III

I might die. I've never faced any coincidences this terrible.

Before the hell named Nicholas de Sanctis came to me, I only knew him as an annoying man who would pass my time just like that, and all would be forgotten. That's why I could only accept whatever it was, resigned to our destiny that met in the middle of a crossroads, and thought that the annoying period with Nicholas de Sanctis would pass me by. But not ..

The mother nature must really hate me for what I did in my previous life.

How could I find out that Gallena would be his future wife when he knocked me unconscious two days ago and took my virginity? After all, of the many women in this world.. why Gallena? My twin sister?

I'm sure somehow it's not a ridiculous coincidence. I never believed in coincidences. Could it be that he did it on purpose?? But for what? His life was so boring that he had to come into my life and bring Gallena into his game?

I can't stop cursing whatever this is. Everything piled up in my head until I wanted to explode in front of them all. Luckily Nicholas de Sanctis wasn't coming tonight. Darius de Sanctis, his father, said that he had business dealings in Milan. I was relieved, and on the other hand the air didn't fill me so horribly because he wasn't my fiancé, he was Gallena's. What should I do when I meet him is avoid him.  I will try with my life and death.

But apparently hell is not just for me.

Gallena had been just frozen in her seat, staring at the food with a blank expression, and trembling. Her hands search for mine under the table to hold mine. I squeezed her hand back, and gave her whatever strength I could muster.

Their faces were so disgusting. The voices and laughter of my mother and of Serena de Sanctis, wife of Darius de Sanctis, stuck in my head like dire warnings.

"Do you want to know? We have arranged your match since you were children!" Ursula Mikhaleovich exclaimed with such delight. My mother.. the joy of her child's life that she sold amazed me.

Her tone was gentle as if this wasn't something bad. But this is indeed a bad reality. An unreasonable choice that was given—forced—on Gallena, who I knew really didn't like this. I feel like laughing out loud at how absurd the matchmaking they have arranged before we even understand the damn world we're in right now. I know that besides that, my parents did it because of the profit behind it. The De Sanctis's have always been the world's ruling family just like any other conglomerate family controlling the world's economy, and of course.. their greed found its way : selling their child.

As they always did: they always felt entitled to our lives and played with it all they wanted just because they could. Without knowing that we, in fact, have never felt happiness for all the control they have made. Until we couldn't feel anything. Until we feel empty and feel nothing more than dolls. Until all that's left is hatred and disgust for them.

If I could go...I could already feel the happiness and freedom that I crave. But unfortunately the plan always fails because my parents always know where I am. Even though we live on different continents.

All this bullshit sickens me.

The rest of the dinner ended in an eerie silence between Gallena and me. Gallena could only glance at me with hidden meaning. Saying that she really hated all of this, and running away was the next risk she would take. I have no doubt that Gallena will do that, even though she always fails in the process.

Gallena was the only person in our family who was too reckless and didn't give up on rebellion. Perhaps, besides father choosing Gallena because she was the first daughter, Gallena's rebellious behavior was probably the second reason.

Meanwhile me? I always choose to be an obedient daughter. Choosing to keep all the things that bother me inside rather than letting them out. And, then a small adventure that I did without my parents knowing, became a way for me to release all the emotions that were burning in my chest.

And, I hoped that this time Gallena would comply. I was afraid that if she managed to escape, then the engagement would be thrown in my face. I didn't want to do it, and I didn't have the strength to rebel.

Moreover, engaged to a man named Nicholas De Sacntis.

Maybe the real death will be my move.

Everyone was talking to each other, something I didn't want to hear. I sighed, took the mineral water in front of me and drank it down just to calm myself down. I hope it lasts until I get out of this godforsaken place.

What a nightmare.

>>>

Somehow. I can find my way to Demonio: my favorite bar on the outskirts of the Bronx. My parents came home after the dreadful dinner was over. Gallena was with them, probably going to spend her trip with lots of lectures, and I was in the car with Carl.

I sent a message to Baron to help me. And Baron, who is very kind hearted, called me. When I mentioned that I was with Carl, he said that I should go to his place to help him with his work. All the family only knows that Baron is a lazy guy who always wants help from me, and all they know is that I've always been humble and helpful. That's why Carl walked me to Baron's apartment while advising me to stop being nice.

I just answered him with a smile, and said something like 'kindness will help you later,' then got out of the car with my real face. Then, Baron took me to the Bronx.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't be coming here for a while?"

I swallowed hard as I sat on the stool bar, the place that yesterday was a silent witness to my fucking reunion with the devil who brings hell named Nicholas de Sanctis.

"I can't hold back anymore." I said, swallowing the pungent vodka.

"Why?"

"Gallena is getting married." I said.

Baron snorted. “I already know that. Pascha told me when he questioned me before your dinner party.”

I turned to him. "Why don't you come?"

"Yeah, for what?" he shrugged. “Unlike you, I don't bother hiding my boredom in the middle of a fucking elite dinner.”

I wrinkled my nose. “But you went to great lengths to hide what you were really doing.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

I glared at him.

He blinked several times. "It's not like you're going to marry Nicholas de Sanctis."

Yeah, he doesn't know.

"Why was he here yesterday?" I bet he does. There's no way he wouldn't know. Everything that happened here had to be reported to him.

“He was just visiting me, and was wondering about this place. Did you see him when you came home yesterday?”

