Meeting him

As night settled in, Rosa's eyes fluttered open.

The room was covered in darkness, the only movement was the soft rustle of curtains swaying

 from the open window. 

cigarette smoke filled the air, burning her nostrils  and making her coughed

"You are  awake at last" a voice sliced through the silence, sending a shiver down her spine.

Rosa's fingers curled tightly into the

bedsheet, her heart hammering in her chest.

She couldn't see him but the weight of his voice alone made her skin prickle 

Suddenly,  lights flashed on.. blinding her for a moment. As her eyes adjusted, they locked onto him,   Silvio.. sitting across the room in the dim light 

His black hair fell in messy  strands over his

forehead,but it was his eyes that caught her attention. A striking, icy blue-sharp and unyielding,

They seem to see through her. His white shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of muscle beneath. The cigarette between his

fingers burned, sending lazy curls of smoke into the air. He took a slow drag, his gaze never

leaving her.

"I heard you tried to run" he said, his voice

smooth

Rosa's throat tightened, but she forced the words out "Yes, and l will keep running away, if you don’t take me back home” 

A thin, mocking smile tugged at his lips. "Little girl, your home is here with me"

"Never" she shot back, her voice rising despite the fear creeping up her spine "Take me back to my mother"

Silvio's gaze flickered with something unreadable. "Quite feisty." Then he stood, movements deliberate and calm. As he closed the distance between them, his fingers brushed a strand of her hair and Rosa jerked his hands away 

He then reached the nightstand and pulled open the drawer with a quiet click. The envelope inside looked heavy in his hands. Without a word, he turned back to face her and extended it.

"Take it" he said, his voice clipped, almost bored.

Rosa's fingers were stiff as she took the

envelope from him. She slowly pulled out the first sheet and felt her breath catch in her throat. The

paper trembled in her hands as her gaze fell to

the signature at the bottom-her father's.

Sold. Five billion. The words blurred together.

She couldn't process them. She scanned the rest of the paper

A bitter, hollow feeling crawled up her chest, she fought the urge to crumple the paper 

She forced herself to move on, pulling out the second sheet. The bold print jumped out at her like a slap across the face. You are to give birth to a son. You are owned. You can never leave unless your master chooses to free you.

The words burned into her mind. She didn't want to read it again but she couldn't stop her eyes from tracing over them. 

Rosa's chest tightened painfully, her fingers

gripping the paper so hard she could feel the

edges cutting into her palm. 

she tore the paper in half then in quarters, the sound of the paper tearing loud in the silence.

She threw the pieces to the floor and turned to

face him, fury burning in her eyes.

"In your dreams" she spat, her voice low but steady "I will never, never belong to you. Not in this life. Not in the next"

Silvio's lips curled into a smirk,  he was at his wit’s end.  He moved toward  her and grabbed her chin.. forcing her to look up at him. He leaned in… his breath cold against her skin.

"Do you know what I hate most?" he murmured, his tone low, dangerous. "Women who aren't submissive. And you.." His grip tightened on her chin "You appear to be one."

Rosa's lips twisted into a defiant smile. "And you know what I hate most?" she shot back “men like you” 

Before Silvio could react, she spat squarely in his face. He froze for a second, staring at her with a mix of disbelief and dark amusement then wiped the spit away slowly, a low chuckle building in his chest. 

His laugh wasn't funny, it was frightening  and  it sent a shiver of fear down Rosa's spine. She felt the change in the air 

Without warning, Silvio took  her off her feet, flipping her over his shoulder with ease. Rosa kicked and screamed, hitting her fists against his back  but it was like striking stone..He didn't even flinch 

"Let go of me" she screamed

Silvio didn’t respond, he carried her across the room, opening a door to a pitch dark space 

Rosa's heart skipped a beat as she was thrown onto the cold floor.

Rosa gasped as her body hit the cold floor with a harsh thud. Pain shot through her back but she barely had time to react before her eyes desperately searched the darkness. The room was silent, empty-nothing

Panic surged. What is this place? 

"You'll stay here. Reflect," Silvio's voice cut through the stillness,Without another word, he turned and walked away.

"No-don't leave me!" Rosa's voice cracked, her legs already pushing her to her feet. She ran toward the door, her hands brushed against the wall as the sound of his footsteps faded.

The door slammed shut and Her breath caught in her throat and she fell to the floor, her back pressed against the  door. The darkness closed in around her as she hugged herself  tightly 

It's going to be okay. You're going to get through this, Rosa. You will.

But then, Dr. Mira's voice sliced through her thoughts, cold and unwavering "Your mom died. She didn't survive the accident."

"No..." Rosa's breath hitched, and she jerked her hands up to her ears,

Her vision blurred as tears welled, but she blinked them away angrily. No, they're all lying. She promised. She promised to protect me, I can't... I can't cry" she whispered to the silence

****

Rosa stood in a  dimly lit room,she blinked in confusion and then she saw her mother..standing just a few feet away,  glowing in a golden light that seemed to come from nowhere

Her mother's face was as calm and loving as she  remembered but there was  sadness in her eyes, Rosa  wanted  to speak  but her voice seemed to catch in her throat

"Rosa..." Hana’s voice came as a whisper "You have to take care of yourself my  sweetheart"

"I'm  sorry" her mother continued, her eyes shining with tears "I can't be there to protect you anymore wish I could  but you will have to find your  own way"

Rosa's heart pounded as she reached out, her hands trembling..desperate to cross  the space between them. She moved but her body felt as if it were made of stone..her legs heavy and her arms stiff.

"Mom!" Rosa cried out, the words breaking in her throat "Please... don't leave me, I can't do this without you”

Her mother's eyes  softened but there was something final in the way she stepped back. A chill washed over Rosa's skin.

"I'm sorry my sweet girl" her mother whispered again, her voice fading like a breath on the wind. "I have to go now” 

Rosa fell to her knees, sobbing.. her  fingers scraped against the cold floor as she tried to crawl toward her mother. 

"Please.." she sobbed, her voice raw. "Please

don't leave me... Don't leave me alone. I need

you” 

Her mother's figure turned and  disappeared into the light.She reached out one last time but her mother was gone, vanishing like smoke in the air.

Rosa's world shattered and in that instant, her eyes snapped open.