Two

Two

Kaobu realm.

Nadazhda POV

"Nadazhda!" I heard my father's angry voice from downstairs as I dropped the mop immediately and rushed to him. As I was running down, my throbbing ribs were protesting, but there was nothing I could do.

"Sir," I called nervously. He marched and slapped me while I bit my lips hard to muffle my cries.

He hated my tears!

"You whore!" he seethed. His eyes were red and bloodshot. He reeked of alcohol, and his hair was disheveled.

He had gone to gamble again!

"You know your work. Go get ready, and my friends are coming tonight." he sneered, walking to his room wobbling.

I stared at my once lovely father, retracting figure, until he entered his room.

I was once my dad's princess, but I've been blamed since my mother's death.

How I wished I was the one, not her.

He had started gambling, whoring, and drinking after her death. Whenever he needed money, he used me as his source of funds. He gave me out to his friends to have their way with. I never resisted because if I did, I would always end up with several broken bones.

I entered my little abod,e which I called a room. I looked at myself in the broken mirro, and thee real me was dead. The image the mirror was showing was a broke,n used girl. My once light brown eyes had become lifeless and dull, and my once chubby body had become scrawny. My once soft body had been marred with scars and bruises. Black eyes had smeared on my eyes like makeup.

Would I ever be free?

Would they continue to use me?

"Runaway." a tiny voice whispered in my ear and whipped my head around but found nothing.

"Where should I run to?" I asked no one.

"Ru,n and I shall guide you," the voice replied.

"Who are you?" I asked the voice. I waited patiently for the reply but never heard anything.

Was I going crazy?I was talkingg to space!

Maybe the lack of sleep was playing a toll on me?

I closed my eyes to rest for a few minutes because my father forbade me from sleeping for the last two days. I closed my eye,s hoping to escape what was in store for me.

§§§

"Lina baby." I heard mom's voice calling my seven years old self while I giggled and ran to hug her.

"What have you been doin,g princess." dad came from behind and hugged mom.

"Pwaying" I replie,d beaming happily. "Pwaying with Mr. Chuk,." I responded by showing them my teddy bear.

"Princess." dad ruffled my hair.

"Dadd,y stop! dis-or-gani--sing my hai,r" I grumbled while finding it hard to pronounce the words.

"Sorr,y princess." he apologized

"No," I shook my hea,d then wiggled my eyes, "bribe me." I folded my arms on my chest.

"Okay," he said while I grinned widely, showing my removed-spaced teeth.

"Guess what daddy has with him." he raised his brows while I furrowed my eyes before clapping my hands together.

"Chocolate!" I screamed happily, jumping up and down.

"I've told you severally to stop giving her chocolate," mom said sternly while her hands were on her waist. "Do you want her to have a rotten tooth?" Mom held dad's ear while I laughe,d using my hand tokeepd my stomach.

Dad gulped, "I'm sorr,y love," he said while pecking her.

"Can I have my chocolate now?" I said with my best puppy eyes that I knew no one could say no to.

§§§

I was jolted awake from my memories of smilin,g but my smile vanished by my dad's angry frame. I gulped in fear.

He entered my room slowly while his four smirking friends followed him. Ihurriedd to the other side of the be,d wishing I could disappea,r but I knew that was impossible.

"O,h look at her," the brown-haired guy said, moisturizing his lips while looking at me with lust. I shuddered in disgust. I used my blanket to cover my shaking for; maybee it could protect me.

"That is her, she issolidg and I know you will enjoy her but please add more money when you guys are through," my father said, smiling widely while he looked at me with a promising gaze, 'I'm coming back for you.

I heard the door locked, and he had closed the door leaving me to these lions to devour.

"How are you, sweetheart?" Mr. Levi said with his sweet sickened voice.

"No," I whimpered, shaking my head.

"No?" He asked, yanking the blanket away from me.

I needed to do something.

"Run." I heard the voice again as I stood up; I noticed one of them was behind me and ripped my sleeve, exposing my shoulder. I screamed and took the bedside lamp to defend myself, waving it to stop them but mistakenly hit one of them in the head. And immediately, his body fell with a loud thud to the ground as blood gushed out from the injury.

Did I kill him?

Others looked at me with fear before it changed to anger.

"Drop the lamp," onm gritted out while the other two stared at my exposed V-line.

"Don't look at me?" I said shakily while holding the broken lamp with a trembling hand, walking backwardly closer to the window.

"I'm going to hit you if you move a step." I threatened in a shaky voice.

Mr. Levi ran to hold me, but I jumped through the window and fell with a loud thud on the floor before he could. I scrambled, running towards the wood before my father could come for me. I limped through the dark wood while shivering from the cold breeze. My body was throbbing, but I needed to get away. I ran deeper into the wood before the fog engulfed me.

I ran deeper until I heard loud howls, making me stop abruptly.

Were there wolves around here?

I saw six wolves emerge from the shadow, and I took a step back while one of them growled.

"Sleep, my dear. You are safe." I heard the anonymous voice again.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, the world spinning around. I fell to the ground not before seeing different pairs of eyes.