19ARIATHE PASTSENSITIVE CONTENT AHEAD.“Aria!”“Aria!”The floor squeaked as haste steps sounded in the hallway. The knocking on the door came a moment later.“Aria!” A voice shouted, “Come play with me.”“Aria?”Knock. Knock. Knock. “Why is your door closed, Aria?”When the girl on the other side of the door got no reply, she ran back.A ten-year-old ran back, her footsteps sounded as she hurried down the stairs. She turned towards the living room; her footsteps came to a halt when she found her parents sitting there, cuddled against each other.“Aria’s not opening her door.” She huffed out, moving towards her mother. Her mother’s gaze flicked towards the man that sat beside him.Alara jumped on her mother’s lap, snuggling against her as her mother tightened her arms around her daughter.“I called out for her so many times,” Alara looked up at her mother, “She didn’t reply neither did she came out.”Her mother’s arms tensed around her; a shuddering breath escaped her as her haunt

21ARIAI couldn’t sleep the whole night.I was tense as I sat on the chair, facing the window, thinking about it.Did Fabiano come to know about my plan?Did Lina tell him?Did I make a mistake trusting Lina?A sigh left me.I didn’t know what was happening with me. I was becoming stupid idiot.I couldn’t begin to think of the ways that monster was going to torture me if he found out what I was doing.He had caged me on this island so I wouldn’t escape him but now if he came to know that his own servant had told me the only way to escape…I shuddered only thinking about it.“What are you thinking about?”With a shriek, I jumped in my chair at the sudden intrusion in my thoughts. With my heart in my throat, I whirled around, knowing who the person was.Fabiano.“Fuck you, you dung!” I blurted out before thinking, trying to calm my racing heart.It came as a shock when he didn’t hurt me for cursing at him.I rubbed my fist on my chest while glaring at him. His eyes were stuck to my fac

ARIA‘I’ll break your legs, I’ll tear your limbs apart. I’ve been treating you like a queen. Try to escape. Even if you succeed, I’ll make you crawl back to me and I’ll treat you no better than a slave.’“Shut up! For fuck’s sake, shut up!” I hissed at my reflection in the mirror.Fabiano’s words circulated in my mind, instilling a fear in me.It felt like he was warning.Like he knew something.Did Lina betray me?She owes you no loyalty. You owe her.“You’re going to escape. You’re going to leave this cage, Aria.” I spoke to myself, trying to lessen the fear thar kept elevating inside me.No matter how much my senses told me not to act on my plan, I couldn’t afford stepping back right now.Fabiano had made his intentions more than clear today. And I had no desire to act like a doll. I had no intentions of handling my reigns to him so he could rule over me.I wouldn’t become a puppet in his hands.Tapping my cheeks, I sighed before stepping away from the restroom mirror and left the

ARIAI cursed Lina under my breath at the mere thought of her.I’d beat her dumb ass when I saw her.Somewhere inside me, I knew it wasn’t her fault. She was just doing what her Big Master had told her to.But I was just des—Click. Click.I whirled around, my eyes widening as I watched everything.The door unlocked, someone pushed it open. I saw the shadow and didn’t think twice before running towards the door.Just as I stepped outside, my eyes caught a person running down the hall.What the hell!I stared at the place where the person was before moving in the opposite direction.Lina had told me where the boat was going to be and that’s where I wanted to be.Casting a last look over my shoulder, I ran in the opposite direction.Thankfully, Lina had told me the directions the day Fabiano had nearly raped me. So, I knew where to go.I didn’t stop.I ran and ran, barefoot and didn’t halt when I jumped out of the window instead of leaving through the door.When my feet touched the mois

ARIA“You tried to escape.” He roared like a lion, furious and ready to kill.Unfortunately, I was only one living here so it was clear that I was the prey.His prey.I straightened, shaking myself internally to be strong. I couldn’t be weak.“You think you can leave me like this.” He kept roaring, “A woman!” He spat, glaring at me like he wished to disassemble me limb by limb.He moved my way, heightening my fear and dread“Stay away.”He roared at me, and slapped me again, making my head jerk back.Tears fell from my face.“You’re nothing, you understand.” He bellowed, “You’re a piece of flesh. A property. A slave. A whore.”A sob echoed around me, I realized it was mine.My head spun, the present and the past mixed with each other.‘My warrior princess.’‘Bye, good weirdo’s friend.’‘Your father is dead.’“You’re a whore.” He shouted at the top of his voice, “I’ll make sure you remember that for the rest of your life.”‘I’m sorry to inform you, your parents didn’t survive the accid