Chris hopped out of the car and walked into the house, "Enjoy your ride" he smiled and walked up the steps and through the front door. He was greeted with screaming and yelling from both his parents. Chris remained calm he briefly heard a horse whine but let it go as nothing. "I'm going to my room, don't interupt me" he said towards his parents. He stopped in his tracks - did i hear something or was that my imagination- he waited but he heard nothing so made his way to his room, he laid on his bed and thought for a bit, - i hope Annika's alright it's been awhile and she's still not back, i may as well check on her - he shot up and walked towards the back door remaining quiet, he opened the door and raced out into the night sky, the clouds covered the moon which made it even harder to see. He walked towards the barn and saw Annika's horse standing perfectly still with only a saddle pad on. -Oh no- Chris slowly opened the stall door and looked into the horses eyes "I know we got off on the wrong foot but I really need your help now" he grabbed a halter and placed it on the horse, the horse himself staying very still. "Alright c'mon let's go" they galloped off into a pathway Chris had never taken before, the overhanging trees look haunted and Chris started to feel uneasy - must find her and see if she's ok-

Annika tried to keep silent, but the painful rub of the ropes were making her go crazy. She looked around the black room until she spotted a hint of silver in the corner. "Well well well. Never thought I would actually find her" the deep voice gave a low chuckle. The figure stepped toward her and ripped the tape off of her mouth. "Ow! Who are you!" She shrieked "oh Annika, I thought you would remember" a dim light flicked on above her and he stepped into the light. "Ring a bell?" He asked. Tuckers face was scarred and his expression dark. "You and your Father have a tendency to forget things so maybe I can spark your memory. Young love? Teenagers? Long Beach? Sunrise? Yes?" He grabbed a lock of her hair and pulled her face closer to his, her arms aching where the ropes rubbed her raw. Annika winced. "What do you want Tucker? Let me go! I want to go back-" Tucker threw her back into the chair. "Back to what? Penton? Your Mother? Your Father? That boy you were hanging out with earlier? I don't think so. You always wanted me and I know it!" Annika shook her head "I never wanted you. It was all a twisted dream-" "Don't you DARE lie to me Annika! You know we had something! You know it! It was you and your stupid brother that messed it up!" Annika fought back the tears. All of the late nights and sneaking out that she did crashed back into her head like a freight train, making her nauseous. "It was all a sick game you wanted to play" she hissed. How could she have ever seen anything good in this boy? All he wanted was her money and power. Tucker grabbed the ropes, tightening them then hitting her face. "You know what question I was going to ask, but now I think I need to make your life a little better. You know that you will run back to me if something happens. Now, one more thing, you get me an answer by the time I come back and your precious brother will walk out scratch free." Tucker began walking toward the corner again. "Oh, and that friend of yours, too" he laughed and opened a secret door, disappearing and leaving Annika to her thoughts. She knew his question, she just couldn't let herself give the answer to him.
-
Annika laid on her balcony, her hands on the bottom of the rails and her feet on her wall. "Oh, Tucker, what did you want to tell me?" She tilted her head toward the tall blond boy laying beside her. "I just wanted to know if you are still going to be queen. Penton isn't taking the crown right?" Annika giggled. "No I think I'm taking it upon myself to lead this country to greatness" she leaned against his side. "Oh. Sounds good. And what about marriage? Will you be able to marry me? Is our secret relationship going to work?" He grabbed her left hand, raising it into the air. "The ring looks magnificent on you" he said, digging his nose into her neck. She giggled and pulled away. "I don't know yet. I'm slowly asking Mother and Father. They don't suspect anything yet" she sat up. "You have to go. They might find you" she tugged Tucker to his feet and he lifted himself over the rail and onto the roof below. "Bye bye Tucker." She turned, closing her door and laying down on her bed. How was she going to give him the answer? How could she marry a man who had already secretly given her a ring? Annika stared at the ceiling. She needed an answer. And fast. She also knew that he would run out of patience and attack her one day if she didn't tell him she could marry him. She closed her eyes and fell asleep

Annika stared at the black wall. She couldn't tell him she was arranged into a marriage with another man. She would be killed if worse! She had sold the ring and forgotten about Tucker a long time to go. The last thing she needed was to have her ex-fiancé demand answers and want her back.

Why is this making me sadddd)

-

Chris tied the spooked horse up and slowly walked towards a dark looking house. He looked around the grounds and quickly sunk to his knees. -What am i to do, this place looks bad- he sighed, - i cant leave Annika out here alone, except what if she'd chosen to run away, she wasn't his. They were being forced into this. But then again she wouldn't leave her beloved horse, or would she?- he sank his hands into his face and sighed, everything was so complicated. What if she didnt want rescuing. He picked himself up and walked towards the only window he could see, he couldn't lie to himself, he had been feeling somewhat of a connection with this beautiful women. The times they spent together, it felt like a dream. He pushed the thoughts aside and faced reality, this might not even be the spot she was in, Annika's horse had taken him here but for what reason? - I may as well just check on her, just to make sure she's safe- He pulled himself up to his full height and pressed his fac against the window, "Annika, Annika?" He said softly. He turned around and was met face to face with a cold, metal object to his face. He fought to keep his eyes open but was soon overcome with unconscious.

