28

A soft tap landed on the door. Annabel silently wished it wasn't her Master, she wasn't ready to see him.

How long would she avoid the talk?.

She crawled closer and flung the door open.

" I was asked to give you this." Number 4 said and handed over a tray of food and pill to her.

A part felt disappointed that it wasn't Alac but felt relieved that she wouldn't have to talk about it yet.

" Thank you. And Master?." She asked curiously.

" He stepped out." Number 4 replied and crawled away.

She closed the door behind her and placed the tray down. It was so thoughtful of her Master to have sent a tray up. She was starting to think she overreacted by staying up during breakfast time.

Her stomach rumbled more as she stared at the mouth watering pork soup, the sweet aroma making the worms in her stomach dance. She gulped it down hungrily ignoring the throbbing pain in her hand.

Where could he be? What could he be doing? Was he also avoiding her?.

She thought.

Well it's none of her business.

She said and focused on finishing her meal.

Alac stared at the sky as he sat down in the garden, he felt the sun burning his skin but still sat there.

Maybe he really deserved the pain it gave, he had hurt her too.

He wasn't the man he used to know, the man he was would not think twice before hurting anyone. Why then did he feel bad for hurting her?.

He looked into the garden and memories of sitting there with Aliya came rushing in. He hoped she was safe and happy whenever she was.

He heaved a sigh then got up.

He couldn't stay outside all day even though he didn't feel like seeing her. Maybe he would have to give up now.

Treat her nice and let's see what you might find
.
Aliya's words rang in his head again.

No Aliya, there is nothing to find.

He responded and walked in. At least he had being nice enough to ask that a tray of pill be taken up to her.

Annabel opened her eyes the moment the door opened, he looked at her then looked away, walking towards his bed. She felt bad, so bad for ignoring him the way she did and seeing him that quiet made her sad.

" Are you Okay Master?." She said and he didn't utter a word. He had heard her but pretended not to. Annabel had realized she had being too harsh on him and silently thanked him for the food.

" Master." She called and he still did not reply. Alac had decided to give her the silent treatment since she had exhausted all her good Master's moment and it was he went back to being the real him.

" You don't talk unless I want you to." He scolded harshly.

" I....I am sorry Master." She stammered, scared she had upset him.

" You don't talk unless I want you to." He screamed, louder this time and he sprang up from the bed. Moved closer to her then landed the corrector leash he picked up on her back thrice making her scream in pain.

He had to be mean to her, had to take it all out on her. That way he wouldn't feel weak and insecure around her, none would he feel attached to her.

He watched as she crawled back to her space, her eyes all red and swollen. Ignoring the feeling her wet teary eyes had on him, he tucked into his bed angrily. He could hear her silent sobs and it provoked him the more.

" You don't sob or talk unless I want you to." He screamed angrily and sent her an angry glare.

Annabel tried hard to keep the tears from pouring and placed her palms over her mouth to prevent the sounds she made from being audible.

What monster had he become? What monster had she carelessly brought back?.

She found it hard to really believe he had hit her. She was starting to suspect he had " Multi personality disorder." Cause one minute he was acting nice, the other he was acting cruel.

He will always be a monster.

The voice said.

You should never have gotten too close to him.

It said again and Annabel sobbed taking another look at the stranger lying in the big bed they once shared.

Mackie had heard a loud scream from where he stood and wondered where the sound came from. He had walked into the study room to clear his head by reading books, his favorite being " Harlequin Presents or Romance.".

It could be from a far distance.

He thought and settled well in his chair, burying his face in his book with his glasses sitting on the brink of his nose.

He heard another loud scream and he dropped the book he was holding, placing it on the wooden desk before him. He had forgotten the study room was closer to Alac's room.

Annabel!!.

He stood up, ran and pushed the door open, making his way to his room. He needed to be sure it was or was not coming from there.

He could hear someone sobbing silently and leaned over a bit to listen more carefully.

" You don't sob or talk unless I want you to." He heard Alac scream loudly at her and the sobbing reduced.

What was going on in there? Was she hurt? Did he hit her again? Was it something serious?.

His heart ached at the thought of her crying. He wanted to punch Alac in the face for laying a finger on a female but stopped himself. It was his pet and he had the right to do anything he wanted with it, even if that pet was someone he liked a lot.

He brought his hand landing back on his lap. He had no right to interfere, had no right to knock on the door.

Sorry Annabel, stay safe.

