*Lucia*
As I watched Bruno walk out of the bathroom, my chest tightened from anger and embarrassment. Aside from Jason, no other guy has ever held me naked. My cheeks were still burning from the embarrassment. I gave it a quick clap. I stepped Into the shower and raised my face, allowing the water to warm my face. I took a deep breath and went back to scrubbing my body. I wanted to get rid of any smell from Bruno.
When I saw Bruno in the room, I was surprised. I don’t know what is wrong with him. He spoke many hurtful words, but I resolved never to allow them to break me, but I couldn’t. He was, after all, right about everything he said, and I was already broken.
The rest of the day went by quickly. I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. There was nothing I could do but count each second as it passed. I didn’t know if I should be happy that I got to have enough rest or sad that I was locked up and treated like a prisoner.
I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. I kept tossing and turning on the bed, my eyes moving around. After a while, I stepped down from the bed. I stretched and yawned loudly. One can genuinely be tired from doing nothing.
I walked towards the window. The sun has already gone down. The window was locked, and I didn’t bother to open it. I just looked out through it.
My mind kept drifting to the discussion I had with Bruno. I could still feel his presence, and his voice echoed in my mind. This was more painful than being dead and getting taunted and locked up. I clenched my teeth and dug my fingers into my palm. I hated Bruno as much as I hated Jason. I wanted to get back at both but knew I couldn’t.
I inhaled a scent of breath.
The door opened, and I turned sharply, wondering who could have stepped in. When Bruno stepped in, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes internally. What the hell was he doing here? I didn’t want to spend another minute with him, but I couldn’t just fly out of the window.
I watched as he took firm and steady steps towards me. His shoes clicked sharply on the floor with every step he took. I stepped to the side. When he got closer, he paused and then took a step forward while I took one back. He kept walking forward, and I stepped back until my back hit the wall. He placed his hands on the wall, caging me between himself, “What do you want?” I asked. My voice shook as I stared into his cold eyes.
What did he want this time? I thought as my chest heaved up and down in worry. He held my gaze, his eyes staring deep into my soul. I tried to hold his gaze, too. I felt intimidated but tried to keep it hidden. He tore his gaze away from my eyes and fixed it on my lips. “This is a very uncomfortable position; if you have something to say, we can sit and discuss it,” I told him again.
Maybe he didn’t hear because he didn’t respond.
One of his fingers moved up to my lips. I moved my head to the side, but he followed me with his thumb, settling them on my lips before trailing them softly. I felt disgusted. I wanted to push him away, but my hands were stuck to the side. Suddenly, he started moving his head down towards me, his eyes staring hungrily at my lips. Was he going to kiss me? I thought within. His lips kept getting closer. My heart thudded loudly in my ears.
He got closer. His lips are a few inches away from mine. His warm breath fell on my face. I seemed to have recovered from whatever spell he had cast on me as I pushed him away and stepped to the side.
“What do you think you are doing?” I asked him. I removed his hands from the wall and turned subtly to look at me. “What did it seem like I was doing?” He asked back. He sounded like he had all the right in the world to pin me against the wall and kiss me. “Don’t tell me you thought I was going to kiss you,” he said. His voice held a tinge of mockery in it. Was he mocking me? I raised a brow. Bruno sure has more than one screen loss in his head.
“Then what were you doing bringing your head close to mine with your lips slightly opened?” I asked. I didn’t know where I got the confidence from. My voice was a little above the roof as I spoke.
“I owe you no explanation for whatever I do. I bought you with my money. Every part of your body and soul is mine, and I don’t owe you any explanation for what I do with you,” he said-the nerve of him. I boiled with anger. Just because he bought me doesn’t make me a doll that can be used as he liked. I was human, too.
“I wanted to see if you were still alive or had jumped out through the window,” I raised a brow. Was he that scared of me killing myself? One would think that he was afraid of losing me when, in truth, he was scared of losing his money.
“Well, as you can see, I’m still alive and well,” I told him. I hope he got the message to leave the room. Why couldn’t I have my peace of mind? He was keeping me locked in here and using me as a toy. I couldn’t accept that, but there was nothing I could do. My anger and hatred could only intensify.
