Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The smell of blood, gunpowder and death filled the air. It brought the young woman a sense of comfort, freedom she’s never felt before.

The sound of helicopters, cars driving in the compound, shouts, screams and gunshots rang out. She knew her end was near and it brought her a sense of peace.

Inside the mansion, a young woman wearing a floor length white gown stood by the window watching the scene go down. She stood in the dark mansion with five large men protected her. She didn’t to live anymore. She wanted to know what happened outside these walls. She wasn’t allowed beyond these walls. Her light blue eyes swept over the men protecting her, the men giving their lives for her.

One of the men looked at her and couldn’t help but be taken by her beauty, she had the most enchanting eyes, they looked cold and detached, yet it drew him in. Her golden blonde hair shined in the moonlight.

She reminded him of a fairy. It was a shame she would die with them tonight. It was a waste of beauty. He'd known her since he was a child, he'd trained with her and protected her since the age of five. He knew he would day with his Lady today. He'd prayed her death would be painless.

The young woman could see through his thoughts and smiled at him before turning back to the window and closed her eyes as she sighed. All of her men were giving up their lives to protect her yet they would all die tonight.

They were trained to give their lives for her. They were trained to die before she did. A fate she didn’t welcome. She was fine with her own death, she didn’t want her men dying for her.

The five bodyguards protecting her shifted when they heard the enemy approaching.

She knew that this night would be her last. She had no idea if her parents and older brother were still alive. If she was the last remaining member of her family.

They were probably already dead, if they had advanced this much on the compound they were most likely waiting for her in hell.

When the mansion door opened, she didn’t turn back, she looked out the window at the dead bodies, the lawn blood red, stained with her men’s blood. The gunshots only grew louder as they drew nearer, her ears were ringing.

Her five bodyguards tensed and stepped closer towards her. Their murderous eyes locked on the intruders.

They didn’t return fire, they only watched as the intruders aimed their weapons on them.

One of the guards disregarded her command and opened fire.

The first shot rang out and more followed. She didn’t even flinch at the sound. The rest of her bodyguards followed suit and returned fire.

A shot hit her right shoulder and she closed her eyes and bit her tongue. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of hearing her scream out.

The smell of blood and sweat grew stronger, the beautiful young woman’s white gown now stained red. When another bullet hit her left shoulder.

As more bullet’s hit her, she remained upright, showing her strength.

The soldier’s and police felt goosebumps as they watched her stay upright not once flinching at the pain of those wounds. They didn’t know how to react to her silence and determination.

The five bodyguards fought to protect their master without any regard to their own lives. They were trained to be emotionless, to to protect their master from a young age. They’ve killed a few enemies, but the enemies grossly outnumbered them. They were only five and the amount of police and soldiers.

Finally, the last of the bodyguards died.

"Hands in the air!" shouted a police officer.

The beautiful woman in white ignored him, her eyes closed she wouldn’t surrender.

The soldiers and the police officers had their guns raised and locked on to the beautiful woman standing before them. Her pristine white gown was now dyed blood red, with her own blood.

Even the police and soldiers were mesmerized by her beauty. The way she held herself. Most of them felt like it was a pity the woman had to die here.

They all near of her crimes and deeds. The innocent face was a façade to the darkness that hid behind her beauty and elegance.

A soldier gritted his teeth. And looked at the men around him “You know we can’t let her live!” shouts out.

The woman smiled softly before turning to them.

bullets barraged her front. Her smile remained until she fell to the ground.

Her eyes slowly closed, the smile remained on her face as the life drained out of her.

"Finally, I have my freedom..." Her voice was a soft whisper.

Then she breathed her last breath.

====

Tired. So damn tired. She was so tired. She didn’t understand it. All she felt was eternal darkness. She couldn’t see anything. She couldn’t see anything in front her. She fought with everything in her to find the light. The heaviness in her body, she fought against that to run toward what she felt was freedom.

A part of her wanted to give up. But she couldn’t stop herself, she kept running until she couldn’t anymore.

She finally saw a speck of light and began to run faster.

Gasping out when she feels her body fall. Her throat was burning. It was dry and rough as though she’d been starving for months without water.

Water.

She needed water. She opened her eyes with great difficulty.

Water. All she could think about was getting water, she tried moving her but she couldn’t move a muscle she couldn’t understand why she couldn’t move when she was just running minutes ago.

She didn't know how long she’d been running but she must have collapsed, she doesn’t remember sitting down, much less laying down...

She didn't know anything... All she knew was she needed to get water. She just wanted water.