Yeah, Baron doesn't know about that either. I didn't even ask for his help when I came back from Nicholas de Sanctis place. Luckily the bodyguards still thought I was at Baron's house. I tell Cal that I'm spending the night at his house.

"Yeah, I saw him" I swallowed more vodka. "What if he finds out that I'm here?"

"Yeah, you better pray he doesn't tell your father you're here." he replied.

“That's no fun. Thank You."

Baron chuckled. "I bet he doesn't know you're here. It seems he came right back after talking to me because I didn't see him anywhere after that." he said. "Anyway, why didn't you tell me when you got home yesterday?"

I let out a rough breath. "Yeah, I'm in a hurry."

I always lie, and it's not that hard. Baron immediately believed and did not dig deeper. "I'm stressed." I said to him with the expression I always make.

He shook his head with a firm look. "No. No. Dyadya is in New York. We, as smart as possible, should avoid any activity that would arouse his suspicions." He narrowed his eyes sharply at me. "Unless you're stupid."

I returned his sharp gaze with emotion that had been heating up my head and chest. Everything I heard from dinner made something inside me boil, and there was nothing I could do but vent my own emotions.

"If I say no then no." Only this time he dared to contradict me. I took a sip of the liquid from my glass without taking my eyes off of him. "I'm serious, Gretta. This is for your safety. The safety of all of us."

I put the glass on the table with a bang. He winced. All right, this time I'll do what he says. I can't think about myself. The risk is still there and I have to take it into account. If I dared to do so, and ignored serious Baron's warning, then the lives of everyone working in this club would be at stake.

I know that my father is always desperate to do anything. He'd probably burn this place down, or worse...

"You survived today."

He let out a sigh of relief, like he had just survived a temporary reprieve.

I got off this high chair, and then looked up at him. "Keep trying to keep our secret," I narrowed my eyes. "or you will be finished."

After saying that I left in front of him and then headed towards the exit. I swear I heard her little curse before crossing the sea of dancing people.

"You monsters!"

>>>

I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I stared at the streets of the suburbs of the Bronx covered in pouring rain. It seems that the rain is also sad because of the fate that came to me.

I shook my head to clear my inconsequential thoughts, and started walking toward the abandoned church building using the umbrella one of the punk barkeepers had given me. Baron's car I'm going to use is across the street in a 80s style movie theater, which only plays the best movies of that era.

That made me have to bother walking to get to this place. I'm not going to risk being found out by some of my father's men who keep an eye on me. For all they know, I just really love 80s movies and am here every Saturday night.

I walked slowly across the street. I saw several men in black suits and big bodies leaning against the wall of the building and watching me.

I ignored them, but found it odd that it wasn't usually for well-dressed people to be in this environment. They were also as quiet as tombs. Unlike the groups that were there, always teasing me and calling me out. But never do anything that crosses the line. The sensation inside me felt different, and dangerous… I took a deep breath and tried to—"AGHH."

I stopped, The sound of a small scream that sounded far away made my body stiff. For a few seconds I didn't know what I was doing or what I wanted to do. I have to go back because it's getting late. But...

"FUCK!" the swearing voice of the same person was heard.

My heart raced, and my body shuddered with horror. I'm used to the screams of pain. Which comes from being the victim of abuse from my father or myself. But hearing it here, which is entirely new, makes me shudder a little with horror, and curiosity too. Does anyone else out there do that...more than I do?

I cast my eyes in all directions. Nobody's here.

The rain is getting heavier. With a mile of courage, desperation and curiosity, I walked towards the direction of the sound with slow steps so as not to make a scene.

"Stop, please..." the voice of a man was clear. A man's voice amidst his tears and the suffering he is experiencing is from inside the church. Whoever tortured him, I'm sure they wouldn't and don't like leaving their victims to die like that. It seemed that person liked torturing people.

Impossible to enter the hall of the building, I chose to step into the former garden which was decorated by weeds and thorns of some of the surviving acacia plants. I closed my umbrella and put it on the tree. Exposing myself to rainwater.

"I'm sorry. Let me go. I'll give you what you want." His sound of pain was heard again. Then there was the sound of heavy laughter and small mutters in response.

A voice that brought something inside me.

Fear and horror. Something that doesn't stop me.

I stepped carefully and tried with every muscle in my body not to slip. There's a window with dull glass over there and I'm going to have a peek at what's going on inside from that medium. And then leave before anyone in the building notices that a female is snooping on their activities.

I crouched down in the wet mud under the window and then slowly raised my head. This glass is so opaque with dust and all that. But I can still see the three people at the front of the church. Two man stood up, and the victim....

My chest felt tight, and my breath was panting. I covered my mouth with my hand to stop the nausea from rising up in my throat. The man…the victim was hanging in front of them by two ropes tied to his hands. I don't want to know how there could be chains attached to the roof so they could tie a human up there.

His back was covered in blood and disgusting burns. I don't know how the face looks like, I'm guessing it's worse.

I should have left and come back soon after seeing what happened. But, I can not. I couldn't stop when I saw the two laughing faces of the men while torturing him. The faces of the two people were very clear in the dim, dim light of the butter lamp.

Something that surprised me even more, and almost fell from my stance if I didn't place my palms on the ground.

He is Nicholas de Sanctis.

The man who was just mentioned as my twin sister's future husband.