6

6

Elara

Having been dragged downstairs and forced into a dark room, the door swung shut, sealing me away from the world outside. I stumbled forward, my heart racing, and collapsed onto my knees on the cold, unforgiving floor. It was completely bare except for a mattress in the corner, stained dark with what I could only assume was blood. The sight of it making my stomach churn.

I was alone, and I’d never felt more isolated, more frightened.

I closed my eyes, willing the tears that had threatened to spill for so long to stay at bay, but it was no use. They came rushing forth, hot and relentless, as I pressed my palms against my face, trying to block out the reality of my situation.

“I should have kept quiet,” I mumbled to myself, the words barely audible between my sobs. “If I had just said nothing, they would have killed me. It would have been over.”

The thought of peace, of an escape from this nightmare, flickered like a distant candle in the dark. I longed for the embrace of that final release, to be free of the fear and confusion that consumed me not only now, but my entire god damn life.

“I’m not a witch,” I repeated again, my voice cracking as I spoke the words into the emptiness. “I’m not a witch.” I hoped that somehow, one of the men outside would hear me, that they would come to their senses and realise the truth. But deep down, I knew they wouldn’t. Their minds were far too warped by their delusions, and I was just a pawn in their twisted game.

As I knelt there, the tears still streaming down my face, I could hear the muffled voices of the brotherhood outside, their laughter and murmurs taunting me. I wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all, but instead, I felt small and powerless.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to find some semblance of comfort in the solitude. “Please,” I whispered, the word escaping my lips like a prayer. “Just let this be over.”

But I was still here, still fighting, and part of me wondered if I could find a way out of this. Would they really break me? Or could I somehow turn this nightmare into a chance for survival?

-

I found myself in a classroom, the familiar scent of chalk dust and polished wood filling the air. But something felt off. I glanced around, trying to shake the feeling that this place was somehow warped, like a reflection in a funhouse mirror.

Asher stood before me, his presence magnetic. His hands grazing along my body, gentle yet firm, and a warmth immediately blossomed within me. But as much as I wanted to lean into his touch, a nagging voice in the back of my mind urged me to stop.

I raised my hands, a gesture of hesitation. “Wait,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “This isn’t right.”

Asher took a step back, his brow furrowing with concern. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone softening as he studied me.

I glanced around the room once more. Everything seemed too perfect, too idyllic. “I shouldn’t be here.”

Then suddenly, my eyes flew open, the dream evaporating like mist. Reality rushed in, and I was met with the cold, hard surface beneath me. It took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus, but when they did, my heart dropped.

Asher was kneeling beside me, and so was one of the brothers from the cult, a twisted smile playing on his lips causing my stomach to turn at the sight of him. “What were you dreaming about?” he asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

Before I could respond, Asher leaned in closer, his eyes locked onto mine. “I can take a guess,” he said, a sly grin spreading across his face, and in an instant, he captured my lips with his.

The kiss was electric, igniting a spark that coursed through my veins. My mind raced, caught between the dream I had just escaped and the reality of this moment. I felt the warmth of his body against mine, the way his hands cradled my face, and for that one fleeting second, I forgot where I was.

But then the laughter of the other man cut through the silence, reminding me of the trouble I was in. I quickly pulled back, breathless, my heart racing for an entirely different reason now. “This isn’t—”

“Shh,” Asher whispered, his voice low and soothing, though the intensity of his gaze remained. “Just let it happen.”

I turned my head slightly, trying to gauge the brother’s reaction. He watched us with a look of amusement, as if he were savoring the moment like a fine wine. “You know,” he said, leaning back, “it’s interesting to see how quickly she forgets her place.”

I felt the anger rising within me, a fierce flame threatening to consume the remnants of the warmth I had just experienced. “I’m not a part of this,” I said, my voice steady despite the tremor in my heart. “You can’t control me.”

Asher’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—was it concern, or perhaps a hint of something deeper? But before I could process it, the brother leaned closer, a predatory gleam in his eye. “Oh, but we can, Elara. You’re already in our grasp, and it’s only a matter of time before you see things our way.”

Before I could fully process the brother’s words, he shifted closer, his grin widening as he gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. A wave of revulsion washed over me, and I instinctively recoiled, but he held me firmly in place.

“What’s all the excitement about, little witch?” he taunted. “Let’s see how you taste.”

Before I could protest, he pressed his lips against mine, a harsh and demanding kiss that sent a shock of anger and fear coursing through me. I struggled against him, my instincts screaming that I needed to push him away, to break free from his grasp. But he was relentless, deepening the kiss as if he were trying to claim something that was never his to take.

This was not a dream; this was a nightmare I couldn’t escape. I fought back, twisting my head to the side, breaking the contact and gasping for breath. “Get away from me!” I shouted, my voice fierce despite the tremors of fear coursing through me.

Asher’s expression shifted. “Stop it!” he commanded, stepping forward and grabbing the brother by the shoulder, pulling him away from me. “You don’t get to touch her.”

The brother laughed, a dark sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Oh, but you’re the one who initiated this little game, Asher. I’m just joining in on the fun.” He shot me a glance filled with mockery, as if my discomfort amused him.

“This isn’t fun, none of this is,” I spat, my voice trembling. “You think this is a joke? You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind your twisted beliefs.”

Asher’s jaw tightened, and he kept his gaze locked on the brother. “You’re crossing a line,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

The brother smirked, leaning back as if he were entertained by the confrontation. “And what are you going to do about it? She’s ours now, isn’t she? A little plaything for all of us. You’re the one that said she needed breaking. Or, are we taking her back upstairs and ending her?”

Asher looked back at me, taking a deep breath, and then nodded to his brother, a subtle but unmistakable signal. My heart dropped, and a wave of fear washed over me as I instinctively knew what that nod meant.

“No, please,” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling. The brother’s eyes sparkled with a malicious glee, and I could see the thrill of dominance in his expression.

He shuffled closer, invading my personal space as he leaned in. “What games do you like to play, little witch?” he asked, his hand landing heavily on my shoulder, a possessive grip that sent my entire body cold.

But before I could respond, he began to pull down my sleeve, exposing more of my skin. I tried to jerk away, but his grip tightened, holding me in place.

“Stop it!” I shouted.

He just chuckled, clearly enjoying my distress. “Oh, Elara. You’re the one who’s been playing with fire, and now it’s time to see just how much you can handle.”

“Don’t let him do this,” I pleaded to Asher as his brother placed his lips on my shoulder. “You can stop this. You can help me.”

Asher’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of conflict in his eyes. “You need to understand, this is how things work here. You’re ours now.”

I felt my heart sink at his words. “You’re just going to let him do this to me? You’re just going to stand by and watch?” As I finished talking, the brother’s hand found my chest and pushed me back against the wall. As the air was knocked from my lungs, he took the opportunity to rip my top from me, exposing my chest.

The brother’s chuckle vibrated off me, his breath warm against my skin as his mouth began to suck on the nape of my neck. “You’re in for a real treat, Elara. Just wait and see.”

“Get away from me!” I shouted, scrambling to my feet as something invisible pushed both Asher and his brother away. “You don’t own me!”

The brother stumbled back, caught off guard, and I caught a glimpse of Asher, who stood frozen for a moment, surprise flitting across his features.

“Don’t think this is over,” the brother sneered, regaining his composure. “You little witch, are ours!”

I would not be used like some passed around sex toy, and I would not be broken. Not now, not ever.