Chapter 1: Obedience Won’t Save Me

SARIAN POV

The sun hid its face, and not only did the sky turn dark, my world did too.

Thunderbolts grumbled, mocking me.

I banged on the main door, hoping Anastasia would help.

The clock was ticking. So was my mother's life. I glanced back at her, lying there still.

"Please help my mother, Miss Anastasia," I gulped as I held onto my mother's limp body as the rain poured down on us.

Anastasia remained unmoved and stared down at us from the balcony. Her eyes were void of emotion.

"Mama, please wake up," I pleaded. Her skin had turned pale.

"What's the big deal? I'm sure she's not dead," she shouted back.

She punished my mother and I for hours over a petty issue and wouldn't let us go now that my mama had collapsed.

"What the fuck do you want from us? Our lives? Mama's health wouldn't have declined over the years if she didn't try to save you years ago!" I barked.

She disappeared and soon walked out of the door with an umbrella and approached us.

Finally, she stood before us. “Your mother saved me, but that was her choice. I don't want to save her. Besides, I never begged her to save me." She scoffed.

"Just please get her a doctor," I begged.

Gently, I laid my mum on the freezing ground and crawled to her, ignoring the pain that shot through my body.

"You can deal with me however you want, just please help my mother," I choked out.

"I'm not a doctor, and neither do I have money to waste. How am I even sure both of you are not putting on an act to extort money from me?"

I shut my eyes and clenched my hands until my knuckles cracked. Begging won't save Mama. I have to find another way.

My eyes snapped open, and I wiped my tears. I turned to mama and pulled up her limp body.

Carefully, I placed her by my side and gripped her waist tightly and headed to our room. Losing my mother would kill me.

Our lives are pathetic, but I won't let anyone force us to our deaths, either. We'll be the judges of that.

“I didn’t release you!” Anastasia screamed. “Where do you think you’re going?” I heard her storming towards us.

I didn’t stop.

Then—

CRACK!

Pain exploded across my back as her whip struck me. My muscles tensed.

A strangled cry escaped my throat.

“You stop when I tell you to!” she commanded like I was a kid but I refused to heed.

Another blow. Then another.

My vision blurred, but I tightened my grip on Mama.

“Hit me all you want,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “But if your whip touches my mother, I swear you’ll regret it.”

Something in my voice must have reached her. She paused. 

Definitely not because her humanity was turned back on.

Finally, I pushed into our small, dim room, drenched and shaking. My teeth was chattering and lips trembling.

Despite the warmth of the room, it was not a fortress to protect us from the monsters.

Carefully, I changed mama out of her wet clothes to dry ones. After which, I placed her on the bed.

I poured warm water into a bowl and soaked clean towels in it, pressing them to her forehead.

My breathing was ragged, and sweat trickled down my face. My eyes were bloodshot.

I didn't want to put mum in a difficult situation. That was why I restrained myself today.

I ransacked our old drawer and took out some drugs and gave it to Mama.

An hour later, her complexion had improved as well as her temperature, but she remained unconscious.

I tapped my foot against the floor. Tears continued to roll down my face. If only we didn't have to depend on another family for survival...

My thoughts were disrupted when I heard a faint cough. My head snapped to look at Mama and she was awake but weak.

I sniffled and flashed her a small smile before taking her hand in mine.

"Mama? Thank goodness you're awake. How are you feeling now?" I asked in a cracked voice.

She smiled and gave me a slight nod. She raised her hand to touch my face. "My baby," she whispered.

"Do you want me to get you something?" I asked.

My stomach tied into knots seeing the state of my mother.

I opened my mouth to talk when someone knocked on the door, but I ignored whoever it was. Mama was my utmost priority.

"Answer the person," Mama urged, but I didn't budge.

Mama's brows furrowed. I sighed and nodded.

She had just regained consciousness, and I didn't want to do anything to irritate her.

I stood up and opened the door. Thankfully, I had changed my bloodstained clothes, but the injuries stung.

I twisted the doorknob, and it was another maid.

"Madam Anastasia wants you in her room now.”

My lips tugged into a bitter smirk. My fists were clenched. After everything she did to my mother and I she still has the nerve to call me?

I shut the door and let out a shaky breath. I refuse to go. The worst she could do is punish me again.

I turned to Mama, and she had a worried look on her face.

"What does she want?" Mama asked, but I shrugged instead as I fixed the duvet for her.

Mama held me with shaky hands. "You should go, dear, before she throws a fit."

"I don't want to leave you alone," I said.

"I'll be fine, just go."

I would disobey the world but never this woman.

I just sighed and did as told. With every step I took, my chest tightened.

How much more miserable do our lives have to be before things get better? Does God even remember us?

I knocked on Anastasia's door gently.

"Took you so long to answer me, stupid girl. My boyfriend is on his way here, I want you to prepare something tasty. Get out." I ordered from her room.

I scoffed. She summoned me but didn't have the decency to let me in.

Having a long record of useless boyfriends is her thing. This new one can't be any different.

I walked into the kitchen to cook. I brushed my disheveled hair and sighed heavily.

An hour later, I hummed as I sauteed the turkey. Anything to escape reality.

Soon, a loud yelp tore from my throat as someone spanked my butt. I turned around immediately, and it was Marcus.

My breath hitched. No, not again. I gripped the edge of the island.

His molestation had gone on for too long, and I dared not tell my mother about it because Marcus threatened me, and it would hurt mama a lot.

"Hmm, hi... hi sir," I stuttered, still trying to hide the chaos within me as I shifted uncomfortably.

"Why? Didn't you miss me?" A sly smirk was plastered on his face.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and didn't reply.

That didn't sit well with him. His face twisted into a deep frown. He gritted his teeth, and his eyes darkened.

Compared to Anastasia, Marcus is the greater devil.

"I would have thought you were involved with some losers at the campus if my spies hadn't had their eyes on you."

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. Marcus had people watching me? Am I even safe?

Still lost in thought, he suddenly snaked his muscular arm around my tiny waist.

I groaned, trying to break free, but he was too strong.

Marcus was way older than me, so that made it easier for him to bully me.

"Plea... Please, sir," I pleaded.

"How dare you refuse me?" He roared, spun me around and pinned me against the island.

Marcus held my hand in a tight grasp. I gasped as my lungs contracted.

"Plea.. please let me go," I sobbed.

Marcus leaned closer to my ear. His hot breath fanned my neck.

"This body belongs to me alone." He whispered in my ear.

The atmosphere thickened. Goosebumps crept onto my skin. The muscles tensed not because of Marcus but for an unknown reason.

Soles of shoes clicked against the floor as someone walked into the kitchen. I didn't see the person's face, but his aura weighed on me.

With all the strength I could muster, I pushed up, surprising Marcus, and then hit his groin.

I panted and blinked rapidly as he groaned.

"Busy?" a voice boomed.

Our heads snapped in the direction of the voice. My eyes widened, and I bit my inner cheek.

His presence slammed into the room like a cold current. 

Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black — he didn’t look like he belonged in this place. 

He looked like power in human form. His eyes pierced mine as if searching for a secret buried deep down in my soul.

My face flushed. Tears stung my eyes. Embarrassed that I was seen in such a position with Marcus.

Marcus scoffed and stood upright. "Not really. Let me freshen up. I'll meet you at the bar." And walked, throwing me a death glance.

I retreated to the corner of the kitchen, shivering. A pair of shoes stood before me, but I couldn't look at him.

I jolted when I felt something on me - a coat. I couldn't look at the man. He probably thinks I'm a whore too.

"Obedience won't save you. Defiance will," he said and left.

What was that all about? Aside from mama, someone else cares?