He said and walked back into the study room. His head blurred as he sat down there, staring at the book " His unexpected legacy." but nothing made sense to him. All he saw were just words flying out and going in circles, his thoughts was still with the poor Annabel and he wondered how she was fairing.

Should he appear in her dream tonight? Should he be there to console her?.

He asked himself. As much as he wanted to walk up to her and embrace her, he couldn't. He had a life to plan now, one of that didn't have her in it. He was no longer her lover but a Master now. He belonged to someone else even though he didn't want that.

~~~~~~~~~~

He woke up feeling guilty about how he had reacted to everything, he knew he had behaved too harshly. His anger had gotten the best of him into hitting and wondered if she would ever forgive him and be free with him again.

What was he really thinking when he had hit her? Why didn't he stop himself?.

He had never meant to really hurt her, it just happened because he couldn't control his emotions and accept his rejection.

He was her Master anyways, he shouldn't get rejected.

He thought.

Should he apologize to her? Did he really need to? Should he continue the act? Should he just ignore and pretend that it never happened.

He found it hard to make up his mind as he laid there, staring at the white POP. He could hear moving and knew she was awake. He had to make up his mind sooner as he couldn't stay in bed all day, he had an unfinished business to sort out.

He groaned then got up then walked straight into the bathroom, ignoring her even when their eyes causally locked.

She turned in pain as her back hurt a lot. Throughout the night, she kept changing her position since the leash had landed on her back and arms. It made it hard for her to have a sound rest without feeling discomfort. She watched him with keen eyes as he walked in not bothered.

Would he not say something? Would he not say sorry? Or maybe explain why he did what he did? Does he not feel remorseful seeing how much pain she was in?.

Her body was sore and she could feel her temperature running up. She knew it would be a very foolish thing to fall sick now of all days since she knew the new stranger whom took the form of her Master would not bother to care for her. She had to get better faster and sooner.

She remembered her Master used to keep pills at his table drawer, she knew she might find something that would help.

She crawled closer to his bed and gently pulled open the third drawer but nothing was there expect neatly stacked papers. She opened the second drawer and found the same thing there. She listened carefully and could hear her Master turning off the shower.

Be quick Anny.

She told herself and looked up. She sighted some drugs lying on the table top. She was scared her Master would hit her again if he met her up on her feet. It was one thing to be near his drawer, it was another to break the rule by standing like a human. She tilted her knees forward, applying some pressure on her outstretched toes and stretched her arm forward with all her strength.

Close! Close!.

Damnit!.

She cursed the moment the drug slipped through her finger and pushed backward.

Try again Anny.

The voice told her and she applied the same effort again.

Almost! Almost! Got it!.

She thought and pulled it forward into her palm. She hadn't notice the red wine jar sitting on the table few inches behind the pill, the jar and pill were both placed on a book. The moment she pulled the drug, the red jar went tumbling, spilling its'content all over the white bedsheet.

She saw it.

His Cream Tuxedo suit that laid on the bed.

" Oh my!." She screamed silently and prayed the wine didn't spill over it. She summoned courage and look at it. There it was, the whole front covered by the wine stains.

Oh no!.

She knew she was done for, he would definitely kill her this time or skin her till she regrets being clumsy.

She heard the door knob turn.

Run Anny.

Her head screamed.

She looked around the room to see if there was anything she could hide in and she saw it there. A huge black metal container. She didn't look or think twice before lifting the heavy lid up and getting into it. It wasn't big enough to stand in so she bent and placed her head in between her knees before letting go of the lid.

Alac had heard a loud sound but he wasn't worried.

It could be the Kitchen.

He thought and turned off the shower, putting the towel around his waist. He turned the door knob and stepped into the room. Annabel wasn't where she first laid and wasn't in the room either but he wasn't bothered. He wasn't in the mood to see her or anything attached to her and was happy she had gone done for breakfast without him, that way he wouldn't have to say a word to her.

He hit his feet against something and heard it roll back. He looked down to see the wine jar on the floor. The wine spill all over the floor and his bed. His eyes trailed off to his suit and his anger burned up.

Annabel!.

He screamed loud. He was so furious that he could strangle her if he saw her right there and right now.

How was he supposed to get to work now?.

It would take some minutes to get new ones out of his wardrobe and change in them. He moved closer to his wardrobe and brought a new black suit out.

Wait till I get you Anny.

He muttered under his breath.