I am alone for a few hours, ignoring hunger and thirst. The basement air feels heavy, damp, suffocating. Every second stretches endlessly.
I'm scared for my life.
I try to think clearly, to calculate a way out. There has to be a weakness in their plan.
A mistake.
A loose end.
But I don't even know their plan.
In fact… I don't even know where I am.
I pull against the ropes again, testing them, searching for any give.
My wrists burn from the friction.
I force myself not to panic.
Then footsteps.
The door above creaks open.
Light spills down the stairs.
My father Lucien steps inside first.
Behind him, my uncle Gregory.
But this time… there is someone else.
A third man.
"Here he is, boss."
Boss?
My stomach tightens.
I look up.
A tall, thin man stands at the center. Black hair. A bunny mask covers his face completely, leaving only his bright blue eyes visible.
Calm.
Observing.
On one side stands my father — average height, heavier build, brown hair, brown eyes.
On the other side, my uncle Gregory — well-built, brown hair, blue eyes.
My skin starts to sweat.
What is happening?
Why are they together?
Why do they look so serious?
Questions crash through my mind.
I don't speak.
I'm too afraid.
My jaw locks painfully as I try not to show weakness.
The masked man steps closer and studies me like I'm something misplaced.
"You ran,"
he says calmly.
My breath catches.
I escaped.
Didn't just ran.
Escaped.
My father speaks next, voice controlled but tight.
"You embarrassed the family."
My heart pounds harder.
"I didn't do anything,"
I whisper.
Gregory exhales sharply.
"You did."
The masked man tilts his head.
"You know why you were brought here."
I shake my head, confusion mixing with fear.
The masked man crouches slightly, blue eyes locking onto mine.
"You were never meant to exist like this."
The words sink in slowly.
My father's expression hardens.
"We wanted a girl."
The room feels colder.
"A girl,"
he continues.
"That's what we prepared for. That's what we expected."
My throat tightens.
"I'm your son,"
I say quietly.
Lucien's jaw clenches.
"You were a mistake,"
he replies flatly.
The words hit harder than any physical pain could.
Gregory shifts slightly, uncomfortable but silent.
The masked man stands again. His voice remains calm — almost clinical.
"When you were born male, everything changed. Plans changed. Expectations failed. And you refused to become what we wanted."
My memories flash — the insults, the pressure, the control, the punishments for being myself.
The constant comparison.
The rejection.
"I ran away because you wouldn't stop,"
I say, voice trembling.
"You hated me for being a boy."
Silence fills the basement.
Lucien steps closer.
"You embarrassed us."
"No,"
I whisper.
"You abused me."
The word hangs in the air.
Gregory looks away.
The masked man continues, unfazed.
"You disappeared. But when you left, you took something with you."
I frown, confused.
"What?"
I ask.
"Reputation,"
he replies.
"Control."
My father's voice grows sharper.
"People started asking questions. Why our son ran away. Why the household fell apart."
So this isn't about money.
It's about image.
About control.
About pride.
The masked man leans closer again.
"You became unpredictable,"
he says.
"And unpredictability cannot exist inside this family."
My hands tremble.
"So what now?"
I ask quietly.
Lucien looks at me for a long moment — not with warmth. Not with regret.
With disappointment.
"You will apologize,"
he says.
"For what?"
I ask.
"For leaving."
My eyes burn.
The masked man straightens.
"If you cooperate, this ends. If you resist, you will remain here until you understand your place."
I swallow hard.
They didn't kidnap me for ransom.
They didn't kidnap me for money.
They kidnapped me because I refused to act like a female like they wanted.
Because I ran.
Because I chose myself.
And now they want to break me into obedience.
The door begins to close.
The masked man pauses before leaving.
"This is your chance,"
he says calmly.
"Decide who you are."
Then darkness swallows the room again.
I am left alone.
But this time, I understand something clearly:
This isn't about their plan.
It's about control.
And I will never be safe here — unless I find a way out.