Chapter 5

*Lucia*

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a car that sped past the road. I blinked simultaneously. From the corner of my eye, I could see a man sitting close to me; he kept a straight face as he quietly discussed things with the driver.

I couldn't hear what they were saying. I tried to adjust my body quietly but couldn't; I felt a pang of headache. My stomach rumbled quietly, and I placed my hands on it. I was starving. I noticed the piece of cloth that was used to cover my chest. I felt grateful that my exposed chest was covered.

I still felt dizzy. Like I sense before falling unconscious. I tried to keep my eyes open as we drove but couldn't. Everything blurred. Slowly, I closed my eyes, and everything faded.

The next time I woke up, I was in a room. I was all drenched in water that had been splashed on my face. I sat up immediately, rubbing my eyes as I tried to adjust to the dark room lightened by a dingy blue bulb.

I cursed whoever splashed water on me in my head.

Just wait; I'll have my revenge. My eyes wandered around the room before settling in front of me, "have you been given enough time to boot like a robot, and now you need more time to collect your senses and inspect the room?" A male voice asked. The voice sounded familiar. I could see somebody sitting in front of me. I raised my eyes harder and squinted, trying to figure out who the person was, "at this point, you may go blind," the voice said.

"Who are you?" I asked. Panic coarse through my veins. The piece of clothes was still on my body. I didn't want to spend even one minute here. The voice kept resounding in my mind, and then it dawned on me that it was the same voice that brought me. I turned to look at him—damn, this stupid light. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I was sure it was him. "Are you looking for me?" He asked. His voice sent shivers down my spine. I pulled the piece of cloth on my body closer. I shook my head. I had to play safe. Who knew what this guy was capable of doing?

My stomach rumbled, and I clutched it.

"Rave," he called, and a guy wearing all black walked out of the dark. He had a bucket in his hand. There is no doubt that he was the one that splashed water on me. "She seems hungry; give her something to eat," he said. Rave bowed a little before leaving.

"I'm not hungry, I'm fine, I don't need your food," I told him.

"No one is asking for what you need. You have to eat to stay alive," he said, his voice commanding obedience and respect. I unconsciously swallowed a lump in my throat. One would think he said so because he cares for me, but I knew better. "I don't want my money to be wasted. You're quite expensive," he said; it seems it just dawned on him.

I was hungry and felt very weak, but still, this man felt like an enemy. I wouldn't say I liked his presence. He carried a dark aura around and was exceptionally arrogant. Who asked him to buy me? "I didn't ask you to spend so much money on me?" I bit my tongue immediately, and my words flew out of my mouth.

I could feel his cold gaze on me.

"She speaks back?" He asks as if he is surprised. "Rave make the food two portions of everything," he said. I didn't care if they made it twelve. It wasn't my business, especially after I decided not to take a single bite.

Rave brought the food in a tray that was placed in front of a wooden stool. He kept it in front of me with a thud.

"Eat," I heard a voice say. But I didn't move. "You can't force me to eat," I said, although I was burning with hunger. I caught a whiff of the food, took a deep breath, and quickly glanced at it. "I don't want to eat," I said stubbornly.

"You seem not to have learned; I am not asking you to eat; I'm telling you to eat," he said slowly and coldly. I wanted to speak back but held myself. I slowly bent my head and started to eat. I rushed the food hungrily. You can't blame me; I haven't eaten since I left Jason.

I wondered how Jason was doing. How was he faring knowing that he sold me off? Is he still able to sleep at night? I hoped and prayed his uncle did to him whatever he seemed fit. Jason's betrayal could never be forgotten or forgiven.

I down a cup of water as I ate.

I rushed the food, trying to eat as fast as I could. Who knows when I'd be given food to eat like this? I felt the man's eyes trained on me, but I didn't care. When I've eaten to my satisfaction, I heaved a sigh. There was no way I could finish two portions of food, no matter how hungry I was.

I raised my head to see him looking at me.

"Finish the food," he said coldly. My eyes almost bulged out of its socket. "What?" There was no way I could finish it. "I'm filled," I said. He turned to look at a man at his side. The man walked to me. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I felt a sting pain on my cheeks. I had been slapped.

It was so hard that I fell to the side.