An unfamiliar ceiling meets her eye. She freezing and stops trying to lift her body.

Where the hell was she?

As if watching a movie everything comes back to her.

How was she still alive?

Finally she had her freedom only to be robbed of her freedom once again.

She was alive...

She had comes to terms with her death. She was given her freedom only to be robbed of it once again. Who would play this cruel joke on her?

'Where am I?'

Did the police apprehend her with the intention of questioning her about her family’s fortune?

She would never talk. She would never give up anything. Her family died to protect her. She would never betray her family.

Confused to where she was, she looked around the tasteful, hotel-like room. This place didn’t belong to the military or the police. So where the hell was she? She didn't recognize the place.

She finally heard the beeping to her left. She look toward it. She was in a hospital but some fancy one. She was taken by someone with deep pockets. It just meant she was in deep shit. Whoever had her, had her for a reason. The reason remained to be seen.

This could be a good thing or bad thing depending on who had her.

'What the hell was going on?’

"W-wa-ter…" She tried speaking but only a dry whisper came out of her cracked lips.

She realized she was alone in the room and no one was around to give her water. She sighed mentally. She was exhausted and she didn’t even know where she was.

Her eyes were heavy. Her body was going back to sleep, but she had no idea if she would wake up if she went back to sleep.

She fought the exhaustion. She fought as hard as she could to stay conscious.

The door opened and a maid walked in. The sight of the maid didn’t relief her no it sent a shiver down Charlotte’s spine.

"You're awake!" The maid was shocked when she saw the women's eyes open. She immediately pressed a button to call for the master.

'Hm? Italian?'

Good or bad?

"How are you feeling Young Miss?" the maid asked bowing.

"W-wa-wa-ter…" she croaked in Italian.

Unfortunately the maid shakes her head. “I’m sorry Young Miss. I can’t give you anything until the Master arrives.” she bows again.

The door opened and a middle-aged man entered followed by three doctors wearing white lab coats.

"I’m relieved to see you awake dear... How are you feeling?" The middle aged man speaks first.

Charlotte doesn’t answer, she stares at the man a long time, before the maid speaks up. "She asked for water Master."

He smiles. “Can she have water?” he asks the doctors.

One nods. “Yes, Master she can, she should drink it via a straw, if she’s able to. If she can’t use drops of ice and melt an ice cube on her lips...” one suggests.

The maid left, Charlotte assumed to get water.

The team of doctors began examining her.

Finally, the maid returned with water in a glass and a straw.

At first, Charlotte couldn't suck from the straw. Her mouth muscles felt weak. Only after a few tries was she able to get the water down her throat but just the few sips she took exhausted her.

The water soothed her throat more than she thought it would. Charlotte hasn’t felt this weak ever in her life. She’s never been this weak ever.

"Do you know your name?" the middle aged man asked.

She eyed him. She didn’t think she’d ever see this man again in her life. "My name…" She was about to say her name but paused when the memory of her a little child rushed to her mind.

She gasped, trying to reign in her emotions. She wasn’t used to feeling as many emotions as she did in that moment.

“Charlotte Amante.” She answers.

“Not anymore. She died in an attack. You’re Charlotte Costa now...” the man glares at her.

Charlotte stares at him for a beat before nodding. “Since my family’s dead, I guess I am...” she says softly.

“Your family’s not dead. Aren’t I your grandfather Charlotte?” Salvatore Costa says with a reassuring smile.

It didn’t reassure Charlotte. The man wasn’t known for having a soft side. It worried her how nice he was being.

She would much rather choose death than pay the man back for saving her life. Her men lost their lives protecting her and here she was alive. Their sacrifices were in vain.

“How long was I out?” she asks.

“Two years...” the doctor answers.

Charlotte nods emotionless. “How long will it take me to be up and well?” she asks planning away to get out of here, she couldn’t trust her own grandfather, there was no way the man had her wellbeing in mind when he saved her.

Her maternal grandfather was known for being power hungry, her parents death was proof of that. Protecting him led to the military and police killing her family and nearly killing her.

The machine hooked to her beeped more quickly, worrying the doctors.

Charlotte closed her eyes. Trying to control her heartbeat.

She hasn’t felt this drained since her first visit to her grandfather’s compound. She was five at the time and her brother was ten. She had to trained with grown men, and none of them went easy on her.

She thought she would die almost everyday of their stay. She was happy when their trip ended and she was home. It was her first trip and her last to her grandfather’s estate.

Opened her eyes and faced her new reality she was alive and now all alone...