Kidnapped By The Devil

“The worst wars are the ones we fight within ourselves.” —Kay Mi Nee. Anthonia’s POV “Get a grip on yourself, Anthonia.” I pleaded with myself as I stared at my reflection in the huge restroom mirror before me. Unfortunately, my self-motivation wasn't gonna change the fact that the day was coming to an end. My head was in a spiral, and my heart thumped so hard I thought my chest might crack. I was losing my mind and my breath all at once. I quickly ran some water in the washbasin and splashed it on my face, letting the cold liquid run down my cheeks. Bad idea! Bad idea! Bad idea! The coldness sent shivers down my spine and transferred to my hurting ribs. “I don't wanna go home. Oh God!” I groaned in pain, holding my ribs as the memories came flooding back into my head. Last night's beating was more intense than the rest. The way he swung his boots into my tummy. The smug look on his face as he punched me over and over and over again, despite my pleas. It was inhumane. I tried. Heaven knows I tried to protect myself. But you can't compare a weak five-feet-five lady to a six-feet-four stone rugby giant of muscle and bone like Raymond. He was the kind of man any lady would fall for at first sight, which I had. His towering height and brown eyes were just part of his handsomeness. But that was just the beauty on the outside. On the inside, Raymond was different. Once angry, his pretty brown eyes weren't so pretty. He was the type of man who would s***h you with a blade and then punch you for screaming. It has been eight years since I and Raymond got married. Eight years since I ever found happiness. Eight years of trauma and hell. “Are you alright, ma'am?” one of the female co-workers asked from behind, causing me to jump out of my thoughts, earning another sharp pain in my stomach. Shit! How long has she been standing there? I wondered. “Huh? Y…Yeah, I'm… I'm fine.” I lied. “Just that time of the month, yunno,” I said, with a fake smile. She gave me that I-know-you're-lying-but-I-am-not-gonna-ask-further-because-I-don’t-f*****g-care look. “Would you mind turning the tap off? It's been running for hours now, and we both know how expensive the water bills are these days.” “Oh, I'm sorry,” I replied in embarrassment and quickly turned off the tap. She gave me that last look before walking out of the restroom, leaving me alone. I turned to my reflection in the mirror, and all I saw was a hurting face with brown eyes, a slender nose, and golden curly hair resting on her shoulders. ***** Back at the office, which was more of a cabin than an office, I worked as a graphic designer, designing and editing book covers, magazines, and articles, which were then sent out to the public. I always wanted to be a medical assistant in one of those big hospitals here in Colombia, but Raymond had thought graphic design would be the perfect job fit for me, and that was how I gave up my dream job. I couldn't say no. I dared not say no to any of his suggestions. Because his suggestions were not just suggestions, they were orders. I had tried to keep my focus all day, pushing the dark thoughts that had to do with Raymond to the darkest corner of my mind and hoping that tonight would be different. “Maybe he wouldn't hit me too hard this time.” I lied to myself like I always did. I barely got a grip on myself when my phone vibrated and a message popped up on the screen. First Bank Debit Alert Date: June 24, 2021 Time: 6:19 PM (MT) Location: Rionegro, Colombia. A debit transaction of $75,000 has been made from your checking account ending in 7115. New Balance: $3.09. Need help? Call us at +57 4 561 7732. Or log in to your mobile banking app. I stared blankly at the screen, my brain trying to process what I had just read. I reread the message. And again. And for the third time in five seconds, I reread it until I got the answer I was too scared to admit was true. “Scream, Anthonia. Let it out!” my brain beckoned, but I couldn't even move. My eyes were still fixed on the screen, but I wasn't looking at it anymore. I could feel the screams go back into my chest, squeezing my heart into a hard tennis ball that I could barely breathe. My throat had suddenly developed a lump so solid it felt like I had swallowed a rock. Raymond Brooks had done it again. My husband had just emptied all the money I had ever worked for. He was the only one who knew my account details. He knew everything. He controlled everything. Now he has taken away everything. I gently leaned into my chair, finally letting the tears I had been holding back throughout the day flood my eyes. “No! It has to stop, Anthonia,” my raging brain screamed, “You can't continue this way. You deserve more. You deserve happiness…” I jumped out of my chair. “...You deserve to be free.” I grabbed my stuff and stormed out of the office. “...You deserve to be loved and cherished for who you are…” I stormed into the busy evening streets of Rionegro and boarded a taxi heading home. “...You deserve a life of your own.” I alighted thirty minutes after, staring directly at what was supposed to be called home to me. I could see Raymond's Toyota parked outside, which meant that he was home. “Exactly what we wanted. Now go in there and let him know you've had enough of his torture.” Surprisingly, the front door was unlocked when I stormed in. The air inside smelled like sweat and cigarette smoke. The kind of scent that told you something rotten was happening. “... Tell him you've had enough of being treated like crap.” I ignored the warnings and headed straight upstairs. I could hear faint noises coming from our bedroom, but I didn't care. I wiped the tears from my eyes and barged into our bedroom. I wish I hadn't listened to my brain. Because right in front of me, on our supposed matrimonial bed, lay Raymond, stark naked. There was a naked lady—a familiar lady, humping on him, with her bare breasts displayed for him to see. My legs felt cold where I stood—frozen like a statue, watching the two s*x freaks continue to have s*x with each other, not giving a care about my presence. And that was when it dawned on me who the lady was, and my heart broke into a million pieces.