Kiss the Scars - Don't Put Me in Hell Again

Back in Hell.

On the way back, Ricardo was driving the car, while Ella and Helena talked in the back seat. Ella didn't want to take away the sparkle that was beginning to appear in Helena's eyes, but she had no choice. Helena was only 19 years old, but she had already suffered a lot at the hands of her scoundrel of a brother. Sighing, Ella began:

"Helena, I need to tell you something. I want you to know how sorry I am about this."

"Ella, you're scaring me."

"You know, in our world, young women don't stay single for long, do they?"

Upon hearing this, Helena's face went pale and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Ella, my father promised that I wouldn't marry again, not after everything I went through at the hands of your brother. I don't deserve to go through that again. No woman does, and nothing and no one will make me go through that again. I refuse to marry once more."

"Helena, I'm very sorry, but not even your father can decide that for you, nor can you. You are already married."

Helena laughed, a hysterical laugh.

"It's impossible, Ella, I didn't marry anyone," but she knew that in her world it was quite possible.

"You signed some documents, right after my brother's death, didn't you?"

"Yes, I signed them. Oh Ella, how could I have been so stupid?" And she began to cry.

"I'd rather die; I'd kill myself before letting another man touch me again."

"You can't. He sent me to give you the following message:" If you find any way to avoid being with him, your sister will have to take your place.

"Oh God, Ella, she's not even 16 yet. What kind of man would force a girl, almost a child?"

"I don't know, men in our world have a peculiar sense of honor and morality, Helena, I'm sorry to have to be the bearer of this news, but I thought it was better for me to tell you than him."

At that moment, a shiver ran through Helena's body. Without Ella needing to say it, she knew who the man was who had once again stolen her freedom, and who would once again turn her life into hell. If Otávio had managed to subjugate her, Estéfano would reduce her to dust.

"When am I supposed to join him? Do I at least have one more night of peace?" Helena asked, sobbing.

"I don't know, I don't think so."

For the rest of the journey, Helena wondered what she had done to deserve such a cruel fate, what made her undeserving of maintaining her sanity, or having her body respected and kept without scars.

When the car finally stopped at the place that would soon cease to be her home, Helena said goodbye to Ella and got out, but when she looked ahead, there he was, her nightmare in human form. Estéfano was dressed in black from head to toe, his features were like stone, his face stationary, the scar on his cheek making him even more terrifying in Helena's eyes.

Looking at the man she now knew was her husband, Helena was still crying, not the sobs from the car, but the silent weeping of a woman who suffered and feared the man in front of her.

Estéfano opened the car door and gestured for her to get out, and Helena, who had learned the hard way to obey, exited without looking back. She didn't care about her personal belongings, her clothes, or anything else; none of it made sense anymore. The hair creams she had finally bought after three years, the new clothes, not even the box of chocolates she had finally been able to buy at the bakery, mattered now. The man driving the car would now also drive her life. It was yet to be seen if he was as bad as Otávio or worse; just thinking about the night awaiting her in Estéfano's arms made her shiver to her core. Of all things, she didn't find him ugly, but she had feared him since the first time she saw him.

When the car stopped, she wished with all her might to be dead. She sat on the floor of the car and curled up; she knew it was pointless. He would easily pull her out of there, but she didn't have the strength to leave the car, so she stayed there. She realized the door had been opened, and Estéfano was probably standing, waiting for her to get out, but she remained curled up, knowing she must look ridiculous to the man watching her. But God! She was so afraid of him, she just wanted him to take her back. She was snapped out of her thoughts by his voice; she had never heard a voice as husky as his.

"Get up from there. I don't usually say things more than once, girl, so do yourself a favor and spare us any trouble."

Hearing this, Helena forced herself to stand up and was quickly pushed toward the entrance of the house. She passed through the property without noticing anything. Only when she reached a sort of living room did she sit on the sofa and curl up again. Estéfano wondered what kind of life she must have led in recent years that she seemed like someone who had been fleeing from a monster. He was aware he was intimidating, but for a woman to react to a man in such a way, even in the situation they were in, she must have a deep fear of the male species. Estéfano let out a long sigh and decided to step outside; he didn't want to lose his patience and do things he would regret later.

Helena remained there huddled, and when she realized she was alone, she took a blanket from the foot of the sofa and wrapped herself in it. She stayed there, crying until she had no more tears to shed. Exhaustion overcame her, and she eventually fell asleep.