Gerald gave me multiple slaps as he dragged me out of the bathroom. “How dare you!!” he pushed me out of the room to the hallway. The maids and other domestic staff looked away and returned to their duties. This was no news to them, they had watched him throw me down the stairs before. “Please sir, I didn’t sleep with another man, please sir, believe me” I pleaded because my life depended on it.
Gerald paid deft ears. He took me to a room I nicknamed doomsday and pushed me hard till I fell on the floor. Quickly, I supported myself with my hands to protect my baby. It was an instinct and reflex. Gerald brought out a whip and lashed it on me. He gave me several strokes till I started tasting blood in my mouth. “Did he fuck you good? How dare you” he pushed me against the wall.
This time,my hands failed me, I dashed my abdomen against a casted frame on the wall. Gerald didn’t stop till I started feeling uneasy. My anus tightened like I was having a contraction, in a blink of an eye, I saw blood. This was what dropped the whip from his hand. He hissed and walked out Irritated. I was in pain, bleeding with sore skin.
I pushed myself through the stairs, bleeding all over the floors till I got to my room. Gerald made sure I lived outside his mansion. I shared the mini space behind the garage. As soon as I opened the door, I fell down weakly. I laid there for an hour before Gerald ordered his men to take me to the hospital.
“She had a miscarriage. She needs all the rest she can get”. From my sleep, I heard the doctor’s voice. I opened my eyes and checked out for Gerald, luckily, he was nowhere in the room. It was my savior, Harrison. He looked disturbed as he spoke with the doctor. The doctor walked out and I slowly whispered his name, “Harry”. He held my hand softly and almost had tears in his eyes. “Mira, I am sorry. Gerald sent me here. I can’t believe he did this to you” he apologized.
I was least interested in what he said, this was the last time I promised myself. “ Two months ago, you offered me an opportunity to leave this city. I want that opportunity now!” I asked with a cold voice. He looked at me without finding the right words. “I mean now!! Get me out of here” I maintained my pace despite the tears flooding my cheeks. Harry left the room without a second glance at me.
When I felt my whole life was coming to an end, he entered the room dressed as a cleaner. He handed me a cleaning outfit and asked me to change. This was the opportunity I had waited for, dreamed of and prayed for. Despite the pains all over my body, I changed. He wrapped my hair in a face cap and gave me a nosemask. I immediately looked like one of the hospital cleaners.
We walked through the hallway without getting noticed. We were about to get through the staff exit when I heard Gerald’s voice. “I want her death!!” He said loud and clear to the doctor incharge of my case. I stood and turned back to look at him. I felt like comforting him, I have been nothing but a submissive wife to him. Harrison pulled me away.
We used the back door where a car was waiting for us. We got in immediately and that was the end of my suffering. Harrison and I got out of the car after 52 km. We were on the outskirts of Free city. He held my hand and directed me inside an abandoned apartment. “It was my mom's, “ he said, handing me my travel documents and a ticket.
“At 6am, your flight leaves Free city to Levino. Gerald won’t get access to Levino, his business rival and enemy stays in Levino, he will be shot at first sight the moment he gets there” he explained. “Mira, I want you to take care of yourself. Be happy” he said weakly. I had tears in my eyes as I hugged him and bid him farewell.
Harrison left immediately and I was all alone in the apartment. It was hard for anyone to know I was inside. I didn’t blink all night, I was eagerly anticipating the next morning. At 5am, I freshened up. The injuries on my body ached when cold water touched my skin. I changed into a baggy sweatshirt and joggers with a face cap Harrison had left behind. I walked all the way to the train station before I got a cab that took me to the airport.
It was a rainy morning and the traffic was almost invisible. Getting to the airport was easy. At 5:45am, I got to the terminal. I was granted access and at 6:02am, I was leaving Free city. It was an emotional moment for me, I wiped my eyes as I looked outside the plane’s window. I had gained my freedom.
