CHAPTER 3: I'm Saving Myself

Something smelled off the moment Alura opened her apartment door.

It smelled like cigar. Expensive, thick and choking cigar.

She pushed the door open quietly and her stomach immediately dropped.

Percy Miller sat on their couch like it was a throne. His legs were spread wide, and his expensive suit jacket was open, he had a fat cigar in between his fingers. And smoke curled around his balding head like a dirty halo.

In the corner, her father stood with his head down like a servant waiting for orders.

"There she is." Percy smirked. "My beautiful bride."

Alura froze in the doorway.

Percy's eyes crawled over her body slowly. Starting at her wet hair, sliding down to her soaked jacket, lingering on her chest, her hips and her legs.

"Even soaking wet, you're still gorgeous," he nodded with satisfaction. "I'm a lucky man."

Alura's skin crawled. "Get out of my house. Now."

Percy laughed. It sounded like a mocking laugh. "Your house? Alura, this apartment belongs to the bank. And the bank belongs to me. So technically, this is MY house. I'm just letting you stay here until the wedding."

He stood up, adjusting his suit jacket. Gold rings flashed on his thick fingers. He took a step toward her.

Alura stepped back.

"Don't be shy," Percy said. His smile showed his yellow teeth. "We're going to be husband and wife soon. We should get comfortable with each other, you know."

"I won't marry you."

"Yes, you will." He took another step closer. "Your father signed the contract. It's a legal binding and In thirty days, you'll be Mrs. Miller. I've already made all the arrangements."

He pulled out his phone and held it up. It was a photo of a wedding dress on a mannequin. It was a white lace, almost see-through wedding dress, the neckline was overly low and the skirt was slit right up to the hip.

Alura's stomach turned in disgust.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Percy's voice dropped lower. "I picked it myself. I wanted something that would give me a good preview of the goods before the wedding night."

"You ARE disgusting."

He scoffed and moved closer to her, too close that Alura could smell him now. Tobacco and a mix of expensive cologne. "I've waited five years for you, Alura. I've watched you grow from a pretty college girl into a stunning woman. Do you know how patient I've been?"

"I was Nineteen!" Alura's voice shook. "You've been planning this since I was Nineteen?"

"Planning is a strong word." Percy reached out. Alura moved away, but he was fast enough to touch her cheek. "Let's say I've been... hoping. Your father kept coming back, he kept borrowing more. I knew eventually he'd have nothing left to offer but you."

She slapped his hand away.

Percy's smile widened. "Feisty. I like that. Don't worry, I'll be gentle on our wedding night. By the end of the first week, you'll be begging for my attention."

Alura immediately gagged. She shoved past him running into her bedroom.

His laughter echoed behind her. "You can't run from me, Alura! You're mine now! MINE!"

She slammed her bedroom door and twisted the lock with shaking hands. Her heart hammered so hard she thought it might break through her ribs.

Outside, Percy yelled at her father now.

"You need to control your daughter better, Robert. I don't like disrespect."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Miller." Her father's voice was pathetic and groveling. "She's just scared. She'll come around."

"She'd better. I'm not a patient man anymore. I've waited long enough."

His footsteps approached her door.

Alura backed away immediately.

The doorknob rattled twice.

"Alura." Percy's voice was right outside, it sounded sweet yet poisonous. "Don't make me break down this door. Come out and say goodbye properly."

"Leave her alone!" Her father finally spoke up. "You got what you came for. The contract is signed, just go. Please."

Suddenly there was a pause. Then a thud, then a grunt of pain.

Alura pressed her ear to the door. Her father was coughing and gasping.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Percy said coldly. "Remember who owns you."

There were more footsteps, then the apartment door opened.

"Thirty days, Robert. Make sure she's ready. Pretty dress, nice makeup, and a big smile. I want a perfect wedding. Understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Miller. I understand."Robert grunted In Pain.

"Good. And tell your daughter that if she tries to run, I'll find her. I have people everywhere. She can't hide from me."

The door slammed shut.

Alura waited for a while, counting her heartbeats. One minute, Two, Three.

Finally, she unlocked her door and came out.

Her father sat on the floor, holding his ribs. A fresh bruise was on his cheek.

"Dad..."

"Don't come close." He didn't look at her. "Just don't."

"But he hit you."She said worriedly.

Her father laughed bitterly. "I sold my daughter to a monster. I think I deserve worse than a slap."

Alura wanted to comfort him. But looking at him now, how pathetic and broken he looked, she felt nothing. Just cold and empty.

She bit her lips and turned back to her room.

"Where are you going?" her father asked.

"To bed."

"Alura, we need to talk about this. About the wedding. Mr. Miller has expectations."

"I don't care."

"But you have to care! If you embarrass him, he'll take it out on both of us! Please, just cooperate. Wear the dress. Smile. Say the vows. It'll be over quickly."

Alura stopped in her doorway. "It won't be over, Dad. It'll be the beginning of him owning me for the rest of my life."

"It's not that bad. He's rich. He'll take care of you."

"He's going to rape me."

"Don't say that!"

"Why not? It's true. Marriage doesn't make it consensual if I don't want it."

Her father's face crumpled. "But what choice do we have?"

Alura looked at him, at his bruises, the shame, the weakness that had taken over him for fifteen years.

"Goodnight, Dad."

She closed her door, locked it and leaned against it until her legs stopped shaking.

Then she pulled out Grandma Mabel's card.

The business card was still slightly damp from the rain.

She sat on her bed and stared at her phone.

Forty-eight hours, Grandmother Mabel had said. But Alura didn't need forty-eight hours, all she needed was five minutes. The moment Percy had touched her face, she had already made her choice.

Anything was better than this.

Even a loveless marriage to a stranger named Lou.

She dialed the number with trembling fingers.

"I was wondering when you would call, Lily." Grandma Mabel said across the speaker almost immediately.

She sounded unsurprised. Like she had been sitting by the phone waiting.

Alura exhaled. "I'll do it."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'll marry him. I just..." Her voice cracked. "I can't marry Percy Miller. I can't. Please."

There was silence on the other end.

"You're very brave, Lily," Grandma Mabel finally said.

"I'm not brave, I'm desperate." Alura insisted.

"It takes even braveness to be desperate, child. Anyways, can you meet me tomorrow morning? Eight AM at the temple. Bring your ID and family registry."

"You can arrange everything that fast?" Alura asked with surprise.

"When you have money and connections, child, anything is fast. I'll bring the cash for your father's debts. Four million dollars. Also the marriage contract and rings."

Alura's head spun. "Rings?"

"A marriage needs rings, even a fake one. Don't worry, they're simple, not too flashy. But it's real gold. My grandson insists on quality even in business arrangements."

Alura exhaled. "This is really happening."

"Only if you want it to."

"I want it to." Her words came out firmly. "I'll be there at eight AM, Grandma Mabel."

"Hmm. Get some sleep, my dear Lily." Grandma Mabel said softly.

They hung up.

Alura sat in the dark with her phone clutched in her hands.

Tomorrow. At eight AM, she would marry a stranger named Lou just to be free from Percy Miller. It might be another wrong choice, but at least she gets to decide.

..............

By dawn the next day, she left a paper on the kitchen table.

I'm saving myself since you won't. Don't look for me.