His Perfect Lyra

Lyra's POV 

What…?

Getting bored of me?

What does he mean by that now? What's happening?

He keeps talking, still sitting on the bed, still staring at that photo. His voice doesn't even waver.

"I don't like my Lyra fighting back, walking around looking broken, or refusing to say my name. Such a pity."

Because I won't smile? Really?

"Such a shame," he says again. "Hate to see you go off to some other man who likes girls that fight back. I spent so much fortune on you, keeping you only mine, hoping you'd grow to love me. But it's not working. You like fighting back. I don't like it. We're not a match."

His eyes stay cold. His mouth doesn't even twitch—not a smirk, not a frown. Pure disappointment.

Other man?

This… isn't just about Silas anymore. This is human trafficking.

How did I even end up in this nightmare?

Rage and fear coil inside me so tight it hurts. I stand up.

Before I know it, I'm shouting:

"House of rule! Number one: Pray before meals. Number two: Ducky on the table before bed. Number three: Say good morning—say your name. Number four: Keep eye contact and answer when spoken to. Number five: Don't question commands. Number six: Only your name knows what's best for me. And number seven: Obey all of them—no questions!"

My voice shakes, but I stand straight, proper posture locked in.

Silas tilts his head slightly, eyes colder than ice, mouth curved just a little sad. Like some fake puppy dog look.

"Then smile for me, Lyra."

My fists clench so hard my nails dig into my palms.

Stop.

Stop. Stupid me. Stop it.

But my body won't listen.

Snap—

"Who the hell would be happy locked in here, trapped all alone with no sense of time?! Of course I'm not happy! I want to be free!"

I throw my hand against my chest, screaming louder now. Why am I doing this? Why now?

But then—

"Then I guess this is goodbye, Lyra."

Everything inside me freezes.

He stands up. Moves toward me. Reaches down—

The chain unlocks. No more metal around my ankle.

But I'm not free.

Not really.

He just acts like it's nothing. Like this is normal.

Human trafficking… He's not working alone. Giving me away to someone else? 

No. 

No. 

No way. What if there's someone even worse than Silas?

Tears sting my eyes before I even notice.

And then I realize—he's gone. The door's left cracked open.

On purpose?

My body moves before my mind can catch up.

I slam the door open, heart hammering in my chest. Silas is already halfway to the front door.

If he steps out…

If he leaves me now…

I'll be treated worse than anything Silas ever did.

I can't let that happen.

I run.

Faster than I've ever run before.

I slam into him from behind, knocking both of us to the floor.

He turns, eyes wide, confused.

Don't give me that look.

I can't stop the tears. I can't stop shaking.

"You made me follow those rules. You made me do things for you. You're the one who brought all this to me—crepes, movies, clothes… all of it."

My voice cracks. I can't make eye contact. My eyes stay locked on the floor.

But he's still there. Still in front of me.

"You already turned me into your Lyra… And now you just throw me away? Like I'm some thing?"

My voice rises, breaking completely.

"I'm not a thing! I'm human! You have no right to throw me away!"

I snap my head up, eyes burning.

His face—

For the first time, Silas looks shocked. Wide-eyed. Speechless.

"You better take responsibility!" I scream. "You brought this hell on me!"

Right there. That's when I know.

I've gone too far.

Maybe I'll die for this. But I don't care anymore.