Consequences

~06~

Chiara

I begged, pleaded in every word and in tears but my little brother turned deaf ear, totally. 

My hands trembled as the gate was opened and a chain of our cars drove in. My heart drummed so hard, horror crawling in my chest. If only I were much more careful, then we would've flown away on that plane tonight. Away from the hell we were getting returned to.

The cars pulled over at the entrance. My mind knew, my heart knew, hell even my skin knew what was going to happen, hence the goosebumps.

I was dragged out of the car. Mamma came running after me as I was shoved on my knees, before the devil himself. Standing tall, and never looked so deranged before. His eyes were so dark they could eat me alive. His face was grim, and his lips pursed into a thin line. I knew I was doomed when I saw the veins that popped on his forehead. I'd seen this before, but it was just too much tonight.

He backhanded me, shoving my face to the other side. All I could hear were muffled cries for a

whole second before everything became clear again. “Please don't hurt her, Antonio. It was me, it was all me! Hurt me, please!" My mother pleaded in tears. I lifted my blurred eyes, begging her to stop pleading with the man. I was prepared for the consequences, like I always did.

"You ruined my family. You always ruined everything, you piece of shit! Did you think you could take Laura away from me?" He growled on my face and then raised his hand in the air. A steel water pipe was placed on his hand. I looked around to make sure I saw my people for the last time before it was too late. Before I died and regretted in hell.

What shattered me further was Luca's face, he had a wide grin on. I scoffed in tears and squeezed my eyes shut when he was standing before me and raised the steel pipe. I heard a hard swing in the air, but it never landed on me. I opened my eyes and gaped.

Mamma was standing between me and Antonio. The water pipe was gripped so hard with her hand that her knuckles turned white. Then a tight slap followed, causing Antonio to sway, but the two were still holding each end of the same pipe. "I said not to hurt my babies, Antonio! Don't you fucking dare!" Mama snarled at him, her eyes burning with rage. His eyes grew much wider than my own as we both stared at her. 

Antonio recovered from his shock and glared at her. "She ruined my family!" He said, pulling both the pipe and her closer to him but she didn’t budge. "No, you ruined my family! You ruined mine and my daughter's lives! Must I remind you how we all ended up here? It was all because of you, Antonio! And you're going to have to kill me first before you kill my children, you fucking moron!" she shouted so hard that she spat on him, her finger jabbed his chest with each sentence.

His face was so tight with both shock and anger. Tears slipped from my eyes. Antonio looked at my mother for a second before letting go of the pipe. Mama stood firmly infront of me, not flinching under his dark, blaring eyes that used to intimidate her just an hour ago. "Fucking bitch! Bring it over. Now." He growled, pulling his hair.

First, a sound of hooves made me freeze, and then the neighing filled the air, making me stop

breathing altogether. Prince was brought before everyone. I didn't even know how, but I was soon on my feet fighting against the strong hold of the two guards who were pulling me back.

"No! No! Not Prince! No!" A weird wail left my mouth. Luca handed his father a sword, and I felt it was the end of me. I'd never wanted to save something so bad in my life, and never felt so useless for not being able to. "No, please! Antonio!" I cried loudly, shaking my head. "Antonio! Antonio, listen to me! I would do whatever you want. I would do whatever you tell me to. Just please don't harm Prince. I'm begging you."

I fought against their hold as he walked slowly to the poor horse that wasn't even aware of what was about to befall it. I wished Prince could sprint away and never return here ever again. Who was going to help me? I shook my head. Refusing to give up on my horse.

"Let me go. You bastards! Let go of me. Antonio, don't!" I looked at my mother. "Mamma! Please stop him! Please!" My throat was in so much pain, but that didn't stop my voice from rising.

"It's either this horse or your daughter, Laura. The choice is yours." Antonio said, unsheathing his sword. Mamma looked at me once and then turned away.

Antonio raised his sword and with a single strike, Prince neighed once, and then his head rolled to the ground. Everything stopped altogether. The world, the voices, my breath, and my heart. Blood gushed from its neck and splattered on my face. Then a loud thud followed when his body hit the ground.

I let out an audible shriek when the warm liquid trickled down my face, blurring my vision. I blinked, watching Prince's lifeless eyes in a pool of blood. Something shattered rapidly and painfully inside me. I tugged on my chest, shaking.

I crawled to Prince the moment I was set free. My hands trembled. I didn't even know where to hold it first. Should I hold his head or his body? Who should I call to cure him? And why couldn't I wake up from this dream? In the end, I just sat there getting soaked by its blood. The only thing that remained of him that could still move and touch me.

I begged, I cried, I even offered the little left of my humanity. But it all went deaf ears to them.

Like my pain didn't matter. Like, I didn't matter. How could one be so cruel? Haven't they done enough?

Amidst everything, no sound came out of my mouth anymore, only tears left my eyes. It's like something was forced to switch off deep inside me. Like they finally succeeded in tainting my blackened heart altogether. The world was spinning too fast. I could feel everything and nothing at the same time. The emotions ran hot, deep, and too gravely. I couldn't breathe. And then darkness overpowered my vision, and my body hit the ground.