MARRIED TO A FARMER

When Ella finally looked at the door and saw Henry, her eyes widened in shock. She quickly wiped her tears, her hands trembling.

Henry stood there, his face unreadable, staring at her with a cold indifference that made her heart pound. After a long, tense moment, he beckoned her forward with a single, sharp motion. Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked back toward the City Council gate, his pace steady and unyielding.

Ella’s legs shook as she stood up, her heart racing. Ignoring the insults, mocking laughter, and stares from the crowd, she hurried out of the hall. Each step felt heavy, yet driven by an unexplainable pull toward Henry and the man in the wheelchair.

Her eyes darted around, searching for her “savior” in a sea of strangers. Finally, they fell on the two men standing by the gate—one in a wheelchair, the other beside him. Ella’s pace quickened. She caught up to them, but neither of them looked her way.

Embarrassment and uncertainty gripped her as she glanced at passing cars. Her lower lip trembled, and she hesitated, unsure what to say. Finally, gathering her courage, she spoke first to her husband.

“Hi, thank you for… marrying me. I…”

“You are thanking me for marrying a filthy and shameless woman like you. Am I right?” Elion’s voice cut through her words, cold and merciless.

Ella froze, her shy smile fading. She bit her lower lip, struggling for words, but none came. She looked to Henry instead, giving him a cautious greeting.

“Good morning, sir.”

Henry didn’t respond. He bent slightly toward Elion, asking quietly, “Where are we heading, bro?”

Elion’s icy voice answered, “It seems you have a busy day.”

“Not at all,” Henry replied carefully. “I just wanted to hear from you.”

No response came. Henry simply positioned himself behind the wheelchair and pushed Elion forward, while Ella followed silently, lost in thoughts and questions that refused to fade.

The walk felt endless. Ella did not notice how far they had gone, her mind trapped in a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Suddenly, Henry halted in front of a dilapidated, old building. The zinc roof sagged in places, a faint trickle of water running down its sides. Ella, distracted by her thoughts, accidentally bumped into Henry’s back, causing him to stumble and sending Elion jerking slightly in the wheelchair.

“I’m sorry, big bro. She pushed me,” Henry said quickly.

Ella immediately grabbed her dress hem and bowed her head, apologizing in a small, trembling voice. “I’m really sorry. I wasn’t looking… it was an accident.”

Elion’s piercing gaze fell on her. “What were you thinking? Dreaming about those filthy men who have touched you?”

Ella’s heart sank, but she forced herself to speak softly. “I… I’m sorry.”

Elion said nothing further. He simply looked at Henry, who immediately understood. Without another word, Henry pushed Elion toward the stairs, guiding the wheelchair along a cemented path that had clearly been arranged for ease of entry.

Ella remained outside for a moment, staring at the old zinc roof. The veranda was overgrown with spirogyra, and the walls of the house looked like they might crumble at any moment. The surrounding grass was bushy and untamed, giving the entire place a haunted, forsaken look.

Shaking herself, Ella approached the stairs slowly, each step deliberate as though she wished to be invisible. When she reached the door, a strange, pungent scent greeted her. She wrinkled her nose instinctively.

“If you cannot bear the scent, you better leave,” Elion’s voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.

Ella straightened her face, forcing herself not to flinch. She entered the house, her movements careful. Henry pushed Elion past her without a word, leaving Ella to watch them go.

Henry paused, turning to glance at her. “My brother and I are farmers. We survive through farm work, and we waste no time on anything else. That said, we are going to the farm…”

“Who asked you to explain anything to her?” Elion’s voice was like fire, tinged with anger.

“I’m sorry, bro. Next time, I will ask first,” Henry replied calmly.

“So there will be a next time?” Elion questioned, his voice low and dangerous.

“Not at all, brother,” Henry answered, his eyes briefly meeting Ella’s before he pushed Elion away. She watched them disappear from sight, her stomach twisting with uncertainty.

Turning inside, Ella pinched her jaw, forcing herself to focus. The living room was simple and bare. Dilapidated walls looked ready to crumble. A small, old television hung crookedly on the wall with a decoder perched beneath it. A worn wool carpet covered the center of the floor, and a wooden table stood on top of it. Across the room, an old clock ticked steadily, its hands moving despite the room’s decay.

She moved toward what seemed to be the only bedroom. A small double bed occupied one corner, and an old, locked wardrobe stood against the wall. Ella stepped into the bathroom next, which was minimally equipped—a flushing toilet, a ceiling-hung shower, and basic essentials.

Returning to the living room, Ella let out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking her head.

“I’m already used to working 24/7,” she muttered under her breath. “Today happens to be one of my few leisure days… I better make good use of the time.”

Her eyes wandered toward the window, where the overgrown grass outside swayed eerily in the breeze. A strange sense of unease crept over her.

Why does this place feel like it’s hiding something? she wondered. Why do I feel like danger could strike at any moment?

Her heart skipped a beat as a faint sound reached her ears—a distant creak, like someone stepping lightly across the veranda. She froze, her breath caught in her throat.

Who’s there?

The sound stopped. Silence fell like a weight, pressing down on her chest. Ella’s fingers clutched the edge of the table, knuckles white.

I can’t be alone here. I just can’t…

Suddenly, a shadow flitted across the window, and a whisper carried through the room.

“Ella…”

Her eyes widened. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

Not again…

And in that moment, she realized: this house was far more dangerous than she could have imagined, and her day of supposed freedom might just be the start of a nightmare she couldn’t escape.