CHAPTER 005

Aurora's pov 

I crawled over to the floor, hoping—wishing that it was just my body that was bleeding, to seek help.

My hands fumbled with the door handle, trying desperately to get it open.

"Almost there..." I muttered, reassuring myself despite the trail of blood that trickled down from my body.

A sharp, hard, kick from outside the door resounded against my body, throwing my body violently against the glass table that carried the food I was poisoned with.

The glass shattered beneath me, slicing into my skin as I hit the floor with a strangled cry. Pain exploded in my ribs, my vision blurring from the impact. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the lingering aroma of the poisoned food and metals made my stomach churn.

Soft, dangerous thuds of boots filled my ears as I struggled to keep my eyes open, followed by a frantic run of Diego and Lillian.

"What a spectacular scene," A voice thick enough to send another wave of panic threw me resounded in the room, followed by a low and deadly chuckle of another.

I tried to move, to push myself up, but my limbs refused to cooperate. My body was shutting down, the poison sinking deeper into my veins.

"Mr Cavarallo..." Diego's frantic voice reached me, a clear indication that whoever they were that was in the room was powerful enough to make him shudder in fear.

"P—please help me," I begged, my voice raspy.

"You took something from us Diego," The voices said again, paying no attention to my life and death.

"I —I didn't..."

A shot ran through the room, followed by Lillian's scream and a frantic plea from Diego.

"I'm not here to play with you Diego, you know very well the punishment for what you did..." Another cold voice added, following the other.

Tears trickled down my face as not even a single person in the room paid attention to me.

The broken glasses were cutting deeper into my skin and I could see from half the sight I was able to open my blood, painting the floor a crimson-red color.

"I'll give you whatever you want Mr Cavarallo, please—just spare me..." Another shot filled the room, accompanied by Diego's scream.

"Tell one more lie and I'll make sure to unalive you this very second," another one of the voices ran through the room.

"You— you can take anything you want sirs, please— I'll repay you..." He begged and I could hear the sound of their boots stepping closer.

"You've nothing worthy to be taken Diego," one said, while Diego broke out in muffled tears.

I could feel my life slipping away slowly, my eyes were unable to keep awake and my breaths were getting shorter.

"You can take her, she's going to do anything you want, you can do whatever you want with her," Diego spoke in between his muffled pleas.

"This dead thing?" One of them said, A cold chuckle followed, sending a fresh wave of dread through me.

"This one is already halfway to the afterlife," the man scoffed. "What use is she to us?"

"She's carrying my child!" Diego blurted out desperately. "She—she's still alive. You can use her. Just spare me, please."

Silence. I wanted to laugh—to scream— to cry, but only tears could trickle from the corner of my eyes.

The room held its breath. Even through my fading consciousness, I could sense the weight of their decision hanging in the air.

Boots clicked against the floor, coming closer. I felt a strong hand grip on my chin, forcing my head up. I barely had the strength to keep my eyes open, but I could make out a pair of dark, unreadable eyes studying me.

"Pathetic," the voice murmured, though there was something thoughtful beneath the disgust. "But not useless. A sex toy perhaps, a very fragile one at that," he drawled.

Another voice, colder, more detached, spoke up. "She’ll die before we even get her out of here."

"Not if we take her now," the first man replied.

Fingers pressed against my neck, checking for a pulse. The touch was clinical, and calculating.

"Take her," the man finally ordered. "If she survives the night, we’ll decide what to do with her."

My body was lifted, weightless in strong arms, but the pain didn’t fade. Darkness pulled at me, dragging me under.

As the world slipped away, I heard Diego's frantic voice one last time.

"Please—you have what you want, right?"

A gun cocked.

"Not quite."

The last thing I heard was a gunshot, then silence.