Chapter 1

Adrianna’s pov

As usual, my nightmare unfolded like a twisted film. 

I was 6 years old again, surrounded by colorful balloons and the endearing smiles of my parents and relatives. The scent of my strawberry birthday cake wafted through the air as they all sang “Happy Birthday” in harmony. Suddenly, the joyful scene shattered. Glass broke, and everyone's faces contorted with alarm. 

“What's happening?” My childlike voice would ask, confusion riddling my previously smiling face. 

But no one answered.

Dad along with Uncle Luca rushed to the window, and threw it open, peering outside. Almost immediately, the sound of crackling flames and panicked screams filled the night air.

I’d always panic.

“Fire!” Uncle Luca yelled.

Mom grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the door and we spilled out into the chaos. The neighbors were in horror.

The house next door was engulfed in flames, consuming everything in its path. Orange and yellow tendrils licked the windows, as if devouring the very soul of the house.

My eyes would always go round. 

I felt a breeze brush past my sleeve as I grew as dad sprinted towards the inferno. 

“Michael!” Uncle Luca yelled for dad.

“I'll be right back. Take her back inside, Lina.” Dad called to mom who shielded me in her embrace.

“Daddy, no!” I screamed, but he didn't hear. He disappeared into the heart of the fire. 

Time slowed, and so did the heart pounding in my chest. Where was dad? 

The fire truck's sirens pierced the air, growing louder. Men in yellow and black heavy coats and helmets leapt from the vehicle, rushing to combat the flames. 

I remember mom clutching me tight against her trembling body. “Please, dome back to us, Michael.”

The firefighters emerged, carrying a figure. 

My heart sank.

It was dad.

His face was blackened, his eyes closed and his body limp. Lifeless.

“No…no…no!” Mom wailed.

Then she collapsed, releasing my hand. 

“Mom?” I had called out. “Mom!” 

I can remember my screams echoing through the night as I stumbled forward, tears streaming down my face. 

Uncle Luca had pulled me back, hoisting me off my feet and into his arms. “Don’t look at them, Adrianna.” 

He had tried to shield me away from seeing the corpses but I had already seen them. My mother laid motionless beside dad's limp body. They were living and breathing a few minutes ago and now, they're still. Silent.

My whole world had crumbled that day. The smell of my strawberry cake now replaced with the across smell of smoke and instead of singing my birthday songs, screams escaped my lips. 

“Adrianna!”

I jolted awake, my sheets drenched in sweat, my heart racing. 

A nightmare. A nightmare on a Sunday morning. And people say joy comes in the morning. Liars. 

It was the same nightmare I've had for 9 years now. 

I palmed my face, biting back a sob when a bang on my door startled me.

“Take it down a notch on the screaming! I'm trying to sleep here!” Uncle Luca's voice echoed from behind the door.

I sniffled softly, trying to pull myself together but ending up falling apart like the broken windows in my nightmare. 

I laid on my bed, my arms sprawled sideways, gazing at the cracked ceiling. A quiet sob escaped my lips and a bang on the door followed.  

Uncle Luca's harsh words echoed in my head like a haunting curse. “You better shut up, you stupid brat! You sound exactly like your stupid mother when she passed. The wench wouldn't have died if your crazy father hadn't run into the fire.”

I fisted my hands, my nails sinking into my palm. “Don't speak about my parents that way.” 

As I expected, the door crashed open. His heavy footsteps creaked against the floorboard. 

A calloused hand grabbed my face roughly and I winced softly.

“You think you've got a smart mouth, you dumb bitch?” Uncle Luca barked like he always does, his breath reeking of alcohol.

It was my goal to look defiant but my body failed me. I trembled and my eyes watered.

He shoved me backwards and my head hit the floorboard. “When you start paying bills here, you can run your mouth as you wish but you can't! Even after I claimed your inheritance and the measly life insurance after your parent’s death, you're so useless to them both and yourself.” 

Then he dragged his drunk, deadbeat body to the door, not forgetting to shoot me a cold glare like he does every once in a while. “You better start using that body of yours to earn your keep or starve. I won't be feeding you anymore!” 

Then he slammed the door.

I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in the middle, sobbing quietly. 

My headache but I ignored the pain. The room was chilly all of a sudden and I hugged myself. This dingy room…It was once my parent's sanctuary. My sanctuary. But now it feels like a prison with Uncle Luca as the jailer. Uncle Luca, who was loving and kind to me, changed drastically, transforming our house into something unrecognizable.

“Why was I born this way?” I repeated the phrase like a mantra like I always do after a beating. My parent's dead, me losing my inheritance, everything ... .was a product of ill-fate. My Ill fate.

I dragged my eyes to the ceiling, wanting to join my late parents. There was no point in living anymore. Uncle Luca had given me an ultimatum - either I sleep with men for money or face starvation. The idea made my skin crawl. I refuse. I'd rather die of starvation than lose my dignity.  

No one cares about me. Not my relatives. Not my uncle. Not my neighbors. Not anyone. It wouldn't be so bad to let go, would it?

I glanced around the room and my eyes settled on the old window latch. My freedom.

I reached for the latch, my fingers tracing its rusty edge. Tears streamed down my face as I pushed it open. The chilly air slapped against my face and I shut my eyes. The poets weren't kidding about describing death's embrace as “cold.” 

I climbed onto the balcony and lifted my arms up. I hope my parents won't be upset that I joined them so soon. I closed my eyes to fall to my doom when it happened.

There was a buzz coming from my bedroom.

“Answer that thing, bitch!” Uncle Luca's words slurred as it echoed from downstairs.

Great. 

I'd answer the call to take my life. It's a win-win for everyone.

I went back into my room and reached for the phone ringing in my school blazer's pocket. 

“Hello?” I answered without looking at the caller ID. 

“Yes. Is this Adrianna Martins?” the caller, a female voice asked in a professional tone.

“Yes, this is her. Who's speaking?” I asked in return.

Her voice took a warmer note as she replied. “This is Theresa from BlackRock Consulting. I'm calling to offer you the job as a secretary at our firm. I believe you applied a few months ago?”

My heart stopped for a moment. My job application? I had forgotten about this. 

“Yes, I did! I made the cut? I passed the interview?” I nearly squealed.

“Yes, you did. The job offers a handsome salary, a personal chauffeur to commute from your residence and of course, your new residence will be a fully furnished apartment. All included in the package. And we would love you to begin immediately. Your flight is scheduled the day after tomorrow by 8am. Congratulations, Miss Martins.”

I wanted to scream. A job? An apartment? This was s my way out! A way to leave Uncle Luca and never look back.

Without hesitation, I packed my bags, shoving what little thing I had into my broken suitcase. Tomorrow, I would tell Uncle Luca, and that would be it. 

Goodbye, Hell. 

Hello, freedom.