Tormented: Day 1

Word Count: 6,011

Summary of Events:

Esperanza impatiently waited for sunset before setting out for the beach like she'd been told; she met her friend, Sebastian, there, and he roughly escorted her to a car before things went black. After having been woken up at his desk by the butler, Riel went to breakfast with his father and got into the same old argument as to why he was taking so much schooling before Riel left in frustration and started reading the newspaper, where he found an article about a young woman missing from Mar del Plata that dug up memories he'd preferred to forget. Waking up, Esperanza found herself in a compound and found Sebastian now armed; he escorted her throughout the compound getting her done up like a model before she posed for some photos and was left hopeful and fearful at the same time.

Excerpt of the Day:

"Slow and sauntering she'd come down the stairs, her chosen skirt swaying about her legs as her stiletto-clad feet slowly walked down. Her face had been radiant with a smile, her long, dark hair pulled back in a silken ponytail.

Mother had been beaming with pride, almost fit to burst. Father had smiled too. He hadn't really cared too much, he'd just wanted to get going.

As soon as she'd reached the foot of the stairs Mother had rushed over and kissed her cheeks softly, then straightened; "You look absolutely beautiful my angel."

"Thank you Mama," she'd replied quietly.

"You have fun now," Father had said. "Both of you."

"Make sure you're home by midnight," Mother had said.

She had arced her hand, and with reluctance he'd offered her his elbow. She was his sister, surely he shouldn't have been escorting her like that, he should've been escorting a girlfriend, but at least it was only in the house, she would walk down to the yacht all by herself and he'd go on once she was there to his party.

Joachim had opened the door and bowed low. Once they were outside in the cooling evening air, the buildings lit golden by the sinking sun, he'd finally smiled at the sight of his SUV. Father had made him work hard to get it, and he was proud of his achievement.

Being as he was sure Mother and Father were watching, he'd guided her around to the passenger seat, opened the door, waited for her to climb inside, and then closed it before going around to the drivers' side and climbing in for himself.

He'd turned on the radio to his favourite station and pulled out of the driveway. Smiling, she'd nodded her head to the beat of the music and gazed out the windshield. It was the first time she would be going to a party by herself, and both of them were glad: he didn't have to hang around her friends anymore, and she didn't have to deal with him always following her around anymore.

As he'd driven toward the docks, he'd had to admit, she looked pretty, and he was glad she was his sister. It wouldn't take long, he was sure, before she had a boy of her own escorting her around who would charm her, win her heart, and marry her. Once he was married, of course.

It hand't been hard to tell where the party was, all sorts of cars were parked nearby, and the large yacht was brightly illuminated with lights. It was a huge yacht, both of them had attended massive dinner parties on the thing with Mother and Father, and now Patricia was using it for her birthday party.

"When do you plan on picking me up?" she'd asked.

"Eleven thirty maybe," he'd replied. "If you don't hear from me by then, call me."

"Alright," she'd said. "If you're here sooner, call me."

"I will," he'd said.

"Bye Riel," she'd said, smiling and waving her fingers in that dainty little way of hers, kind of like how Mother waved, yet somewhat more darling and juvenile."