The moment I landed Levino, I searched my mini purse for my phone but I couldn’t find it. It was at that moment I remembered I never had it all these while. I stood at the terminal clueless and confused. I had nothing but $450 with me. I had no luggage, no food, no phone, no contacts, no friends or relatives.
The fear, confusion I had on my face was too visible and it attracted the attention of a cop. “Hello madam, is everything fine?”, he asked as politely as he could. I nodded and tried to walk away when he held me back. “Hey!!”. As he held my hand, my sleeves folded and my bruises were revealed. He looked at me strangely and looked around in reflex. “You are coming with me!” he said, pulling me along.
I was tired and too weak to fight, my body had started shaking, I knew I was in trouble. He took me to the car and started asking me questions.
Cop: “What is your name?”
Me: Mira.
Cop: Where are you from? Where were you kidnapped? Are you in any threat?
Me: (weakly) Free city, please. I need to get to the hospital.
Cop: We are used to these tricks. You are not getting away till we carry out proper investigations.
Before I could defend myself, he called some of his team members and in no time, we were driving to the police station. I was sitting in between two cops who looked at me judgefully. In the heat of the moment, the cop from the airport noticed my hands were pale. He held my hands and at one touch, he yelled for them to stop the car.
He touched my neck with the back of his hand and immediately his eyes popped. “Turn the car around. We need to get her to the hospital. She wasn’t lying”. They nodded and turned the car around and turned on the siren. I was almost unconscious when we got to the hospital. I had flashes of when I was hurriedly rushed inside lying on a stretcher. I woke up after sixteen hours in a strange hospital room. It was deja vu for me when I opened my eyes. I scanned through the room for Gerald again and sighed in relief when I noticed he was not in sight. I looked again for Harry in anticipation to tell him about my weird dream and how I almost got into trouble with the cops. My anticipation crashed when I didn't see him either. I laid there and dozed off. I woke up after an hour and everything became clear. The hospital room was unfamiliar and the sharp but painful pain from my abdomen hit in. I panicked and tried to touch my abdomen but I couldn’t. The Iv on my arm stopped me. I
Within eight months, I earned enough to achieve my first goal. It was getting plastic surgery on my face. When I first mentioned it to Felix, he kicked against it. “There is no need for that!, you can use that money to get another degree, get a property, or something else. You are beautiful”. I disagreed with his opinion. It was what I needed. This disagreement caused a partial rift between us. Felix got back from work one day and ignored me as usual but I stopped him. “You are upset. It is not necessary. You already stated that it is my money and my body too!”. He looked at me and walked past but he stopped. “I care about you Mira, believe me when I say this. You are beautiful”. I knew he couldn’t understand and I had to make him. “It is necessary. I look at myself everyday and still see the abused girl from a year ago. I still feel intimidated. Did you notice I took away the mirror in my room? It is because I am scared to look at myself, '' I explained, panting. He held
It was the most passionate kiss I had shared with anyone in two years. It had a soft dangling feeling that made my stomach spark. It was a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed the softness of his lips on mine and how gently he sucked on my lower lip. It was nothing I had never felt before. Peace. I got carried away and almost forgot I was acting. Quickly, it felt like a light switched on in my head, reminding me of my position. I pushed him away and in a blink of an eye, he felt two resounding slaps across his face. “How dare you? Are you roaming mad?” I lashed out without holding back myself. My voice echoed in the room as I was the only person yelling. Harrison held his face and stood there like a statute, surprised and dumbfounded. “Get out! Get the hell out of here before I call security!” I threatened pointing at the door. This was the play button for Harrison. “Listen, I am sorry! I swear, I wasn’t thinking at all” he walked slowly towards me but I moved away from him. “I
