Chapter Four

Aurora’s Pov

The sun filtered through the wrecked blinds of my rented room, painting streaks of light across the faded walls. It wasn't much but it was mine. My stomach rumbled softly, reminding me I'd only had a stale piece of bread the night before. I took a deep breath, brushing my hair back into a loose ponytail and reaching for the uniform I'd hung on the chair. I've been glad that we wear uniforms at the bar. I wouldn't have known how to get to work without looking tattered and miserable.

It was another day and another shift at the bar. At Least it paid for food, which was the most important of all and a roof over my head. I quickly took my bath as I planned to get to work early to finish some tasks and avoid chaos later in the day. I dressed up, and after that I took some leftover food I had from two days ago.

As I stepped out, the streets were quieter than usual. My guess was because it was early, I spotted my landlady, casually sitting by a coffee shop, I waved at her and gave her a warm smile. She has been nothing but nice to me although she doesn't really show it. As a new tenant, I'm meant to pay five months upfront, but she let me pay for just a month.

When I arrived at my workplace, I was about to get the key from behind the vase where our boss instructed me to look in case I came pretty early, when I saw that the bar was already open. It was strangely odd because my co-workers usually arrive by 8am just like me, and my boss steps in at any time of his choice.

I hesitated at the entrance, my hand hovering over the door. “Maybe my boss came in early,” I murmured, pushing the door open.

Inside, the place was eerily quiet. The dim light from the hanging bulbs cast long shadows over the tables. I called out, “Hello? Anyone here?”

No answer.

I shrugged, telling myself that it was probably nothing, and began my routine. Rearranging bottles on the shelves, wiping down the counters, was comforting in its monotony. As I moved to restock some of the glasses, a faint sound caught my attention.

It was coming from the back.

I froze, my hands clutching a tray of glasses. The sound was faint at first, almost like a muffled cry, but it grew louder as I listened. A chill ran down my spine.

Setting the tray down, I tiptoed as quietly as possible towards the source of the noise. Each step felt heavier than the last, and my breath quickened. The sound turned into something unmistakable….moaning and sobbing. But more sobbing

I reached the slightly ajar door that led to the storage room. My heart pounded so loudly that I feared it would give me away. Peeking through the crack, my stomach lurched at the scene before me.

Inez.

She was bent over by the table at the edge of the room, her clothes torn and her body trembling. Tears streamed out her eyes as she struggled to escape the hold of the person responsible for such. It was my boss.

“Please….stop,” Inez whimpered, her voice barely audible.

Rage and terror surged through me. I wanted to burst in and stop him but I was too weak, I didn't have a cell phone to call the police. I didn't know what to do, I clasped my hand against my mouth in order not to make a sound. I was about to turn around to reach out for help from someone but I accidentally stumbled, knocking over a stack of crates.

The loud crash echoed through the quiet room.

My boss turned instantly, his piercing eyes locking onto the doorway. “Who’s there?” he barked.

Panic took over me. I bolted, running as fast as I could towards the front door. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I reached for the handle, but before I could escape, strong hands grabbed me from behind and yanked me backwards.

“Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and thrashing, but it was of no use.

My boss appeared in front of me, his face a mask of fury. “You shouldn't have seen that,” he hissed, motioning for his men.

Two burly figures appeared out of nowhere, their expressions cold and unfeeling. They didn't hesitate, pinning me to the ground and raining down blows. Pain exploded through my ribs, my back, my arms.

“Please!” I cried out, my voice hoarse. “I won't tell anyone, I swear! Just let me go!”

My pleas fell on deaf ears. Blood pooled in my mouth as I coughed, the metallic taste making me gag. Through the haze of pain, I saw Inez emerge from the back, clutching a torn piece of fabric around her body. Her eyes were swollen and red, but what broke me was the look she gave me….pity.

“Inez!” I choked out, reaching for her. “Please, help me!”

She didn't move. She didn't beg them to stop doing that to me. She just stood there, trembling, her gaze darting between me and our boss.

“Shut her up!” my boss snapped, and one of the men raised his fist again.

I braced myself, closing my eyes and waiting for the next blow….

“Don’t you dare touch her again.”

The voice cut through the chaos like a blade, deep and commanding. It wasn't a shout, but the authority in it was undeniable.

The beating stopped instantly and the blow never came. I opened my eyes, blinking through the blood and tears. Standing in the doorway was a tall figure cloaked in shadow. His presence was overwhelming, and the men who had been so eager to beat me moments ago took a step back.

“Who the hell are you?” my boss demanded, his bravado faltering.

The figure stepped forward, the light finally revealing his face. I couldn't get a proper look because of the pain I was feeling. His expression was calm, almost disinterested, but the power radiating from him was palpable.

“I said,” he repeated, his voice even colder, “Don’t touch her again.”

For a moment, no one moved. The tension was suffocating.

Then without another word, the man turned to me. He reached out his hand, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “Can you stand?”

I hesitated, my body trembling. I didn't know who he was, but at that moment, he felt like my only lifeline.

Before I could respond, my boss regained his composure, “Get out of here before I…”

The man turned his gaze back to my boss Peter and whatever my boss saw made him stop mid-sentence.

“Leave,” the man who I considered as my saviour ordered, his voice like steel.

To my shock, my boss and his men backed away, retreating into the shadows.

“Let's go,” the man said to me, his tone softer now.

Too weak to argue and I needed saving, I let him help me to my feet. Whoever he was, he had just saved my life.