Chapter Two

I awoke with a jolt, a coppery taste of blood sharp on my tongue, and for a disorienting moment, I couldn’t tell if I was alive or dead.

Pain radiated from my head, throbbing in time with my heartbeat. Shadows blurred around me, my eyes struggling to adjust in the dim, murky light. The chill of metal pressed against my skin, a constant reminder that I was bound, helpless.

“Wake up…” A low, mocking voice echoed through the silence. Then came the shock of freezing water thrown onto my face. I gasped, choking as I was forced back to reality.

I blinked, taking in the room. It was a bare, grim hall, lined with unforgiving tools—things meant to hurt, to break, to kill. I shivered, fighting to push down the panic rising in my throat. “What… why am I here?” I tugged at the ropes, feeling them bite into my wrists. “Where’s my father?” I asked, the words barely escaping my lips.

“Your father?” The voice came again, colder, twisted with dark satisfaction. “Getting his own punishment.”

I strained to see him, and then he stepped forward, emerging from the shadows—a face I hadn’t seen in over a decade. “Red?” I whispered, disbelief thick in my voice. He leaned back on a worn-out couch, legs crossed casually, a gun resting on his knee and a cigarette clenched between his teeth.

“Red? You still have the nerve to say my name?” His lips curled into a sneer, his eyes flashing with a cruelty I hadn’t seen in years. Before I could answer, he struck me across the face. My vision exploded into bright stars, my cheek throbbing from the impact.

“Look at you,” he sneered. “Not so high and mighty now, huh? Pathetic.”

I bit back a cry, forcing myself to stay silent, to stay strong, even as dread clawed at me. “Why… why are you doing this?” My voice wavered.

“Why?” He leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. “Because your father’s debt falls on you now. And I want my money.” His words dripped with venom, his voice rising in anger.

“Red… I—I don’t have it. Everything I have is tied up. My mother… she’s in the hospital… She needs surgery, and my father—he owes you five million. How am I supposed to come up with that?” My voice cracked, desperation overtaking me.

“Look at me when you talk to me, you ungrateful bitch!” His voice thundered, making me flinch. He leaned in close, his tattooed arms flexing, the smoke from his cigarette curling around his face. He was transformed—no longer the man I knew, but someone far darker, someone dangerous.

“Your father owes me more than five million,” he said, his voice cold and controlled. “And I’ve had enough of dealing with that addicted gambler you call a father.”

“Hey… that’s my father. Watch how you talk about him!” I snapped, my voice louder than I intended, but every fiber of my being screamed with fear. The words barely left my lips before my chest tightened, as though the very air around me was closing in.

The men in the corner shifted, but his cold, penetrating glare stopped them from moving any closer.

“Ah, so you haven’t changed at all,” he said, his eyes roving over me with an unsettling amusement. “What do you think, Rose… paying off your father’s debt? Maybe you’d be willing to work for me in more... personal ways now.” His gaze slid down my chest, his gun tracing the curve of my cleavage.

I wanted to puke, but I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “What... what do you mean?” I asked, my voice shaking with rising anger, though I fought to keep it under control.

He chuckled darkly, his smirk widening. “I’m thinking of making you my slave. A sex slave, to be precise. Though, I must admit, you're not really my type."

A fire lit inside me, raw and fierce. I didn’t care if it was courageous or foolish, but I couldn't just stand there. Without thinking, I spat in his face.

He froze for a moment, the shock evident on his face, and for a split second, I thought I might get away with it. But then he wiped the spit away with a slow, deliberate motion, and his eyes narrowed into cold slits.

"Over my dead body, Red! I'd rather die than have anything to do with you!" I shouted, my voice shaking with fury and the kind of defiance that came from deep, desperate hatred.

He took a step closer, his lips curling into a twisted smile. "Is that so?" he purred, his gaze cold, calculating. "Well, don’t change your mind too soon. Because I’ll make you regret it… You’ll pay, Rose. Pay in ways that’ll make you wish you’d never been born."

"Boss," one of the men entered, dragging a figure forward. The woman’s head was covered by a bag, her body trembling in fear.

Frederico’s eyes darkened, and he flicked his gaze toward her. "Who the hell is this?" he growled, cocking his gun with an ominous click.

I held my breath, knowing he'd toy with her like he always did. But then his eyes locked on mine, and the sick smirk twisted his lips. Without warning, he raised the gun to the woman’s head.

"Wait—no! Please, no!" I screamed, my voice cracking in terror as he pulled the trigger.

The woman fell to the ground, lifeless, her body crumpling in a heap. Frederico’s laugh echoed through the room, chilling me to my core.

"You see, Rose? This is the game you’re playing," he sneered, his eyes not leaving me. "You know who’s next, don’t you?"

I could barely breathe, my chest tightening with each passing second. "Go ahead… just do it," I spat, trembling with rage and fear. "Kill me too. Do your worst."

