🦋 BENITA 🦋
Silence descended, and I didn’t dare to take any step or turn around. Mr. William also stood there shocked, but due to his desperation to sign the contract, he gave in.
“You can have her, she’s worth nothing to me.”
I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad, but the fact that it was happening on my birthday made me reluctant and frightened about the situation.
“Get your things, Benita, we will be leaving soon,” Felix announced.
Ever since my mother died, no one ever said my name, aside “Hey” it was “Fool, slut, bitch” or something worse. But he said it, this Felix Desmond said it.
Soon it was time for us to leave. When I stepped out of the mansion, I inhaled sharply, I could finally breathe fresh air.
I lost count of the men standing outside waiting for him, and it made me question just how important he is. Why would this many people guard one man?
“Why aren’t you attempting to escape?” he calmly voiced out.
I turned towards him, “I tried to escape several times, but it led to trouble each time I tried. You can’t run away from a rich man,” I calmly responded.
“Try again,” he declared, “This time nobody’s going to stop you or go after you.”
I stood there, my mind reeling in shock, as I processed the words that had just left his lips. Did he just offer me freedom? Why would he?
If I go into the world, then what? I had nowhere to go but start again in the street, and it never ends well.
“I’d rather go with you,” I murmured, walking towards the car.
“If you go into that car, you’ll never be able to escape. This is your only chance,” he stated, “Leave now, or stay locked up with me forever.”
Swallowing hard, I stepped into the car without looking back.
I could swear I heard him giggle as he said, “Don’t ever forget this was your choice.”
The drive lasted six hours, and we drove into a new city, far from the one Mr. William was in, and I was extremely grateful that I would barely set my eyes on that disgusting old devil.
The mansion was in a quiet, lonely area, sitting alone in the center of many trees and streets. It would take an hour from the mansion for you to see another building, and it was extremely quiet.
At first, I didn’t understand why anyone would build a home in such a place where humans don’t exist, but then I thought, “He probably likes being alone.”
We got to the mansion and we stepped out, the men stood beside the car and bowed their heads, and I calmly did the same, standing side by side with the bodyguard, with my head down.
“Aren’t you coming?” Felix asked calmly.
Looking around, I blinked innocently and trailed behind Felix, I guess I’m not sleeping outside with the others.
We walked into the mansion, and I followed behind.
“Where are all your things?” he blurted out, breaking the silence.
“I had nothing to carry,” I responded truthfully.
“Pick any room you want,” he stated, “Just stay far away from mine.”
I nodded promptly, and he attempted to walk away before he turned around.
“In this house. It’s just you and me, I own you now. You’ll be in charge of all the cooking and cleaning in this house. You are not permitted to take one step out of this mansion; making any little mistake could cost you your life.” He announced. “Whenever I call you, respond immediately, don’t make me call you twice, that could also cost you your life. This house must remain clean as it is right now, and at night, be on guard in this house. My men are out there guarding outside this house, but you’ll be in charge of this house. I don’t want to catch you sleeping, it might also cost you your life… I hope you understand.”
Everything blurred together, I was disoriented. Now I understand what it means when people say, “Jumping from frying pan to fire.”
“I’m glad you understand,” he muttered and turned to leave.
“I won’t do it,” I declared calmly.
He stopped dead in his tracks, his feet rooted to the spot. His mouth hung open, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
Time seemed to stand still as he tried to process what he heard.
I walked closer to him, gawking at him. I was too close that he couldn’t help but take two steps back, but with every step he took, I walked closer.
“I won’t do the cooking and cleaning in this house, I’m going to take thousands of steps outside this house, I won’t respond immediately when you call me, so you’ll have to call me twice or three times. This house would not always remain clean because I will dirty it. And at night, I’m going to sleep and snore. If it’s going to cost me my life, then Felix, you might as well kill me now.”
Right then, the clock struck midnight, signaling the end of the 25th of September.
