My Cursed Love

Chapter 4: Am I really safe?

-Elena-

“If you don’t feel well enough, you can stay a bit longer,” my aunt kept suggesting as I got dressed and prepared to leave. She wasn’t direct about it, but she kept dropping hints.

I was exhausted by this place. I was tired of the doctors and nurses constantly coming up to me, asking if I was okay. For the hundredth time: I AM OKAY!

But I didn’t blame them. They were understandably concerned, afraid I might have a nervous breakdown at any moment. And my aunt was no better. She hovered over me, ready to protect me as if danger was lurking just behind the white door.

She was wrong. The danger was real but distant, for now. In the first few nights here, I was terrified. I didn’t dare sleep, fearing that someone might come into the hospital to kidnap me or even harm my aunt. But then I noticed the men in uniforms outside my room—police.

I had been missing for over five months, and now that I was back, they needed to keep me safe so they could question me. They understood, as I did, that the danger was still out there. Why? Because I wasn’t the only one who disappeared that night.

Twelve other girls were still missing, and I was sadly resigned to the fact that they might never be found. Even if they were, it was unlikely they would find all twelve—perhaps only nine if they were lucky.

Since I escaped, I had no way of knowing whether any of them had endured his wrath. It’s not that I didn’t want to help them—I did. But I had no idea where they were, and even if I did, how could I explain that they needed silver bullets and maybe even a tank? They would think I was crazy, or delusional from dehydration and starvation, and all of them might end up being killed. I truly had no power…

No, that wasn’t entirely true. I did escape. I made the choice to end it all, not him. Yet, day by day, the fear crept back. I might feel a bit safer now with the police around, but they wouldn’t be there forever. The thought of him and that place sent a cold shiver down my spine. I still had nightmares about it, waking up screaming. Perhaps this is why the doctors and nurses looked at me as if I were broken or close to breaking. I was broken. All that fear still haunted my mind.

And my aunt. She had looked like she had been through hell. She was always so put together before I disappeared—an accomplished lawyer at a major firm, known for her toughness. But losing me, along with my mother’s death, had taken its toll. I hated that my disappearance had brought her to this state, and I hated them even more for doing this to her.

I felt deep in my heart that all my energy was dedicated to protecting her. She would never suffer again. I promised myself that.

“I’m alright, Aunty. Don’t worry about me, okay?” I said, offering her a warm smile.

As I started brushing my hair, I heard her sigh. I turned to see her staring at the ground with a sad expression. After a moment, she looked up, and the worry in her eyes shocked me.

“I will always worry about you, Elena. I love you so much, and after your mother’s death, I promised her I would protect you…” Her voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. “And I… I failed.”

She nearly broke down, and I rushed to her, wrapping my arms around her.

No! You haven’t failed me. These people are sick and beyond ordinary. You couldn’t have done anything!

But I didn’t say any of that. I just held her tightly, hoping my embrace would provide some comfort. She suddenly pulled away, turning her back to me as she wiped her tears. When she faced me again, she had regained her composure, adopting the same tough lawyer demeanor I had always known.

“Well then, didn’t you want to get out of here?” she asked, giving me a wink.

I smiled back and nodded vigorously. She returned my smile and led us both out of the hospital. As we walked down the hallways, the nurses and the doctor who had cared for me all wished me well and welcomed me home. It was surreal. I was actually home!

I had wished for this moment countless times, but now that it was here, I felt a mix of happiness and terror. Would they come after me? I tried to push that thought aside and focused on my aunt. She walked beside me, smiling warmly at the hospital staff.

“So, I told the police you needed more time before coming down to the station to discuss your disappearance—"

I interrupted her, stopping in my tracks and looking at her in surprise. “What? Why did you do that?”

I was eager to get that part over with. The parents of the missing girls needed to grieve and find closure because, let’s face it—they were never going to see their daughters again.

“Elena, you need more time!” she said, clearly taken aback by my reaction.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”

She sighed. “Elena—”

I shook my head again. “I can do this, Aunty!” I protested.

She sighed once more, placing both hands on her hips. She began shaking her head, signaling that this wasn’t a discussion she wanted to continue. But I couldn’t let it go. I needed to get this done, and I needed to do it now.

“Please, Aunty Jen!” I said, using the pleading tone I had when I was a child.

She kept shaking her head, but a smile slowly spread across her face. I smiled back. She sighed and reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“If you think you’re strong enough—"

I interrupted her again. “I know I am!”

Liar.

I knew I wasn’t fully prepared, but I had to do this. I might have seemed like a coward or selfish for not fighting for the other girls, but all my energy was focused on protecting my aunt and myself. I was never going back—never! Those men were ruthless and crazed. They wouldn’t just give up the girls without a fight, and it would undoubtedly end in a bloodbath.

