Escaping With Eve

I pressed my hands hard over my ears, curling up in bed. However, the sharp, agonizing cries still cut through the thick walls, stabbing into my heart.It went on for a while before, finally, the noise from the main house faded away, and the night returned to its unsettling silence.The door to my room creaked open. Unsteady footsteps echoed closer. I opened my eyes. It was her—my sister-in-law, Eve.Her hair was a mess; her cheeks were red and swollen, and her eyes dull and lifeless. She had her arms wrapped tightly around her body, her fingers pale from the pressure.She was trembling, climbing into my bed as if it were second nature.I moved instinctively, helping her unbutton her clothes. Her body was covered in painful-looking bite marks, some spots even oozing blood. New bruises littered her back, and her slender waist still bore the imprint of a shoe.My heart ached as I grabbed the medicinal balm and gently applied it to her skin.Her body jerked as soon as it to

Once again, he used his foot to shove me aside. However, I crawled over, even though my clothes were stained with blood. Dad’s face was ashen. He stared murderously at me, his facial muscles twitching with rage. It was as if he would kill me any second now.Eve’s eyes filled with fear, and she shook her head desperately. “No, don’t worry about me. Just stay back.”Dad dragged her into the room, and soon, the sound of agonizing screams filled the air. It was heart-wrenching and sent shivers down my spine.I slumped to the ground, my fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white as I fought back the urge to vomit.Our neighbor, Mrs. Hart, sat on her porch, sneering. “Didn’t think old Frank still had it in him. My man’s no good; comes home and passes out like a pig. College girls like her have it easy—if it’s not the husband, it’s the father-in-law. There’s always a man around taking care of them.”She looked at me with a mocking smile. “You’re still too young to unde

Eve placed the remaining half of the drumstick in my hands. "Emma, just hang on for a few more days. I’ll get you out of here soon," she whispered before turning to leave.I watched her retreating figure, unable to stop myself from calling out. "Eve, you have to survive too, okay?"She paused, her body stiffening for a moment before nodding firmly. It was as if she was making a promise—to me or herself."Emma, we’re both going to make it."Not long after, I found out where that drumstick came from. Mayor Kingsley strolled out of the main house, buckling his pants. He wore a satisfied look, puffing on a cigarette as he exhaled clouds of smoke."No wonder they say young college girls are something else. Even after having kids, she’s still so tight, and her tricks... way better than my wife."My dad stood by, looking at him with a fawning expression. "Mayor Kingsley, could I maybe light a lantern at this year’s festival too?"Mayor Kingsley blew a puff of smoke right into my da

I couldn’t waste any time. I quickly helped Eve onto the cart and covered her with hay until she was completely hidden. From a distance, it was enough to avoid suspicion. Once everything was set, I began pushing the cart toward the reed marshes, taking care to move slowly and cautiously, fearing someone might spot us. Thankfully, it went smoothly.I carefully placed Eve within the reed piles and whispered, “Eve, wait here for me. I’ll go bring the boat over.”Eve nodded obediently. With the cart, it wasn’t long before I pulled the boat into the marsh. I helped Eve onto it, and then, as quietly as I could, I began rowing. Since it was just me, the boat moved slowly, but at least we were heading forward. Soon, we would be out of this terrible place. Eve’s eyes began to sparkle with hope for freedom. However, just then, the boat suddenly hit resistance and wouldn’t move any further. I turned around, only to see a pair of hands grabbing the back of the boat. It was Aaron,

Mayor Kingsley kicked him hard. “Emma marrying into my family benefits you, too. From now on, we’ll be a family. Otherwise, my son’s life… Well, I’d hold you responsible for it.” To save his own life, my dad nodded in agreement. Instead of worrying about having no one to tend to his grave later, he was more afraid of Mayor Kingsley ending his life now. Though this was a ghost marriage, it was still the mayor’s son, so the ceremony was grand. There was a formal process, and the village hosted a large banquet. Rumor had it that an important person was attending—someone who regularly sent college volunteers to our village. On the wedding day, I wore a white gown and entered the main hall. My dad sat above, his eyes complicated. “Emma, don’t blame me for being heartless. Being the mayor’s daughter-in-law is a good path for you. You’ll have no worries about food and clothing.” I remained expressionless, holding the cup steadily with both hands. Step by step, I