8. Fear

 Salvatore;

“Sixteen! She is sixteen, Andrew! “I yell as I throw a slap at the bloodied, battered man, and I watch him fall to the ground.

“Please… “He begs, and I grit my teeth as my anger only grows.

“Please stop… “He begs further, and I throw a kick at his side.

“Didn’t she say those same words? I’m sure she begged you. She screamed. She cried. She is just a child, and you defiled her. What gave you that right!? “I growl, and he hugs himself as he bursts into another round of sobs.

“The rule is simple. It has always been. Only adults are allowed to work in the brothel! And there must have been an agreement before getting them into the brothel! So, why!? Why did you snatch a daughter from her mother? “I yelled, and he broke into furious tears.

“Her… Her mother owed us, and she is too old to work at the brothel. The… The agreement was that we would take her daughter if she couldn’t pay up. “

“A child!? “I yell, and I stop to take a deep breath as I feel anger begin to cloud my vision. “What if she was your sister? Or your daughter? “I demand, and he remains silent. His sobs filling the air.

“I’m… I’m sorry… “He cries, and I clench my fists. I feel responsible for this mess. After all, the brothel is mine. This bastard broke my rules and an innocent girl had to suffer for it. I should have paid closer attention. I made the rules, but what's the point if I can't uphold them? I failed her.

“You stole her from her mother. Raped her, and then tried to force her into the brothel. Will your apology wipe away her trauma? “I demand, and when he doesn’t give me an answer. I brush the stray strands of my hair off my face.

“Bring the girl. “I demand, and my men walk out of the room. Soon, they are back with the little, bruised girl. All I see in her eyes is anger. Resentment. Hatred.

I walk cautiously over to her, trying not to scare her, and she looks up at me. I grab a gun from a guard and take its safety off. I pull the trigger and Andrew screams as the bullet goes into his thigh.

“That’s how to use a gun. “I say as I hand the girl the gun, and a tear slides down her face as she looks at me. Her trembling fingers tighten around the gun, it looks like she might drop it.

“I can’t give you back what he took from you. And, I’m sorry I do not know how to make it better, but this is all I can think of. It’s okay if you do not… “I begin, but am cut off when she suddenly pulls the trigger, and Andrew's whimpering stops. I turn back to look at him and see that she gave him a clean headshot.

Before I can react, she pulls another trigger, and then another. I watch in awe as she pulls shot after shot while trembling and crying till the magazine is empty. She crumbles to the ground weeping, and I just watch her as her sobs rent the air. She holds up the empty gun to me, and I take it.

This is my fault. But I don’t know how to make it better. I’m not good with things like this. I don’t know what to say to her. After all, she’s just a child who was forced to go through such… I can’t stay quiet. I can’t just leave her like this. Sure, she killed the bastard, but… That’s not enough. I’ll reach out to her mother. Write off their debt and enrol her in therapy.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all this. If you ever need anything. Come to me. It can’t take away what happened, but I can try to help you heal from it. You’re a brave young girl. Don’t let this bastard steal the woman you’re supposed to become from you. “I say, and tears escape her eyes as she looks at me. She suddenly rushes to her feet and wraps her arms around me. I look down at her head pressed against my stomach in shock, and just as I’m about to pat her hair, I freeze.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see his bright violet ones peeking into the room through the door that’s slightly creaked open. Oh, fuck! Not now. Not while I’m like this. Shit! I turn to the door, and I hear him gasp. Isn’t he supposed to be in bed? What is he… Why is he here? How long has he been here? How much did he see? Did he witness Andrew’s entire torture? Fuck!

I signal to a guard to open the door, and when he does, I am welcomed by the view of David. Fear is all that’s in his eyes. And the state I’m in doesn’t help matters. I’m covered in Andrew's blood. David takes one look around the room, and his face falls when his eyes land on Andrew’s body which is lying in a pool of blood. I watch as he goes pale, and when he looks back at me, my heart skips a beat at the fear in them. He is scared. Of what? Me?

“David… “I call as I try to reach out to him, but he steps back fearfully before turning around and taking off.

“Shit! “

Without wasting time, I follow after him.

“David, wait! “I call, but he doesn’t stop.

Is he scared cause he saw me kill someone? Hasn’t he been with Dimitri all these years? Hasn’t he seen something similar to this before? Or is it because of the messy state I’m in? What has him so rattled? I should have been careful. I thought he was asleep. He didn’t have to see that. He didn’t have to witness all that.

“David! “I call trying to catch up to the sprinting young man, and he turns around to catch a glimpse of me.

“I’m not going to hurt you. Just stop for a second. “I call but instead he picks up his pace.

What is he doing? Where is he going?

“David, stop, there are stairs…! “I begin, but my warning gets stuck in my throat when he misses his step. My heart skips a beat when I watch him plummet down the fleet of stairs beside him, and the final, dull thud sends a frightful ripple through me.

“David!! “