*Lucia*
The ride to the Hotel the driver mentioned was not as bumpy as I expected. I couldn’t stop glancing back to see if we were being followed. The driver gave me weird looks from the rear mirror. I took a deep breath after a while and relaxed. The ride to the King Hotel was over three hours from the mall. I felt sleepy but had to keep my eyes wide open. The last thing I wanted was to be taken somewhere other than the hotel.
The car came to a stop at the entrance of the hotel. I paid the man and hopped out of the car. I have never been to a hotel before. This was my first time, and to think that I had started with a hotel this big? I touched my pocket. I had to make sure that my money was in there. Feeling it there, I walked in.
My eyes darted around the magnificent building.
I tried not to gawk like a peasant. I took a deep breath; the air in the hotel felt different. Maybe it was because it was the air of freedom. At last, I was finally free from the clutches of Bruno. I felt warm within. I received weird stares as I appreciated the receptionist. It was obviously because of the way I was dressed.
Unlike most ladies who wore nice clothes, I looked more like a criminal. I removed the cap from my head and freed my blonde hair, hoping it would make me look like I fit a little better. I was soon given a room and walked in as fast as possible. The evening sun had started to set. I would spend the night in this hotel and book a train away from the city.
I had no place in mind yet.
But I was sure I would think of something before then. A place far away. Where Bruno would not be able to reach me, I beamed at the thought of living a life with me in control. My smile widened at the thought of Bruno and Jason kneeling before me, begging for my forgiveness and mercy.
I opened the room and stepped in after looking around.
I marveled at the sight of the warm, cozy, and neatly arranged room. The bed was placed close to the floor-to-ceiling window and laid with white sheets. I rushed towards it and fell on it, my head facing the ceiling. I rolled on the bed, ruffling the sheet and smiling at the clap sound my legs made.
After rolling on the bed for a while, I sat up and brought out the card and money in my pocket. I knew I couldn’t use Bruno’s card. At least not yet. I could be traced with it, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught before I left the city. Bruno would waste no time in passing a bullet over my head. I was sure of it.
Well, I planned on having my best time in this hotel just for tonight.
I felt guilty about Rave. He would surely get punished for letting me out of the house. I walked to the window and stood in front of it. The view was lovely. My room was directly opposite a garden. I hummed beneath my breath. I closed my eyes, allowing the cold breeze to hit my face.
I was tired from running around and having to hide from Rave. I needed to rest. I walked to the bed, took off my shoes, and hopped on the bed. It was soft. I didn’t know when I drifted off into sleep with all the anxiety and fear of being caught disturbing my mind. By the time I woke up, night had fallen. I stretched and rubbed sleep off my eyes. I needed food.
I wanted to use room service but decided against it. I’ll go out and eat in the restaurant owned by the hotel. That would be better. I could get some information about the closest city to run to. First I needed clothes and also a phone. I blinked severely before jumping off the bed. I wore my slippers and headed out. I was careful so that I would not be caught.
When I bumped into something hard, I least expected the person to be someone I know. My body froze when I saw her. Sarah. She was Jason’s best friend, and we were friends at one point. Beside her was Steve.
I knew Steve and Jason worked together to sell me off.
My anger boiled as I watched them. Sarah stared directly into my eyes. I wasn’t sure if she was aware of the plot between her brother and Jason, but my anger towards them also rubbed off on her. I scoffed as she took a step forward, “well, well, look who we have here,” she said. She crossed one hand over her body and held her chin with the other. Her black dress hugged her body. Perfectly accentuating her slim figure.
I glared at her.
I wanted to say something to her and her stupid brother. I wanted to promise them I would get back at them for selling me off, but I decided against it. I had better things to worry myself over. I was about to walk past Sarah when she held onto me. Before I could comprehend what was happening, she began pulling me out of the building.
“We need to talk,” she said.
I followed her. Maybe because deep down, I wanted to speak to her as well. I wanted to ask her if she was aware of Jason’s plot. I had to know. People gave us curious looks, but she kept a harmless smile on her face, trying to prove that she had done no harm, but we both knew that was a lie. She pulled me to a dark corner. The last thing I remember was feeling something hard hit me on my head before I lost consciousness.
The next time I woke up, I was tied to a chair. My hands were taken to the back of the chair and tied together. There was a rope tied around my chest, too. I struggled to free myself, but it was of no use. I was alone in the dark room. I looked around the darkness. I had an eerie feeling about this place.
