Twelve hours later. Pain from a needle penetrating my neck woke me up from whatever slumber I was in. A memory of Don Mauro holding a gun and heating me is the first image that comes to me. It scares the hell out of me, sending my heartbeat into overdrive. Before I register more and work out what is happening, a liquid is being injected into my body. Tells me things have gone sideways. My plan has got me into so much deep shit. I want to open my eyes and my body, but I can’t move a muscle. What did they inject into my body? Am I dead? What have they done to me? Then a conversation of men speaking loudly beside me in Italian brings me back to my reality and makes my body freeze, I know. I am still in deeper shit and in danger. Several seconds later. I feel my body muscles move and the first thing I want to do is open my eyes. But I know opening my eyes is a risky move. I guess one thing about keeping me alive is staying unconscious. So, I play along. And act unconscious. I don’

*** I wake up with pain wracking my body. A splitting headache and unsettling stomach to excruciating pain in joints that hold my upper body to my thighs. I cannot stand up straight, holding anything. My head is killing me, and I want to go to the toilet so badly. My stomach wants to flash everything now. It is as if my body no longer belongs to me, and I have accidentally walked into a fifty-year-old body who did not bother keeping her body fit. I forced my eyes open because I needed to get out of bed. The sight before me kills me. A huge bed. Not my bed. Where am I? Messed up a room. From sheets to pillows. And then, touching my body, I notice. I am naked, completely bare. I stand up from the bed. Searching my body and I am strained with sticky strains of blood all over my thighs. My torn clothes are all over the room. It is not just my clothes lying on the floor. But the clothes of a man. I jerked in shock. On the huge sofa sleeps the young man. With his sleeping position,

*** In the few days, I have been living in this house. I have learned that Zia is a woman who lives by the rules. As if sure that I was still planning to escape. She never forgot to lock the door when she came in or went out of my room. On the first day, I played a silent game with her. Not saying a word to her. But it was as if my silent treatment was hitting a brick wall. And to my reaction, her reaction was different. She treated me so well. She did not miss out on making sure I took my medication. I was up every morning, took all three meals the day in time, and was tucked in at night. I kept thinking she was tricking me. I would not fall for this family trick again, but it is the third day today. And I am eagerly waiting for her. I am looking forward to her tea and the notes she writes to me every time she brings me food. I underrated my trauma of missing out on a mother’s love. In this condition with the family of my kidnappers, I should not be feeling attached to thi

He picks me up bridal style, forces me steady in his arms, and starts walking away in quick steps. “I promised myself to keep you safe until you are back in your home. “Those wolves didn’t look like they were ready for a friendly conversation. Like the one I am offering now. You are so frustrating. Why are you reckless?! Who runs away in the middle of the night while it is raining?” “Then what did you want me to do? Seat and stay locked in there? Should I give up on my life and wait until you choose to end my life while I watch? “Do you know how frustrating that is? I would rather the wolves tear me apart now than spend another day like this. Either way, I die anyway. That awaits me, right?” “Then you should have planned a better escape plan. Not just throwing yourself out like this to get me mad. Or just do nothing because I am not killing you, nor am I letting anyone lay a finger on you.” “Oooh, how reassuring? Does this look like a game to you? What did I do so wrong in this li

By the next hour, I am already regretting throwing away the food Luciano had brought. I limp down with so much pain in every move to find the family in celebration. Zia and James ignore me as if I am nothing, and it hurts me as I walk back to my room. By the middle of the night. I can’t take it. When Zia walks to lock the door to my room, I plead with her to feed me any leftovers of food and she laughs out loud. James, who I did not know was standing behind the door, walked into my room. Holding a portion of everything we cooked. He makes me sing him a happy birthday song and makes me eat the cake. It is fun and I like it. We then walk downstairs, turn on the music, and dance to celebrate James. We dance, eat, and drink until it is too late. I want to continue, but Zia says it’s time for bed, and I promise myself another time like this tomorrow. With days like this, I might survive the fourteen days that Luciano promised me, and I might go home. And if Luciano is truthful. Aft