Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

ARIA

I opened my eyes and immediately closed them again, wincing from the bright light that flooded into the room. I opened my eyes again and gazed outside. The sky was beautiful, and the sun’s golden light streamed through the window, casting long shadows on the floor.

I would have smiled at the perfect view, but a heavy weight hung in my chest. I felt like Rapunzel—seeing the beautiful scenery through the window but never getting out.

Except I wasn’t Rapunzel. I wasn’t a f*cking princess.

I am a captive. A mere prisoner waiting for slaughter. The handcuffs that bound me to the bed were a harsh reminder.

The door to my room opened and two young women stepped in, each carrying a tray. They both dropped the trays on a small stool at the foot of the bed, and I recognized the look of pity they cast me.

I don’t need any fucking pity.

“Your food,” the taller of the two announced.

I scoffed bitterly.

“Is Maximo such a pussy that he can’t even kill me himself? Instead, he’s resorting to poisoning me?”

They looked at me in horror, like they couldn’t imagine me insulting their almighty Don.

“You can’t speak of the Don like that,” the same one that spoke earlier said again.

“Or what? He’ll kill me?” I laughed. “I don’t really care. He’ll still kill me after all.”

She sighed, but remained standing. I ignored them, but they just stood there, both starting at me like I was an animal in a zoo.

“Why are you both still here?” I snapped.

“We’ve been ordered to feed you…”

“And how do you intend to do that?” I asked.

“I have a key to your handcuff,” she said. “I’ll take it off, you eat and then I’ll put it back.”

I looked at the frail women that stood before me and laughed.

“Is this a joke?” I asked. “I can overpower both of you and run away…”

She smiled, and I recognized something sinister about it.

“You can’t escape. Nobody ever escapes from Scar.”

Her words rang in my head as I was reminded of Maximo’s threat from yesterday.

“Get out,” I said softly as one tear fell from my eyes.

They remained standing and I started screaming.

“Get out! Get the fuck out!” I yelled, trashing against the bed. I could feel my wrists getting sore from the way I tugged against the handcuffs, but I didn’t care.

“If Maximo wants to kill me, then he should do it himself!”

They turned to leave, staring at me like I was a lunatic.

After they left, I sobbed and sobbed till I fell asleep due to exhaustion.

A tap on my leg woke me up. I opened my eyes to see the taller maid from earlier.

“I’ve prepared a bath for you,” she said, but I just stared emptily at her.

She tried to convince me to get up, telling me how her Don will be displeased.

Well, f*ck her and her stupid Don.

When her efforts proved futile, she left me alone.

***

“You need to take a shower. You stink,” the maid said, and for the first time since I got here, I smiled.

For the past three days, I kept refusing every food brought to me. I also refused to get out from the bed to take a shower. Anything could be a scheme to get me killed.

“Fine,” I said with a deep sigh.

I needed to be out of these handcuffs anyway. My arms hurt badly from being secured against the metal headboard for days.

The maid looked surprised, but she quickly masked the look on her face as she came to work on my handcuffs.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Maria,” she replied curtly.

I groaned as I stood up from the bed. My body shook due to how weak I was. I removed the dress I was wearing, and without caring that Maria was looking, I stripped till I was completely naked.

She led me to the bathroom and I gasped as I took in the space, immediately struck by its simplicity and beauty. The walls are painted white, and the floor was made of smooth, polished tiles.

I caught my reflection in the large, rectangular mirror above the sink, and my heart ached at the way my body looked frail and malnourished.

“Being stubborn won’t get you anywhere,” Maria suddenly said, noticing the way I stared at my reflection with tears in my eyes.

Anger and pain surged inside me, and I balled my hands into tight fists.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down, before stepping towards the bathtub.

The bathtub was a simple yet beautiful white porcelain design, with clean lines and a smooth finish. I stepped in and my body instantly relaxed in the warm water.

Maria left me, giving me privacy. I shaved and washed myself thoroughly, wincing as the water and sponge came in contact with my sore wrist. I spent time in washing my hair, then after the bath, I brushed my teeth and washed my mouth.

I wrapped myself with a white, fluffy towel and stepped into the bedroom. I saw that a simple, white dress had been kept on the bed for me. I applied some lotion on my body before putting on the dress.

“Your food is ready,” Maria said and I went back to the bed.

“I’m not hungry.”

I was starving, but for some reason, I wanted to provoke Maximo. I didn’t want to follow his rules or do whatever he wanted me to do.

I wanted to provoke him to the point where he would just kill me.

Maria sighed and turned to leave the room, knowing better than to try to convince me otherwise.

“If you continue this way, you’ll get to see why they call him Scar,” she said and her words sent a chilling fear down my spine.

“And I don’t wish that on anyone. Not even my worst enemy.”

***

The room was dark and quiet and I occupied myself by staring outside the window. I was mesmerized by the beautiful view of the moonlight. The sky was dark and clear, with millions of stars twinkling above. The full moon cast a soft glow that filtered through the window, and I shivered as the cool night breeze followed.

I heard the door opening, and I rolled my eyes at how relentless Maria was being.

“Can’t you give up already?” I said without turning.

“If Scar really wants me dead, then he should f*cking kill me, instead of sending food to me everyday.”

“Now, where’s the fun in that?”

My heart dropped at the deep, gravelly voice. I turned and surely, it was Maximo. He looked scary, leaning against the doorframe with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his tattooed arms.

My breath hitched as he marched towards the bed. I could see his face now, and he looked furious.

“Are you here to finally finish the job?” I managed to voice out.

Maximo chuckled harshly, and the sound made goosebumps rise on my skin.

“I’m not killing you, Red,” he said, brushing a stand of hair behind my ear. I shivered as his fingers made contact with my skin, and he smirked devilishly.

“At least, not until I’m done with you yet. By then, you’d be begging me to end your life…”

I gulped as terror went through me.

He brought out a key from his pocket and moved to release me from the handcuffs.

“But for now, you eat.”