Chapter 39: The Captive

Theo's steps were becoming faster as he raced through the forest. And Rakiza sensed the urgency of his steps with his unwavering courage to bring Rakiza somewhere Rakiza didn't know. She wanted to protest, but she lacked the strength to stand up to Theo. He wasn't saying anything while carrying her, and his super-strength made her weight lighter in his grip.
"Please, Theo, tell me where you're taking me. I do have the right to know! Where are we going? Say something!" screamed Rakiza.
But Theo pretended he hadn't heard anything from her and kept running as fast as he could, until they came to a halt in Theo's cottage.
Rakiza was perplexed as to how they had arrived at Theo's cottage so quickly.
Theo let go of her and led Rakiza to the stool outside the cottage. Rakiza was visiting Theo for the second time, but the first thing that came to mind was Ajella. Rakiza's mood was altered by the girl who lived with Theo. "Please let me go home," she mumbled, attempting to stand but tripping on the wooden floor of a similarly ramped patio. She didn't realize she had sprained her ankle until she screamed in agony.
Theo quickly picked her up and sat her in a wooden rocking chair in the corner, murmuring, "Your sprain will kill you."
"Then why are you bringing me here?" snarled Rakiza. "This is not where I live; you should send me home or call Susan and Chin to pick me up," she demanded, adding, "Let me use your cellphone; I'll call them myself."
"No," Theo stated unequivocally. He dashed inside the house after taking the key from a flower pot. "Stay there," he warns.
Rakiza tried to get to her feet quickly, but the pain from her sprain spread painfully up her foot nerves to her thigh. "Oh no, this isn't happening." She wanted to flee, but something in her mind made her wonder about Ajella. Is she still around?
After a few moments, Theo returned with a glass of water, a small basin with cloth, and a white pill. "Take this to relieve the pain, and let me wash your sprain," he said as he handed Rakiza the pill.
"How would I know if this isn't a drug you're taking to have a horror trip tour showing?" Rakiza snorted.
Theo stared at her unblinkingly, and his eyes were impossible to look at without being drawn into some kind of sensation. His firm lips always reminded Rakiza of the sweet kisses Theo had allowed her to experience. And, to end the sweet agony, she quickly took the pill and swallowed it without water.
But, in his own way, Theo was obstinate, and he never stopped handing Rakiza the glass of water. "Drink after taking a pill to help the pill dilute quickly and take effect."
Still, Rakiza lacks the will to refuse whatever Theo has demanded. And she took a glass of water and asked Theo, "Satisfied?"
"Open your mouth," Theo demanded.
"What?"
"I said open your mouth because I want to make sure you're swallowing the pill. It's an expensive pill, and I'm not as wealthy as your vampire friend Nikolas, who can give you a million-dollar ring. "
"You're just jealous of Nikolas," Rakiza stated flatly and then she opened her mouth to Theo.
"I told you I was, and stop provoking me by using him," Theo said, checking Rakiza's mouth. "Close your mouth before I can't stop myself from kissing you."
"Why are you being so cruel to me?" Rakiza retorted.
"Because you are so stubborn, and you would never listen to my suggestions," Theo explained. As he set the glass on the table, drew the small basin, and began cleaning Rakiza's feet.
“You’re not suggesting, you are demanding,” Rakiza was initially opposed to her taking off her shoes.
"Don't be afraid to show your feet; I'm exposed to women's wounded feet and bodies."
"Are you a real doctor this time?" Rakiza remarked sarcastically.
"It's not important if you have a diploma for a profession or not; what's essential is your love and commitment to what you want to achieve," Theo continued. "I was born into a poor family, striving hard to become the middle-standard of our society."
Rakiza had run out of argumentative words for Theo. And she was silently watching his every extra-careful movement as he cleaned her wound. And she was astounded by how meticulously he mended it. Then he went back inside to get a clean sheet of white cloth and a pillow. He placed the pillow against Rakiza's back and wrapped the white cloth around her sprained ankle. And he did an excellent job, but Rakiza just kept it to herself. She didn't want Theo to know how she felt about him at times.
Theo stood up in front of Rakiza after completing all of his responsibilities. "I'm going to get some food for us, and I'd love to see you here when I come back."