He was about to say something when his phone rang. My eyes moved to his pocket, where he had kept his phone. He dipped his hand into his pockets and brought it out. When he saw the ID caller, he furrowed his eyebrow and turned sharply, waking out of the room.
I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
I was angry. I wanted to get back at him. I wanted to make him feel inferior, just as he made me feel. I walked towards the bed. My legs shook with each step I took. I sat down on the bed. I ran my hands across my blonde hair and took a deep breath. I clenched my fist as I looked at the door. I was scared that he would suddenly push the door open and walk in.
His actions reminded me of Aldo Jason’s uncle. He looked like a pervert like him. The only difference between them is that one was handsome, and the other was old and grumpy. I cursed myself for thinking about Bruno’s looks. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions. I have been wronged by a lot of people in this life. I’ll get back to them.
I didn’t know when I drifted off to sleep that night, but I woke up with a heavy heart.
I quickly showered, but not without locking the door from within. I didn’t want anybody barging into the bathroom and catching me in their hands naked. After taking a shower, I walked to the wardrobe at the side. My room was not the best, but I was at least grateful I had not been left in the storeroom. I picked up one of the clothes in the wardrobe and wore it quickly.
I wondered why he had female clothes in the wardrobe but didn’t dwell on the thought for long as soon one of the men in the house pushed the door open without knocking. He wore black clothes. His shirt stuck to his body, perfectly accentuating his thick muscles. He had a bag of food in his hand and dropped it with a thud on the table at the side of the room. I was tired of eating junk, but I had to be grateful that I was fed at all. After dropping it, he moved his squinting gaze to me. I felt conscious of his look.
I walked towards the table where the food was kept. I muttered a quick thank you, but he didn’t bother replying to me, not even a nod. I wasn’t scared of being poisoned. That would be better as I would have the death I wished for, but I knew Bruno would not be stupid to poison me. I noticed that there was no water. They always brought a bottle of water with the food. I swallowed. There was no way I could eat without water.
He turned to leave after sending me a slight glare, which left me wondering if I had offended him in any way. “Excuse me,” I said softly, and he paused before turning around. “There is no water. Please, can I get some water? I asked. My voice shook as I spoke.
His frown deepened, and he sent me a hateful glare.
“You should be happy you are fed. Ungrateful bitch,” he cursed and walked out, banging on the door. I sent a slight glare at the door, imagining him there. All the men were just like their boss. Stupid and cold.
I sat on the chair and unpacked the food.
I would surely remember what this guy did to me. I will never forget what Bruno and his men did, how they fed me and treated me like an animal. Last night, before I slept, I had given up on ending my life. Why should I when I can live and get back at all of them that made my life miserable?
I’ll make sure they get their side of the coin. I ate hurriedly with a new resolve.
I spent two weeks in Bruno’s house and have spent them all in this room, and my day revolved around walking up, taking a shower, eating, and getting taunted by Bruno. He never took a break. Day after day, he came to my room with one excuse or the other, reminding me of my place and telling me how death would be better. I also spent my days planning for the perfect way to get back at him and others, and it dawned on me that to get my revenge, I’d have to escape from Bruno’s grip.
Bruno’s words struck me to my bones. My hatred for him intensified, but I comforted myself with images of him in my head, kneeling and begging me for his life. I had become used to his schedule, or so I thought, as it kept changing. I knew he had a club, as I had overheard his conversation over the phone one day.
He goes to his club during the day and returns late at night. Once, he came to my room at midnight. I soon understood that I was a tool for relieving his stress. There was a day he didn’t return, and only I knew how happy I had been. I slept peacefully, only to wake up the next day and see him sitting at the side with a newspaper in his hands. I screamed out of fear.
My days in the house became life a day in hell. I had no friends or phone to surf the internet; it was always me alone or with Bruno taunting me. I had no reason to smile. I could count the number of times I smiled, and that was only possible because of Rave.
Rave was slightly different from all the other men in the house. I saw him as the only sane person aside from me. Or maybe I shouldn’t be on the list, as I am already losing my mind. The days he brought me food himself were the best. He would sit and watch me eat, telling one joke after another.
I knew he was the one who could help me with my plan for revenge. He would play a major role in getting me out of the house.
Yes, that’s correct.
I would escape from the prison called a home. And he, Rave, would be my key. As I thought about it, I smiled.