Isabella

Chapter One

Chapter One

Isabella hadn't been able to get a hold of herself after she heard Jasmine testify in court. Something deep inside her screamed that Jasmine was innocent, but she was poor and there was nothing she could do.

Isabella waited for Jasmine at the prison visitor's room. Her fingers tapping against the cold metal table.

Fifteen minutes passed, then eventually, Jasmine was dragged out by two female prison police guards.

Jasmine stared at Isabella fiercely for a few seconds before sitting on the chair In front of her…She looked frail, her hair matted, her eyes were burning with defiance.

“You're not my lawyer, I don't have a lawyer and I cannot afford one. Please do not waste my time.”

Isabella extended her hand to give Jasmine a handshake but she ignored it.

Isabella Santos vowed she would get Jasmine a very good lawyer after that visitation. Even though, Jasmine told her no one would believe her story.

Isabella was born in Capas, Central Luzon to two of the best people, Gabriel and Katrina Santos.

Her parents weren't rich but they had love. She experienced love even as a young girl. They could afford at least two meals everyday. Life was simple but they were happy.

But there was only one problem they had. It was her older brother, Anthonio. He was such a lovely boy until he turned thirteen.

He changed drastically, Isabella experienced him exchanging words with her father, he always used rude words which made her mother cry.

He also dropped out of school claiming that it wasn't good enough and his friends went to better schools.

He stopped caring about her and distanced himself completely from her. The worst part was that he would go out sometimes and wouldn't come back in days and he wouldn't tell anyone where he went or who he was with.

Isabella also had a rich uncle, she heard her father mention him a few times, he was her father's only brother.

Isabella hardly visited the neighboring houses except her childhood friend, Sofia.

Her mom also warned her never to visit anyone, the streets were always quiet.

One day, Anthonio didn't return home.They searched the neighborhood and asked people around, but no one had seen him. Days turned to weeks and weeks to months, and Anthonio never showed up.

“Why are you so calm when our only son is missing?” Isabella's mom asked her father.

“He is not missing,” her father replied.

“I warned you about that boy, but you never listened, I'm sure he is okay wherever he is.”

“My baby is not fine,” her mom said, sobbing.

That night, Isabella went to visit her best friend Sofia. She was like a sister to her.

Isabella stayed for a while before heading home.

As Isabella turned to her street, she saw flames, people were running to and fro.

On getting to her house, she saw her father's house in flames.The neighbours were screaming. Isabella was only eight but she understood what was happening.

“Where is my mom and dad?” She cried running around, her heart pounding. The neighbours were busy trying to stop the fire.

Some looked at her with pity, others stood there just watching.

They tried all they could to stop the fire but to no avail.

An hour later, the fire service came but it was too late.

“Anthonio, Anthonio, Isabella screamed as tears ran down her eyes.

“Where are you Anthonio?”

At that moment, she thought her brother would show up.

She wished it was all a dream until she found herself in the middle of the night in a strange room.

She was awakened by a strong smell of m*******a that filled the air and she heard voices arguing outside the door.

She went closer to the door and pressed her ear to listen.

They were arguing about the money that was sent to them.

“We divide it equally amongst ourselves.”

“No that's not going to happen,” I agreed to do this job, you all didn't comply, but I accepted the damn job.”

“We all burned the house down. We were asked to burn everyone down but you changed the plan.You didn't involve the little girl.”

“That's because I have got a better plan, I know someone I can sell her to and he will pay good money for her.”

Isabella's blood turned to ice immediately.

All of a sudden, their voices became faint.

She crawled back to the small bed and pretended to be asleep. Her heart raced and her entire body trembled.

Her parents were dead and she just discovered these men killed them.

Someone paid them to set her parents on fire.

Who could that be?

As if that wasn't enough, they were planning to sell her.

That night, Isabella cried as hard as she could, wishing she would see her brother again. She really needed him to come save her.

The thought of running away that night filled her mind, but where would she run to? she was only eight.

She slept off having lots of scary dreams that night.

The next day, the men secretly handed her over to a stranger, a man whom she had never seen before.

They were three men that sold Isabella. She recognized their faces but there was nothing she could do to save herself.

Isabella was taken to Malate in Manila to a building filled with young girls between the ages of seven upwards. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months for her in Manila.

Isabella had experiences of molestation her first week until the manager warned them to leave her alone because she was underaged.

The boss sent Isabella to school in Manila when she was nine, but he said he would only sponsor her junior and senior high school education. For her higher education, she would have to figure that by herself.

But when Isabella turned thirteen, she was assigned clients to have s*x with. When she resisted, she was drugged and was unable to fight back.

When she turned sixteen, she got used to sleeping with men. Isabella felt no guilt anymore.

Everything happened fast, she never stopped thinking about her parents. The memories of their death made her cry everyday.

Isabella made a vow.

One day, she would gain freedom and seek justice for her parents and also find her brother Anthonio.

One day, Isabella got a call from Leo, the manager of the agency.

“Miss Bella, you have an important client,” Leo said when she answered his call.

“I have always had important clients. What could be so special about this next one?” Isabella sighed over the phone.

“Just get ready.”

“What time?” she asked.

“I will send you all the information you need very soon.”

He replied and quickly ended the call.

A few minutes later, Leo sent Isabella's next client's information to her phone.

“Carlos Fernandez, Imperial Royale hotel.”

Just while Isabella was still scrolling through the text message, her phone buzzed, a call came in.

She hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Hey, Miss Bella.” The voice on the other end was deep.