Alex's (POV)

"Keep moving! And add ten more to that while you're at it you pathetic swab!"

Oh come on.

I grunt, arms trembling with exhaustion as I force them to push me up for the twelfth time in a row.

Frances currently has me doing sets of push-ups. Do twelve, rest for ten seconds. Repeat.

Now that might not sound so hard.

But have you ever done twelve proper push-ups in a row, without rest?

It's not as easy as it sounds or looks.

Add the other exercising sets Frances already had me doing for the last two hours on top of that, and you get one already exhausted body.

Now if this happened to of been before I got captured and tortured. Which ended in me being not so fit.

Then I might've been able to handle this a little better.

But those things did happen. And now I'm stuck looking like I've never worked out in my life as my body trembles, my breathing heavy, sweat coating me like a second skin.

"Get that stomach up! You've still got nine more!" Frances commands, walking around me as he points out every little error he can find.

I suck in my stomach that's started to sag towards the floor, squinting my eyes as I lower myself back down. Only to force myself back up into another complete push-up.

Like I've already said, it's been two hours since Ben left me here with Frances. Him having immediately set me to work with a bunch of different "light" exercises.

He'd mumbled something about this weeks main focus being on light muscle building, then the next week with weightlifting mixed with actually learning how to box.

I complete my last push-up, literally collapsing onto the cold stone ground as my arms give out on me. Every muscle in my body screams in pain, stomach clinching, my side throbbing where Polly stitched me up.

And this is only the first day.

I feel a light kick on my side as Frances stands over me, a disgruntled expression on his face.

I slowly stand up, wincing at each twist of pain that seems to emit from every known muscle in my body.

I don't think the coaches for soccer ever worked us this hard. Even when it was conditioning day.

I wipe my arm across my sweaty forehead, hair falling back down to where its just brushing into my eyes.

I take a couple deep breaths, trying to help my lungs catch up with my need for extra oxygen.

Frances just stares at me for a few seconds, eyes observing.

He suddenly swings around, heading towards the door.

"Felix, take him to the showers, then its back to his cell for supper." He yells over his shoulder to Felix who's over in the far corner, straightening some equipment.

He opens the door, looking back at me what a twisted smirk.

"I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."

And with that, he slams the door shut.

Tomorrow

I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling the ever present tightens in my chest.

My lungs still haven't recovered, the sound of my labored breathing seeming to only get louder.

Tomorrow

Because I'm trapped here.

My hands fist at my sides.

Calm down Alex, stop freaking yourself out even more. There's no need to have a panic attack right this second.

I slowly crumple to the floor, reality crashing down on me as I fully realize what's happening to me.

And who am I kidding? I'll never be able to escape. I don't even know where I am.

I automatically pull my knees up to my chest without thinking, wrapping my arms around them.

Everyone in my life torn from me..again.

Forced to participate in something I want nothing to do with.

Surrounded by people that only want to harm me. Leaving me alone....alone, my most feared nightmare.

No one to help control my dark thoughts. To help Me.

No one

I snap my head up as I hear footsteps approach me, my tear filled eyes finding a slightly concerned Felix standing a few feet away.

I examine him.

He stands with a slight slouch - almost like he always feels awkward, dark brown eyes looking at me with a deep understanding.

Maybe not everyone here wants to hurt me.

The idea sparks a hint of hope within me, distrust mixing with it. No, I can't trust anyone. I've learned that the hard way.

I raise a brow up in surprise as Felix reaches a hand down to me, his gesture full of only kindness.

Don't trust

I hesitantly unwrap my arms from around my knees, lightly grasping onto his rough and callused hand.

He pulls me into a standing position, then he motions for me to follow him. He walks over to the door I came from earlier, me following slowly behind.

My eyes latch onto the clock that hangs on the wall.

6:32 P.M.

He leads me down the hallway. Only instead of continuing down to where I know my cell is, he turns right, opening a door.

Immediately going in there's blue lockers lined up against both walls, two wood benches in-between them.

"Showers are over to the left." I jump as Felix suddenly speaks, his voice low with a barely noticeable Spanish accent.

He turns so he's facing me.

"I'll bring some clean clothes. Put your dirty ones in the hamper."

I give a small nod in understanding.

"I'll be outside when you're done." He hurriedly finishes, walking out the door.

I continue through the room, my sneakers squeaking on the clean tile floor. Bending down, I quickly untie my laces, pulling my feet out.

Leaving my shoes on the floor, I walk in the direction of where the showers are supposed to be.

And sure enough, taking the left at the end of the room, I find myself in another decent sized room.

Rows of enclosed showers line the walls. The hamper Felix was talking about sits over in one of the corners, towels hanging on racks along each shower.

Picking the shower furthest away from the entrance. I quickly peel my sweat soaked clothes off, tossing them into the hamper.

Stepping into the shower, I slide the dark curtain across the entrance, turning the water on hot.

I bend my head down, forearms resting against the shower wall as I let the hot water wash down my tense back. My sore muscles welcoming the warmth, eyes drooping with exhaustion.

My already frazzled brain too tired to complain about the fact that I'm showering.

You know, since I usually freak out over water nowadays.