🦋 BENITA 🦋I had already listened to my intrusive thoughts before the other part of my brain told me to stop. I gawked at Felix, who still hadn’t recovered from the shock, and I quickly backed off.Clearing my throat, I walked towards the first room I came in contact with, stormed in, and shut the door. After what felt like an eternity of pressing my ears against the door, I finally heard Felix’s footsteps, but he seemed to be coming closer.Suddenly, the door knob twisted and he walked into the same room I was in, startled, I went ice cold as we stared coldly into each other’s eyes.“Are–are you here to kill me… for talking back at you?” I whispered.With his eyes not leaving mine, he muttered, “Not yet, I’m here because this room is mine.”My lips formed an “O,” and I immediately walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.I walked into the room opposite his. Yes, he asked that I stay in a room far from his, but I was determined to do the opposite of everything he says. I
🦋 BENITA 🦋I slowly opened my eyes as a tired yawn escaped my lips, blinking away the remnants of sleep. My hair was a tangled mess, looking like a bird’s nest that survived a storm.The dark circle under my eyes gave me a perpetually tired look, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I tried to recollect the last thing that happened last night.I could swear I was sleeping miserably in the sitting room, so how did I get here?I flung the door open and came into contact with Felix, who was also on his way out. He stared at me, but his face was so emotionless that I couldn’t tell if he was angry and disappointed or the other way around.I smiled awkwardly, knowing I looked like a mess.“Can I come with you?” I blurted out.His eyes darkened, but no words left his lips: “I’m too scared to be in this mansion alone; the two men you left behind are even scarier.” I explained.He looked at the time, “You have five minutes to be ready.”I nodded happily and slammed the door shut, bouncing into
🦋 FELIX 🦋I walked into the mansion, replaying the last thing my grandmother said, “You don’t have a say. You are to get married to her, so be ready.”Out of everyone I could be married to, why Rose? My grandmother cares about nothing but business; to her, happiness is business.Benita stood at the center of the living room, pacing around.As soon as she set her eyes on me, she ran towards me, “I was waiting for you.”I scoffed, “Who are you to wait for me?” storming inside my room without giving her a second glance.***🦋***The week went by quickly, and during the week, I never set my eyes on Benita. She’s in her room when I’m leaving for work, and when I’m back from work. Even when I check the security camera, she’s never appearing in the sitting room, kitchen, or balcony.I picked up the suit I’ve been blankly staring at for hours, it’s hard to believe I’ll be stuck with Rose under the same roof.I got ready for the wedding and stormed out of my room. “We prepared the car,” one
🦋 BENITA 🦋On September 25, 2009, I lost my mother when I was just 10 years old. That same day, my father remarried, bringing a stepmother into my life.Ten years later, on September 25, 2019, I was uprooted from my father's house and thrown out, like a weed. I found myself sleeping in the filthy corners of the street before I began working in a bar where I also had to sleep.On September 25, 2020, I got into serious trouble that nearly cost me my life, and I had to pay off the debt with myself.Then, on September 25, 2021, I was sold to Mr. William Cunningham, the aging CEO of Julian Financial Services. He was old enough to be my grandfather. It was on this cursed day that the real horror of my life began.Just a year later, on September 25, 2022, I attempted to escape from Mr. William by climbing over a wall, but it only resulted in broken legs and nothing more.It's always the same date: September 25, the day of horror—my birthday.And today, on September 25, 2023, I'm trying onc
🦋 BENITA 🦋Everybody has a story to tell, but I think mine is the worst. Being unfortunate is a curse that’s clinging onto me so desperately that I fear it might follow me to my grave.Police officers are friends to nobody but money. In my experience, when money started to speak, I was silenced.Right before their eyes, I was bundled and thrown into the car, but everybody said nothing.As we drove out, I struggled to escape, with a hard smack on my head, I blanked out.I was dragged into the mansion as always, a place with four edges of tall walls, a place where I could hardly breathe, a place that reminded me of nothing but sorrow.“Take that brat to my room.” Mr. William’s voice echoed out.I was thrown roughly on the bed, clinging onto the blanket to suppress the desperation to be free and tears of frustration that flooded down my face.Soon, Mr. William walked into the room laughing sarcastically, an old man like him who should repent and prepare to die, how can he be so demonic
