Chapter 6 #4
A light knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts.
I quickly put my mother's pendant away in my closet, got up, and tiptoed to the door that I opened it quietly and smiled at Kenji on the other side.
I went out to join him and closed the door gently behind me as he took my hand and we walked quickly down the silent hallway, our footsteps as quiet as possible.
He did it as if he had been born with this power, while I was wearing socks.
We climbed the stairs to the third floor, my eyes lingering on the cameras.
"Are you sure the cameras are turned off?
" " I whispered, he glanced at one of the cameras and shook his head.
"No red light, camera no work. I hack system," he replied calmly with his improved English.
I took advantage of our daily encounters to teach him, and in three weeks he had made tremendous progress.
I loved his personality, he was discreet and sometimes even shy when I pushed him a little, but he made me laugh.
“Not working” I corrected him as we finally stopped in front of the door leading to Joana's office.
I slowly lowered the handle and let out a sigh of relief as the door opened.
Joana hadn't locked it, we slipped into the room and I headed straight for the oak desk.
I opened the second drawer, where I knew I would find what I was looking for.
I grabbed the small burner phone with trembling hands and turned it on.
Thank God it was charged. I quickly dialed the number I had memorized and the ringtone echoed in my head.
My eyes fell on Kenji, who had stayed at the door to stand guard.
"Hello," my sister's voice suddenly answered on the other end of the line, and tears immediately welled up in my eyes.
"Selina!" I gasped, my hand resting on my heart, which was beating wildly.
"Sienna?!" Oh my God, where are you? I haven't heard from you in three months," she began to sob, and I couldn't help but do the same.
Hearing my sister's voice reminded me of who I really was, Sienna, Selina's nosy and annoying little sister.
"Oh mia sorella, if only you knew how much I missed you," I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my voice.
"I missed you too," she sniffed. "Where are you?
" I pressed my lips together, the truth threatening to burst out, but I held back.
There was no way I could tell her. She would beg Antonio to get me out of there, becoming even more of his slave.
"It doesn't matter, but I'll come, Selina, I promise.
Wait for me, I'll save you," I whispered, and she sobbed harder on the other end.
"Oh, Sienna, it's too late," she whined, and I froze.
"What's wrong, Selina?" there was a long silence on the other end of the line before she took a breath.
"I'm pregnant, Sienna, four months," she cried, "I don't want this.
I want to die," she blurted out, and my heart exploded.
The nausea rose so strongly that it burned my throat.
"What?" I gasped, and my tearful gaze met Kenji's, who looked at me with concern when he heard my voice.
"I don't want it, Sienna. I don't want this baby.
It's the result of rape. I don't want it, I want to die," she repeated, and what remained of my sanity turned to dust. I shook my head vigorously.
"No, Selina, I... I'll come. I promise, please wait for me.
I'll get you out of there," I said, my voice trembling as my world darkened.
"Who are you talking to?" Antonio Rasili's voice suddenly rang out on the other end of the line, and I heard my sister whimper, "Don't come near me," she screamed as her voice faded away from the phone.
"Selina?! Selina!" I called out before the phone hung up, I shook my head before redialing the number, but there was no answer.
No, no, that wasn't possible. I had to do something.
I had to get her out of there. I turned to Kenji when I heard him swear in his native language.
"Guard coming. See camera off," he said, grabbing my arm to pull me along with him, and I let him do it, too confused to realize what was happening.
We quickly went down the stairs, avoiding a guard, as footsteps echoed on the first floor, getting closer.
Kenji pushed me toward the hallway that led to my room.
"Go bed," he said, pushing me again when I stood frozen in place.
Seeing the panic on his face, I nodded and ran toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms as his footsteps receded toward the boys' wing.
Out of breath, I turned into the hallway where the bedroom was located when I froze, coming face to face with Olga.
She was standing in the middle of the long, dark hallway, her eyes analyzing me.
Her dark eyes widened when she saw the phone in my hand, the phone I hadn't put down.
I forgot. My lips trembled as she walked toward me with a firm step.
I was dead. She was going to tell Joana and Igor, and I was dead.
Oh my God, I hoped Kenji hadn't been fooled too.
Olga grabbed me by the arm, and a sob escaped me.
Her dark eyes plunged into mine, and she pressed her lips together, then she glanced over my shoulder into the hallway and at the camera above our heads, which was still off, before suddenly pulling me towards my room.
She gently opened the door and guided my trembling body to my bed.
She snatched the phone from my hands before forcing me to lie down and pulling the blanket up to my chin.
I listened to her footsteps recede, heard her ruminate for a moment behind me, but I didn't dare turn around and look.
I tensed when the door opened again and Joana's voice echoed softly in the room.
"Are they all here?" she asked, and Olga replied without hesitation.
"Yes, ma'am, they're all asleep." I squeezed my eyes shut as hot tears soaked my pillow.
"Good. Come with me, we have to finish the preparations before he arrives," Joana continued, and I heard her footsteps and Olga's footsteps recede before the door closed.
I curled up under the covers, rocking gently and stifling my sobs.
Selina was pregnant, Antonio had raped her, and she wanted to die.
And I was stuck here, powerless, while she.
.. I cried and cried, until the moon disappeared and gave way to the sun.
The next morning, we were all gathered in the reception room, the girls lined up in front and the boys behind us, each behind their own Star.
Joana entered the room, her heels clicking on the floor.
I frowned when I saw her wearing more makeup and dressed up more than usual.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" she said, standing in front of us, Igor still behind her like a good guard dog.
"We have two important things to discuss today.
First, we have a guest of honor who joined us this morning.
Someone very important," she said as the door to the room opened, and I felt my limbs go numb when I saw the Master enter the room, followed by Mother and two men.
Painful memories came flooding back, my body swayed and I felt like I was falling, but Kenji's hand on my back held me up.
I closed my eyes, trying to calm down, focusing on my friend's brief and discreet touch, warm and reassuring.
"Master, welcome to our institute. It is a great honor," Joana greeted him, bowing slightly.
"Ah, Joana, my beautiful trainer," replied the Master, pulling her toward him before planting a loud kiss on the woman's lips.
His voice made me want to vomit, seeing him was worse, I clutched my skirt between my trembling fingers.
My fear was stronger than my rage, I was so scared.