I spot three small containers sitting on a built-in ledge. Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash.

This really is like a hotel compared to my last abduction.

I honestly don't think I took a single shower that whole month.

A shiver runs through me as vivid images flash across my mind. Immediately making me halt my little walk through memory lane.

I use a shaky hand to squirt some shampoo into the palm of my other hand. Quickly shampooing my smelly hair before my brain decides to freak out.

I quickly follow through with the conditioner, finishing with a quick body scrub.

Turning off the water, I slowly open the shower curtain.

Finding the room empty. I quickly step out, taking a towel off a rack and drying myself off.

I spot a pile of neatly folded clothes sitting on a chair that's right beside the shower.

Another pair of identical sweat pants, a dark blue hoodie, black boxers, and a pair of white socks.

I quickly get dressed, my stiff muscles complaining with each movement.

Unconsciously running my fingers through my hair to get any tangles out, I walk out the way I came from.

Slipping my shoes on, I tie them back up.

I take a breath, glad to find the tightness in my chest has shrunk to its usual size, my breathing somewhat back to normal.

I open the heavy wood door, finding Felix leaning patiently against the wall in the hallway.

He gives me a once over. Seeming to find me satisfactory, he continues down the hallway, not even bothering to make sure I follow.

Well, where else would I go if I tried to run?

And with my luck, I'd probably run into Frances himself. And I don't exactly want to find out how he deals with runaways.

Felix opens the big iron door that leads into the cell room. My feet literally pausing as I step over the threshold, an invisible hand tightening over my throat.

I swallow the sudden clog in my throat, heart accelerating.

It's just your cell. Stop making a scene.

I lift my gaze over to Felix who's now looking back at me with confusion, his hand holding a key.

I force myself forward, a weight settling on my chest. Dragging my feet, I follow Felix the rest of the way to my cell.

I walk in, Felix slowly shutting the door with a soft CLANG.

He locks it with the key, nodding to me once before walking back up the corridor.

I just stand there for a moment, staring out the bars as my heart beats loudly in my ears.

A suffocating silence fills the room.

I've come to realize within these past few days I've been stuck in this cell.

That I never fully appreciated how the Browns, Mack, and Polly kept me company. How even when I wasn't in the mood for socializing, their presence downstairs still comforted me.

Because I've realized that after what I went through that month with Razim. That my greatest nightmare isn't in-fact reliving all that once again.

No.

It's the silence.

That bone chilling quiet where all your darkest thoughts come out and relentlessly swirl around in your head. Tempting you, teasing you.

No one being around to distract you. To comfort you without them even realizing it.

This is how I've come to realize I didn't appreciate them at the time.

And I'm starting to wonder if I even deserved them. That maybe I'm back in this predicament in the first place because I didn't.

Alone.

I've even come to realize that getting relentlessly yelled at by Frances it better then this isolation.

The Browns, Mack, Polly.

I feel a small smile tug on my lips as I remember them, it feeling like it's been months since I've last seen them.

My smile instantly reverses as dread weighs down on me.

They probably don't want anything to do with me anymore. Ive already caused enough trouble for them.

They're probably glad I was kidnapped. Saved them the trouble of getting rid of me themselves.

Would rather I be dea-

I cut off my stream of thoughts, annoyingly wiping away a few tears with a trembling hand.

I let a shaky breath out, clearing my mind from the dark thoughts that are beginning to circle around in my head.

Don't listen to them.

I turn around, immediately feeling my stomach rebuke as my eyes land on a plate of fresh food that's sitting on my little table.

There's noticeably less food on it than there has been these last few days, as if someone knew I wouldn't be up for the challenge of eating.

There's a simple piece of white chicken breast, a side of rice, and a variety of vegetables spread out on the plate.

I scrunch my face up as my stomach gives a not-so-pleasant twist of pain. I wince as I remember Frances's threat about not eating all my food.

Eh, I'll try later.

I slump down on my uncomfortable excuse of a bed, drawing my knees up to my chest. Muscles protesting at each movement.

I yawn, eyes fluttering as I resist the urge to close them completely.

Another thing I've discovered.

My greatest enemy.

And surprisingly enough, it's not Ben, Frances, or even Razim and his henchmen. No, I've found it's something else completely.

But I believe I've always known it. I've just kept it buried so deep, so hidden, that it's taken three months for me to acknowledge it.

My greatest enemy.....

My eyes latch onto the small mirror that hangs on the wall across the room. My tear stained face reflecting back at me.

Myself.

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A/N

......Okay....that was some deep mumbo jumble. 😂Oh yes, hold onto your hats y'all, because it's getting real now!

So I'm like super sorry about taking uh, what, two weeks to update? (I honestly can't remember lol)

Forgive me?!

Questions:

1. What do you think of this Felix person?

2. How's this chapter?

Next update: After I update my other book, so probably a week.

Alright now people....COMMENT!! And VOTE!! (Much appreciated)

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CLICK THE LITTLE STAR BUTTON BEFROE YOU LEAVE!!⭐️(it literally looks like that)

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Maggy out (finally)

.........*Whispers* Don't forget to press the ⭐️!!

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Edited: 6/27/17