Prisoned
3883 Words
Azriella POV
The bar was a place I shouldn't have been in, but here I was, sipping on my glass of wine, trying to drown out the noise around me. This wasn't my usual scene, but something about the chaotic energy of strangers laughing, flirting, and forgetting their worries felt oddly comforting. I just wanted to blend in no drama, no interruptions.
Pero parang mali ang timing ko.
I felt it before I saw it a shift in the room's atmosphere, like everyone collectively held their breath. Curiosity got the better of me, and I glanced toward the entrance.
And that's when I saw him.
He walked in like he owned the place tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a suit so dark it seemed to absorb the light around him. His hair was perfectly styled, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. But it was his eyes that caught me gray, cold, and piercing, as if they could see every secret I'd ever tried to hide.
quickly looked away, my heart hammering in my chest. Huwag kang tumingin, Azriella. Wala kang nakita.
But it was too late.
I felt his gaze settle on me, heavy and unrelenting. My fingers tightened around my glass as I stared at the table, willing him to look elsewhere.
"Drinking alone?"
The deep, velvety voice startled me. I looked up, and there he was, standing right in front of me, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Yes," I said, trying to sound indifferent, even as my pulse quickened.
His lips curled into a smirk as he pulled out the chair across from me and sat down without asking.
"Do you always sit in the shadows?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"Do you always intrude on people's peace?" I shot back, my tone sharper than I intended.
His smirk widened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something darker in his expression. "Only when they intrigue me."
"Then you're wasting your time," I said, grabbing my bag and standing up. "Because I'm leaving."
I didn't wait for his response. I turned and walked away, my heels clicking against the floor as I pushed through the bar's doors. The cold night air hit me like a slap, but it was a relief.
I didn't look back.
---
Lucian POV
I watched her walk out, her figure disappearing through the bar doors. She didn't know it yet, but this wasn't the last time she'd see me.
I pulled out my phone, dialing a number with practiced ease.
"Roman," I said, my tone cold and commanding.
"Yes, boss?"
"The woman who just left. I want her found," I said sharply.
"Understood. Do you have a name?"
"No," I replied, my jaw tightening. "But you'll find her. Check the cameras. Ask around. Do whatever it takes. Ayoko ng excuses."
"Yes, sir."
I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass. She was different fiery, stubborn, and not easily intimidated. Most people would've stayed, tried to please me. But not her.
She walked away.
A slow, predatory smile spread across my lips. "Let's see how far you can run."
---
Azriella POV
By the time I got home, my nerves were still on edge. I locked the door behind me, leaning against it as I took a shaky breath. Who the hell was that guy?
I shook my head, trying to push the memory of his piercing gray eyes out of my mind. "Get a grip, Azriella," I muttered to myself. "He's nobody. Just some arrogant stranger."
But even as I said it, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.
---
Lucian POV
"Sir," Roman's voice crackled through the phone. "We've checked the bar's cameras, but she left before we could track her movements. No name. No details."
I clenched my jaw, my patience wearing thin. "Then expand the search. Use every resource we have. I want her location by tonight."
"Yes, sir."
I ended the call and stared out the penthouse window, the city lights twinkling below. She thought she could walk away, thought she could disappear. But she didn't know who she was dealing with.
"Run all you want," I murmured, a dark smile tugging at my lips. "But I'll always catch up."
Azriella POV
The morning sun peeked through the curtains, but I barely noticed. Sleep had been impossible, haunted by gray eyes and that deep, velvety voice. I sat at the small kitchen table, sipping my coffee, trying to convince myself that last night was just a one-time encounter.
I wasn't naïve, though. The way he looked at me wasn't casual. It was sharp, almost predatory. Like he was silently promising that we weren't done.
"Paranoid ka lang, Azriella," I muttered under my breath. "He doesn't know you. He won't find you."
Still, a part of me couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. I decided to head out for a walk, hoping fresh air would clear my head.
---
Lucian POV
Roman stood before me, his expression tight with nerves. He had failed, and we both knew what that meant.
"Still no trace of her?" I asked, my tone deceptively calm.
"No, sir," he admitted. "We've checked the nearby streets, local cabs, and even ran facial recognition in nearby establishments, but she's a ghost. No name, no ID nothing."
I leaned back in my chair, my fingers steepled as I studied him. "Roman, do you know what happens to people who bring me excuses instead of results?"
His face paled. "I...Sir, I'll expand the team. We'll find her."
"You will," I said softly, my voice like a blade. "Because if you don't, you'll regret it."
Roman nodded quickly and left the room, his footsteps hurried. I turned my chair to face the window, my eyes scanning the city below. She was out there somewhere, hiding from me. But she didn't know who I was.
