Escape

The harsh morning light pierced through the small secured  window.  Rosa  lay on the cold stone floor, her  hand were pressed against her chest as if trying to hold herself together. Her breath came in shallow  gasps. 

The words they had  told her that her mother was  gone, she’s dead.. repeated over and over in her mind..each one stabbing deeper into her heart

She couldn't breathe and she  couldn't think properly. The sobs tore through her chest, loud and frantic 

She had held it in for so long, burying the pain but  now..with nothing left to protect her, she let go.

Her cries echoed off the stone walls, raw and unrestrained

The door creaked open, her  wet eyes snapped up, and there he was--Silvio. He stood in the doorway,

holding a tray with food. His white shirt and pants were spotless, too clean for this place.

Their gazes locked for a moment, Rosa's eyes met his, hollow and broken  as if she had already lost all hope of escaping this nightmare. Silvio's gaze moved  briefly over her, his sharp eyes tracing her fragile form. Something unfamiliar stirred beneath his cold exterior but it was gone before he could focus on it.

He slid the tray onto the floor "Eat" he said, his voice cold

Rosa didn’t move, she stared at the food then look up at him “why me, why do I have to be sold to you and why do I have to bear your child” 

Silvio didn't answer immediately, he  slipped his hands into his pockets and stared at her, his expression unreadable "You don't get to ask questions, little girl" he said, his voice low and threatening "Just do as you're told and your life will be easier but  if you choose to be stubborn, it won't be a simple lockup. There'll be worse punishments” 

He turned and slammed the door shut. Rosa stared at it, numb. I have to protect myself. I won't give up. I'll escape this hell.

*****

Two weeks passed. Rosa remained locked in that room. Silvio's orders had been clear- her legs and hands were to be chained,

After that day, he hadn't come to see her,  which was  a relief. But with each passing day, her determination to escape grew stronger.

That evening, the maid entered with food, as she did every night. She tried to feed Rosa but Rosa didn't open her mouth.

"Miss  please" the maid said gently "open vour mouth” 

Rosa looked up at her "Can I at least feed myself today? Don't you ever get tired of doing this every day?"

The maid sighed, feeling the weight of Rosa's words. She did feel tired of the endless routine, but she knew better than to defy  orders.if the  Don finds out she wasn't doing her job, it wouldn't just be a reprimand. Her life could become a living nightmare.

"I'm not tired, miss”  the maid said softly,

forcing a smile. "Just open your mouth and eat,

please” 

Rosa's eyes welled up with tears "Just this once... no one will know. promise. just want to feel my hands and legs again... I'm begging you"

The maid hesitated, her gaze flickering nervously around the room. She was torn between pity for Rosa and fear of the consequences. “You better not try anything funny”  she warned, her voice low.

"I won't" Rosa whispered

With a reluctant nod, the maid stood "I'll go get the keys. Stay put” 

As the maid left the room, a flicker of victory crossed Rosa's face.

Minutes later, the maid returned with the keys and unlocked the chains around  Rosa’s hand and  legs 

and as the chains fell away. Rosa's hands slowly reached down to touch her legs.For the first time in days, she let herself breathe. 

The maid handed her the food and Rosa took the tray, eating slowly. Her eyes flickered to the knife in her hand then back to the maid who was distracted, her face buried in her phone.

"Pass me the water" Rosa said,

The maid nodded and pass the glass of water over.

As Rosa reached for it, her hand slipped and the glass dropped to the floor 

The maid sighed but bent down to pick up the pieces,  Rosa seized the opportunity.

In one swift motion, she stood, her legs still weak from the chains, but her mind was clear.

Before the maid could react, Rosa hooked her arm around the maid's neck, pulling her back against her chest. The knife pressed firmly against her skin.

"Miss, you're making a mistake" the maid whispered, her voice trembling.

"Just shut up and lead the way" Rosa  ordered

The maid hesitated but with the knife so close, she knew there was no choice. Slowly.. she moved toward the door. Rosa kept close behind her..her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

They passed through the dark hallway, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the silence..no guards. 

When they reached the sitting room, two other maids were there. Their eyes widened in shock when they saw Rosa holding a  knife to their follow maid’s neck.

"What are you doing?” one of them shouted.

Rosa's gaze hardened and without hesitation, she tightened her grip on the maid "If you don't show me the way out, l'll slit her throat" 

The other maids froze, terror flashing across their faces. 

Before the maid could react, two men in black suits appeared in the doorway. Their faces

darkened with annoyance as they took in the scene. One of them stepped forward, his eyes cold and dismissive.

Rosa's voice cut through the silence. "If you take another step forward... I won't hesitate."

The maid, already trembling slightly, could barely hold herself together. What if she gets killed? The men didn't care about the maids.I have to save myself. 

The man's response was chillingly indifferent.

"Go ahead and kill her."

Rosa's heart skipped a beat. Was he seriously telling her to kill the maid, or was this some cruel test? Is he joking? she thought. Her grip tightened, and the blade pressed against the maid's neck.

In an instant, the maid used her elbow to strike 

Rosa's stomach. The blow was swift, unexpected, and hard. Rosa staggered back, her grip loosening. The knife fell to the floor

The maid didn't waste a second. She bolted toward the other maid standing by the door, her steps frantic.

Rosa's breath came  in sharp gasps as she

reached for the knife, her hand trembling. She aimed it at the men. 

"If you come any closer, l will cut you!" she shouted but the man didn't flinch. He  walked forward and grabbed her hand,  wrenched the knife from her hold 

In a split second, his palm hit  her cheek with a brutal  smack. She fell to the ground, her hand flying to her bruised face while strands of hair falling to shield her eyes.

A cold, commanding voice sliced through the tension "What is going on here?"

Everyone froze, then bowed in unison.

"Welcome, Don" they murmured, their voices low

Silvio's gaze swept over the group, his eyes narrowing when they landed on Rosa on the floor and he strode toward her.  

 He crouched down, lifting her face so that their eyes locked.

The sight of Rosa’s tear stained face and the darkening bruise on her cheek ignited a fierce anger inside  him 

"Who did this?" He growled 

The man who had slapped her took a hesitant step back, his breath coming in short and panicked bursts "She tried to escape... and I…” 

Before he could finish, Silvio's fist shot out, connecting with the man's nose in a violent punch.

The man stumbled, holding his face as blood poured through his fingers but Silvio barely noticed, his eyes locked on the knife shining on the floor 

Silvio crouched, picking up the knife.. the  blade shinning  under the dim light