“Fine, but I’ll be in the room with you,” she told me, her lawyer-face on full display. “If they ask you anything you’re uncomfortable answering, I’ll make sure they know to keep it in line!”

I chuckled softly and nodded. We continued walking and soon found ourselves outside. I couldn’t help but stop and take in a deep breath of fresh air. This is freedom, I thought.

“Come on, the car is just down here,” my aunt said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I followed her down the stairs and into the parking lot. A sleek black Audi was parked a bit farther from the rest of the cars, and therefore, farther from the hospital. My aunt’s protective stance over her car almost made me laugh. It felt so good to be home.

As I got into the car, my aunt started it but didn’t drive away. I looked at her, puzzled. Why wasn’t she moving?

“I called your sister,” she informed me.

My blood ran cold, and I felt my face draining of color. My stomach knotted up, and I felt a wave of nausea, though my stomach was nearly empty. I hadn’t eaten much since I came back. I guessed that’s what starving did to you.

My sister.

I hadn’t seen her in years, not since our parents died. She had left because the loss was too overwhelming. Seeing me every day was a constant reminder that I survived while they didn’t, and she struggled with her own guilt for resenting me for being alive. I understood her struggle, but I also blamed myself. If I hadn’t asked them to pick me up that day, they might still be alive.

“Why?” I asked quietly.

“She’s your sister. She at least deserves to know,” my aunt replied, trying to justify herself.

Though she hadn’t seen my sister recently, she had kept in touch through email. She had been the one to help my sister leave town and stay with some of her old friends.

“She doesn’t care,” I said flatly.

“You know that’s not true!”

I turned to look out the window.

“She nearly had another breakdown when she heard about your kidnapping,” my aunt told me.

I shook my head in disbelief. “Or maybe she was just relieved that I finally got what I deserved,” I said coldly.

“Stop that, Elena. You know she would never think that. She was in a bad place at the time, but she’s better now. I’m sure she wants to see you and know for herself that you’re okay.”

I shook my head again. I only had enough strength to protect one family member, and I would defend my aunt with everything I had. The thought of my sister suddenly reappearing in my life was overwhelming. I was barely holding it together as it was.

“Fine. I understand. The time isn’t right,” my aunt said, starting the car.

***

When we arrived at the police station, we were quickly escorted inside. My aunt’s constant questions filled the air:

“Are you okay?”

“Are you feeling any pain?”

“How is your ankle?”

I repeatedly assured her that I was fine and that she didn’t need to worry. As we entered the building, I felt a lot of eyes on me. It seemed that the police station had been abuzz with activity in their search for me and the others.

Many had given up after a few weeks without any leads, but some continued their efforts, possibly because they were parents of the missing girls. I knew they were hoping I could provide answers or leads on their whereabouts, and it pained me to know that I would disappoint them. It made my heart ache.

I’m so sorry.

I truly was sorry, and if I could do more, I would. But as I kept reminding myself, these people were not ordinary.

A detective, probably in his late thirties, approached us. He had a friendly smile, brown eyes, and short brown hair. His well-fitted white shirt revealed a muscular build, which didn’t go unnoticed by the female staff. I even saw my aunt briefly flustered before she managed to find her professional demeanor.

“You must be Elena Wilson,” he said, extending his hand.

My palms grew sweaty. I had developed a strong aversion to being touched since my return, and the mere thought of shaking someone’s hand made my heart race. He noticed my hesitation and the discomfort I displayed, so he retracted his hand, regarding me with the same pitying look that my aunt, nurses, and doctors had.

My aunt quickly stepped in. “I was strongly opposed to coming here today, but my niece insisted.”

The detective glanced at my aunt and nodded. “Well, I’m glad she’s eager to assist with the search,” he said, briefly glancing at me. I kept my eyes fixed on the ground. I didn’t see myself as a hero.

“Yes, but I will be present during the interrogation to ensure that no one pressures her into saying anything against her wishes. And don’t even think about trying to push me on this—I’ll make sure you regret it,” she stated firmly, crossing her arms.

I looked at my aunt with wide eyes, almost wanting to retract her words, when I noticed the detective struggling to suppress a laugh. He smiled at my aunt, and for a fleeting moment, I could have sworn his gaze lingered a bit lower than I was comfortable with. But it was so quick I wasn’t sure if it had actually happened.

“Ma’am, this isn’t an interrogation. I’m just going to ask Elena some questions that might help us locate the other girls,” he explained, trying to maintain a serious expression.

“Well, I’ll be making sure you stick to that,” she said. “Lead the way.”

The detective nodded and began walking toward his desk. We followed closely behind. I glanced at my aunt, who maintained her lawyer façade, but I noticed something unsettling—was she checking out the detective? I hoped I was mistaken.