"Now eat," he said authoritatively. Tears rolled down my cheeks; the slap had cleared my eyes, reminding me that I was no longer alone. I quietly picked up my spoon and continued digging into the food. I swallowed the meal hastily in fear of another slap. My stomach was already full, but I kept stuffing food on it.

When I was done, I looked up at him. I could feel him looking down at me with a smile plastered on his lips. The room became brighter. I watched as he stood up from his chair where he had been sitting like a Greek god and walked towards me. I instinctively moved back a little. He was looking as he looked in the auction room, his eyes as cold as they were. He carried a domineering aura as he walked.

I wanted to know why he bought me. Did he buy me so I could satisfy his sexual desires because he kept staring at me lustfully?

His gaze lingered on my chest for the longest time. His lips pulled to the side. I immediately began shaking as I said. I wanted to stand. Maybe he wouldn't look so intimidating if I were to stand close to him, but my legs were as weak as jelly. He stood there for a while before walking away. The two men in the room stepped out with him, and they banged the door. I cringed when I heard this sound.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

The plates and stool I had used to eat were still in front of me. I pushed them to the side and looked at the room nicely. There were many unused things inside with spider webs all over it. This was a storeroom. I didn't mind where I stayed right now.

My body is so itchy. I needed a warm bath and to change into something comfortable, but there was nothing. I sighed as if life could get any worse. My mind returned to the beautiful time I had spent with Jason as I looked out the window into the dark sky.

My stomach was still unsettled, so I placed a hand over it.

Memories I made with Jason flooded into my life. I reminisced about how I met him and how he slowly made me fall in love with him. He loved me a lot. Though he was not the most perfect man, he did his best to improve our relationship. Slowly, I began to trust him. I, who rarely trusted people, trusted him with my entire heart.

When he suggested we leave together, I was scared. Different emotions overwhelmed me. I didn't want to lose him, but at the same time, I knew it was the best decision. It was best because it would keep us safe. But then he wanted me to go alone, after all the careful plans he told me he had made. It ended in him sending me away. I didn't suspect anything as he handed me to his friend Steve. I wished I was smarter; maybe I could sense that I was being betrayed. That the last kiss was not to send me off but to betray me.

My chest tightened as I thought about it. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I was in pain, but maybe I was more angry than hurt. I adjusted on the mat I sat on and moved my eyes away from the window to settle on the door in front of me. I was angry at myself more than I was angry at Jason.

I had promised myself never to trust any human. After my parent's death, I ended up trusting that jerk.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions, which were all over the place.

I knew there was nothing I could do for Jason. I'd probably not even be able to see him again. I cursed the night we met. I'd have stayed in my cramped room and counted the stars from my bed.

My life has suddenly been filled with regrets and mistakes. There was no way to change it. I couldn't run from it. I couldn't even run from the motherfucker who bought me. I inhaled a scent of breath sharply.

No, I would not live like this. I had to change it.

I wanted to be free from this burden that weighed me down. But how? Maybe I should run away. I thought, but where would that lead to? Even if I succeed in running away from this jerk, how would I survive? This was a new country and environment where I had no one. How would I fend for myself? I would probably die from hunger and cold before anything else.

There were only two options left for me: accept my fate and stay here, although I didn't know this jerk's plan. It was already clear that he was sinister, and whatever he wanted to do with me wouldn't be pleasant.

My second option was to run away from my fate. It was impossible to run away as I may have had a bullet pass through my head before I passed through the door. But I could run away from life itself.

I would end my life.

This life was, after all, not worth living. I had nothing to live for and nothing to lean on, so I was better off dead than alive.

I picked the second option. It sounded easier. I was already tired of life, so I might as well end it. With profound resolve, I stood up. I would kill myself. I let out a little laugh with the thought that no one would mourn for me. The jerk upstairs may be mad because his money has been wasted, but I could care less about him.

I started to figure out a way to end my miserable life. I looked around the room, trying to find a rope. Hanging myself was better. I searched for a while but found none. That wasn't going to stop me. There were other ways to die. I walked to the window and pushed it open. A cold breeze enters the room.

I stepped closer to take a look at the floor. It was very high. There were chances that I may die even before I hit the ground.

One side of my lips pulled up to the side as I mocked myself.

Fine, if this was how I would end my life, then so be it. I placed one of my legs over the window as I leaped. I closed my eyes, ready to welcome death in the next seconds.