3. Arianna
3
ARIANNA
I woke with a soft whimper, my body aching. My eyes wouldn’t open completely as I tried to stare up at the unfamiliar ceiling. The ugly memory of what happened rushed through me, making me gag as I struggled to sit up.
I met resistance.
I cried out when I realized I was tied to a bed. My heart banged hard in my chest and fear bubbled to the surface as I twisted my hands and wrists in an effort to free myself.
The burning ache of the ropes made me cry out while I continued my struggle.
Tears streamed down my cheeks like a river. Heavy footsteps thudded down the hall. I whimpered and tried harder to free myself, but it was no use. I was a prisoner in a place I knew damn well I didn’t want to be in.
The door handle jiggled for a moment before I snapped my eyes closed, hoping I wasn’t harmed.
The door swung open with a creak, and the heavy thud approached my bed before stopping next to me.
My breath came out in shaky gasps as I tried to not sob.
“I know you’re awake,” a soft, deep voice murmured. “Sleeping girls don’t cry.”
I trembled at his words, willing myself to not scream for help. There wasn’t help here. I’d be stupid to think it.
I exhaled, my body shaking.
“Open your eyes.”
With every ounce of bravery I had, I forced my eyelids open and peered up at beautiful man with hair black as night and eyes gray like the cloudiest of days. He was tall, gorgeous, and clearly worked out because his muscles strained against his black button down as he cocked his head at me.
He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.
“W-Where am I?” I choked out.
“In my home,” he answered back, not giving away any details on location. “My name is Massimo.”
Massimo Saconne. Sever’s eldest brother. Heir to their empire.
From what I knew of Sever’s family, he was close to his brothers. He looked up to Massimo, or he had while we were in school.
“A-Are y-you going to h-hurt me?”
He was quiet for a moment before answering. “Yes.”
I let out a soft sob at his words and tried to twist away as he leaned down. His woodsy cologne engulfed my senses as I struggled to break free, the pain at my raw wrists making me whimper.
“If you want pain, little daffodil, I will give you pain.”
I cried out as he tugged the ropes tighter, the pain burning through my body. A gasp left me as laid still, knowing if I moved, I’d bleed from how bad the ropes were digging into my flesh.
He moved to my legs and tightened those ropes too before backing away from me.
“P-Please,” I choked out. “I-I didn’t do anything wrong?—”
“It’s not a matter of wrong and right, Sweet Misery. It’s a matter of payment. You will pay in screams for what your father owes. Those are the terms.”
“No! No!” I screamed. “Please! Let me go! Please! I’ll do anything?—”
“I know you will.” He gave me a dark smile, wickedness glinting in his pretty eyes. “We’ll talk tomorrow once you’ve calmed down.”
“No!” I screamed it on repeat as he left the room, the lock clicking closed behind him. I screamed until I only had tears, and then I went silent, ugly memories overriding any hope I had.
My father had done this to me.
I vowed if I ever broke free, I’d make him pay for this.
When I awoke hours later, sunshine was streaming in through the window. I was still tied to the bed, and my body still hurt, but I was alive. My throat was raw from screaming and from needing a drink.
I whimpered as I tried to shift in the bed and found myself unable to. I squeezed my eyelids closed, trying to hold back my tears. There was no way this was my life now. I was almost done with college. My future was only months away and now this. All my hard work, gone.
I wasn’t sure how long I laid there crying, but the sun eventually gave way to gray skies, and sleep overcame me as darkness began to filter in, small snow flurries in the air outside my window. I was so thirsty I licked my cheeks whenever I cried just so I could dampen my mouth with my tears. It was a vicious cycle.
Such was my life though it seemed.
I stared out the window into the night, taking in the stars in the sky.
Please let me die in my sleep.
I always wished on stars. Usually, they were falling, but I figured it was worth a shot.
Closing my eyes, I repeated the words until sleep overcame me, dragging me to its dark depths.