I quickly looked away. This was not something I wanted to dwell on. As we approached the detective’s desk, the eyes of everyone in the room followed me closely, intensifying my discomfort. My heart raced uncontrollably. Why couldn’t they stop looking at me? I was unable to help them, and that was already unbearable enough. I didn’t need them to see me as their last hope.

We sat down at the detective’s desk. I positioned myself in front of him, with my aunt close by. She settled into her seat with an air of elegance, crossing her legs and arms, and fixed a stern gaze on the detective. For some reason, he didn’t seem to mind. Was this really happening? The detective turned his attention to me. His laptop was open, and he appeared ready with questions.

“So, why don’t you start from the beginning, Elena?” he asked gently, not pressuring me to respond immediately.

I nodded.

“It was a party,” I began. “A beach party. My friend Erica told me about it.”

“Yes, we spoke with her two days after your disappearance,” the detective replied.

I nodded again, relieved that nothing had happened to Erica. I had known her since childhood, and it would have devastated me if she had been harmed.

“The party wasn’t private,” I continued, but I didn’t get far before the detective interjected with a new question.

“Did you know who organized the party?”

I shook my head.

Liar!

It was one of them—the men who had tortured me. At the time, everyone believed it was just some wealthy man living by the beach.

“I don’t know,” I said, meeting the detective’s searching eyes. Did he doubt me?

“Then what happened next?”

“We partied, I guess. Me and my friends. At some point, I got separated from the group, and I remember feeling a bit dizzy.”

“Do you think someone drugged you?”

I nodded. The thought had crossed my mind. But why me? Had they really chosen me randomly from all those other girls? Or perhaps they targeted someone less noticeable, assuming no one would miss a girl like that.

“Then it all went dark,” I continued. “The next thing I remember, I woke up in a van with the other girls.”

The detective focused intently on his laptop, typing quickly without looking at me as he asked his next question, “Could you see the drivers?”

I shook my head.

“We then came to a stop and were dragged out,” I continued.

He interrupted me with another question, “Did you see where they were taking you?”

I shook my head again.

Liar, I thought once more. I had seen it—a crumbling old castle. But what good would that information do?

“I was blindfolded as they pulled us out,” I said, feeling increasingly nervous.

Why were my hands so sweaty?

“Then?”

“Then we were taken inside and thrown into a small, disgusting, cold, and dark room. That’s where they kept us the whole time,” I finished quickly.

I could see why he was a detective. His gaze was piercing, as if he could see right through you and compel you to reveal everything.

“You were just kept there?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

I nodded, but of course, I was lying. I had been taken to the alpha. They had made us kneel and stare at the ground while he introduced himself, outlining the rules of our new home. He warned us that punishment awaited any infraction and boasted about his power, threatening to kill us if we didn’t keep him and his men satisfied. Afterward, we were led to a dark, cold attic filled with dusty old mattresses. It was pure hell.

“Are you certain?” he pressed, locking eyes with me.

I gulped, feeling a bead of sweat form on my brow, but I knew wiping it away would only make me seem more suspicious. Fortunately, my aunt intervened.

“What do you mean by ‘are you certain’? This was not supposed to be an interrogation!” she snapped, her voice sharp and authoritative. Her commanding presence made him shift his attention to her, which he did without hesitation.

“It just seems a bit strange that they would keep you there without any apparent reason. That’s all, ma’am,” he said, shifting his eyes between my aunt and me.

“This is what Elena experienced. Why would she know the reasons behind their twisted plans?” my aunt replied, defending me.

“But the parents received no threatening letters demanding ransom,” he pointed out.

My aunt responded with a cold stare, making it clear that he wasn’t going to win her over. He sighed and nodded, letting it go.

“How did you escape?” he asked.

“One night, they got really drunk, and I made a run for it,” I said.

Really? Was that the best I could come up with? Even to my own ears, it sounded ridiculous. I could tell the detective wasn’t buying it. He glanced at my aunt, as if to gauge whether he should press further about my implausible escape.

“And then?” he inquired, leaning back again, waiting for more.

“I didn’t pay attention to where I was running. I just needed to get away. Before I knew it, I slipped off a cliff and fell into the water.”

God, I was truly the worst storyteller. No one was ever going to believe that. I wouldn’t even believe it myself. The detective sighed, clearly unimpressed, and didn’t seem inclined to waste any more energy on my bad excuses.

“Well, thank you, Elena, for coming down here. I know you must be tired,” he said, offering a polite smile.

He clearly hoped for more, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth. I was scared, and I needed to protect my aunt. I exhaled deeply, realizing I had been holding my breath. He noticed.

“Relax,” he said gently. “You’re safe now.”

He stood up, and just as he was about to leave, I asked, “Am I really safe?”

He paused, turning back to me. This time, I mustered the courage to meet his eyes. He looked taken aback and, rather than offering a reassuring lie, he simply smiled and walked away.