WHAT BELONGS TO ME

Instincts kicked in, sharper than she had expected. She needed to fight for her life, her dignity. She was determined to survive and escape to some unknown place where she could start life over again.

 Serena feigned terror when he took one step closer, and then without warning, kicked him in the groin region. He fell on his knees to the ground, howling.

 Mustering the last ounce of strength in her, she pulled the gate open and taking one last look at the groaning man in the dungeon, she shut the gate and fled.

 The darkness that enveloped the dungeon region could be touched. Serena hid a few times when some of the mafia's men walked by. There was a high possibility of her being found and punished severely and she did not want to risk it, not after what she did in the dungeon.

 Who knew what the stone of a don would order to be done to her this time, maybe her flesh would be fed to lions. People like him have tendencies of keeping animals like that as pets.

 Her temperature had spiked due to the condition of her hand, and she felt like some invincible force pulled at her intestines, reminding her as the minutes sped by to ingest something.

 Desperation turned into confusion as she ran in a similar circular pattern each time. Serena took a good look around, trying to memorize the markings of the place, but each time she ran, she ended up at her starting point again.

 "Shit." She muttered through raspy breaths, exhausted and famished. She was trapped, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  "Now what do we have here?"

The voice made her jump in fright but before she could take off, another man had appeared in front of her.

 "She is the Don's latest purchase" A deep frown grazed his face as he peered down at her like she was some wayward little brat.

Serena recognized the voice. He was the one who threw her into the dungeon. How did they get here without her knowing? She could swear on her fucked up life that she heard no sound!

 Her heart thumped furiously in anticipation of what would be done to her when she is taken to the don. Perhaps, they will listen to her pleas if she fell on her knees and begged them for mercy now? Her subconscious objected. The Mafia boss was not merciful, he gave no second chance. Her life was over.

 "Let the don know that she attempted to escape." The man in front of her churned out with flared nostrils.

 "I... Please!" She squeaked as firm hands grabbed her wrists and yanked her towards the wall. She watched as he entered a code after placing his palm on the wall and it cracked open.

 The man stepped in, taking him with her and soon, they were outside.

 It was dark, but as they advanced forward, she noticed the way light flooded the estate making it a magnificent sight to behold.

 Serena momentarily forgot the circumstance that she found herself in and got lost in the beauty of the mansion.

 A push that sent her reeling to the ground made her look up in alarm. To her consternation, she found the don, Dimitrio De Luca, staring at her in a fixated manner.

 "Where did you find her?" He rumbled.

 "The entrance of Armageddon, boss. She tried escaping."

 "Hmm," He hummed "And Matteo?"

 "He is still there. He wants to take care of Edoardo for good."

 The don nodded, and all the while, Serena watched him, quite awed. Except for the cold aura he gave off, the tattoos that laced his arms, and the dead look in his eye, he would pass for a complete gentleman.

 "Contact Dante and inform him to hurry up with sealing the deal. The Zakhars are up to no good, and soon, they will find out what he's up to."

 "Yes boss." The man nodded firmly and exited, leaving Serena with the mafia boss.

 Serena felt tongue tied, she had a host of things to tell him but she could not bring herself to say them. Not when she still needs her head and legs. He was godless, a beast who broke bones and beheaded humans. Who knew what he had in store for her? And now, she has stepped on his nerves. She had attempted to escape.

 "Do you have a death wish?" Dimitrio peered down at the girl who knelt on the ground, staring through large eyes that said a lot. They indicated a life of untold hardship, hurt and rejections. He did not care, and he was not curious to know. She was as insignificant as the amount that was used to buy her from Marco Antonio.

 He loved the pure look of hatred that oozed off Giovanni's face when the girl he wanted was sold to him instead. The urge to murder, to kill and pervade everywhere with the eerie scent of his blood could be seen on his face, and it amused Dimitrio.

 "Let me go." Serena whispered fiercely, finally accepting the idea of dying. She would rather die now than let starvation raid her till there's nothing left of her.

 Dimitrio chucked deeply, one that made shivers of revulsion crawl over her as she watched him.

 "You need to be taught a lesson. You haven't learnt enough." He murmured with a thick Italian accent.

 Serena's eyes widened on hearing his words, large balls of tears rolled down her eyes as she stared blankly at nothing in particular. This is how she would end? Her mother and Carmine would be thoroughly happy now.

 "Please... I beg of you, Just let me go. I have done nothing wrong, I promise I won't..."

 "Shhh," He bent without warning, and placed a sleek long index finger of his over her lips "Say no more words."

 She stared into his eyes that were devoid of emotions and her resolve to plead for her life crashed. He was the devil himself, he would never let her go.

**************

 Dawn finally arrived, much to Serena's relief. She had been thrown back into another dungeon, with worse conditions. The stench of human waste filled everywhere, and occasionally, the dim light would flicker, acquainting her eyes with human remains. A dehumanized arm, scattered teeth, legs that must have been massacred off the owner, and visceral organs.

 Serena felt traumatized when she was led through the passageway outside. She screamed for most of the night, and choked on her spit for dinner. The sight should make her throw up, but nothing came out after a few attempts. Now, she walked with wobbly legs as harsh hands pushed her forward like a lamb being led to a slaughter house.

 Nothing prepared Serena for what she would see when she finally stepped out into daylight. Standing before her on the granite ground was the guard, who made her escape easier.

 She stared at his lambasted facial features, swollen face, broken nose and torn lips. His grey uniform was torn haphazardly and what remained of him was a fragment of what she saw the night of her unsuccessful flight from the estate.

 Dimitrio schooled her facial expression from where he stood. Shock racked through her as she perused the man who had almost raped her in prison. Dimitrio scoffed. Was she feeling pity for him? Who was this innocent in this... this cold world? Silly little thing.

 "You had the audacity to attempt to touch what belongs to me, and now, you will pay dearly, Mica." He calmly announced.

 Mica could only groan as Dimitrio signalled the men to do their job. They forced him on his knees and made him remain steadied on the ground.

 "You will watch." He told Serena and she turned to him, quite aghast. The last thing she wanted to witness was the death of a human. She would never be able to forget the horrible sight, all that blood, all the jerks before life finally slips out of the unfortunate soul.

Dimitrio De Luca nodded at Matteo when Mica had been successfully pinned to the ground. He was about to give Serena a scene of her life, and as for Mica, he was sure that he would not forget today in a hurry.