Fear

Bang 

Bang 

Bang. 

I woke up to those sounds as I've done the past few years. My eyes flutter open, but I close them again as the sunlight is blinding.  

"Good morning, Miss Ava," My maid, Cecelia, greets me with a smile. 

"Morning," 

I get out of bed and start getting ready for the day. Going to the bathroom, I wash my hair thoroughly and wash my body with oils. My skin should be perfect and radiant because Mario likes it that way. 

The maid comes in with a small frown on her face and gets on one knee, helping me as always. Finishing, we go to the closet, where I pick out a two-piece floral dress, but Cecilia protests, bringing out a short turtleneck dress. 

"This one will look nice on you and cover the bruises on my shoulder," I nod. I put on the dress, did my makeup, and wore my heels, allowing the maid to guide me downstairs. 

"Where to?" I ask. 

"Breakfast, and then you are going to the doctor's," 

 stop in my tracks, my heart pounding against my chest. Mario has been wanting to put a baby in me, but it's been futile because I use contraceptives. Oh lord, how will I escape this? 

"Let's go, Ma'am, the boss is waiting," 

I follow her to the dining area, where Mario is sitting at the head of the table. He smiles at me, but I don't smile back. I think I've actually forgotten how. 

Sitting down, I gulp the apple juice before me and put the empty glass down.

"Get her another," he tells my maid. You look exhausted today. Is everything alright, my dear Ava?"  I roll my eyes. The maid puts red meat in front of me, and I almost puke.

"I don't eat this," I sneer, pushing the plate away, and it clashes with the floor. 

"You know she hates that. Why would you put it in front of her?" My captor roars at the maid, and the poor woman yelps. I regret reacting the way I did. I ignore the food on my plate as my mind wanders elsewhere. 

"I'm not going to the hospital," I blurt. 

"You are. I want to know why you're not getting pregnant yet." He says calmly, someone's desperate. 

Have you thought I didn't want to have a child? 

"It's funny how you think you have a say in this issue," he chuckles. 

Mario has been obsessed with me since I was only a girl. He kidnapped me from my family. He hits and abuses me in all ways when I disobey him. 

"It's my body," I whisper. The psycho slams his hand against the table, making me jump. 

"We are going to the hospital, and that's final," 

Breakfast continues as he keeps taking one call after another.

"Tai is bringing his girls here; CIA raided his place," he informs Troy, one of his men. 

Tai is Mario's best friend and business partner. His business is different from Mario's. Tai owns brothels and trafficking girls, while Mario just does drugs. 

I cringe at the thought. We get in a Cadillac and go to the hospital.

...

We walk to the doctor's office, his hand on my lower back like we are a perfect couple. Everything should look good since he's running for governor. The drug lord is good at pretending and making it look like he's good, so sadly, he has a good chance of winning.  

"Mr future governor," The doctor greets him with great merriment.  

"Hello, doctor," 

After explaining the situation to the doctor, the doctor asked some questions, but I refused to answer. 

"Could it be she is on a contraption without your knowledge?"

 I bite my lips, anticipating my punishment.  

"Mi Chiquita," Mario calls, motioning me to follow the doctor. After running a series of tests, we come back to the office.

"I was right. Miss Aviana is on a pill," The doctor informs Mario, who looks hurt by this. After the gentlemen finish discussing, we get up to leave. 

"Thank you, Dean," 

"Anytime, and good luck, sir,"

"Baby, let's go,"

Marion is silent the whole way. I am just making phone calls. 

"Faster," he orders the middle-aged driver, who steps on the gas. When we reach the estate, he opens the door for me. 

"Do you have it ready?" he asks one of the guards.

Mario dragged me by my hair, walking fast to the back of the mansion. I am struggling between walking and the pain in my hair. 

"Bring it!" he shouts, pushing me into a vast empty building. This is the room he comes to beat or torture his enemies, the room of horrors. 

"Mario, you're hurting me. Stop,"

"Hurt? Denying me a child is what is hurting me right now!" he yells. I try to get away, but two huge men stand in the way. My eyes find my friend, Troy, and he looks petrified.

"Hurry the fuck up, you bastards!" Tears well in my eyes as more men come in, and I sob,

"Marion, I don't like it here. Please let me leave," I beg. 

"Give her a gun," he orders, and one of his men does that, but I shake my head, not wanting to touch it. 

"Marion, please," I beg, ugly tears running down my cheeks. 

"I've been tolerating your insolence and going easy on you, but no more," He grits. "Refusing me an heir is unpardonable," he growls. 

"No-" 

"Take it," he whispers. I look at it again; I can't touch that. "TAKE IT!" he shouts, and I cover my face with my shaking hands in fear of the angry drug lord. 

"Aviana, please, pick it up," he tells me softly, and I clumsily do just that. 

"Good girl," He praises. They drag a man who is covered in blood and injuries. 

"Please, Boss, don't kill me," The battered man begs.  

"Someone gag him, he's annoying me,"

"I've been wanting to kill this pathetic traitor for a while, but I wanted to make it memorable," Mario sighs, coming close to me. "And this is it, I want you to him, Aviana,"

"No, no, Mario, don't make me do this," I cry.

"Your first fucking kill. Clap everyone, my little angel is going to kill," 

His men clapped just as he ordered. 

"And you get to kill with the one weapon you despise so much," I'm looking at the killing machine in my hand, and I shiver.

"This scumbag was one of your father's former partners. Remember how they haunted you and your mother when he died?" 

I scrutinize the man who is on his knees and memories of how the cartels hunted us come to me. My mom had to marry a high-ranking drug lord for protection and smooth operations. 

"Too bad you're not as smart or as cunning as your mother," He scowls.

As soon as those words leave his mouth, Mario pulls out a gun from his belt and shuts the man. Blood splatters on my skin, and I scream, holding my ears. He breathes out loudly, satisfied. I flinch when he points a gun at me but put it away. 

"Ok, bring it out!" he orders. I almost fall on my ass when a man brings a branding iron. I've never been more scared in my life! It is red, and I'm sure it has been in hot coal for hours. I start to back away, and tears blind my vision.