The Taste Of Fear

~~Elena~~

Steam filled the bathroom, curling around me as I sank into the warm water. For a moment, I closed my eyes, wishing I could drown every thought,every trace of Carlos,down the drain.

Knock, knock.

The sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Ma’am, the young master is waiting for you outside the gate,” the maid’s voice came softly through the door.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stepped out of the bathtub, water dripping down my skin. I wrapped the towel tightly around me, my eyes fell once again on the gown lying across the bed.

I dried myself quickly and slipped into it.

The slit rose dangerously high, the bare back leaving me exposed. Each second I dressed felt like surrendering a part of myself.

I stood before the mirror. The girl staring back wasn’t me anymore,she was someone trapped under control.

I bit my lip, straightened my shoulders, and forced myself to move.

Carlos was waiting.

I made my way downstairs, my stomach tightening the moment my eyes landed on the figure on the stairs.

It was Alejandro.

He was coming up, and I almost lost my balance. He was the last person I wanted to run into right now.

His gaze locked on me, unreadable, cold yet burning with something I couldn’t name. My fingers gripped the handrail as I froze in place, unable to move.

“Hi.”

The word slipped out before I could stop it.

He only gave me a slight nod before walking past without a word.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. What was I expecting?- that he would stop, that he would say something, that he would feel what I felt?

Of course not. To him, it was nothing. Just a fleeting spark, a brief desire between a man and a woman. Nothing more.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to hold it together. Step by step I made my way outside.

“What were you doing inside?", Carlos said he was already walking inside

“Nothing,” I answered quickly.

He scoffed. “That’s why I prefer taking my smart girlfriends along, you act so slow." he said

His eyes swept over me slowly, "But I must say… You have a killing figure, Damn!", he muttered, licking his lower lip. The sight made me want to vomit.

“Anyway, you’re not bad looking. At least I won’t be mocked by my friends,” he added carelessly before turning toward the gate.

I clenched my fists and swallowed the lump in my throat as I trailed behind him.

With every step, I felt myself breaking.

I was losing my voice. Losing who I was.

I couldn’t express myself anymore. Nobody cared, nobody listened.

If not for Grandma, I would have preferred to be with my parents already. At least there would be peace, instead of this life that felt more like a prison.

I opened the back door of the car.

“I’m not your driver, dude,” he said carelessly.

Dude? Seriously? This man is so unbearable. I almost wished I could press his neck until he stopped breathing.

Clenching my fists, I forced out a frustrated sigh and walked around to the passenger side. Sliding into the seat, I kept my face blank, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

The drive felt suffocating. His loud, off-key singing filled the car, each word scraping against my ears.

Then his phone rang. The name on the screen-Bad Ass

“Hello, Carlos,” a female voice came through the speaker.

“Hi, baby girl,” he replied smoothly.

“Are you not coming again? Everything is ready,” she asked. I could hear laughter and chatter in the background.

“I’m on my way, baby girl,” he said before hanging up.

Then, without pause, he went right back to his loud singing.

I closed my eyes tight in frustration, forcing back the scream building inside me.

The car finally rolled to a stop in front of a massive private villa,its lights casting a soft glow against the night sky.

“Get down, I need to park the car in the garage,” he said casually.

I stepped out quickly, relieved to be out of the stifling car. For a brief second, I felt a rush of relief-like I could finally breathe again.

And he steered the car toward the other side of the villa.

I walked toward the entrance door. Even from outside, I could hear the sound of loud music, the sound of laughter and drunken voices.

I stood in front of the door, my palms already sweating. My heart was racing, and I felt restless. I didn’t know anyone here, and I know Carlos won't even care about my safety.

Carlos walk towards me, I moved backwards giving him a space to lead the way.

The moment he pushed the door open, a heavy smell hit me-alcohol, cigarettes, and all kinds of expensive perfumes so heavy they clawed at my throat.

Inside, the villa was bathed in dim red light. The scene that greeted me was overwhelming, couples pressed together, kissing, others laughing too loudly as they passed drinks around. Some leaned back in their seats, In one corner, smoke curled in the air while powders and needles lay scattered on the tables.

My stomach turned. This wasn’t a party,it was chaos dressed in luxury.

Carlos didn’t pause. He strode past the chaos in the front room, heading deeper, into the darker part of the house.

I drew in a quiet breath and followed, my hands curling slightly at my sides.

He pushed open another door.

Inside was filled with dim blue light, there was a bar counter there, and people there were few-just the bartender and four persons, a man and three ladies, one putting on a bikini and dancing in front of him, the other feeding him wine.

Carlos walked straight and sat down beside the third girl.

I stood in front of the door, confused about what to do next.

The lady brought out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth and lit the cigarette.

He sat on the couch, spreading his hands wide on it as if he ruled the world.

"Carlos, who is this?" the lady asked as soon as her gaze landed on me.

"That's my fiancé," he said out with a careless tone.

The other man dismissed the girl in front of him, and she made her way out, her face filled with disappointment as she brushed past me from the door.

"Hello, beautiful lady, come and sit," the man said. I hesitated for a moment but moved closely.

"Or do you prefer standing, cutie?" the lady with Carlos said mockingly.

I sat on the couch in front of them.

"So what's your name, beauty?" the man asked. I stayed silent; I only wanted one thing at that moment-and that is to go home.

"Is your fiancé deaf, Carlos?" the lady asked him.

"One thing I know is that she's dumb and slow," Carlos said .

I wasn't surprised; his words are meaningless to me. I just want to leave this place.

"Have you guys had sex ?" she asked again.

She's just getting me pissed.

Carlos suddenly leaned forward, pulling his back away from the couch. The lazy arrogance in his posture vanished, replaced with sharp interest.

"I think I'm beginning to think I should give it a try," he said carelessly, and there was loud laughter in the room as if he just made a funny joke.

"What if we took a turn?" the second man said.

What on earth is happening here? I was totally scared because no one is going to save me here and Carlos is a rascal.

He scoffed, "That's not possible; the old man is going to disown me," he replied.

I was a bit relieved at his reply, but nevertheless I would rather kill myself than have sex with this disgusting man, talk more of bearing his child.

“Okay, your words first,” the man said as he took the glass of wine from the woman beside him.

“Babe, about the chips…..”

“Shhh…” Carlos cut her off quickly, glaring at me.

I knew something was going on.

The Lady glanced at me, and they both exchanged a glance as if there was a secret communication in their eyes.

She stood up, took a glass of wine from the table, and walked toward me. “Here,” she said, handing the glass to me. I felt so uneasy.

I shook my head. “Thank you,” I said, and she looked back at Carlos, who was watching the scene.

“Force it into her mouth,” he ordered.

What the heck? Something was totally wrong. I stood up but was pushed back by her. She was strong; I felt pain in my shoulder immediately.

“I don’t want it,” I said almost screaming, and the other woman stood up and walked toward me.

She quickly held my hands. I struggled, and I forced my mouth closed, but my strength was no match for theirs.

They forced the drink into my mouth;

And the bitterness found its way down my throat.

"Stop", a familiar voice said