Web of Betrayal

Kiara slowly opened her eyes. It took barely a minute to recognize her surroundings, and even less to remember why she was there. A cry, raw and heart-wrenching, tore from her lips. A nurse rushed in with Dr. Angelina—the one face Kiara knew all too well. She struggled against the restraints binding her to the bed. “Why?” she demanded, glaring. “I’m sorry, Kiara,” the doctor said softly. “I had to. I feared you’d take your loss badly.” Kiara laughed bitterly. “The loss of a child? How is anyone supposed to take that well?” Angelina sat by her, lowering her voice. “The investigations showed…the baby had been dead three days.” Kiara’s heart clenched. The day he punched me. “Kiara, are you being abused?” Too fast, she shook her head. “We saw the bruises,” the doctor pressed. “Does your husband—” “No, no!” Kiara interrupted, shivering. Her voice broke. “I want to leave.” “I can’t discharge you. You need rest.” “I don’t care. Please—I need to see my father.” Angelina hesitated but, pity softening her, untied her bonds. “You know this could cost me my job.” Kiara managed a smile. “I’ll make it up to you.” She slipped away into the night, hailed a cab, and arrived at her parents’ house around 3 a.m. Weak and trembling, she pressed the bell. Maria, the housekeeper, opened the door. “Oh heavens!” Maria gasped, hugging her. “Do I look that bad?” Kiara whispered. Maria only gave a pitiful smile full of sadness. "Can I come in?" asked Kiara. Maria wasn't able to hide her reluctance which Kiara noticed easily. "Why not?" Before Maria could answer, a cold voice cut in: “Because I said so.” Jennifer Wyatt, her mother, appeared. “Mother,” Kiara muttered bitterly. “Daughter,” Jennifer replied, her face a mask of feigned surprise. Kiara begged to be let in, but Jennifer only stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. “You look pale,” she said. “You know why,” Kiara snapped. “I married a monster. He beats me.” Her mother sighed. “Not all marriages are sweet. Sometimes husbands hit their wives. You must endure.” “What? I’m not going back!” “You will. No daughter of mine returns home after marriage unless her spouse dies." Kiara’s anger boiled. “Maybe I should kill him, then.” “Kiara!” “I lost the baby, Mother!” she screamed. Jennifer froze. Shock flickered before she quickly buried it. “So now will you let me in?” Kiara pleaded. “No. You made a vow,” Jennifer replied coldly. “That vow was a mistake—please—” “Your father doesn’t even want to hear your name. He hates you.” Kiara staggered back as tears blurred her sight. “No…” “I’m sorry, Kiara. You have no home here.” The door slammed. She pounded it until her strength drained, then slumped in the cold. When dawn crept in, she stumbled away from the house, too weak to walk straight. A black SUV screeched to a halt before her. Headlights blinded her eyes. Darkness swallowed her as figures in black closed in. The last thought in her mind was that she would return for her revenge... that is if the figures in black she saw weren't the angels of death...