Innocent in the Dark

Chapter 11

Açelya was lying in bed, staring blankly into space. Her hand was in a cast because of her four broken fingers. As for Cem, he had received the punishment he rightly deserved: Ateş had broken his hand, and her uncle Altan had thrown him out of the house.

Açelya was dozing off when suddenly her door was knocked.

Caner: Açelya? Sweetheart, are you awake?

Açelya: Come in, Uncle.

Caner walked in, looking down at the girl’s pale face with affection. Hearing about what happened to Açelya, he had cut his vacation short and rushed back.

Running his hands through Açelya’s long, soft hair, Caner asked:

Caner: How are you feeling, my beauty? Are you in pain?

Açelya: No, when it hurts I take a painkiller, and that just makes me sleepy. I either sleep or lie around, that's how time passes.

Açelya tried to force a small smile.

Caner: As long as you're okay, my beautiful girl. If you ever need anything, your most handsome, most charming Uncle Caner is right here, he said with a wink.

From behind, Altan overheard the conversation.

Altan: Who is handsome, you? Go take a look in the mirror once in a while.

Caner: Ugh, don't be jealous, you little brute, I'm as handsome as Tom Cruise!

Altan: If you're Tom Cruise, then I'm Brad Pitt.

In the background, Deniz and Sinem couldn't help but laugh. Up front, Açelya was smiling too; her mood had lifted, if only a little. She had no intention of going down for dinner, but Altan scooped her up in his arms and sat her right next to Akın.

Even though Açelya didn't look at him, she hadn't forgotten how her father had panicked over her and rushed her to the emergency clinic.

Açelya: Thank you so much... for taking me there the day my hand ended up like that.

Akın: What do you mean, "thank you," my girl? I am your father. No matter how much we clash, everything I do is for your own good, he said, placing a gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead.

The others didn't catch their dialogue, but the rest of the family was thrilled to see the father and daughter patching things up. Even Handan looked on with tear-filled eyes.

Nil: You all sit here, laughing, playing, and making merry while my son suffers out in the streets!

Altan: Your son isn't suffering, Aunt Nil; he's paying the price for his own mistake. If you had punished him sooner, he wouldn't have brought this on himself.

Seeing Altan like this, Sinem gently placed her hand over his.

The rest of the dinner passed in tense silence.

Once everyone had retreated to their rooms, Açelya was about to lay her head down when her grandmother walked in.

Handan: How are you holding up?

Açelya: I feel a bit better compared to before.

Handan: Good. Make sure you pull yourself together; you're our only granddaughter, she said, stroking Açelya's hair.

Handan: I couldn't bear to lose you, Açelya. I'm hard on you because you don't know how to protect yourself. Your uncles and your father are involved in very dangerous business. I can't stop them at this point in their lives, but you—you need to protect yourself, my beauty, alright?

Wiping away her tears, Açelya threw her arms around her grandmother.

She was just thinking that she might finally get a peaceful night's sleep when her phone buzzed with a message.

Ateş: Be outside the house in 5 minutes. I'm waiting.

Where did he come from?! Açelya didn't even want to lay eyes on him, but at the same time, curiosity was eating her up inside. Slipping on a jacket, she made her way through the secret passage out to the front yard, where she found Ateş smoking a cigarette. Ateş pushed himself up from where he was leaning and scanned her from head to toe.

Açelya: What is it? What do you want from me?

Ateş: Show me your hand.

Açelya: Reason?

Ateş: Açelya, just show me your hand, he said in an exhausted tone.

When Açelya held her hand out, Ateş stubbed out his cigarette and cupped her hand between his palms.

Ateş: Did it hurt much?

Açelya: Not as much as the psychological blows Cem dealt me.

Ateş’s heart clenched.

Ateş: I should have taken care of this the moment you came stumbling to me with a bottle of liquor, looking utterly helpless.

Açelya: Taken care of what?

Suddenly, Ateş pressed a drugged cloth over Açelya's mouth and nose. Unable to fight it off, Açelya collapsed limply into his arms.

Ateş: Finally caught in the wolf's paws, little girl, he muttered with a smirk, lifting her into the car and speeding off toward the mountain cabin.

[21.07, 23:31] Fatimə Albalıyeva: Meanwhile, the heavy iron door of the Demir house was struck by an unexpected visitor.

Altan: I'll get it, he said, walking over to the door—and his eyes widened in shock. Standing on the threshold was İrem, her face and clothes covered in blood.

Sinem: Honey, who is it?

İrem: Sinem... it's me!

Hearing her voice, Sinem rushed to the door.

Sinem: İrem! What happened to you?!