It had a stinking smell, and I couldn’t help but wince my nose. I tried to make out something in the darkness; even if it was a fire, I couldn’t. “Who’s there? Untie me this instant. You motherfuckers,” I screamed, but there was no response. My voice echoed in the room.
I was sure Sarah and Steve were close.
They knocked me unconscious and brought me here. I didn’t need to ask Sarah if she knew about Jason’s plan. It was clear she knew. I bit my lower lips, trying to control my anger and helplessness. I kept struggling, trying to free myself, but I couldn’t.
The chair made creaking sounds as I struggled. I never thought there would be a day when Sarah would tie me up like this. We were not best of friends, but we were close to each other to a considerable extent. “Sarah, come in here. You wanted to talk, right? Then come in. You don’t have to be a chicken,” I half yelled.
My eyes darted around. I knew there was probably someone out there. I shook the chair violently. When I ran away from Rave, getting tied up on a chair was the least I expected. Life is indeed filled with surprises. I kept glancing around and shaking the chair. Soon, I heard footsteps, and I stopped shaking it. The footsteps were heavy. It stopped in front of the door.
Slowly, the door creaked open. Someone stood in front of the door. I could barely see the person standing by the doorpost because of the light that reflected into the room. It was a girl. When she started to walk towards me, I recognized her as Sarah. I gritted my teeth. I wanted to skin her alive limb by limb.
“What do you want? Why am I being tied here? Is it not enough that you planned with that motherfuckomg childhood friend of yours to sell me?” I asked furiously. I shook the chair. She walked to the side and switched on the building that was in the room. I glared at her. One side of her lips pulled to the side. I couldn’t believe that I had once been friends with this witch.
“Lucia, Lucia, you can’t tell how happy I am to see you today,” she said with a small smile adorning her cheeks. The door was still wide open. Steve walked in, and behind him were two men dressed in black. They were armed with guns, which they held in front of them.
“Don’t you dare call my name with that disgusting mouth of yours,” I said, emphasizing every word. “You have the nerve to stand in front of me. Where is your conscience?” I asked, “oh… I forgot you don’t have one,” I mocked. Well, I guess it wasn’t mockery for her as she sneered and walked to place her hands on the chair’s handles.
“Well, I don’t dispute what you just said. I don’t have a conscience because I don’t need it,” she paused and brought one hand to my face to move the hair away from my face. I moved my head to the back, disgusted by the touch of her hands. “I may not have a conscience, but at least I am sensible and smart. That’s worth trading over the stupid conscience you claim to have,” she said.
“You blindly trusted Jason. How could you trust him? You were blinded by love. It was so deep to the point where you couldn’t see that he didn’t feel the same way. Everything you share is just your illusion. Jason had been in love with me, and we were together all those times you dated him, but you took no notice,” she said. I suddenly felt as if I had been stabbed with numerous needles in my chest.
My chest tightened. I was more angry than sad. Jason was already an enemy, so whatever she said gave me enough reason to hate him. It didn’t change anything. “When I suggested he sold you, as I was tired of playing you since you refused to become wise, he didn’t hesitate,” I scoffed. I didn’t care. She should try harder if she thinks her words would break me.
She went on and on about how they lived with each other. I kept my eyes on her as her breath fell on my face, but I couldn’t hear anything she said anymore. I was thinking of a way to escape. “So, at least you know you were just a poor orphan. A homeless girl who was used and…” I spat on her face before she could complete her statement.
She froze, shocked.
“Good riddance,” I said with a smile. I felt proud of myself. She moved back. She felt disgusted by the pile of spite that was on one side of her eye. Steve quickly walked to the side and handed a tissue to her. She cleaned her face with it and threw it to the side.
She moved forward again and slapped me hard on my cheek. My face tilted to the side. My cheeks stung from the pain. I closed my eyes. I had expected that. She dug her hands into my hair. “I’ll fucking kill you,” she yelled. She let go of my hair and slapped me hard on my face again. More strands of hair fell on my face. I raised my tilted head slowly. I felt something metallic at the side of my mouth. I licked it and smiled.
Her slap couldn’t break me.
“I’ll fucking end your life,” she brought a dagger, “I’ll send you to your dead parents,” She pointed the dagger towards me and rushed forward, aiming for my chest.