Chapter 3: A Gust for Dinner

Night came and Prissy came to light the candles around the room. Still in my red velvet dress I stepped from the window seat and looked at her. Around this time last night I was on my way home then…I was taken, taken by the man who was obsessed with me. The man that would stop at nothing to get what he wanted and that was me and me alone.

"Captain Butler says you can dine with him whenever you would like." Prissy said in her high squeaky voice as she lit the last candle in the big room. Looking at me with a somewhat smile upon her small round black face.

"You can tell that man that I won't be down anytime soon." Looking at Prissy as my face changed to a crimson. "I will only come down when I'm set free and that's final."

"Yes'm" Prissy said as she went and got out my evening dress. A light blue, off the shoulders, a sweetheart neckline, Quinceanera was the dress name. I had seen the fabric in the new fall/winter book in Frank Kennedy's store.

It was the dress I had my eye on for the winter ball this coming December. How did Rhett know of such thing? Unless Rhett had been following me then what I thought he had been? That had to be it. I was walking by and went into the store and looked at the fabric. Meanwhile Rhett was walking by and saw me in the store and decided that was one thing he would "give" me.

Stepping back with horror upon my young face, I drew back and with terror within my small body I began to have what it seemed to be a terror attack. Breaking down and kneeling to my knees I began gasping for air.

Running from the room Prissy went and got Rhett. Within moments Rhett was running into the room. Jerking me to my feet he forced me to look at him. "What's this, I hear about you not wanting to join me for dinner?" he asked in a loud mean voice. By now he was looking into my dark green eyes. Of course the one thing he worries about is me not joining him for dinner. While I'm still gasping for air it would seem. It might have just been me. I couldn't really tell I was so frightened.

Looking at him my eyes now were full of fear of this terrible, terrible man. "I-I" I began but was soon stopped by this man.

"Turn around!" He yells as he turned me around so my back faced him. Before I knew it I was facing him once again. "Put this on." He pushed my corset towards me. Taking it I turned back around and put it on. Eyes were still filled with fear as they looked yet again into his dark, once handsome face. I felt like I was this little girl being scolded by her father.

Being forced back around Rhett's big, mighty hands gripped the strings of my rather small correct. Sucking in with fright I could fill it getting tighter and tighter. It got to the point where I could barley breath. When Mammy would tighten my corset for me she could never get it that tight never ever.

"Have her ready in fifteen minutes." Rhett looked at Prissy as he pointed his index finger at her. Heading to the door he turned and in a rather mean, cold voice "You better be down in fifteen." With that said he fled from the room slamming the door in the process. Fleeing to the door I tried opening it but it was locked just how I feared it would be. Pressing my palms against the door Prissy's high voice interrupted my thoughts.

"We better get ya ready Miss. Scarlett." As she picked up the evening gown and waited for me.

"I guess we better." I said giving in and backing away from the door as my head hung as I made my way back over to prissy. Sitting down in front of the gold plated vanity Prissy began doing my hair. Gazing at my reflection I began to realize that all of this was real. Within ten minutes now I would be down stairs with Rhett. If I didn't show who knows what he would do. It was quite odd really. When Rhett came into the room it was as if he was like some kind of animal. He looked at me with those hungry dark eyes. At that thought of this hair stood up on the back of my slender white neck.

A few moments past and every single hair were in place. My chestnut hair lay down my back in curls. Not a single curl was out of place. Going to the door I found it unlocked. Opening it I poked my head out the door and saw it clear. Heading down the hall I came upon a hidden corridor. Pushing it open I saw that it went on for miles upon miles….okay maybe not miles but a long time. Candles lined the brick wall as a soft glow reflected off them. Heading down the hall ever so slowly I came upon many rooms, heading down the hall, I, came a crossed a rather small room from the looks of it. Opening the door I came a crossed the servants quarters. Hearing me coming from behind the door the slaves looked up.

"Hi ya Miss. Scarlett," they said in a happy voice as they smiled down at me.

"Shh," I said putting a finger to my lips. Backing out the door I closed it, and then I turned down the hall to continue my little adventure. Hearing somewhat of footsteps behind me I began to pick up my phase. I began running down the corridor. Turning around the next corner, I came, a crossed something. Letting a terrible gasp escape my lips, eyes getting big my heart picked up phase.

"Why my pet, where are you going?" Rhett asked as I faced him with a scared look upon my face. "Trying to escape are you?" he asked not giving me a chance to answer.

