"Don't worry, my love, you were only out for a few seconds. I caught you before you fell forward out of the chair."
Max. The name came back to her. Understanding of the situation returned. A tremor ran through her bones, her empty stomach cramping as the rush of blood thundered in her aching skull.
Either oblivious to her crushing fear or apathetic of it, Max settled himself at her feet, his hands reaching out to grip around her ankles. "We were discussing your new life. I hadn't gotten far before you panicked."
His fingers slid up her calves, a delicate touch for a man that was twice her size.
"You have no reason to panic. You should be happy with what I have planned for you. There will be no struggle, no worries or concerns. Life will become magic as it should."
Releasing one leg, he reached up, his knuckles barely rubbing against her cheek before she flinched away from his touch. She couldn't move far before he extracted his hand. Rotating his clenched fist up, he released his fingers. Light flashed against a coin held in his palm, her eyes widening as a slight grin pulled at his lips.
"You had something behind your ear," he teased. "A simple trick, but only the beginning of all you can discover."
Alice wanted to retch. "I don't like tricks. I don't like magic. I want to go home."
His fist clenched over the coin. "You are home." His arm flew out, the coin a torpedo across the open room, pinging off the wall before tumbling over the tile floor. Alice watched as that coin seemingly spun over itself, seconds passing before it fell unceremoniously to its side.
By the time she drew her attention back to Max, he'd pushed himself up to his feet, glowering down at her from his full height of six foot four.
It was unknown to Alice why she chose that moment in particular to act out. Perhaps it was an instinct to survive, or anger towards this man for making decisions for her life without soliciting her permission or opinion. It could have been something as simple as a remnant of her teenage rebellion, still alive inside her despite the years she managed to grow and mature.
For whatever reason it was, her next actions came without clear thought, without logical analysis of what could, or could not, be accomplished with violence.
Shooting up from her chair, she took Max by surprise, easily running past him, struggling not to trip over heavy feet. Her balance was precarious, the movement of her legs and arms uncoordinated, but she kept going, refusing to stop for even a second to look back.
Noticeably absent was the sound of heavy steps behind her.
Ignoring the lack of pursuit, she ran to a window, jewel toned sunlight flooding her determined features as she cast aside the curtains to find the shadow of bars beyond the stained glass. Closely spaced and thick as her arm, even if Alice were to break the glass, those bars would prevent her escape.
Her gaze shot to a thick wood door. She didn't need to approach to understand that even if it led outside, it wouldn't be her path to freedom. Seated on the wood was a heavy deadbolt lock, the key missing, leaving an empty hole that mocked her captivity. Above the lock was a modern numerical keypad, a red light flashing that was at odds with the antique details of the house.
Spinning in place, she felt feral, an animal caged as it awaited slaughter. Her pulse pounded a frantic beat, sweat slipping down sticky skin as her eyes swept the room for anything that could be used as a weapon.
A lamp sat on a side table next to a white, tufted chaise lounge, the shade a beautiful and intricate piece of stained glass sitting atop a heavy iron base. Lunging for the lamp, she ripped the power cord from the wall before raising the weight of the lamp above her head and turning to find that Max was nowhere within view.
The house was deafening in its silence, her rushing blood a pulsing beat that flooded her ears as she took a tentative step towards the kitchen.
Where had he gone, and how had he moved without her being aware he'd left the room?
Alice's body stilled, her breath sputtering from her lips as she attempted to focus. Her gaze traveled the length of the room, peeking into the kitchen as she spun in place desperate to find the man who had dragged her into this nightmare.
Time ticked past, a grandfather clock chiming from a distant room, the cheerful melody taunting her with a sense of home and normalcy. After the clock struck noon, the house was returned to a sickening silence.
"Are you done yet?"
She spun on her heels at the sound of his voice, the lamp yanked from her trembling fingers before she could react. The shade shattered against the ground where it was tossed, Max' fingers gripping into her thick hair before she was ripped off her feet.