In The Hands Of The Bloody Mafia Cage

ARIEL A knock echoed through the quiet house. I was about to walk toward the door when it suddenly swung open, revealing my mother standing there. She came back earlier today? I thought quietly. She had never cared about leaving her only eighteen-year-old daughter alone in the house for days. It was something I had grown used to — being forgotten, “Welcome back, Mommy,” I whispered faintly. Her eyes stayed on me for a moment longer than usual before a smile slowly appeared on her face. A smile. My heart almost stopped. My mother smiled at me. For years, I had forgotten what that looked like. She hadn’t smiled at me, not genuinely. Not once. Something inside me softened. A small part of me became hopeful. Maybe today would be different. Maybe she was finally going to talk about letting me return to school with her support. Maybe, just maybe, things would change. “I want you to dress up and come meet your dad,” she said plainly, the smile disappeared instantly. The warmth I had felt vanished, replaced by the familiar emotions I knew too well, anger, sadness, and the feeling that something had already been decided without me. “Dad?” I repeated, my voice filled with surprise. “You said tomorrow… but it’s fine if you want it to be today. I missed him, "I quickly turned to get ready, but her next words stopped me. “Your stepdad, Ariel," my body froze, “I have a boyfriend. I want you to meet him. Not because of anything else, but because I don’t want you ruining the relationship in the future,” she said coldly, dropping her bag. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak, like always. I slowly turned back toward her, tears gathering in my eyes, threatening to fall. I wanted to hold them back. I didn’t want her to see how much her words hurt me. “Boyfriend?” My voice trembled. “What about Dad? You promised him not to—, “Stop it," Her voice cut through mine. “He has been gone for years. How long am I supposed to keep living like this? I need a new life, Ariel. I’m tired of working extra hours just to pay rent and feed my burden," Her words pierced deeper than she probably realized. “You can’t refuse this. Now dress up.” And just like that, she turned around and walked away, leaving me behind. Confused, broken, again. —💢💢— We stood in front of a beautiful mansion, one that looked like it belonged in another world. A world I had never been part of. My mother pressed the doorbell, and a voice answered from inside. A few seconds later, the door unlocked. A man appeared. Her boyfriend. He immediately took her hand and kissed her palm. My mother smiled brightly, laughing softly like a girl who had finally found something she had been searching for. Then his eyes moved to me. “You must be Ariel. I have—, “Oh yes, she is my treasure. I adore her,” my mother interrupted with a cheerful laugh. He smiled and nodded, "Of course. Please, this way, gentle ladies.” He took my mother’s hand, and they walked inside together. I followed slowly behind.I didn’t want to ruin anything.I didn’t want to be the reason for another unhappy ending. After walking a little distance, he turned around. I was standing several feet away, still unsure if I belonged there. “Ariel, there is someone I would love for you to meet, but not inside the house right now,” he said warmly. “Your mother told me you’ll be moving in. That’s good, darling, right?” I looked at my motherHer eyes warned me, like a silent message, accept this or lose everything, Including school, “What… what about school?” I asked, my voice shaking. He smiled reassuringly, "That won’t be a problem. Your mother and I already found the perfect school for you. This mansion is just as much yours as it is ours. We contacted your old school, and your transfer will be completed soon. You’ll resume tomorrow. It’s Monday," “I…” The words wouldn’t come out. “Ariel, go to your room. It’s on the left after the dining room. Your dad and I need to discuss something about you,” my mother said with a smile. I nodded. Like a lost kitten searching for a way out. Like someone who didn’t know where she belonged anymore. As I walked away, I heard his voice behind me, "Monica, we have a lovely daughter.” My mother laughed proudly, and I kept walking. ☀️🌙️ The mansion was far bigger than I had imagined. There were endless hallways, countless doors, and rooms that all looked the same. For a moment, I thought I had lost my way. The evening had already settled in by the time I finally found the room beside the dining area. I walked closer and reached for the handle, expecting it to be locked. But to my surprise, it opened easily. I swallowed hard. Maybe Mom had left it unlocked because she thought I would embarrass her by not knowing how to enter a house like this. That thought made my chest tighten. I stepped inside, the room was completely dark. Slowly, I moved forward, searching for the light switch. My eyes tried to adjust, but the darkness swallowed everything around me. I kept walking, until my legs suddenly gave out. Bang!! I fell against something heavy. Pain shot through my body, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. I was exhausted. I hadn’t eaten properly in two days. Mom said she was saving money for my tuition, and that tomorrow everything would be better. But right now, my body was reminding me how weak I had become. I forced myself to stand, but my legs refused to cooperate. Then suddenly, the light turned on. For a second, I thought it had happened by itself, until I heard a deep voice. “Here to cause trouble already, little sister?” My entire body froze. Little sister? The first words confused me, but those two words were enough to make my heart race. I struggled harder, forcing myself to sit up. And then I saw him. Someone standing in front of me. Tall. Cold. Dangerous. There was something about his presence that made the entire room feel smaller. Somehow, I managed to stand. I didn’t even know where the sudden strength came from, but my body reacted before my mind could understand. “I’m sorry,” I rushed out. I turned quickly, wanting to leave, but I couldn’t, his presence stopped me, “Why do you think you’re leaving, little sister?” he asked, his voice low, "You walk into my room and expect to disappear?” My back met the shelf behind me. I froze. My fear took over. The same fear I had spent years trying to control. My breathing became uneven, my vision blurred, and my body started shaking. I couldn’t let Mom see me like this. I couldn’t embarrass her. Not here. Not in front of these people. “I… I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice broke. And to my own surprise, tears slipped down my face. He stared at me silently for a long moment. His expression didn’t change. Then his eyes moved over me, noticing the way my hands trembled, “Even if I was looking for someone to f**k, it wouldn’t be you,” he said coldly. Then his voice changed slightly, “When was the last time you ate?” I froze. Was he actually asking because he cared?How could someone like him care about me? I couldn’t answer. Not for several seconds. “Answer me, little sister,” he said, “Or do I have to figure it out myself?” I took a small step back, afraid my body would give up, “Two days,” I admitted quietly. His expression darkened, “Interesting.” He looked away, “I don’t f**k with girls who can’t even take care of themselves. Leave.” He moved away, finally giving me space. I started walking. One step. Then another. But before I could reach the door, my strength disappeared, my knees gave out and I collapsed onto the floor.