When Theo left, he was quick and was riding a large motorcycle. Rakiza attempted to stand but was unable to do so due to the painful reaction of her foot when she stepped on the ground. She decided to stay for a while. And as a result of the pill Theo gave her, she fell asleep and had a dream about Nikolas. It was real for her. Nikolas arrived at Theo's house and asked her to accompany her.
"Come with me, Rakiza; you shouldn't be here; this is a dangerous zone," Nikolas said.
Rakiza tried to stand but couldn't, and she wondered why Nikolas wouldn't assist her in rising from the wooden rocking chair.
"Please help me get out of this chair, Nikolas," Rakiza said. Her hand was reaching out for Nikolas.
"You have to get up by yourself, Rakiza; I can't cross that step."
"But why?" Rakiza was perplexed and concerned by Nikolas's controlled movement. "I'm only a few steps away from you, Nikolas; you can reach out your hand now and please assist me."
Nikolas turned around on the other side of the ramp but was still unable to grasp Rakiza's hand. Something was preventing him from stepping onto the ramp.
"What happened, Nikolas? Why can't you just cross the ramp and get me? " Rakiza asked, perplexed.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to reach Rakiza, Nikolas stepped onto the ramp and felt something bad, which Rakiza could see.
Nikolas' face turned red, he choked, and he was pushed to the ground. He can't stay on the ramp any longer, and he can't cross to Rakiza's chair.
"Oh no! Nikolas, what happened to you?" Rakiza screamed.
He was in pain and still choking and coughing. He couldn't get across something in the ramp. Then Theo showed up, enraged at Nikolas. He grabbed Nikolas and pushed him away, yelling, "This is my domain, leave!"
Nikolas, on the other hand, did not budge an inch. He stood up and walked towards Rakiza, but was met with a powerful punch from Theo.
"Rakiza screamed, "No, Theo, don't hurt him. He isn't doing anything wrong! "
Every attempt by Nikolas was met with a punch from Theo, causing Rakiza to scream and scream until she awoke. "No!" she screamed.
"What have you dreamt?" Ajella asked, looking down. She frowns.
"You?" Rakiza was at a loss for words with Ajella. She was cold and uninterested in her. Rakiza could sense a rivalry between the two of them just by looking at her face.
"Yeah, it's me. What are you doing here?" She reacted angrily to Rakiza's presence.
"It's not my fault that I'm here; Theo forced me to come here."
"Is that so?" Ajella sarcastically asked. "No one can force a woman into a man's domain if she fights it hard enough."
"Are you accusing me of enticing him to bring me here?" Rakiza became agitated.
"It's obvious," Ajella stated unequivocally.
Rakiza said, "Hey, you have no right to paint me anything nasty; for your information, I want to leave this place, but Theo won't let me," she said.
"Theo would never capture a woman who does not need to be tamed; you are always free to go, if you like, and he will never hold you back."
"If you don't believe anything I say, just help me get out of here; I don't want to stay here another minute."
"Use your legs," Ajella pressed Rakiza.
"I've sprained my ankle, and I can't even touch my toe to the floor!"
"I don't believe you. You people are full of drama in your lives. small reasons to make you important to others. All of you are such manipulative people, "Ajella said.
Rakiza exclaimed, "If you don't like me being here, just help me get out of here before Theo comes back."
"OK, this is what you want: to get out of here, and I am only assisting you; keep that in mind."
"Yes! Don't say anything; just help me get out of here, from both of you. " Rakiza was so enraged that she didn't realize she was crying.
Ajella took Rakiza in her arms and led her into Ajella's car.
Rakiza was crying from her sprain, but she sucked it in. She didn't like how Ajella treated her. She was accusing her and despising her. They both got into the car after a few steps of struggle. And Ajella was about to start the car when Theo's bike arrived and came to a halt.
"What are you doing, Ajella?" He yelled as he ripped open the car door and yanked Ajella angrily from the driver's seat. "What are you trying to achieve?"
"She wanted to go home, and I was just helping her!" Ajella was furious at Theo's actions.
"She can't go home! She's my captivity now!" screamed Theo, like a roaring lion.