The light in the room was too dim; nothing reached the doorway, and Kristen couldn't make out the person's face.
"Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?"
There was no answer. The figure stepped slowly out from the doorway.
Shock flared in Kristen's black-and-white eyes, then hardened into fury. "F—Finn! Are you out of your mind?"
Finn's expression was calm. Hands in his pockets, he said lightly, "Delete the records."
The moment she saw him, she understood what this was about. She just hadn't expected he would go this deranged for Grace.
"All this for Grace—you have me kidnapped. And if I refuse to delete those records, what then?" Kristen's pale lips curled. "Keep me here forever?"
Finn didn't deny it. His dark gaze pinned her. "Kris, delete them. I'll give you an even grander wedding. If you truly like acting, I won't stand in your way. Don't worry about the online mess—I'll take care of it."
A cold laugh slid from her as she turned her head. When she looked back, her eyes were like ice. "Keep dreaming. If you've got the guts, lock me up for life."
Finn frowned, irritation edging in. "Kris, why are you so stubborn? You have no family in the Capital—no one to protect you but me. You think if you vanish a few days, your agent or company will look for you? They won't."
Kristen's face went colder. "What did you do?"
"If you won't delete the records, I'll use your phone to text your agent that you've flown back to Country A. I'll change your phone's location and make a post. Everyone will believe you really returned to Country A. And you—you'll spend your life in this basement, never seeing daylight again."
"You're vile." A tremor ran through Kristen, head to toe.
Finn didn't get angry; he even smiled. "Kris, honestly, I almost prefer it. This way, no other man can covet you. You'll belong to me alone…"
He moved closer, reaching out to touch her cheek.
Kristen tried to knock his hand away, but it was like her strength had been siphoned; even lifting her arm was impossible.
Finn's fingers stroked her face, no longer warm like before—cold as a snake tracing her skin. Nausea rolled in Kristen's stomach. She turned her head, jerking away from his touch.
His palm met air; his heart dropped with it. "Kris, think it over. I'll come again tomorrow."
Seeing him turn to leave, Kristen lurched to her feet to chase him.
Her legs buckled at once. Before she could take a step, she crashed to the ground.
"Finn…"
He halted and glanced back. The sight of her fallen tugged something tender in his eyes; instinctively he almost returned to help, but some thought stopped him. The step he'd started to take, he drew back.
Without another word, he walked out, shut the door, and locked it.
"Finn! Finn, come back—Finn!"
No matter how she called, Finn did not return.
Silence pooled in the basement, the light dim and sickly. Even without a window, Kristen felt drafts of cold air slide through; gooseflesh rippled over her skin.
The floor was too cold. She dragged herself back to the thin mattress, curled into a ball, and hugged herself.
No phone. No window. No sense of time beyond seconds grinding by like years.
After resting a while, feeling a little strength seep back, Kristen rose again—slow, step by step—to the door. She pounded on the iron with her fist. "Open up! Finn, open the door!"
- Jason: Went on a pridey little business trip and my wife gets kidnapped—great. (smoking) Is the only solution to buy an island and lock her up myself?
- Kristen: …Both of you perverts, get lost.
( End of Chapter)