I always got what I wanted.
---
Azriella POV
I wandered through the park, letting the crisp air calm my nerves. The quiet buzz of the city felt far away here, and for a moment, I almost felt normal. But as I turned a corner, a strange sense of unease crept up my spine.
I glanced over my shoulder, my breath catching when I spotted a man in a dark suit leaning against a lamppost. He was too far to be sure, but it felt like he was watching me.
I quickened my pace, heading toward the busier part of the park. When I dared to look back, he was gone.
You're imagining things, I told myself. But the unease stayed with me.
---
Lucian POV
The photo Roman handed me was blurry, but it was her. The security footage from the bar hadn't been perfect, but it was enough to reignite my determination.
"You're resourceful, Roman," I said, studying the image. "I trust you'll figure out where she went."
"Yes, boss," he replied quickly. "We've started cross-referencing her photo with other cameras in the area."
"Good," I said, my tone icy. "Because I don't plan on waiting long. She walked away from me once. It won't happen again."
---
Azriella POV
By the time I got back to my apartment, my nerves were shot. I locked the door behind me, double-checking it before sitting on the couch. The man in the suit might have been nothing, just a coincidence, but it didn't feel like it.
I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. "Get it together, Azriella. You're just being paranoid."
But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
---
Lucian POV
Hours later, I received the call I'd been waiting for.
"Sir, we've got a lead," Roman said. "A match popped up from a park camera earlier today."
"Where?" I demanded, my heart racing.
"She disappeared near the east side of the park," he replied. "But the cameras lose her after that. We're still working on it."
"Then work faster," I growled, ending the call.
I stood by the window, my jaw clenched. She was close, so close. And yet, still out of reach.
But not for long.
"You can run, sweetheart," I murmured, a dark smile playing on my lips. "But I'll always find you."
Azriella POV
The night was quiet, but my thoughts weren't. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I ran my fingers through my long hair, trying to untangle not just the strands but also the mess in my mind.
Who was he? And why did he feel so... unstoppable?
I sighed and glanced out the window, the city lights twinkling like stars. A part of me regretted going to that bar. If I had just stayed home, maybe I wouldn't be feeling like this watched, restless, and completely unsure of what the future held.
But another part of me, buried deep down, wondered what it would've been like if I'd stayed. What would he have said? What would he have done?
"Stop it, Azriella," I muttered, shaking my head. "You don't need that kind of trouble."
I tried to push the thoughts away, but his piercing gray eyes lingered in my mind like a shadow I couldn't escape.
---
Lucian POV
The city looked different at night, cloaked in shadows and secrets. And somewhere in the vast expanse of it, she was hiding.
I stood by the window of my penthouse, a glass of whiskey in hand, my thoughts consumed by her. Azriella. Even though I didn't know her name yet, I could feel it. She wasn't like the others timid or eager to please. No, she was different.
And she walked away.
That thought alone made my blood boil. No one walked away from me, especially not someone who dared to look me in the eyes with defiance.
"Roman," I barked, my voice echoing in the large room.
He appeared almost instantly, standing stiffly as if waiting for punishment.
"Any updates?"
"None, sir," he said cautiously. "We've expanded the search. More men are looking. But so far, no traces."
I slammed the glass down on the table, the sound sharp and final. "I don't pay for incompetence, Roman. Find her. I don't care how long it takes or what it costs. I want her."
"Yes, sir," Roman said, nodding quickly before retreating.
I leaned back in my chair, my gray eyes narrowing as I stared out at the city. She could run. She could hide. But eventually, they all came back.
And when she did, she would understand what it meant to belong to me.
---
Azriella POV
The next day, I decided to distract myself with errands. I slipped into a simple dress, letting my long hair fall over my shoulders. My shining brown eyes met my reflection in the mirror. "Today is a new day," I whispered to myself, trying to sound convincing.
But as I walked out into the bustling city streets, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. Every corner, every shadow, felt heavy with a presence I couldn't see.
When I reached the grocery store, I couldn't even focus. The feeling lingered, a knot in my stomach tightening with every step. I glanced over my shoulder more than once, but there was no one there.
Paranoia, I thought again. Just paranoia.
---
Lucian POV
"Sir, we've found something," Roman's voice came through the phone.
I straightened in my chair, my pulse quickening. "Go on."
"One of our men spotted a woman matching her description entering a store on Fifth. We're verifying now."
Fifth. That wasn't far from here.
I smirked, grabbing my suit jacket as I stood. "Keep eyes on her but don't approach. I'll handle this myself."
"Yes, sir."
