eyes on him and lifted his from off the computer to look at her with a deadpan look. It got awkward and Brie looked back to the window.

Roman did not get her still. She was sat there for hours, no book, phone or any electronic or entertainment and she still looked so.....not bored. And he doesn't see how because he knows his company was anything but amusing and fun.

"How aren't you bored?" He couldn't resist asking. He knows that the question may seem like he was interested in her but he wasn't. Doesn't want to be.

Brie looked at him again and shifted her body so she can face him better. "I got use to it. I find amusement in nature and my own thoughts." She smiled before it turned gloomy. "And, honestly I'm a joke to everyone, an idiot, a toy. And if you're a joke how can you ever go bored?"