🦋 BENITA 🦋To hell with me being alive!I stood there, my body numb and unresponsive, and none of what was happening made any sense to me. Why is he lying there dead? Did I kill him unconsciously because of the much anger that was boiling inside me?Yes, I thought life wasn’t fair to me, but I’d never kill a man, I didn’t kill him, right?Fear gripped me tightly, its icy fingers wrapping around my heart and squeezing tightly. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t move. My heart just pounded in my chest, a drumbeat of dread that echoes through my entire body.I felt like I was going to burst, like a fragile balloon filled with water dropped on cold stone.I wanted to speak, scream, and scold him as to why he had to die in a room I was the only one in, preparing to make my life much more aggravating than it already is – why?But I was silenced by the crushing weight of fear.When my brain began to function again, I immediately processed what I had to do… Run!I stormed down the
🦋 BENITA 🦋This morning is exceptionally strange, even more so than the countless weird mornings before it. Today is the 25th of September, 2024, a day I absolutely refuse to accept. If only night could stretch on indefinitely and day could be cut short—or better yet, if there should be no day at all.I couldn’t help but think something terrible was going to happen, and deep down, I was preparing myself for it. No bad news was going to meet me unaware again.Mr. William has sworn to make my life completely miserable while blaming me for the death of his business partner and the amount of money he lost, because his business partner died before signing the contract.His problem wasn’t because someone died; his problem was that he died before signing the contract.“You useless thing, you should have at least made sure he signed the contract before his death, I told you that contract was very important to me,” he screams every morning, reminding me of the trauma I was trying so hard to
🦋 FELIX 🦋I walked into the mansion, replaying the last thing my grandmother said, “You don’t have a say. You are to get married to her, so be ready.”Out of everyone I could be married to, why Rose? My grandmother cares about nothing but business; to her, happiness is business.Benita stood at the center of the living room, pacing around.As soon as she set her eyes on me, she ran towards me, “I was waiting for you.”I scoffed, “Who are you to wait for me?” storming inside my room without giving her a second glance.***🦋***The week went by quickly, and during the week, I never set my eyes on Benita. She’s in her room when I’m leaving for work, and when I’m back from work. Even when I check the security camera, she’s never appearing in the sitting room, kitchen, or balcony.I picked up the suit I’ve been blankly staring at for hours, it’s hard to believe I’ll be stuck with Rose under the same roof.I got ready for the wedding and stormed out of my room. “We prepared the car,” one
🦋 BENITA 🦋I slowly opened my eyes as a tired yawn escaped my lips, blinking away the remnants of sleep. My hair was a tangled mess, looking like a bird’s nest that survived a storm.The dark circle under my eyes gave me a perpetually tired look, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I tried to recollect the last thing that happened last night.I could swear I was sleeping miserably in the sitting room, so how did I get here?I flung the door open and came into contact with Felix, who was also on his way out. He stared at me, but his face was so emotionless that I couldn’t tell if he was angry and disappointed or the other way around.I smiled awkwardly, knowing I looked like a mess.“Can I come with you?” I blurted out.His eyes darkened, but no words left his lips: “I’m too scared to be in this mansion alone; the two men you left behind are even scarier.” I explained.He looked at the time, “You have five minutes to be ready.”I nodded happily and slammed the door shut, bouncing into
🦋 BENITA 🦋I had already listened to my intrusive thoughts before the other part of my brain told me to stop. I gawked at Felix, who still hadn’t recovered from the shock, and I quickly backed off.Clearing my throat, I walked towards the first room I came in contact with, stormed in, and shut the door. After what felt like an eternity of pressing my ears against the door, I finally heard Felix’s footsteps, but he seemed to be coming closer.Suddenly, the door knob twisted and he walked into the same room I was in, startled, I went ice cold as we stared coldly into each other’s eyes.“Are–are you here to kill me… for talking back at you?” I whispered.With his eyes not leaving mine, he muttered, “Not yet, I’m here because this room is mine.”My lips formed an “O,” and I immediately walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.I walked into the room opposite his. Yes, he asked that I stay in a room far from his, but I was determined to do the opposite of everything he says. I
