Chapter 9

They were not sounds. They were not ideas or conclusions. I saw. “I’m sorry. I…” “You really don’t know anything?” She is more awake now, maybe because of the adrenaline of escaping. “I was leaving a bad date when they took me. It was only a bad date… I was working and then suddenly…” “Alexandra! They are not going to kill you. If you keep getting hysterical like this, they’ll catch you and kill you slowly, day after day, until you beg to die. I wish I had gotten there in time… before…” “What were you going to do? I know you couldn’t have done anything in that moment. I know you’re helping me. But I swear I’ll kill your brothers if I get the chance.” Tears sweep down her face, and her body shakes from the cold. Her choked voice shows she is using the last remnants of her strength in this moment. I swallow hard. What can I do, stop her? For what reason do they deserve to be defended, when I myself want to mourn their deaths? “Nothing. You’re right. I couldn’t have done anything, but we are doing something now. Please, let’s go. You won’t be able to do anything against them like this, alone. You need to escape first.” But we were not fast enough. Not as fast as them. For them, the clock does not stop. It accelerates and offers them, at the same time, all the time in the world. It is as if they are the god Chronos himself, and we are his food. He tears us apart. I look at Alexandra lying on the ground, her hand over her shoulder, where blood pours without end. The thunderous sound still echoes in my ears, no louder than her scream at the moment of impact. Her wide eyes and white lips reveal she is in shock after the shot, though we do not know where it came from. I bend over her, trying to give her courage I do not have. I did not see where the shot came from, but the footsteps are growing closer. “Please, try to stand. Please, Alexandra, we have to go. Please…” Tears blur my vision, and I force her body upward. She has to run. Escape. “Thank you, girl,” she says as her breathing accelerates from the pain, her chest rising and falling so fast that I doubt she knows what she is saying. “Get up… NOOOO!” I am dragged off her by my hair. It knots around my oppressor’s hand. I cannot see who it is, but I feel as if I am being scalped from the force. “Dear sister, is that any way to behave?” Paolo. Bastard. “Please, let her go. I opened the door. She did nothing.” “Look at this, Bruno! She wants to save the guest! What is this, little sister, did you get attached? Don’t make me question your tastes.” “Just let her go.” The piercing pain leaves me weak. I can only keep my eyes open to see her. Alexandra’s red hair is also gripped by Bruno. But what makes everything worse is my father’s arrival. I smell his cologne in the air even before he comes closer. “Paolo, let her go.” Paolo releases my hair abruptly, and before I realize it, I hit the ground hard. I drag myself to Alexandra’s side and place myself in front of my father, as if my body could protect her. “There we go, Consigliere. Now what do we do with the w***e over there?” Father does not answer him. He looks directly into my eyes and smiles. “Lisa, do you know what this latest recklessness of yours could have cost us?” “I…” “Shh! Don’t answer. You still act recklessly. What must I do to make you understand your role here?” “Father, please, do whatever you want. I told Paolo, it was my fault, not hers.” “So the traitor is my daughter? The blood of my blood protects a w***e?” Alexandra reacts, ready to defend herself, but Bruno strikes her knees and she collapses, unable to react. “Do you know what we do to traitors, Valentina?” Paolo asks. “Don’t be hasty, boy!” Father replies. “She did not manage to go all the way. She can be redeemed. But do not worry, she will be punished.” He thinks I will beg. He waits a few moments, expecting despair to reach me. “You are strong, my daughter. Won’t you ask for your life? Beg?” “I am not her.” I spit the words, and even if I could take them back, I would not. He understands what I mean. I am not my mother, and I will not beg, even if he kills me. “No, you are not. But today, you will learn to have responsibilities. You see, the reason I take these whores is so that women of the family, like you, do not suffer so much in marriage. We men need to spend some energy, so we spare you. But if you come and decide to destroy my business, you harm yourself and others. You harm my business, dear. The money from this w***e is what feeds you. It buys your clothes, pays for your parties, and guarantees the good marriage you will need in the future. If we can pay, we can get the best price. The best return for the family. I win. You win. But no—the ungrateful daughter of mine wants to save her!” “I already said it was me!” “Well, Bruno, you have experience with these ungrateful girls who refuse to accept their destiny, don’t you?” The soldier only smiles in confirmation as I am ignored. “After all, girls like the little redhead there should be grateful. She’ll have food and a bed for free for the rest of her life. She only needs to spread her legs once in a while, and even then, they complain. Then you come in and break them. Daughter, you need to see his work. They become beautiful dolls. Impeccable work.” “Father…” Raoul speaks for the first time. “Son, do not worry. You already worked hard today. Unfortunately, Bruno, you will have double the work tonight. Take them.” He comes closer to me and strokes my face. He kisses my forehead. Then he approaches Alexandra and makes the same gesture, but not before removing the coat protecting her, staring at her breasts, and roughly squeezing her face between his hands. “This one, you break while Valentina watches.” “With pleasure, sir.” “Do not forget. With my girl, be careful. Keep her pure. Our plans depend on that.” Consciousness knocks me out. Father is handing me over to the devil. And I will dance with him tonight. Until I am irreparably and irrevocably broken.