He leaned in close, his face twisted in a malicious grin. "Ah, that’s the spirit, but you’re not dead yet, sweetheart. You’re still gonna suffer." His fingers brushed my cheek mockingly. "Look at you, all high and mighty, but still trapped in my hands, just like your father."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to control the whirlwind of anger inside me. "At least my father has a soul," I shot back, even though the words felt hollow. "You're a monster, Frederico."

His eyes flared with fury. "What did you say?" His voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl. "Take it back. Now."

I stood tall, defiance burning through my veins. "I won’t. You’re nothing but a psychopath."

A dangerous, mocking chuckle escaped him. "I think you’re forgetting something, Rose. You’re the one in my hands now. And soon, you’ll beg me for mercy. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure to enjoy every moment of it."

"No," I said, my voice hoarse but resolute. "You won’t touch me. Over my dead body."

He leaned back, as though savoring the moment. "Over your dead body, huh?" He paused, letting the words hang in the air. "We’ll see how long that lasts."

He turned, signaling one of the men to move, and suddenly, a screen flickered to life. My eyes widened in dread as I saw a familiar scene — my father, bound and struggling, somewhere on a bridge, his face pale and bloodied.

"What the hell are you doing to him?" I gasped, my heart stopping as I saw the ropes digging into his skin.

Frederico grinned, a predator’s gleam in his eyes. "You see, Rose? I can hurt everyone you love. Your father is just the start." His voice dropped to a whisper, dripping with cruelty. "And if you don’t do what I say, I’ll end him... slowly."

"Don’t you dare!" I shouted, panic flooding my chest. "Please… please let him go!"

"Look, Rose," Frederico sneered, his eyes gleaming with twisted pleasure. "Look who’s on the screen."

I hesitated, my heart sinking, dread tightening in my chest. But then the screens flickered to life, and I gasped, my hand instinctively flying to my mouth.

"No… No, it can't be…" I choked out, unable to look away.

The screen showed my grandparents, sitting peacefully in their living room, enjoying their evening tea. They were so calm, so unaware.

"Do you know what's about to happen to them, Rose?" Frederico’s voice was ice, his tone taunting. "Go on… guess."

“Please… don’t do this. They’ve done nothing to you!” I begged, my voice breaking, but he just grinned and pressed a button on his phone.

Suddenly, my grandmother clutched her chest, gasping for air. My grandfather’s face twisted in terror as he tried to catch her.

"No! This isn’t real!" I screamed, my hands shaking with horror. "Stop this, please!"

“Oh, there’s more,” Frederico chuckled darkly, flicking to another screen. "Look who’s next. Look closely, Rose."

The screen switched to a playground. My heart sank as I recognized my little cousins, laughing, waiting for their mother to pick them up.

“No… no, please… they’re just children!” I whimpered, but Frederico’s gaze never wavered, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

"And there’s still more," he sneered, switching again. Now it was my aunt, chatting on her phone as she strolled toward her car. Frederico pressed another button, and I saw the car speeding toward her.

“NO!” I screamed, my chest tightening, hands clawing at my face as the car approached.

"See? Every single person you care about, I can reach them all," Frederico whispered, his breath cold against my ear. "And I haven’t even started with you."

“What… what do you want from me?” I gasped, my voice breaking. “Please… I’ll do anything. Just leave them alone!”

“Oh? Anything?” Frederico tilted his head, smirking. “Is that so, Rose?”

“Yes, please! Just stop! I’ll be anything you want. I’ll be your slave… anything. Just don’t hurt them!"

"Is that desperation I hear?" He leaned closer, his voice smooth but dark. “Beg, Rose. Beg properly."

“Please,” I whispered, my throat tight with fear. "I’ll do anything. I’ll be yours. Just… don’t hurt them. Please… don’t make them suffer."

"Ah… now that’s better," he purred, savoring my torment. "But what if I told you... I’m no longer interested?"

“Look at the screen!” He yanked my hair, forcing me to face it. My breath hitched and my heart shattered as the image of my mother appeared—frail, unconscious in a hospital bed. I knew that room too well. The sterile white walls, the beeping of machines.

“No!! Please, Frederico!” I cried, my voice ragged with panic. I yanked at my shirt, pulling it off. "Look, I’ll go naked… just leave her out of this!"

"One…" Frederico counted, his voice cold, detached.

"Please, I’m begging you, Frederico!" I gasped, trembling, struggling to pull off my clothes.

"Two!" he continued, unfazed by my desperate pleas.

"Please, look! I’m in my underwear! I’ll do anything… anything you want!” I cried, voice breaking. "I’ll be yours, your slave, your toy… anything! Just… don’t hurt my mom! I’ll belong to you, do whatever you want! Just don’t touch her! Please, Frederico… spare her!”

He locked eyes with me, a twisted smile stretching across his face. The countdown was agonizing.

"Three… Boom!"

“No!!!!” I screamed, collapsing to the ground in pure despair, tears streaming down my face as I begged for the impossible.