“What!!!” He exclaimed with so much shock in his face and voice. “She left? Have you contacted the police?” He asked. “Should I contact them? Shit!! This is a mess. Just a fight? Alright brother, I will see what I can do from here”. He hung up and buried his hand in his hair. “Why in heaven's name did you agree to get married to a man who doesn’t love you?” He said slightly frustrated and angry. I looked at him without words because it was the same question I ask myself daily. I opened my mouth but my eyes opened up its floodgates. Tears flowed down instead of words. “Stop this Mira! Stop it! Crying won’t help anything. If you need help, you need to open your mouth and ask for help” he hissed. Help was what triggered a signal in my head. I looked at him with pleading eyes and nodded in agreement. “I need help. Save me” I pleaded with sob bubbles popping out of my nose. Harrison took off his glasses and sighed heavily. “I can fix you a lawyer that can get you a divorc
Harry looked at me with a chuckle, “I should be apologizing that you are suffering because of this. Gerald is living in my dad’s shadow” he concluded. I rolled my eyes and he understood I wasn’t in the mood to back up or defend my husband’s bad behavior. He moved his hand on my waist and slowly rubbed my back in a comforting manner but instead all he heard was a hiss. “What’s wrong?” He asked curiously. I looked away and tried to escape his grip but it was too late. He held me back and came behind me. His breath on my neck was warm. It was electrifying. It was the first time I experienced Romance. He touched the hem of my tee shirt and my body gave me away. My sudden consciousness he noticed. “Relax, I wouldn’t do that”. I blushed shyly. I loved how he looked and took care of me. He slowly raised up my shirt and his expression was a frown. “What the hell!!” He spat angrily. “You have new wounds and healing wounds. Gerald!”. Harrison was more upset than I expected. He
Harrison moved closer to me and pulled me into his arms. His hands around my waist, my butt against his groin area and his lips on my neck. I felt comfortable but my conscience peeked me. “Harry, isn’t this too much? I am still married to your brother “ I slowly moved away from him. I didn’t need his words to know he was sad. “Mira, can you please not remind me that you belong to my brother?”. His voice was fierce and different from what I was used to. “I am not going to be reminded of how miserable I am. You are no longer with him. You are with me now!! With me!” He started again. He pulled me closer this time gently and leaned on my shoulder. “Babe, I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I hate the idea of sharing you” he sighed. I understood how he felt and I wasn’t going to blame him for what fate did to us. I extended my hand to comfort him. I stroked his face and ears. “It’s fine, I am sorry for bringing him up, I just felt we were too close”. Harry ignored me a
“What?”. The whole room fell silent with tension. My response to my mom’s vocal question and their imaginary questions was answered by shock in their faces. “Mathilda talk sense into your daughter! This is pure madness”, my step father spat angrily. He paced around while my step sister was trying to hide the happiness that was pouring out from her heart to her face. “Mira, what’s going on? You can’t just walk in here and ask for a divorce. Gerald is a good…”. Before my mom could finish her sentence, her husband jumped in. “Listen to me Mira Copper, you are not divorcing Gerald and that is final”. I could not tell what it was, but something tempted me to laugh. I laughed bitterly as soon as he was done ranting. “Mira! You are scaring me”. My mom pulled me to a seat. With concerns and fears all over her face. “Mira, I need you to tell me, I mean us, what is going on? Why the sudden flip?” She asked like she was carjoling a child. It took me twenty five seconds
The drive back to my nightmare was the shortest drive in my life. It felt like seconds. Throughout, I stayed far away from Gerald in the car. He would chuckle and look away from me at intervals. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he walked around and opened the door for me like a gentleman. Behind this kind gesture, I knew my whole world was ending soon. He led me inside his mansion and pointed to a seat in the living room. “Mira, whose clothes are you wearing?”. His voice was blasting like thunder in my mind. Gerald kept tapping his feet as he waited for me to respond. In fear, I was dumb. I looked at Harry’s clothes and I dared not to cause a fight between two brothers. I swallowed my saliva as he asked the same question again. “My ….my friend’s sir “. My throat was dried, I needed water but I dared not to ask. Here I was a little lower than the maids. Gerald examined the clothes again and the look on his face changed dramatically. “Expensive brands!