🦋 BENITA 🦋Silence descended, and I didn’t dare to take any step or turn around. Mr. William also stood there shocked, but due to his desperation to sign the contract, he gave in.“You can have her, she’s worth nothing to me.”I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad, but the fact that it was happening on my birthday made me reluctant and frightened about the situation.“Get your things, Benita, we will be leaving soon,” Felix announced.Ever since my mother died, no one ever said my name, aside “Hey” it was “Fool, slut, bitch” or something worse. But he said it, this Felix Desmond said it.Soon it was time for us to leave. When I stepped out of the mansion, I inhaled sharply, I could finally breathe fresh air.I lost count of the men standing outside waiting for him, and it made me question just how important he is. Why would this many people guard one man?“Why aren’t you attempting to escape?” he calmly voiced out.I turned towards him, “I tried to escape several times, but it l
🦋 BENITA 🦋This morning is exceptionally strange, even more so than the countless weird mornings before it. Today is the 25th of September, 2024, a day I absolutely refuse to accept. If only night could stretch on indefinitely and day could be cut short—or better yet, if there should be no day at all.I couldn’t help but think something terrible was going to happen, and deep down, I was preparing myself for it. No bad news was going to meet me unaware again.Mr. William has sworn to make my life completely miserable while blaming me for the death of his business partner and the amount of money he lost, because his business partner died before signing the contract.His problem wasn’t because someone died; his problem was that he died before signing the contract.“You useless thing, you should have at least made sure he signed the contract before his death, I told you that contract was very important to me,” he screams every morning, reminding me of the trauma I was trying so hard to
🦋 BENITA 🦋To hell with me being alive!I stood there, my body numb and unresponsive, and none of what was happening made any sense to me. Why is he lying there dead? Did I kill him unconsciously because of the much anger that was boiling inside me?Yes, I thought life wasn’t fair to me, but I’d never kill a man, I didn’t kill him, right?Fear gripped me tightly, its icy fingers wrapping around my heart and squeezing tightly. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t move. My heart just pounded in my chest, a drumbeat of dread that echoes through my entire body.I felt like I was going to burst, like a fragile balloon filled with water dropped on cold stone.I wanted to speak, scream, and scold him as to why he had to die in a room I was the only one in, preparing to make my life much more aggravating than it already is – why?But I was silenced by the crushing weight of fear.When my brain began to function again, I immediately processed what I had to do… Run!I stormed down the
🦋 BENITA 🦋Everybody has a story to tell, but I think mine is the worst. Being unfortunate is a curse that’s clinging onto me so desperately that I fear it might follow me to my grave.Police officers are friends to nobody but money. In my experience, when money started to speak, I was silenced.Right before their eyes, I was bundled and thrown into the car, but everybody said nothing.As we drove out, I struggled to escape, with a hard smack on my head, I blanked out.I was dragged into the mansion as always, a place with four edges of tall walls, a place where I could hardly breathe, a place that reminded me of nothing but sorrow.“Take that brat to my room.” Mr. William’s voice echoed out.I was thrown roughly on the bed, clinging onto the blanket to suppress the desperation to be free and tears of frustration that flooded down my face.Soon, Mr. William walked into the room laughing sarcastically, an old man like him who should repent and prepare to die, how can he be so demonic
🦋 BENITA 🦋On September 25, 2009, I lost my mother when I was just 10 years old. That same day, my father remarried, bringing a stepmother into my life.Ten years later, on September 25, 2019, I was uprooted from my father's house and thrown out, like a weed. I found myself sleeping in the filthy corners of the street before I began working in a bar where I also had to sleep.On September 25, 2020, I got into serious trouble that nearly cost me my life, and I had to pay off the debt with myself.Then, on September 25, 2021, I was sold to Mr. William Cunningham, the aging CEO of Julian Financial Services. He was old enough to be my grandfather. It was on this cursed day that the real horror of my life began.Just a year later, on September 25, 2022, I attempted to escape from Mr. William by climbing over a wall, but it only resulted in broken legs and nothing more.It's always the same date: September 25, the day of horror—my birthday.And today, on September 25, 2023, I'm trying onc