Ara felt sleepy the whole day. It had been two days since she had slept properly. Sleep felt like a far-fetched dream now as her mind was never at ease. She never felt safe enough to drop her guards and let sleep take over her, especially at nights. Within these two days, Ara had become distant and quiet as a mouse. She would speak only when spoken to. Angela had to shout in her ear to get her attention. Her strange behavior has started to worry Jenna. Ara had not only become reticent but secretive too.
"Did I do something wrong, Ary?' Angela stuck her lower lip out as tears started to gather in her eyes. Ara blinked out of her thoughts when Angela shook her with all her strength.
"Ary?" she grabbed Ara's face in her tiny hands to get her attention. "Are you mad at me?" her lips started to quiver&nb
"No, please...I..let me sleep here tonight," she pleaded miserably as a tear rolled down her left cheek."Get. Up. Now," he growled, irritated by her constant resistance."No, please..no," she begged again whilestrugglingto get her arm free from his grip. Anger stirred within him not liking the fact she was tryingto get rid of him. He fixed her with a vehementglare, causing her heartbeat to stagger. She stopped at once. "Please,' she squeaked.Not a moment later, he leanedover and pushed his arms under her waist and neck.Before she could understandwhat was happening, he had scooped her small frame up in his strong arms. It took her a moment to regist
Her senses started to wake up when she feltsomething moving up her shoulder.Ara swatted the stickyinsect away which had now begun to crawl up her neck. She sighed in comfort when the insect stopped troubling her. But a moment later, the insect started creeping up her neck again. She moanedin annoyance and lifted her hand to strike the insect away but this time something restrained her hand. Something closed around her wrist and forced it down towards the bedspread. Her brows creased in confusion before her senses jolted awake. The realization crashed into her like sea waves. Her eyes flung open almost immediately and the first thing that caught her sight was the dark golden drapes that were curtaining a window. The sun-soaked drape looked more light golden than dark.&nbs
"I...I didn't want to but he forced me. He said he will kill me if I wouldn't let him. I..I feel very bad, very filthy, since then," she felt the need to defend herself. Ara broke down in sobs when she finished her sentence."He forced you?" the priest now sounded concerned and very serious."Yes," she managed between her sobs."Can I see you?" he asked"No..no, please," she sputtered instantly. How would she face the person to whom she had just made her darkest, filthiestconfession? She was already very embarrassed."Alright. Listen to me, you need to report this. It's abuse, harassment. File a complaint against the pe
Mr. Serrano.Her mouth went dry.Killian, clad in his formal suit, turned his face to look at her. He was wearing a cold dark expression."Mr. Serrano," she whispered in horror as she clutched hard at the handle to keep herself from falling. Her eyes turned wet both with fear and anxiety.Killian, in all his elegance, rose to his feet and pushedhis hands inside his pants pocket. He squared his shoulder and started taking calculative strides towards her.Ara swallowed down a rock and clamped hard on the handle. His expression betrayed no emotions but the storm brewing in those gray-green eyes was too evident. She wanted to scurryaway like a mouse but her feet had frozen to the spot.In a few strides, he was standing right in front of her. He towered over her by more than afoot.She peered up at him as he stared down ather. His furious gazemade her shrink back in fear. 
His furious expression turned blank before it morphed into amusement."I see," he commented, amusement dancing in his eyes."Get in the car," he said before rounding towards his side. His psychotic behavior was confusing her to no end but she was relieved he didn't ask her to strip again.Ara didn't want to ride with him but she had no other option. The place was dark and gloomy. There was no trace of human existence in there.Ara quietly sat inside the car. Killian didn't utter a single word after the incident. They drove for ten minutes before he stopped the car in front of the sheriff's department."Go on and file your complain," he stated casually as he leaned back in his chair. Her shocked eyes snapped in his direction."We don't have all night, Bella. You want me behind the bar, right? go and report me," he whipped his cigarette and lighter from his pocket and lit it up.The smoke-filled the c
Ara rested her head against the car's window and closed her eyes, letting tears run free. She heard him jerking the engine into motion and felt the car moving. She felt the warmth of the interior and smelled the cologne that dominated the air. She was restless and numb both.She heard his phone ringing. He had put the phone on the speaker."What's the matter, David?" Killian questioned, amused."Sorry for disturbing you at this moment, Sir. But my junior told me that a girl had come to the department to file a report against you. I thought I should let you know," the speaker was speaking in a very respectful tone. Her eyes flew open when she heard it. Aretheytalking about her?"Really? What was her name?" Killian asked, feigning ignorance but thoroughly enjoying her reaction."Some Arabella Garcia. Do you want me to press charges against her? " the man offered generously. Ara's eyes widened in shock and&nbs
Ara was in the garden, sipping on her coffee.The big chunk of clouds were rolling and curling overheadin the deep blue sky. The coldwinds were waltzing through the trees, howling and whistlinglike joyouskids. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up when a thick droplet of waterhit her forehead, spilling down her nose, and, landing on her lips, a clear indication thatIt was going to rain soon. The weather was tempestuousand lively unlike her. She was drowningin a pit of despair. Her heart was destituteof hope. She had admitted that Mr. Serrano is an invincible monster and that she had no other way out. Her fragile heart had accepted defeat but what she wasn't able toaccept was her fate. Is she really going to lose her virtueto him? Is that what is written in her fate? But why? She couldn't understand
She was at the bus stop, waiting for the bus. She waited for an hour but no bus arrived. The day was only turning out worse. Just why?She sighed in frustration and reopened her umbrella. Looks like she would have to walk on her feet.She wasn't enjoying the rain at that moment.She was the only one walking on the road in the rain. A few cars swooshedby heras she walked towards the exit of the town. Ara had planned to stay away fromthe town till he is here. She innocently believed that the shift of town will save her from him. For now, she had planned thatshe would take a lift after exiting the town and let destiny lead her.The day drew to an end and darkness took over. She was still walking. Her town was small but right now it felt vaster than London. It wasn't coming to an end even though she was walking straight for an hour, moreover, the constant rain had slowed her speed. However, after half an hour