Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Isla

At the corner of the bed, I pulled my knees closer to myself, hugging them close with my head buried in my legs.

I soon felt his grip on my leg, and he dragged me closer to him. I screamed, my whole body shaking.

Axel let go of my feet, his fingers rested on my chin, forcing my face up to face him.

"Let go of me." I said, my voice slightly shaky. Alex smiled, even chuckling lightly, my scared expression brought him joy.

"You really think I want to touch you?" He asked, a smug grin plastered on his face.

I pushed his hand off my face, glaring at him hard. "Get out of here." I said at the top of my voice but Axel grabbed me again and I felt my heart sink to my stomach.

Axel leaned in close, and I closed my eyes expecting the worst. He tore from the hem of my dress, and stood straight.

"You disgust me." He spoke, wrapping his wound. "I would never touch you." He continued walking out of the room.

I waited till I couldn't see his back before rushing to close the door. My back rested on the door as I dropped to the floor, tears welling up in my eyes. My hands drew my leg closer, sobbing hard. I wouldn't let my dad die for nothing.

A beam of light hit my eyes, forcing me to part them open. I raised my head to prevent the light from hitting my eyes as I rose to my feet.

I had woken up relatively late but my food still hadn't been served. I felt the hair on my skin rising.

He wouldn't possibly want to make me starve. I thought to myself but even after thirty more minutes of waiting nobody had passed through my room.

I took in a deep breath, rising to my feet, I hurried out of the room, trying my best to keep myself out of sight.

A smile rose on my face as soon as the strong smell of roasted chicken hit my nose. There was hope. Taking slow, steady steps, I managed to slip in and thankfully for me, there was nobody there.

I grabbed some food that would last for the day and prepared to leave when I heard footsteps approaching.

I hid below the cabinets, my chest tightened.

The door creaked open and the voices got louder. I recognized one of the voices, it was the lady who had accompanied Axel yesterday.

"Find her. I need to see her in a few minutes."  The lady said, and I swallowed hard, she couldn't possibly be looking for me.

I shifted in the cramped space I hid but a maid spotted me. She dragged me out immediately and brought me before the lady.

"I found her." The maid said, her voice carrying a hint of relief.

I looked up to the lady, she looked different from yesterday. Less like a fighter but more of a lady, she looked down at me with a sinister smile on her face.

"I knew she would be here. Where else would she get food?" My brows furrowed at her words, just like I had thought, Axel was behind this.

One of the maids stepped forward, the food I had planned to take along with me in her hands.

"We found this with her."

I lowered my head, biting my lower lip when I saw her stepping close.

"You must be really hungry huh?" She asked, squinting her eyes slightly. "I'll give you something to eat."

My brows furrowed. Could she actually be that nice? I thought to myself but at that moment, she dropped all the food in the trash can.

My eyes widened as I stared at the food vanishing before my eyes. My hands balled into tight fists but her voice snapped me out of it.

"Throw the garbage out into the garden, if she can find the food there, then she can have it." She said and I looked up to her.

I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't get any words out. The maids hurled the bags away and I couldn't help glare at her but I had to follow along, that was my only chance at getting something to eat.

I followed sharply behind the maids and they dumped the food exactly where I avoided the most.

The garden I had planted alongside Axel a few years ago. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't bear to get close.

I had kept the garden in regret for missing out on him. Now it served as a way for him to ridicule me.

I turned sharply, glaring at the lady who also followed behind me and I scoffed. I would rather go hungry today.

My feet clamored hard against the floor but before I could get far, she spoke.

"Hold her down. She's not going anywhere." The lady spoke, her voice laced with pure malice.

My eyes widened, she never planned to give me a choice. I tried to run but the maids got to me faster. They dragged me back to her presence and made me kneel before.

"Go on, start searching."

I gritted my teeth hard, and looked the other way, she could force me here but she wouldn't force me to do anything.

Bang!

My head hit the hard concrete floor as I felt her slap land on my face. I couldn't do anything before she pulled me up with my hair.

I clawed at her hands, feeling like my hair was being ripped away from my scalp.

"I tell you to search and you search." She said, pushing me down, she raised her feet, dusting her hands.

She looked down at me, her hands crossed. "Start."

I could already imagine the look of satisfaction on her face when I would claw on the floor and I couldn't help but grit my teeth.

Suddenly, an idea formed in my mind. I looked up to her, a sinister smile rose on my face and without a second thought, I banged my head hard against the concrete.

The second blow was too hard, my vision started to blow and she only scoffed, she signalled to her maids to come forward but I blacked out before they reached me.