[Third Person’s Point of View—Nikolai]“Took you damn hell long enough.” Nikolai groused in annoyance to Akim while he slightly limped on his legs towards their posts just outside the palace.The blast detonated from the bombs he planted all over the place the night during Erin’s ball. He had planned it all along in case the Seraglios won’t heed his request upon taking back his wife. And he's right. That leeching son of a bitch double crosses not only him but Tommaso as well. Nikolai couldn't help but be amused by the thought that the old man got swindled by the own boy he took in years ago. But that amusement immediately faded when the realization hit him that Erin is the one that suffered the most. Trapped in the middle. “I thought you’re bidding your time,” Akim responded, handing him a bulletproof vest, and arming him with guns. A part from the medic team also came to his side, examining the cuts and bruises he got but he immediately dismisses them with a single flicker of his
[Erin]“Linda, come on.” I tug the terrified woman’s hand right after I shot those men dead. I am still trembling, my fingers could barely hold the handle of my gun, but I keep my head leveled, knowing that if I gave in to my panic, we would both likely be killed.Fortunately, Linda was too terrified to even asks me a question. She just obliged, nodding excessively as we both wade along the wall. I keep my vigilance high, gun right before me, the safety pin unlatched, and with the knife poised, ready to stab anyone that would jump right in front of us. Linda creeps closely behind me, holding the hem of my dress like a little child to her mother. As we rounded the corner, three more men emerges through my line of sight. However, before I could pull the trigger, a hand clasps around my gun, knocking it out of my grip. My quick reflexes took over me, slashing the knife into his face. He hadn't anticipated my attack and he stumbled backward, clutching his bloodied face, but I didn't let
[Vereena]If there's one thing I could use to my advantage, it's the element of surprise. He didn't know I am capable of manhandling a person, and he doesn't know that I am nimble for my size.Taking a deep breath, I drew my elbow and pummeled it hard into the soft flesh right under Mikael’s ribs. His pained grunt blows on my ear utterly caught him off guard. Twisting against his grip, I tried knocking his gun, but he was able to pull the trigger. My head spins and my eardrums rang deafeningly at the proximity of the blast. My action messed with his aim, and instead of blowing my head off, the molten hot bullet seared through my shoulder blade. “Fuck!”I'm tired, but adrenaline shot through my veins, and in one swift motion, I bring my knees to his gut. His grip finally loosens on me, and I quickly remove myself away from him. Pivoting on my heels, I watch Pa’s terrified expression, Nikolai’s bellowing voice sounded muffled in my ears just as the crossfire started.I ran to Pa, rain
[Erin] The smell of poppy and roses filled my senses as I set down a basket of them right in front of a lead grey tombstone just. The wind around me gushes in chilly temperature, picking up the autumn leaves, swirling into the air, and ruffling my hair in the process.“I miss you, Pa,” I whispered, pushing back the tears pricking at my eyes as I stared at his name engraved in bold black characters.It has been five years since that tragic day, but still, it played back inside my mind like it happened yesterday. I remember it so vividly that the horrific memories haunted me in my nightmares for years. I was traumatized by the sound of gunshots, I froze whenever I see blood and trembled even at the subtlest banging noise. Nikolai had always been by my side, calming me down whenever I have panic attacks, when I woke up screaming in the middle of the night, and when I sometimes get so violent to the point where I didn't realize I was already hurting myself and the people around me. One
[Erin]I was lying on cold hard ground.My wrists and feet were bound behind my back, and my left knee was in excruciating pain.My eyes were covered, and my mouth was gagged with a piece of cloth.Where am I?I don't know.How did I end up here?My father happened. And it happened too fast for my mind to process it all.It was after midnight, and I was sleeping when my drunken father arrived home. Nothing has changed. He was like this when I was fifteen years old, and my mother died of leukemia. He has never been sober since.He drowned himself with alcohol and gambling. He already had forgotten that he still had a daughter that needed him.I struggled to live and learned how to fend myself. I worked at a young age for both of us to have a roof in our head, so we had food in our fridge and covered our monthly bills. Hence, that was not enough. Working in a coffee shop isn't enough.
[Erin]The truck we’re in came into a grinding stop. I rolled into across the floor from the sudden cessation of momentum, bumping myself into someone.I groaned when I hit my injured knee into a hard surface.The metal door creaked open, dread crawling up inside me. This is it. Hell had opened up for me.Rugged boots pounded on the floor, padding towards our huddled bodies.We were picked up one by one, and excruciating pain tormented my left knee when a rough hand closed on my arm, yanking me up.I yelp, but it was muffled by the gag on my mouth.It was already daylight. I can tell by the small amount of light penetrating my blindfold.“Boss! This one is injured.” Announced by the man that was holding me. Another pair of hands inspected my knee and then to my face. I tried to pull away and shrink from the touch, but they kept me tighter.“Easy now, darling.” The m
[Erin] My turn had come. The other girls had been sold to the highest bidders with a whopping amount of million dollars. I could even hear the cries of protest to each one of them as the rubber mallet pounded on the podium just like a judge sentencing a death penalty to a criminal. My body jolted from the sudden movement as the cage was being dragged towards the center stage. The intense flashings of light produced by the cameras blinded me as the thick satin cloth had been removed from my cage. Choruses of awes, claps, and cheers erupted from below the auction block. My heart was beating faster than the horses racing on the track field as the bidding started. “Ladies and gentlemen, for our last item in the cart. This lovely young lady, a twenty years old doll. She was silent but a bit feisty. She can be whatever you want her to be. A trophy for this lovely evening to satisfy the needs of your carnal desires.” Kirstina moved forward with a leather lashing stick on her hand, ciga
[Erin]My teeth were gnashing against each other, the tiny hairs of my body stood erect that I could already see the small bumps on my skin. I was damn freezing with this type of clothes they made me wear, and I can't even consider this as a cloth. It was only garter straps that were only enough to cover my private areas.The girls that were also on the line seem to be freezing; they were hugging themselves, shivering from the cold.I was looking at them, rubbing my palm against my arms to create friction in hopes of giving me some warmth.What are we doing here? Are we waiting for our new owner?I was mulling over my own thoughts with dread coiling and furling inside my lower belly, too occupied to even keep myself aware of my surroundings.Just then, a heavy soft cloth drapes into my shoulders, startling me to my feet and sends my heart into gallops, ripping a squeak out from my throat."Relax, I'm not goin