CHAPTER 2

Alicia's POV

"Killian, no. Please don't do this to me." I pleaded as one of the cops held me hostage, while placing the handcuffs on both my hands.

"Silence miss. Anything you say here, can and will be used against you in the court of law." The police officer with stern, green eyes that sent shivers down my spine, hissed.

I hurriedly kept mute, my heart skipping a beat with panic as I looked at Killian with pleading eyes, to please just listen and give me a chance for explanation.

I had no idea what was going on or how I had appeared in that footage, killing his sister.

I was innocent but nobody was even willing to look at me. They all threw me looks filled with disgust, most especially my dad, who scrunched up his nose at me.

"I had really hoped that you would stop being a disappointment to me, Alicia but it seems, you took after your mum." My father said and I flinched.

My mum?

It was believed that she cheated on my dad while I was young and tried to elope with me to her secret lover's home but she ended up in a ghastly accident that claimed her life.

I was saved but ever since then, my father started to doubt I was his and conducted a series of paternity tests. Though they all came back positive, that I was his, he still refused to accept the fact.

And the irony was, my father was the cheater who began beating my mum when she discovered he had another family outside.

She tried to run to save her dignity but it backfired in a monstrous way as I was now, forever tainted and treated as the daughter of a cheating, woman.

"Officers, please take her away. Her presence is too sickening." Killian finally threw a glance at my way, his eyes darkening with rage as his jaw tightened.

"No, Killian. Just listen to me." A tear rolled down my cheeks as I was forcefully grabbed away, into the van like a criminal.

My clothes even got torn in the process but the officers didn't even care and had me shut in the cells, with the other offenders.

"Whoa! Fresh meat. Look at how clean and glittery her skin is." A very, thick voice, like that of a man said and goosebumps appeared on my skin.

I looked up to see a huge, terrifying woman with scars all over her face, grinning down at me as she flashed her brownish teeth.

"Welcome to hell, young lady. Shall I serve you some tea?" She mocked as she burst into a manical laughter, that had me trembling like a wet dog under the rain.

"Please, don't hurt me." I begged but all the inmates kept on laughing, like they hadn't heard me and from there, my torture began.

I was starved for days. The prison served us meals, like we were dogs and when I couldn't take the hunger strike anymore, my meal was snatched by the fellow women in my cell, who didn't miss a single chance to pick on me.

"Give me that." The huge, scary woman and the head of the inmates here, whose name, I found out was Alice sneered as she reached to grab my plate of meal.

I had pleaded desperately with one of the guards to take mercy on me so she had gotten me some fruits and tomatoes for nutrition but then, Alice wanted them all.

My stomach grumbled painfully, my insides twisting as it reminded me that I hadn't eaten for over 48 hours.

I was even stinking but I didn't mind and just wanted to feed.

"I wouldn't ask you again. Give me that."

"No." I half-yelled, evading her reach as I tried to run into a dark corner in the cell but I wasn't fast enough as she grabbed me like I was nothing from behind and flung me against the wall hard.

I could hear the sound of my ribs crack as I felt immense pain through my bones while collapsing on the ground with a loud yell.

"How dare you defy me, bitch! This is no longer your wealthy mansion, where you do as you like, as I rule in here." Alice snapped as I felt my head banging seriously, my flesh suddenly feeling wet as my vision went blurry.

The last thing I could remember was trying, despite the agony to reach for my food but failing as I went limp on the floor.

When I came to, I was in a room, laying on the bed. It was bright, so bright that I had to shut my eyes with a groan as it felt like a hammer was being hit all over my body.

"You awake?" I immediately flicked my eyelids open to see Killian, walking into the room, with his hands dipped into his pocket.

My heart raced heavily against my chest as I stared at him, my nails digging into the bed.

His eyes were void of all anger but currently, I didn't even know how to feel as I looked at him, but my eyelids felt heavy as a tear rolled down my cheek.

'What was he doing here?' I wanted to ask but my mouth felt too heavy to ask such question as my throat burned from dehydration.

"I heard what happened and I will only feel sorry for you, if Maya is able to prove your innocence,” his words sent sharp pain through my heart as I shut my eyes to stop another tear from dropping.

"She is awake briefly and according to the doctor, is in quite a good condition to decide whether or not you are guilty." Killian said and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, my innocence would be proven or so I thought, until I was wheeled into Maya's room.

She was laying on the bed with multiple machines and drip connected to her arms and chest but she looked like she was getting better.

"Maya." Killian called with so much gentleness that made me bite my lower lips hard.

He had never been like towards me and would he ever be or was I insane to wish that from a man, that sent me to jail without blinking an eye?

Just then, Maya looked up and immediately our eyes met, all colors drained out of her face as her eyeballs widened.

She slowly raised her hand to point at me as all the hairs at the back of my hair stood up.

Was she reacting in such manner?

She began jerking on the bed as the machine beeped fast, so fast that the doctors dashed in, towards her.

"What is going on?" Killian screamed, refusing to leave the ward when the machine stopped beeping.

There was silence for a while, with Killian continuously demanding to know what was happening to his sister, as my mind screamed for me to run.

But why?

"She has slipped into coma, sir. I believe she was triggered by something." The doctor said and my jaw dropped as my palm grew sweaty.

I froze on the chair, a huge lump forming in my throat, especially when I realized that Killian was probably thinking the same thing.

He was glaring at me murderously, his hands clenched into fists as he pointed at me.