Chapter 10: Amia's Defiance

Amia POV:

My mind wandered to Thorne, a man I had treated a month ago for a stubborn ailment. He had recovered, and I hadn't heard from him since. I missed his company; his presence had chased away the loneliness that often lingered in the quiet moments spent within these four walls.

I chuckled softly to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips. "Amia, always the fool for longing," I muttered, shaking my head at my own folly. After being betrayed by my former love, I had sworn off men, vowing to dedicate my life solely to my craft. Yet here I was, yearning for companionship once more. I pushed aside the maudlin thoughts, determined to focus on the task at hand—preparing my potions and elixirs for the day.

As I arranged bottles of various shapes and sizes on the shelves, carefully labeling each one, my keen intuition sent a warning signal. A voice, carried on the gentle breeze, caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. "Something bad is going to happen," I murmured, my eyes scanning the street beyond the window. I sensed a disturbance in the Force, a ripple in the calm morning air.

Suddenly, a dog came racing toward my shop, its fur gleaming in the sunlight. I tensed, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden beneath the counter. But the dog merely passed by, its tail wagging merrily as if it were on an important mission. I relaxed, chastising myself for letting my imagination get the better of me.

But my intuition refused to be silenced. In the distance, I spotted a group of men, their faces hidden beneath black hoods. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized one of them—Ioni, a notorious criminal wanted by the authorities. My heart began to pound as I realized the danger that lurked just beyond my door.

Without hesitation, I rushed to secure the shop, locking the door and drawing the curtains closed. I knew I had to act quickly. I grabbed a small pouch of protective charms I kept hidden beneath the counter and slipped it into my pocket. My heart hammered in my chest as I prepared for the worst.

Before I could even catch my breath, loud banging reverberated from the other side of the door. "Open up, beautiful! We know you're in there!" one of them shouted, his voice gruff and menacing. "A busy shop like this must bring in a nice stash of coin. We're here to collect!"

My heart sank as I realized I was facing a group of robbers. I backed away from the door, my hands shaking. "Please, just go away! I have nothing of value here!" I called out, my voice trembling.

The banging continued, the door shaking in its frame as if it might give way at any moment. "We'll be the judges of that, sweetheart! Open up, or we'll break this door down!" they threatened, their voices laced with dark intent.

With a loud crash, the door splintered open, the wood cracking under the force of their assault. I stumbled backward, my eyes widening at the sight before me. Five men stood there, their eyes raking over me with a mixture of lust and greed. I felt vulnerable and exposed, my heart hammering in my chest.

"Well, well, well... Look what we have here, boys," one of them said, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "A black-haired beauty, all alone. The gods have truly smiled upon us today."

Another man stepped forward, his eyes roaming over my body with undisguised desire. "How's that pretty little vagina of yours, sweetheart? Clean? Smelling good? Been used much?" His lewd comments sent shivers of disgust down my spine.

I reached for the dagger that lay hidden beneath the counter, my eyes flashing with determination. "Stay back! I won't hesitate to use this! I've taken down men twice your size!" I warned, brandishing the weapon, my voice steady despite the fear that gripped my heart.

They laughed, unperturbed by my threat. "A feisty one, aren't you? We like 'em feisty. Makes the chase more fun," one of them said, his eyes glinting with excitement. "But we'll soon have you purring like a kitten."

I knew I had to act fast. With a swift movement, I lunged at the nearest man, slicing his arm. He howled in pain, clutching his wound as a streak of red stained his sleeve. But his companions quickly subdued me, their numbers overwhelming. I struggled and kicked, landing a solid punch on another, but they were too strong, their lust for violence and my body fueling their fervor.

"We'll lick that pretty vagina of yours until you beg for more!" one of them growled, his hot breath washing over my face. "You'll be screaming our names, begging us to stop, but we won't. Not until we've had our fill of you."

I fought with every ounce of my strength, but it wasn't enough. They overpowered me, tying my hands and feet with rough ropes that bit into my skin. Exhaustion washed over me, but my spirit remained defiant, my eyes flashing with anger.

As they prepared to take me away, one of the criminals leaned close, his putrid breath assaulting my senses. "You're gonna enjoy this, sweetheart. I got a big one that's gonna stretch that tight vagina of yours real good. You'll be screaming in pleasure, begging for more," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with perverse pleasure.

I glared at him, my fear giving way to anger. "Go to hell," I spat, my voice strong despite my trembling lips. "You won't take me without a fight. I'll curse you, rip your manhood from your bodies, and feed it to the dogs!"

They laughed, unmoved by my threats. "Oh, we're gonna take you to hell, all right. A private hell just for you, where we'll make you scream our names," another chimed in, his eyes roaming over my bound body with lust and possession. "You'll be ours, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

They dragged me out of my shop, the morning sun now a distant memory. The street was deserted, the peacefulness of the day shattered by their crude laughter and my desperate pleas for help. Fear gripped my heart, but I refused to let it show. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break, of witnessing my tears.