Ending the call, I stepped into the elevator, the anticipation building with every floor I descended. She thought she was safe. She thought she could slip through my fingers.
She was wrong.
---
Azriella POV
I left the store with a small bag of groceries, still feeling that invisible weight pressing on me. The street was busy, but somehow, I felt completely alone.
Until I wasn't.
I bumped into someone hard. My groceries nearly spilled from my bag as I looked up to apologize, only for the words to catch in my throat.
It was him.
His gray eyes were colder, sharper in the daylight, and they bore into me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. He didn't smile, didn't smirk. He just stared, as if daring me to run again.
"Didn't think you'd be this easy to find,"he said, his voice smooth and chilling all at once.
I took a step back, my pulse racing. "Excuse me," I managed, trying to move around him.
But he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Leaving so soon?"
The way he said it made my stomach twist. His presence felt suffocating, and for the first time, I realized this wasn't just an encounter. This was something else entirely.
Something I wasn't sure I'd escape from.
I gripped the bag of groceries tighter, my knuckles turning white as I forced myself to hold his gaze. Running wasn't an option not here, not now, especially with his towering figure blocking every possible path of escape.
"I don't know you," I said, my voice trembling but firm enough to get the words out.
His gray eyes narrowed, a flicker of amusement or was it irritation? dancing across his sharp features. Lumapit siya nang bahagya, and the gap between us shrank until I could feel the warmth of his presence.
"You don't know me yet," he said, his tone low and almost hypnotic, "but you will."
Ano bang ibig sabihin niya?
I took a shaky step back, bumping into the cold glass of the storefront behind me. "Look, I don't know what your problem is, but I-"
"My problem," he interrupted, ang boses niya malamig pero smooth, "is that you walked out on me. And I don't let things slip through my fingers, sweetheart."
Nanigas ako, my mind racing. He didn't know my name; he didn't know anything about me yet he stood there, speaking like he owned me.
"I'm not a thing," I shot back, my voice rising with defiance. "You can't just... track people down like this. That's not normal."
His head tilted slightly, his smirk deepening. "Normal isn't something I'm interested in. You walked away, and I want to know why."
"I don't owe you an explanation," I snapped, my courage flaring for a brief moment.
His smirk disappeared, replaced by an expression so intense it sent a shiver down my spine. "You don't owe me," he murmured, leaning in closer. "But I'm a man who gets what he wants, and right now, I want answers."
Panic surged through me as his words sank in. This wasn't a game to him. Ramdam ko iyon sa bigat ng presensiya niya, the way his eyes held mine like chains.
Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa bag ko, nanginginig ang boses kong sumagot, "I don't even know your name."
His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "Lucian," he said, his voice dark and commanding. "Lucian Draven Blackthorn Vayne."
The name sent a chill down my spine, its weight settling in the pit of my stomach. Everything about him screamed danger, power, and control. I didn't know who he was, but I knew one thing: I had to get away.
I inhaled deeply, forcing my legs to move. "I don't care who you are," I said, pushing past him with all the determination I could muster.
Pero habang naglalakad ako palayo, I could feel his gaze burning into my back, a silent warning that this wasn't over.
---
Lucian POV
I watched her walk away again, her long hair swaying with every hurried step. This time, though, I didn't stop her. Not yet.
Her defiance amused me it fueled something darker within me. Akala niya makakatakas siya, that she could end this encounter on her terms.
She was wrong.
I pulled out my phone, my tone cold as I spoke. "Roman."
"Yes, boss?"
"She's on foot. Brown eyes, long hair. She's heading east on Fifth," I said, my voice sharp. "Keep your distance, but don't lose her. I want to know where she goes, who she talks to, everything."
"Yes, sir."
I ended the call, slipping my phone back into my pocket. Lighting a cigarette, I watched her disappear into the crowd, letting the smoke curl around me. My mind was already calculating my next move.
"She's a challenge," I muttered to myself, a smirk playing on my lips. "And I never back down from a challenge."
---
Azriella POV
By the time I reached my apartment, my legs were shaking. Nilock ko agad ang pinto, double-checking it before leaning against it, trying to catch my breath.
Who is he? And how did he find me so easily?
I set the groceries on the counter, my hands trembling as I tried to focus on the mundane task of unpacking. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, his voice echoed in my head dark, commanding, and completely unforgettable.
Lucian Draven Blackthorn Vayne.
Even his name felt like a trap. It was heavy, dangerous, like something I should've stayed far away from.
As I poured a glass of water, my phone buzzed on the counter. Picking it up, I expected a text from a friend or a random spam message. What I saw instead made my blood run cold.