She isn't all kicks and giggles lol. Girl has had a rough life)

-

Annika racked her brain for a way to escape his question, but she couldn't think of anything. She soon slipped into a painful sleep, her eyes fluttering closed. The pain in her hands was becoming too much and the place where Tucker had hit her was throbbing. She heard a soft voice calling her name and she jerked awake. "Chris? Chris!" She shuttered at the sound of metal. "Chris? Chris are you there!" Her eyes frantically searched the dark room. She saw the door open. "Shut your mouth, princess" Tucker growled. He stepped up to her, releasing her arms and wrapping the bloody rope higher up her arms. "Can't have you bleeding out everywhere, can we Annika?" He pulled her left hand toward him, her skin straining against the rough ropes. "You thought you were slick when you sold this, but thankfully I know my way around the market" he slipped a gold ring onto her finger. "Still looks as beautiful as it did before, don't you think?" Tucker let her hand drop to the arm of the chair. "I'm waiting for an answer but it won't be much longer." With that, he turned and left the darkened room.

Chris slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room, it was dark and had a cold feeling towards it. He stood up and felt around for a door. Finding one, he used all his strength and found that it wasnt locked. Chris walked through the door quietly and peeked around the corner. He could hear voices but he couldn't tell who or where they were coming from. Chris stepped out into the light and followed the noise. He stopped in front a large door and turned the door knob, it was locked. "Annika? Annika? Are you in here?" Thinking he heard something he rummaged around the small room looking for a key. He failed to find one that would work and so struggled on something else. He pulled out a short but sharp knife and slipped it into the keyhole, it twisted and opened the door. He stepped into the room quickly closing the door behind him. The room was pitch dark. Nothing could be seen or heard. He wanted to crawl over to check things out but something inside him told him it was not safe to do so. He softly and very quietly called out, "Annika? Annika?"

Annika sat in silence for what seemed to be hours when she heard something. +what now?+ she thought, her eyes straining to see anything +is he here to slap me? Demand answers? Kill me?+ she looked down at her sundress. She heard a click and her body immediately stiffened, awaiting the angry attack from Tucker. The voice that arose was too soft to be Tuckers, too kind, too patient. "Chr- Chris? Chris is that you?" Tears that had been threatening to emerge finally spilled over, her face turning ever so slightly pink. "Oh Chris! I have so much to tell you, but it has to wait" she shifted in the chair, but the new rubs coming onto her forearms were becoming as raw as the ones across her wrists. She wiggles her fingers unti the gold ring fell to the floor "ignore that. I can explain later"

Chris sprung forward and knelt in front of her, "Are you ok? You look hurt" He gently touched her face wiping away the tears, "No need for them, i'm here now" - just gotta find a way out- He noticed the ring on the ground but paid no attention too it - just gotta find a way out- he began to feel around for his knife to undo Annika but was confronted to a noise around the door. He dived into an old pile of boxes that laid in the room and remained deathly silent. The door slowly opened and a tall figrue entered the room. His presence made Chris's bones cold and he tried not to cough at the smell of the man. He watched Annika, her face seemed terrifyed. - I've got to do something-

(Doing some stuff on my side account )

-

Annika tried to stop the tears but it was impossible. She leaned her head into his touch, her eyes closing for a second. They shot open when the warmth of Chris's hand disappeared. The sound of the door closing made her stiffen even more than earlier. "I'm back sweetheart. Miss me?" Tucker asked. Annika stayed silent. "Aww were you crying for me?" He lifted her chin with a long slender finger. She pulled her face away, her eyes shooting daggers at the blonde headed man towering over her. He chuckled. "You think you are so high and mighty sitting in your little throne. You couldn't get away from me years ago, so what makes you think you can get away now? You may have slipped from my grasp once but it won't happen again" he grabbed her hair, wrenching it back, her neck exposed. Tucker pulled out a switchblade and touched it to her neck. "This is what you get" he growled. Annika gulped "i thought you loved me" she said "this isn't what you do to someone you love" she kept the details hidden away since Chris was in the room. He couldn't know just yet. First, they needed to escape. Tucker pulled the blade from her throat and threw it across the room. "Ugh I can't do this to you Annika! If you had just given me the answer like I had told you I wouldn't have had to do this to you! This would be so much easier!" Annika shook her head even though he still had a death grip on her hair. "No. It wouldn't have"

Lol oki!)

-

Chris stayed low and listened to their conversation. -I've never thought that maybe being forced into a relationnship has ruined her own relationships, maybe something has happened- he paused in the boxes and gasped at the thought of this man killing Annika. Chris pulled out his knife and slowly and quietly moved the boxes away as the man kept talking. He crawled behind Tucker and staying meters away. - Just got to time it right- Chris wasn't going to kill him, not yet at least. He crawled towards Tuckers back and in a flash had jumped and grabbed the man's neck, he was stronger than Chris expected and soon realised he wouldnt make it out unless he thrust the knife into him. Annika looked like she was still in pain as Tucker had not let go of her hair in the whole process. Chris drew in a deep breathe and pressed the knife into him. He sighed, he didn't want to hurt the man, that wasn't like Chris but he had to do it. Tucker slumped down and Chris checked his breathing, "He's still breathing just unconscious, I'm sorry i really didn't want to hurt him but i had to..." his voice trailed off and he looked towards Annika, "We need to find a way out" he started looking for an escape route.

Annika glanced past Tucker as Chris's shadow crept up behind him. She bit her cheek when Chris tackled Tucker. She didn't care if Chris killed him, though she knew it would hurt a little. So much of her past was built around him. Sadly, he was one of the only boys she knew, so he was most definitely not her first pick. She struggled against the ropes as the two men fought. "I don't care about him. You can kill him for all I care. Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he? Can you get these off?" She motioned toward the ropes with her head. "I think I know a way we can get out but we have to hurry"