İrem: I'm so helpless, Sinem... please, help me, I'm begging you!

Sinem: Come inside.

Since it was the middle of the night, Sinem and Altan were still awake.

Altan: I don't understand this. What on earth happened to you?

İrem: My ex-boyfriend... I wanted to break up with him, but he wouldn't accept it, so he beat me. I managed to escape and came straight to you, Sinem.

With tears in her eyes, Sinem pulled İrem into a tight hug.

Sinem: Don't be afraid, I'm right here. Besides, the Demir family is powerful; they'll protect you, she said, glancing over at Altan.

Altan, however, was immediately suspicious.

Altan: Sweetheart, why don't you go get a room ready for İrem? She's in no shape right now, and I'll look into this "boyfriend" of hers to see how any man could dare raise a hand against a woman.

As soon as Sinem disappeared upstairs, Altan grabbed İrem by the arm and jerked her close.

Altan: Listen to me. What kind of game are you playing? You might fool Sinem with this act because she's too pure-hearted to doubt you. But I'm not that stupid.

İrem: Oh, really? Why are you so stressed? You should be happy; this means we'll be even closer, she said, leaning in to press her lips to his. But before she could, Altan grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her face right up to his.

Altan: I will kill you, İrem.

İrem: Then kill me! Destroy me! Your ruthlessness only gives me strength, my love.

Hearing the faint sound of footsteps coming back down, Altan shoved İrem's hair away roughly just as Sinem walked back in.

Sinem: İrem, honey, come on up to the room. Take a nice shower and get some sleep; we can talk about all of this tomorrow.

İrem: I'm so sorry for being a bother to you both...

Sinem: Don't be ridiculous. Just do as I said, we'll talk tomorrow.

Once İrem had gone upstairs, Sinem noticed the dark, furious expression in Altan's eyes.

Sinem: See? That monster upset you, too. It's not worth staining your hands with blood over a guy like that, Altan. Just go give him a warning, okay?

Altan melted at his wife's pure-heartedness. But as he looked up toward the upper balcony, he caught İrem staring right down at them.

Driven by a sudden, fierce impulse, Altan grabbed Sinem and, looking straight into İrem's eyes, crashed his lips onto Sinem's in a wild, starving kiss.

[21.07, 23:46] Fatimə Albalıyeva: Açelya was already getting used to waking up in strange places. When she opened her eyes, she realized she was lying in a wooden cabin right in front of a crackling fireplace. She sat up, clutching her head. Glancing out the window, she saw Ateş outside chopping firewood.

She jumped up and ran to the door, but when she tried the handle, she found it locked. Hearing the rattle of the knob, Ateş walked slowly back inside and unlocked the door.

Açelya: What do you think you're doing?! Have you lost your mind? What do you mean, kidnapping me?!

Ateş: You wanted to find shelter with me, little girl, so I granted your wish.

Açelya: I didn't want you to kidnap me! I just wanted to talk... Look, it's already too late. Open this door right now and let me leave!

Ateş: Shut it. You are my captive now, little girl, so keep your mouth shut and stay put. You'll speak when I tell you to—hell, you'll only breathe when I tell you to.

Driven mad by his words, Açelya grabbed a nearby stool and smashed it over Ateş's head.

Ateş let out a dark, furious growl. Açelya tried to bolt past him, but Ateş caught her by her slender waist in a flash. Açelya started pummeling his back with her fists, demanding he put her down.

Without warning, Ateş brought his hand down hard in a sharp smack against her backside.

Açelya froze instantly, her face burning with utter humiliation.

Açelya: H-hey... what are you doing?!

Ateş: What? Sounds like you actually enjoyed it, he teased, tossing her down onto the sofa and leaning in close until his face was inches from hers.

Ateş: Well? Why'd you stop talking? Did you like it, huh?

Açelya: Pervert! Shameless, ill-mannered monster! she stammered, her cheeks flushed crimson as she glared up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

Ateş: If you ever try to pull a stunt like that again, or step out of line, I'll give you fifty good swats, he warned, pulling back slightly.

Açelya stared at him in sheer disbelief, shrinking back against the cushions.

Açelya: You really are a pervert... Or maybe my body just caught your eye?

Ateş stood straight up, towering over her.

Ateş: What is that supposed to mean?

Açelya mirrored his challenge, pushing herself up and planting her hands firmly against his chest.

Açelya: I just spoke my mind, she whispered, leaving barely a hair's breadth of space between their lips.

With that, she pulled back and retreated to the hearth, lying down near the fire. But as for Ateş, he was completely thrown off balance; having this little girl wrap him around her little finger struck a major blow to his formidable ego.