Unknown Number: "You can run, sweetheart. But you won't get far."
Nabitawan ko ang baso, shattering it on the floor.
My heart pounded as I stared at the message, the pieces of glass scattered at my feet. I glanced around the room, suddenly feeling vulnerable, exposed.
How? Paano niya nalaman ang number ko? Was he watching me?
I grabbed the curtains, pulling them shut in a panic. My breath came out in shallow gasps, my mind racing. What does he want? Why is he doing this?
But one thing was clear: I couldn't stay here any longer. I had to disappear this time, for good.
I sat on the floor, my back pressed against the wall as I tried to calm my trembling hands. The shattered glass from the water I dropped glittered under the dim light of my kitchen. My breaths came in short gasps, fear clawing at my chest.
Lucian Draven Blackthorn Vayne.
His name lingered in my mind like a shadow I couldn't shake off. Who was he? Bakit parang ang dali niyang hanapin ako? Hindi ko pa rin maunawaan kung paano niya nalaman kung nasaan ako, let alone how he managed to send that text.
I glanced at my phone again, half expecting another message to pop up. Walang dumating, but the silence was more terrifying. It was like he wanted me to wait, to stew in my own fear.
No. I can't stay like this.
I pushed myself up, grabbing a broom to sweep the broken glass. My movements were quick, almost frantic, as if keeping myself busy would erase the haunting presence of his voice in my head.
Once the floor was clear, I grabbed my keys. I needed to go somewhere lbanywhere but here.
---
Lucian POV
The sound of the city buzzed around me, but my focus was singular. I stood in the dim light of an alley across from her building, my cigarette glowing faintly as I observed the small windows of her apartment.
"She hasn't left yet, boss," Roman's voice came through my earpiece.
"She will," I said, smirking as I flicked ash onto the ground. "Fear has a way of making people predictable."
Roman was silent for a moment before asking, "What's the plan?"
"The plan," I said, my voice dark and measured, "is to remind her that no matter where she goes, I'll always find her. Start pulling any information we have on her. I want to know where she works, who her friends are, everything. Leave no stone unturned."
"Yes, boss."
I ended the call, tucking my hands into the pockets of my coat. I'd let her think she had control earlier, let her feel like she could slip away from me. But now? Now it was my game, and I never played fair.
---
Azriella POV
I stepped out of my apartment, clutching my bag tightly against my side. The night was cold, the streets quieter than usual. The silence unnerved me, making every step feel louder than it was.
The plan was simple: go to a hotel, book a room under a fake name, and figure out my next move. I couldn't stay in the city much longer.
As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Paranoia lang 'to, I told myself, but the hairs on the back of my neck refused to lie flat.
Turning a corner, I glanced over my shoulder. Walang tao, pero bakit parang may presensyang nagmamatyag?
"Get a grip, Azriella," I whispered, quickening my pace.
I reached the bus stop and checked my watch. The next bus would arrive in five minutes. I stood there, shivering against the chill, glancing around nervously.
"Leaving so soon?"
The voice sent a jolt of terror down my spine. My head whipped around, and there he was Lucian leaning casually against a lamppost like he'd been there all along.
"How-" My voice caught in my throat as I backed away.
He pushed off the lamppost, walking toward me with a slow, predatory stride. "You're predictable, sweetheart. Running to the bus station in the middle of the night? Come on. You can do better than that."
"I'm not running," I lied, my voice trembling.
His smirk widened, his eyes gleaming under the faint light. "No? Then what do you call this? Come on sweetheart are you scared of your future husband?, you don't need to be scared of me sweet heart because I love you so much."
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as he stepped closer. "You can't keep doing this. This is stalking. It's illegal."
"Illegal?" he echoed, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think rules apply to me?"
I froze, the weight of his words hitting me like a tidal wave. This wasn't a man who played by the rules. He was chaos incarnate, and I'd somehow caught his attention.
"I don't even know what you want from me," I whispered, desperation lacing my voice.
He tilted his head, his expression softening just enough to send shivers down my spine. "You'll know soon enough."
Without thinking, I turned and bolted down the street. The sound of his laughter followed me, dark and haunting, until it faded into the distance.
---
Lucian POV
I watched her run, my smirk fading into a more serious expression. She was faster than I expected, her fear driving her forward.
"She's quick," Roman muttered through the earpiece. "Do we intercept?"
"No," I said firmly. "Let her think she's winning. The chase makes it more exciting."
Roman hesitated but complied. I watched as Azriella disappeared into the darkness, my mind already planning our next encounter.
She could run all she wanted, but she'd learn soon enough no one escapes me.
- Writer
