Unnamed Marriage

Alina jolted awake, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The air in the room felt heavy, pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. A faint scent of lavender and sandalwood permeated the space – expensive aromas, meant to be calming, but somehow feeling so alien. The high ceiling with a glittering crystal chandelier above seemed like an object from another world, too perfect, too dazzling. Ivory-white walls with classical carvings added to the luxurious impression, but also felt cold, lifeless.

Her ears caught a faint sound from behind the large window. "Cheep... cheep..." Sparrows chirped in the distance, their sounds mingling with the rustling of the wind against the maroon velvet curtains. The dim light of the morning sun pierced through the windowpanes, casting long shadows on the marble floor that gleamed like a mirror.

"Creak..." Alina shifted in the bed, and the sound of silk sheets rustling against her skin was soft against her ears. The white wedding gown she was wearing felt strange, its lace touching her skin with an uncomfortable sensation. Her fingers reflexively touched the gold ring on the ring finger of her left hand. Cold. Heavy. It felt so foreign.

Something was very wrong.

Her head felt empty, like a blank sheet of paper that had just been wiped clean. She tried to remember something – anything. Yesterday? Last week? Nothing. Only a terrifying void. Her heart began to race faster, faster.

"Thump-thump-thump." Footsteps could be heard from outside the door. Steady. Regular. Not hurried. The bedroom door suddenly opened. "Click!" A man stepped in with a casual movement. The air in the room instantly changed, becoming more tense, more palpable.

The man was tall, with a strong physique that looked perfect in an expensive black suit. His black hair was neatly styled, his face handsome with a firm jawline and sharp eyes. But there was something else there – something cold, something that made her skin crawl. He gave a small smile. "Tsk." Not a warm smile. Not a smile that made her feel comfortable.

"Good morning, my wife."

Alina's heart plunged, as if falling to the bottom of a chasm. "Thump-thump... thump-thump..." Her heartbeat pounded against her chest so hard she could almost hear it herself. "What?" her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. The man walked closer, sat on the edge of the bed with a relaxed movement. "Swoosh." The sound of fabric folding was heard as his body moved closer.

"I know you're still confused. But don't worry, I'll help you remember everything."

Alina swallowed, her throat dry. "Gulp." No, this must be a dream. This wasn't real. She wanted to retreat, wanted to get away, but her body felt stiff, there was nowhere to run.

"Who are you?" she asked in a trembling voice. The man raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by her question. "Darren." The name sounded foreign, empty. "We got married yesterday," he continued, his voice so calm, as if there was nothing strange about all this.

Tap-tap-tap. Alina felt her fingers trembling on the sheets. "N-no… I… I don't remember anything…" her voice was broken. Darren sighed softly. "Hhh..." He reached out to the bedside table, picked up a photograph, and handed it to Alina. With trembling hands, Alina took it. "Swoosh." Her eyes widened.

In the photo, she saw herself wearing the same wedding gown she was wearing now. Beside her, Darren stood in an elegant black suit. They were smiling. His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, as if they were the perfect couple. Impossible.

"I don't remember… I don't—" Darren leaned in slightly. "Are you feeling uncomfortable?" he asked gently, but there was a sly tone in his voice. Alina bit her lip. "Creak." Her fingers gripped the photo tighter.

"I… I want to go home," she said, trying to control the tremor in her voice. Darren smiled faintly. "You are already home." No. This is not my home. Alina held her breath. Her chest felt tight. She tried to force her brain to work, trying to remember. She still remembered her mother, their small apartment, her university… but after that, everything was blank. As if a part of her had been erased just like that.

"Darren…," she whispered. "I really don't remember." The man observed her face for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "Hhh..." "In that case, we will start from the beginning." Alina tensed. "What do you mean?" Darren didn't answer. He just smiled faintly, then got up from the bed. "Swoosh." His footsteps towards the door sounded so regular, so calming, but they only made Alina more afraid. She wanted to ask more, wanted to demand an explanation, but her throat felt constricted.

As Darren was about to leave the room, he turned, his gaze a little softer. "Oh, one more thing." Alina sat up straighter. "Don't try to leave this house without permission," he said, his voice lower, almost like a warning. "Click." Darren pulled the door handle, smiling slightly. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you." After that, he went out, closing the door quietly. "Knock."

Alina froze in place. Her heart was still pounding wildly, her palms were cold, and sweat began to bead on her neck. She was trapped in a marriage she didn't even remember, with a man who was probably more dangerous than she had thought.

A faint sound was heard from behind the wall. "Ssshh..." Alina held her breath. She heard something. Someone… talking? "The master must not know..." The voice sounded muffled, almost inaudible. Alina tensed. "They must not know he's still alive." Her heart stopped for a moment. Who? Who did they mean?

Alina tried to calm herself, but fear continued to spread. She looked around the room, trying to find a clue. This room was too luxurious, too big for her. The large window overlooked a vast garden, with a towering fountain in the middle. Nothing felt familiar. She got out of bed, her legs feeling weak. The wedding gown she was wearing felt heavy, restricting her movements.

She walked towards the dressing table, trying to find something that could give her a clue. There were many bottles of expensive perfume, sparkling jewelry, and luxurious cosmetics. Nothing she recognized. She opened a drawer and found a small diary. With trembling hands, she opened it. The first page was blank. The second page was also blank. She flipped through page after page, and everything was blank. As if someone had deliberately erased all the memories written there.

Alina felt tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't know who she was, she didn't know where she was, she didn't know why she was married to a man she didn't even recognize. She felt like a puppet controlled by invisible strings. She felt alone, isolated, and afraid.

She heard footsteps approaching. She quickly closed the diary and put it back in the drawer. She turned around and saw Darren standing in the doorway. His gaze was cold, observing every movement of Alina.

"Are you looking for something?" he asked in a flat voice.

Alina swallowed. "I… I just want to know where I am."

Darren walked closer, and Alina subconsciously backed away. "You are home, Alina. Our home."

"But I don't remember…"

"Your memory will return," said Darren, his voice gentle, but there was something threatening there. "We will start from the beginning. I will help you remember everything."

Alina looked into his eyes, and she saw something that made her shudder. Not love, not warmth, but obsession. A dark, dangerous obsession.

"I don't want to remember," whispered Alina. "I want to leave."

Darren smiled faintly. "You are not going anywhere, Alina. You are mine."

Alina felt a fear she had never experienced before. She knew she was trapped in a dangerous game, and she didn't know how to get out.