Chapter 19: ★This might lead to my escape★

    ~Chapter 19~

    His breath was hot against my skin. Lips inches from mine, making me tremble. Trying to push him away. What does he want?

    His eyes bore down into mine, and a shiver ran down my spine. "Let me go" whispering the words softly and slowly in fear for our lips not to brush together.

    Mr. Salvatore’s creepy smile grew wider, pressing me more into his body. "Are you scared?" His voice was like honey as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "You should be" he whispered.

    I struggle hard to break free from his tight grip. But he was insanely strong, holding me in place. "Why did you reject my gift." I stopped struggling to look at him straight in the eyes.

    Why did I reject his gift, he said. Who in their right frame of mind would bring that horrific thing as a gift?

    The memory of it still made my skin crawl and my stomach churn. His grip on me tightened, digging his fingers deep into my skin.

    He swished me so hard, my head spinning from the sudden pressure, reminding me I hadn’t replied to him.

    "I...I didn’t want the gift," I stammered out, struggling to breathe. His grip was suffocating, making my lungs burn. "But thanks for offering, though," I added, sounding sarcastic despite the fear that was threatening to overwhelm me.

    Fuck, I don’t know where I got this much confidence from. Maybe it’s because I’ve hit rock bottom, and I genuinely didn’t care about my life anymore.

    I ended up in the same miserable place I’d been living in for years.

    If I die, then so be it. I won’t show weakness, not now. I had survived so many horrible things from that devil that birthed me, and showing weakness never stopped the torture.

    So now what’s the worst that could happen? I’d just end up in a grave, six feet under, with no more pain, no more fear, no more nothing. The thought was strangely liberating.

    It was twisted, but I felt calm, meeting his gaze sharply, and I saw a flicker of surprise there, perhaps curiosity. But it was quickly replaced by his usual cold stare before he clicked his tongue, saying. "Shame." The word like ice water.

    No..no....This is not what I’m expecting, not the reaction. I was expecting him to explode, to unleash his wrath upon me, and let me just die in peace.

    Instead, he gave me a slow, menacing smile that spread across his half-covered face, making my blood run cold, exhaling another set of smoke directly onto my face before releasing me harshly from his tight hold.

    He was about to turn and leave, but my hand shot out, holding his wrist before he could depart. What the hell am I doing, coughing furiously but still holding onto his arm? His eyes looked down at his wrist, then up at my face, raising an eyebrow in question.

    "Akh~ Cigarette ~akh~ isn’t good for your health." I managed to gasp out, the foolish and insignificant words that I couldn’t stop myself from saying.

    He boomed with laughter, the sound husky and deep. I looked to the side. Did I say something funny?

    His laughter was infectious, but not to me, this sound was sending chills down my spine. My half-ass confidence left me with his unsettling amusement. Something about it made me feel like I was missing a crucial joke.

    He moved closer to me and I quickly jerked my arm away, leaving his arm, trying to create some distance. But that didn’t stop him from walking towards me, grabbing my face, digging his fingers into my cheeks, and pulling me closer.

    My lips parted in shock from the pressure, opening and closing like a fish out of the water. My eyes widened as we held contact.

    He dragged on his cigarette before moving so close to my parted lips and exhaled, blowing the streams of smoke directly into me.

    "Ahk, st..o..ahk .p" Coughing out, my lungs burning from the acrid smoke.

    This was harsh, I can’t breathe. I’m drowning.

    Drowning in a sea of toxic fumes."Ahk, st...o...ahk...p," I gasped, shaking my head, trying to clear the smoke from my burning lungs.

    But he increased the digging of his fingers deeper into my cheeks, exhaling all the smoke down my throat before pushing me like a piece of paper into the wall. "It’s none of your business, si?" My tormentor, there he was. He said calmly before finally turning around leaving me coughing my lungs out with tears streaming down my face.

    Sliding down the wall, too weak to hold myself up. "Clean this damned place and come take my laundry." He commanded, his voice fading into the distance as he disappeared from my sight.

    Wicked soul, My sarcastic self was back, taunting me with its foolishness. Oh, now you are back after running off, leaving me to handle all this myself.

    My legs got their strength to pick me up, and I was still coughing from the smoke, trying to compose myself. I looked down, my clothes bloody and stained, "Stupid fellow, telling us to clean this mess up,"

    "Shut it," I screamed in my head. But nope. To my horror, I realized I had screamed that out loud.

    Because a maid walking past me gave me a strange look. A look that said ~Have you lost your mind~.

    Fuck! I muttered under my breath, my face getting flushed as I quickly ran out to the cleaning supplies room, wanting to escape my embarrassment.

    I had been there before, and it wasn’t far from the kitchen, so I knew exactly where to go. Reaching there and grabbed what I needed before hurrying back to the scene of the crime.

    Following the blood trails with unease, moving downwards the stairs that kept stretching on forever. I finally reached the bottom floor ~entrance~ and was taken aback by its sheer size.

    It was huge and spacious, with high ceilings. This was my first time coming face to face with the entrance.

    I had never been down here, at least not when I was conscious. The memory of being knocked out cold before waking up in that room to Mr Tattoo stirred.

    Miss Stella hasn’t brought me here either. So this is my first time facing the door that might lead to my escape.

    The door in front of me might lead to freedom, or it might lead to more danger.

    Well, I won’t find out if I don’t try, would I? I took a deep breath, moving towards the door, my eyes fixed on the handle.

    Here goes nothing.