Gray! Gray help me! Clutching at straws by this point, I tried telepathy one last time, hoping for the best. But after a good couple of minutes of trying to connect our minds, I realised how futile this last attempt was. And yet, I'd already tried opening the locked door, as well as screaming for help – contacting Gray had been my only hope.

Tears were streaming down my face by this point, the small room I was stuck in seeming to close around me. The monster had stuck me in here, where I'd regained consciousness a couple of minutes ago. The crappy phone – which Gray had forced on me – had disappeared from my pockets, making telepathy my only way of communicating to the outside world. And even that was useless. Feeling more and more despair claw at my heart, I backed into a corner of the room. I felt pathetic, going into my defensive position, but I was so hopeless that it seemed to be my only option. It was as if all that time with the Benedicts hadn't even existed - once I was back here I returned to being my disgustingly pitiful self. At the thought, my breaths started becoming shorter, leaving my mouth in short, pained gasps. But it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

Bringing my hands up, I covered my mouth, trying to make my breathing steady once more. Hyperventilating would probably not help my situation. I didn't think the monster was around, considering he hadn't heard me screaming for help, but I still felt as if the door would open at any moment. I had to be prepared, as stupid as that sounded. Watching it with panic filled eyes, my hands began to tremble, my vision tunnelling until all I saw was the door.

Because I was back at the monster's. And here, nothing mattered, nothing but him. Not me, not my health, not whether anyone would help me – no. Just him, and how he would find me.

Yet, being unable to see anything but the door put me even more on edge. Hands still shaking, I gave up on trying to control my breathing, threading them together. My breaths became the loudest thing in the room, sounding thunderous and echoing around me in circles. And yet, my screams before had seemed to be merely whispers.

I wanted to force myself to get up and try shouting again, to have some hope in me. But it had all vanished, as if it had never been, and I had never been, and it had all been a stupid charade to convince myself that I was safe. Of course, I wasn't. I never had been. Shadows always follow you, no matter how well you hide.

The room started to spin, as I held back a whimper. All the panic, all of the fear I'd accumulated in the past week of receiving letters from him – it all caught up to me, smiling at me like a Cheshire cat. I wanted to grab something to defend myself with, to hide, to do something. But all I could do was sit there, hopelessly playing with my fingers and hoping everything would go away. Digging my nails into my palm as hard as I could, I tried to ignore all the thoughts surrounding me, and instead focus on the physical pain. But there didn't seem enough agony in the world to be able to do that.

I felt so exposed, so pathetic. Hiding in a corner, as if that would solve all the problems. Hurting myself to try to forget my thoughts, as if that would make the danger go away. I remembered how Gray had made me feel when he'd comforted me, like nothing would ever be able to hurt me again. How foolish had I been to believe such a preposterous thing?

I called myself strong, my defences impenetrable, yet all it took to pull it down was a little bit of well-placed hope in times of need. I was pitiable. Nothing more than a side character who thought the world revolved around her. One person wouldn't be able to save me. And no person would care about what would happen to me in this room. I would die.

In that second it caught up to me. The terror that reached my veins made my panic from before seem derisive. What before had been merely fear of going back to the monster, had turned into full blown terror at one fact only. I was going to die here. I wouldn't escape. The last thing I would see would be these four grimy walls with peeling paint.

Pressing my back into the wall until I could feel my spine aching from being hit against the plaster, I sobbed. I cried for the life I would never have. For the people I left behind, albeit just a few. I wailed and hit the wall and for that split second let all of my emotion out.

I was going to perish, stuck in this old room. I'd never see tree tops again, nor feel grass poking in between my toes. I'd never feel content or love or happiness whilst in Gray's arms, nor the delicate whisper of his love as he pressed his lips to mine. I'd never have children. I'd never see a blue sky again. I'd never hug Vinny and Maxy to my chest as they cried about scathing their knees. I'd never be able to dance to the tune of an imaginary song, sunlight warming me in a peaceful meadow. I'd never be able to thread another flower through my hair, nor heal a dying tree, nor watch as seasons passed and different animals said hello to me. I'd never meet new people. I'd never be stung by a bee. The last time I'd see Gray had already passed.

All this time at the Benedict's when I'd been lamenting my existence, I hadn't realised how lucky I'd been. I'd been so preoccupied with the possibility of them hurting me, or of the monster coming back, that I'd forgotten how to appreciate the small things in life. And now, I'd never have a chance to. I wanted to see Gray one last time so much that my heart seemed to twitch in my chest. His brown eyes that twinkled in sunlight and moonlight and everything in between; his lips which always formed a perfect smile, just for me to see; his soft voice lulling me to sleep, or telling me how much he loves me, or even teasing me over something silly and insignificant.

Crying harder than I'd ever done before, I threw myself to the ground. Full of self-loathing, I tried to stifle my sobs. Knowing that this would be the last I would know – salty tears and peeling walls and boarded up windows – I allowed the despair to take over my chest.

I was in a tomb. A coffin a few metres too large. My demise awaited me on the other side of that door.

Hi :)

I actually hate myself so much for writing this, it's unbelievable. Like, even more than last chapter. Sorry that this was mostly filler by the way, but I wanted to fully explore her feelings of being kidnapped. I hope you guys liked it :)

We reached the chapter, because you're all wonderfully amazing people :D Even though I do horrible things like this to you xD Anyway, the goal for this chapter is 28, but no pressure :) Thanks for reading!

Bye bye :)