let go

Katalina. 

My head hurts. 

The pain was radiating from the nape to my frontal lobe. It was like someone was gently hitting that spot with a hammer. The pain was spreading out, while a sharp part of it intermittently shot to my temple, before spreading to my forehead. 

Grimacing, I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy. Taking a deep breath, I endured and opened up just a slit of my right eye. 

It was dark and smelled familiar…like cigars…Horacio…Kelvin… “Fuck!”

Abruptly sitting up, I held my head and grunted. 

Kelvin! 

Fear gripped my chest, my breathing became uneven, and my head felt like it was breathing in sync with my heart. 

Ignoring the pain, I scrambled out of bed and rushed to the door. The moment I opened it, I was bombarded with sharp, white lights.

Stung, closed my eyes and stepped back into the room, then stepped out again. I stopped in a daze and turned around. Wasn't I supposed to be in Huracio's office? But I was in the passage at his house. 

How did I get here? 

Just then, a door opened down the passage, and Huracio stepped out. 

“You are awake.” 

His sight enraged me! 

“Talk of the devil,” I grunted in rage and rushed towards him. 

Too angry to think, I swung my hands and it landed on his face. The echo of the slap snapped me back to my senses and my heart chilled. 

“Oh, God! I…” 

Realizing what I just did, I gasped. I took several steps back and stared at my hand, wondering what possessed me. 

“Huracio…” 

The words got stuck in my throat the moment I saw the smug smile on his face. 

“So ferocious.” He chuckled as he slowly rubbed his reddened cheek. “I like it."  

That smile sent shivers down my spine. His stern, angry face is better than that smile. It was creepy.  

“Where is Kelvin? What did you do to him?” I demanded. 

Standing there, I was scared, but Kelvin needed to be fine. I didn't care what he did to me, but I needed to make sure that Kelvin was fine. 

Okay, maybe I cared. Why else was I enraged? But Kelvin still needed to be fine. 

“What can I possibly do to him? I brought him to see a show, and when the show was over, I sent him back.” He casually spread out his hands as if he did nothing wrong. 

My face heated up instantly. I knew that my ears were red from embarrassment. Remembering how helpless I was at that moment, I wanted to pounce on him and claw that smug smile off his creepy face.   

“You are the most despicable human I have ever met. I hate you!” I yelled at him, turned around, and entered the room. Before I even got to the bed, the door opened and he came in. 

Still pissed, I turned around and yelled at him. 

“Get out! Get out of my room!” 

He came over and snatched my waist. Before I knew what was going on, his lips were crushing mine and the smell of cigars became overwhelming. 

I froze and snapped back almost immediately, but it was too late. We had fallen on the bed and his weight was pressing me down. 

I started throwing hands, but he was strong. He caught my hands, clamped them together, and held them down with just one hand. His other hand was forcefully thrust between my legs. 

Realizing what he was about to do, I tried to clamp my legs shut, but his bigger one slid between my legs and forced them apart. I couldn't move at all. 

Panicked, I bit his tongue. He yelped and let me go. 

The moment I felt free, I scrambled upward until my back hit the headboard. Out of his reach, I quickly got off the bed. I ran for the door, but before I could get there, he grabbed my hair from behind and yanked me backward. 

Scared shitless, I landed on the bed again. 

He stood over me, his eyes red. His face was in a grimace and I could see a trace of blood on his lips. 

That was when I realized that my mouth felt metallic. I must have bitten him hard. Feeling good about his pain, I snapped defiantly. “You deserve it!”

His eyes stretched into slits. 

Shrinking backward, I shivered at that look. It was diabolic. 

You should have shut up! I reprimanded myself. 

Thinking that my outburst enraged him, I instantly wanted to create distance between us. That way, I stood a chance at avoiding him if he pounced again. Keeping my eyes on him, I scrambled backward until I felt the headboard behind me. 

“In that case, I will also give you what you deserve." He chuckled. 

What does that mean? 

I felt ominous. What is he going to do?

He turned around and went to lock the door. 

No shit. 

“Wh-y did yo-u lock the door?" I stuttered as cold sweat broke out on my back. 

“Get up." He ordered, but I stayed put, shaking my head. 

“What do you want to do?" I asked with a trembling voice. 

"I don't want to manhandle you, Kata. Don't make me. Get up and come here.” He insisted. 

“It's Katalina to you!" I suddenly snapped.  

I was really scared but the moment he called me that name, my anger flared again. Though that was what he had always been calling me, he didn't deserve to call me that name anymore. That name is reserved for those I love and care about. As for him, I hate him. I hate him the most! 

In response, he simply walked over and grabbed me. As if I weighed nothing, he swung me over his shoulder and smacked me on the butt pretty hard. 

It stung. 

I screamed and threw my hands, punching his back. 

I shouldn't have snapped at him. I really shouldn't have. 

He opened a door and walked into a dark room. 

The moment he turned on the light, I stopped struggling and froze. 

Where in hell is this? 

Right in front of me was the door we just came through. On the door was a silver iron rod with a lineup of hooks. Ten in total. And each held at least three different types of whips and ropes. 

Is he going to whip me? 

I blanched. 

“Huracio, I am really sorry. I am sorry. I will never bite you again. I will be obedient." 

I straightened up on his shoulder, hugged his head, and started crying. 

As long as I don't let go of him, he won't be able to beat me, right?