Hearing his voice within my head I just wanted to run away, away from him forever. Trying to run passed him he stood in my way, my way of freedom. Grabbing my wrist like a small rag doll, this was all so clear, he had done this the night before. It was as if he liked to see me in pain…"Rhett-I want…I want OUT" I yelled as our voices echoed within the corridor. I just wanted to sink to my knees and beg and beg to be let go. Looking into those eyes I thought I saw a hint of some kind of animal within them.

"Trying to run away won't change my mind Scarlett," those words cut into me like a knife, a dull rusty knife. "I can't Scarlett," Looking at me as if those eyes and his charm would change me. That wasn't going to work it would never work.

I wanted to beg him yet again, but it would have done no good. Nodding my head eyes as my lips rubbed together. I told him what I tried to do. I couldn't keep it from him. If I did it would only end up being worse in the end.

Taking my wrist he guided me back to the top of the house. Tears began to come to the surface of my eyes. Letting them fall I knew what defeat felt like. I could fill Rhett's eyes upon me. The tears just fell anyway. Gushing from the corners of my eyes I just kept them shut as I was guided up stairs. Hearing my muffled, but almost loud cries Rhett stopped and handed me his handkerchief. "Crying won't help you either my dear."

Hearing those words I broke his grip and ran upstairs to my room. Lying on the bed I held the handkerchief to my mouth and nose and let all my sorrow out. After a little while my door opened and Rhett came in.

"Get out." I said with my back to him. This was the best I could do right now. Not doing as I said he came over to the bed.

"Scarlett, I'm sorry I shouldn't have said what I said." Rhett said looking down at me.

I didn't believe a word he said. "I don't believe you." I shot back sitting up and looking at him. My feelings hadn't changed for him and they never would. This would only get worse.

"If you would stop trying to run away then things might be different around here." Rhett said looking me in the eyes.

"Rhett if you-"

"If I would what, please continue Scarlett," Rhett said sitting in the chair a crossed from me. His eyes mocked mine as I drew in a deep breath and began to speak.

"If you would stop being, such a-a monster. Then I might not runaway." I said getting to my feet. "I miss my family. I miss my mother, pa and sisters." I said as I thought on the last thing on my mind. "and-"

"Mr. Wilkes," Rhett answered taking out a cigar. At the sound of his name I fell back on the bed with a sad look on my face. Was he right? Did I really miss Ashley? Why, what a silly question was that of course I did.

"Yes, he will come for me and he will-"I said stopping in mid sentence. What was I thinking or saying?

"My pet, Mr. Wilkes is married to Melanie. He won't be coming for you." Rhett finished. A laugh came to him moments later. "As for "killing" me that won't happen."

Looking at him with anger in my eyes I had the right to yell at him, hit him or do anything to him to set me free. However, the look of anger faded and the look of sadness over took my face. Rhett was right Ashley wouldn't be coming for me. He had a life to live with Melanie and with his little boy Beau.

Letting it all sink in I let one more tear fall from my eyes. Sliding down my face ever so slightly, my eyes drifted over to Rhett. Who was just sitting there smoking his cigar? Then my eyes drifted over to the oak door, making a mad dash over to the door. Before I could touch the door handle Rhett was in front of me.

"My pet, you just don't understand do you." Rhett asked shaking his head side to side. Looking down at me, my eyes met his. I understood perfectly. I knew that I wanted to be free. I wanted to go back to my life at Tara. I wanted to be Scarlett O'Hara a sixteen year old girl sitting on the porch with my friends talking, laughing and having fun. Not sitting in a cold, room watching the sunset as I watched the days pass and pass.

Before I knew it our mouths met and we shared a kiss. Wrapping his arms around my waist he brought me in close. I could fill his hands rubbing my back. While my arms were wrapped around his neck, it was as if we were in one of those love stories I used to love my mother reading to me when I was little…a fairy tale was what they were called.

For a few short moments we shared that kiss. It was as if time was standing still. For some strange reason I didn't want it to ever end. The kiss lingered for quite a while; I didn't know how much time had really passed. It could have been seconds, minutes I wasn't sure. Could happily ever after be that close? NO, what was I thinking? I didn't know what I was thinking. That's what was going on. Breaking the kiss I looked at Rhett with shock written all over my face. No, no this wasn't happening I couldn't be- No, No, No I wasn't I knew I wasn't. Before I could think or say anything Rhett drew me back in with yet another kiss.

"Rhett-I can't…breathe" I say breaking the kiss as I tried breathing in and out. I felt like my air had been cut off. "I can't-" I began but I couldn't catch my breath enough to finish.

A/N: What is happening to Scarlett? She she dying? What could possibly be happening to her. I have some big news for you guys. I get to go to Gateway to the Wind. Review!