Fortunately, the man told Virginia she could go pack some of her belongings to take with her. Virginia was still afraid, but grateful that she would have another moment in her home and with her family.
Janice accompanied Virginia to her room to help her pack up a few things. It still wasn't clear to her where she was going, so Virginia wasn't sure what she might even need.
Janice pushed the door open and they stepped in. Her bedside lamp that she had turned on earlier was still on, but Janice flipped on the overhead light.
Knowing she was leaving indefinitely made Virginia see and appreciate her room in a new way. She stood in the doorway and took it all in.
"Let's start with the essentials, I guess," Janice said.
Her eyes were still rimmed red, but Virginia had managed to calm herself down for the time being.
"Yeah, I guess."
Virginia walked slowly around her room, running her fingertips over each of her belongings. She wasn't sure if she'd ever see any of this stuff again. She touched the thread lines on her down comforter, the soft faux fur of her throw pillows. She touched the odds and ends she'd collected and stored on her writing desk and dresser: a couple of random shells and rocks, a unique paperweight that was shaped like a bird, an antique feather pen, a small porcelain doll wearing a satin dress and a lace-rimmed hat.
As she went through her closet, she wasn't sure what sort of clothes to bring. She was sure she didn't need anything fancy, though she decided to pack her favorite red gown in the bottom of her suitcase. If anything, perhaps she could sell it or look at it once in a while. She laid out mostly everyday clothes, like jeans and t-shirts, but being the daughter of a rich socialite like Richard Downing, she decided to pack some of her nicer clothes and shoes as well.
Janice folded the clothes neatly and packed them tightly in a suitcase while Virginia prepared another slightly smaller bag for some odds and ends she didn't want to let go of. After making space for some toiletries, she packed some books. Among some of her favorites were Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray. She also brought a few recently purchased books that she hadn't read yet, though she wasn't sure whether she would be able to read them or not.
But, like the red gown, it was more about comfort. She hoped having some of her personal items would evoke some feelings of normalcy.
Finally, before leaving her bedroom, she grabbed the most important possession she had: a picture of her and her mother. In the photo, Virginia was about twelve, and her mother was a thriving thirty-five. They both donned wide, toothy smiles and held various wildflowers next to their faces. It was such a simple photo, but Virginia treasured it.
She placed it atop the books and padded it with a light scarf. As she zipped up the small bag, she took a deep breath in and out to keep herself from crying again.
Janice was standing at the foot of the bed with both hands gripping the suitcase handle. She stared at the floor and it appeared that tears streamed down her face.
Virginia touched her sister's shoulder.
"C'mon. I should probably get going."
"Wait," Janice said, with a slight break in her voice.
Virginia thought she was about to say something kind or important, so she stroked her sister's arm to comfort her.
"Do you think you should change clothes before you go?"
Virginia looked down at her nightgown, and she still stood in her bare feet.
She laughed dryly. "Yeah. I suppose."
Janice brushed her sister's hair and picked out her attire: a sleek green dress and a double-breasted camel coat, a pair of pointed white booties, and a golden clip for her hair.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Virginia asked. She looked herself over in the mirror. She thought for a moment that she looked beautiful, but then she grew sad. What was the purpose of this man taking possession of her?
"I just wanted you to look like yourself."
She wasn't sure if she'd ever see Janice again, and that's probably what Janice was thinking too. And while Virginia certainly wasn't in any hurry to leave her family, she knew she needed to make haste and go before she broke down again. She wanted to stay strong for her family, for her sister, and she thought it would be increasingly more difficult to leave Janice if she waited a moment longer. A few tears escaped and Virginia wiped them quickly away.
Together, the sisters descended the stairs slowly. The strange man was still standing at the door, though now he was looking at his phone. Their father was nowhere to be seen.
As the sisters reached the base of the stairs and inched their way to the door, Virginia found it more and more difficult to hold back the tears. She knew that as soon as she stepped out those doors and left with this man that everything would be different.
She wasn't sure how things would be different, how terrible they might be wherever she was going, but she knew nothing would be the same. She wasn't sobbing, but the tears were falling fast, leaving her face feeling hot and wet.
She only hoped this pale man was not as frightening as he seemed.
Virginia scanned the surrounding area for her father, but he appeared to have gone elsewhere. She came to a stop a few feet away from the stranger and looked at him expectantly.
He didn't seem moved by her presence, but he must have felt her gaze on him. He looked up from his phone. A very brief flash of surprise flickered in his gray eyes, but his mouth remained flat. He looked her up and down again, similarly to when her father first offered her to him.
Virginia's pulse quickened with embarrassment. The man licked his lips and softly bit his bottom lip. It was difficult to tell, but Virginia thought he was maybe a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, say your goodbyes," he said indifferently. He slid his phone into his pants pocket and looked away.
Virginia placed her bag on the ground and Janice followed suit. They embraced for a long time, saying nothing. Virginia could feel her sister's breathing stuttering. It was warm and moist on Virginia's neck. It took all of her strength to comfort her sister, instead of crying as well.
"Thank you, Virginia," her sister said.
Virginia wasn't sure why her sister would be thanking her, but she nodded and gave her sister one final squeeze.
"I'll miss you," Janice said.
Virginia smiled sadly and stared longingly at her sister. She did not want to leave. What if this was their last moment together?
"We should really be going," the stranger said after a moment. He bent down to scoop up the suitcase of her clothes.
Suddenly, Richard appeared around the corner. He must have been in his study.
"Virginia," he said sternly, "Be good and do exactly as Mr. Prince says so you won't get hurt."
Mr. Prince?
Virginia glanced at the pale man again.
Could he be the infamous Charles Prince? The Charles Prince who was the wealthiest man in Meridian Valley?
Virginia's stomach dropped. Not only was he known as the the most wealthy man in the city, but he was also known to be one of the cruelest. Growing even more frightened, but knowing that the deal had been made and that she could no longer fight her inevitable departure, she picked up her bag of books and miscellaneous items.
Charles Prince led the way out the door. Waiting outside on the porch was another man, Charle's driver.
He walked ahead of them to the long charcoal-colored Cadillac sitting in the driveway. Even in the darkness and through the drizzle, she could tell it was brand new and in pristine condition.
As they walked through the light rain, Virginia saw a hint of deep pink coming from the east. The morning was about to break.
Maybe everything would be less scary in the bright of day.
She tried to think of some positive possibilities. If he was taking her across the city to his castle estate, then at least she wouldn't be too far from her sister. Even if she never saw her again, at least she would still be close.
Trying to remain poised, Virginia seated herself in the backseat and held her chin up.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, but the firm sound of the door closing her slammed her back into reality.
This was really happening. She was being taken by the city's most contemptible man. Not only that, but her father didn't seem to hesitate to give her to him. As she sat in the backseat alone, Virginia began to feel angry.
And then a new kind of feeling began to bubble under her sternum. Resentment.