Savage Obsession

Smack! The force of the slap sent me sprawling to the floor, my body landing with a sickening thud. Pain radiates across my cheek, but I pressed my palm against it, willing the sting to subside. I blinked through my swelling left eye, forcing myself to look up at the source of my misery. Aunt Maria stood above me, her lips curled in a smug smile. Beside her, Uncle Jose chuckled, his amusement only adding to my humiliation. I hated her. But him? I loathed him with every fiber of my being. "You foolish girl!" Maria spat, her voice thick with disdain. "You lie just like your mother did, thinking you're so smart, thinking no one would ever figure you out. No wonder she's six feet under with that crazy father of yours! Everyone warned her, but she was too blind to listen!" The words had been drilled into me so many times that they had lost their sting. Once, I might have believed them. But in Cantana, only the weak and foolish were left untouched. The ones who dared to challenge the rules, the ones who refused to conform, they were the ones who disappeared. That was the only truth I had come to understand. I wished my parents had been docile. Maybe they would still be here. "How many times have I warned you to stop lying, Valeria?" Maria seethed, stepping closer. Instinctively, I tried to crawl back, but the wall behind me stopped my retreat. I was cornered. "Auntie, I'm not lying! I swear! Why would I lie about something like that?" My voice trembled, but I fought the urge to cry. I had learned long ago that tears only made things worse. I saw it in her eyes—the truth she refused to acknowledge. She knew. Deep down, she knew what Jose had been doing to me. But admitting it would shatter her perfect little world. It was easier to believe I was the seductress, the temptress, the liar. "You are!" Maria shrieked. "Jose would never do such a thing!" Her foot connected with my ribs, sending a jolt of pain searing through my side. I gasped but remained where I was. Running was pointless. Jose was faster, crueler. Enduring was my only option. Maybe if I was lucky, maybe this time, I would finally get to see my parents again. "I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!" Maria promised. Blows rained down on me—kicks, fists, anything she could land. My body screamed in agony, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of hearing me beg. Eventually, my body betrayed me, my instincts taking over. I scrambled to my feet, trying to escape to the basement where my room was, where the door was thicker, stronger. But Jose was waiting. His grip was iron as he yanked me back and threw me to the floor. I barely had time to brace myself before the next wave of violence began. This time, he joined in. My body went numb. I could taste blood, could feel my insides twisting from the abuse. Darkness edged my vision, pulling me under. "Die, you cursed child!" Maria's voice rang in my ears. A final blow struck my head, and then—nothing. --- Cold. That was the first thing I registered. My body was drenched, and the damp air clung to my skin like a second layer. I opened my eyes slowly, the dim light from the tiny window casting eerie shadows across the basement. My basement. My prison. I recognized the mildew-stained walls, the rotting wooden stool, the rusting pipes that dripped endlessly. The mattress beneath me was soaked, but as my vision cleared, I saw the answer standing before me. Jose. An empty bucket dangled from his hand, a twisted smirk tugging at his lips. "Thought we lost you for a second there," he mused, his voice laced with mock concern. I swallowed against the dryness in my throat. "How long... has it been?" "Twelve hours," he answered casually, setting the bucket down and pulling the stool closer. He sat with careful precision, knowing the fragile wood could snap beneath him at any moment. "Technically, if you do the math, it’s been a day." I forced myself to glance down, my breath hitching. My clothes had been changed. A black dress clung to my aching body, reaching just past my knees. He had clothed me. Which meant he had touched me. Again. Revulsion crawled up my spine. The air in the room turned suffocating. I could already hear his next words, feel the weight of his gaze undressing me inch by inch. "You should have kept your mouth shut, Valeria," he murmured, reaching out. His fingers skimmed my thigh, burning my skin through the thin fabric. I flinched. "It’s been half a day," I snapped, forcing myself to sit up despite the pain. "Worry about your declining brain before my body." His smirk widened, but his hand withdrew. A small victory. "That smart mouth of yours is what I like the most about you," he chuckled, standing. "Soon, it'll do more than talk s**t for me... just wait. Your aunt won’t be around forever." A chill ran through me. What was he going to do to her? His gaze lingered on me for a moment before he turned away. "Get yourself presentable in thirty minutes. Your aunt wants you upstairs." Then he was gone. I moved the moment I heard the basement door shut. The pain was unbearable, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself up. I had no time. Thirty minutes meant three. My hands fumbled for the only other dress I owned—a faded peach one with worn-out floral prints. It was ugly, but it covered me. I pulled it on, ignoring the sharp protests of my bruised ribs. Then, I climbed the stairs. The voices hit me before I reached the living room. Harsh. Unfamiliar. My heart pounded. Something was wrong. I glanced around desperately. There was no escape. This house had only one entrance. My eyes landed on the kitchen counter. A knife. I lunged for it, gripping the handle tight. My mind raced, formulating a plan. But before I could move, I felt it—the cold press of metal against my skull. "Move, and you die." Terror seized me. I was dragged into the living room, where Maria and Jose were already on their knees. Four men stood before us. They weren’t dressed in suits like in the movies, but their presence was unmistakable. Tattoos. Guns. Power. "Your aunt owes $120,000," one of them stated. My blood ran cold. Maria was shaking. Jose was silent. I could barely process the number before the gunshot rang out. Jose screamed. Blood pooled around him. "Next, it’s your brains on the floor," the man said calmly. Maria whimpered. Then, her eyes darted to me. "Take her!" she blurted. "She’s a virgin—she'll fetch a good price!" I froze. The room spun. The betrayal struck harder than any slap. "No! Please!" I thrashed, but hands seized me. Maria didn’t look at me again. As I was thrown into the trunk of a car, a single thought burned in my mind. I would escape. And if I ever saw Maria again—I would kill her myself.