Chapter 1

A sharp rustling noise followed by a bright light burning through her closed eyelids woke Minnow from her restless slumber.

Soon, the sun's high position on the cloud-free sky flooded the sizable bedroom. After the housemaid, Ariella pulled the thick dark curtains apart in the two large bay windows facing the bed. 

"Hey, what are you think you are doing" Minnow hissed, annoyed and threw herself around in the elegant four-poster bed and away from the harsh rays.

Ariella didn't care; this wasn't the first time someone in the wealthy Venandi family had yelled at her.

"Your mother wants you downstairs for brunch," Ariella said instead and walked out of the room and closed the door after her.

Minnow grunted unhappily. "Why doesn't anyone understand I don't want to see people?" she rolled out of bed and sauntered to her ensuite. 

She slipped out of her golden silk nightie and looked at her naked body in the floor mirror.

Her previously curvy body had become unattractively thin, and her pale skin showed signs of the brutal attack she had endured less than a week ago.

However, the bruises on her round breast and flat stomach had finally faded from dark purple into an ugly green.

She meticulously used makeup to cover the nasty bruise across her neck, revealing the vicious marks from strangling hands. It was hard to pretend the assault had never happened as long as they stared at her in the reflection each day.

"Why did this happen to me? It's not fair." She sniffled and swallowed down nausea and anger stirring in her gut.

Her usually bright and youthful-looking face looked gloomy and full of untold suffering.

Minnow combed her fingers through her chocolate-coloured hair hanging heavily down her back and sighed when she realised even her hair had lost some of its lustres.

She wrapped it into a bun on top of her head before stepping into the open shower.

She allowed herself to stand under the warm cascading water for longer than planned, even though she knew her mother was waiting for her in the dining room for their late brunch. 

After the shower, she quickly got dressed in a loose floral cotton dress that reached her mid-thigh; she matched it with a pair of expensive ankle boots. 

She dragged her feet, strolling slowly alongside the luxury foyer lighted by a grand chandelier over a wide staircase.

Her footsteps echoed into the high ceiling as she walked across the beautiful marble-tiled floors toward the dining room and her waiting mother.

The dining room was one of Minnow's favourites in the Venandi mansion. She loved how the large bay windows gave the soft dusty pink wallpaper a romantic sheen over the white decorative wall panels.

Her mother, Dovie, was a professional interior designer, and she had perfectly furnished their elegant home.

"There you are, my darling." Her mother's voice scraped against her back like nails on a blackboard.

Dovie was all dolled up in a soft yellow dress and pearls. Her blond hair was styled in a short crop with wispy layers that flared out at the ends.

"Hello, mother, " she answered tiredly and pulled out the French Provincial armchair opposite Dovie at the long solid dining table.

Its glossy parquetry surface ricocheted the warm sunlight around the room.

The table had been set to create a tasteful atmosphere with a large bouquet of fresh flowers from their extensive gardens as a grand centrepiece.

Ariella put down a gold line china plate with a perfect stack of fluffy pancakes, an oval-shaped scoop of ice cream and berry compote.

The fresh notes of sweet sunbathed strawberries and tangy blueberries filled her nostrils, and her stomach rumbled involuntarily.

Minnow smiled gently at the older woman to make up for her outburst earlier.

"So, darling, what are your plans for today?" her mother asked to start their usually strained conversations.

"Don't call me that. I have a name. This is my only plan for today." Minnow hissed, annoyed.

"Sorry darling, um, I mean Minnow." Her mother seemed flustered.

Ariella conveniently interrupted them as she filled their crystal flutes with bubbly prosecco.

"I just feel." her mother continued carefully as Ariella moved away from the table with the expensive bottle of white wine. "That you spend too much time on your own in your room lately."

Minnow sighed and sipped on the delicious liquid. The faint flavours of cream, hazelnut and tropical fruits floated pleasantly over her tastebuds. 

"I haven't been in the mood for company, that's all." She grumbled to her mother.

"Your father and I were hoping this might just be a teenage phase you are going through? Or is there something else going on?" Her voice had a hint of concern.

Images from the attack flashed before Minnow's eyes, and she swallowed hard to compose herself. Her fingers turned white around the fragile crystal flute, and she shakily put it down on the table.

"Don't worry, Dovie, it's probably just hormones." Her voice trembled, but she managed to add just enough sass for her mother to believe she was being her usual sarcastic self. 

"Well, that's good then." her mother said softly. She sounded relieved but not entirely convinced.

They ate the rest of their lunch in silence. Minnow struggled to eat with constant nausea stirring in her gut. So instead, she cut everything up into tiny pieces and moved the food around the plate until it looked like she had eaten.

Minnow excused herself abruptly to ensure there was no more unnecessary small talk and went upstairs to her bedroom.

She found it easier to sleep during the day with calming music on her headphones. Because with the nightfall came the visions.

Images of dark figures, horrid smells, and threatening voices tried to make themselves known by pressing under the surface of her traumatised mind.

She closed the bedroom door behind her, stripped out of the dress, and put on a soft jumper and tracksuit pants.

Minnow jumped onto the perfectly made bed and sunk into the many silk pillows. There was a soft knock on the door, and she sighed, annoyed.

"Come in," she uttered with an unwelcome tone.

But instead of the housekeeper, her best friend Saylor poked his handsome face through the door.

"Hi, girl. What happening?" He flicked his well-styled hair out off his face and sauntered into the room. 

Saylor was dressed in ripped jeans and a white t-shirt. He glanced at her lying on the bed in her matching tracksuit, and his perfect eyebrows rose in slight disapproval. 

"Girl, that is just too depressing to look at." He mumbled and hopped into the bed next to her. 

Minnow laughed and punched his arm lightly. "Don't be such a snob." she teased.

"Ouch, take it easy. You know I bruise easily." He giggled and rubbed his arm dramatically. 

Minnow had known Saylor or Salvador Amica since kindergarten. They had immediately bonded over their love for pretty shoes and liquorice ice cream. In fact, they liked a lot of the same things.

But, most important was that he understood her better than anyone. He had always been the brother she never had. 

Saylor put his head next to Minnow on the fluffy pillow. And she turned off the speakers to her headphones and played her relaxing music on the mobile phone out loud.

"Will you stay for a bit?" She asked and covered up a jawn.

"As long as you want." Saylor smiled softly and tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

Minnow snuggled up in the crook of his neck and fell asleep to the gentle rhythmical movement of his breathing blending with the tunes of R.E.M. Everybody Hurts.