Bethany eyed me from head to toe, her face twisted in disgust. “Have you looked in a mirror? Jeez, I’ve never seen a woman as pathetic as you. You’re so pale and thin, you don’t even look human. No wonder he can’t stand you. No man would.”
I struggled to keep my composure, my stomach churning with revulsion. “Where’s Rio?”
Bethany’s laugh cut through the air. “You really thought Rio would show up?” she scoffed. “I was the one who sent those texts, dummy. Didn’t think you’d actually fall for it. Oh my god, you’re so dumb it’s hilarious.”
Before I even registered what I was doing, my hand moved on its own. A sharp crack echoed through the room, followed by the sting in my palm.
Bethany staggered back, her eyes blazing with disbelief. “You… you dare slap me?” she hissed.
I met her glare with a cold, cutting laugh. “Yeah, I did, Bethany. And let me make one thing clear—I’m not someone you can push around.”
“I let you get away with things for the sake of keeping the peace with Rio. But now? I don’t give a damn anymore and I won’t just stand by while you pull your crap.”
I turned on my heel, ready to walk away, my head pounding with frustration.
But before I could take a step, the door burst open with a deafening crash. Two towering men stormed in, grabbing me—one on each side—locking me in a vice-like grip.
“What’s wrong? Thought you were tough?” Bethany sneered, stepping closer. “Not so tough now, huh?”
Her voice dripped with venom as she smirked. “You’re about to find out what happens when you cross me.”
She dug into her bag and pulled out a handkerchief and the moment she waved it in the air, a sickly sweet, cloying odor filled the room. My body froze in recognition. I knew what it was and my pulse spiked with panic. I fought against their grip, desperate to get away, but it was too late.
The cloth was pressed against my nose and mouth, the chemical smell overwhelming. My world spun, my vision blurred and everything faded to black.
***
I was waking up in a dimly lit, rundown warehouse. My wrists were bound to a rough wooden post, the rope digging into my skin, burning and tight. The sharp sting of the ropes was the first thing I felt as I struggled to clear my groggy head.
“Well, well, look who’s awake,” came Bethany’s voice, cold and mocking.
I blinked, trying to focus. And then, I saw her—Bethany, also tied up on a nearby post. Her smirk was still present, but there was something else too—triumph.
Before I could make sense of my surroundings, the door to the warehouse swung open with a loud creak. Two men entered, each holding a whip. Their lecherous grins made my stomach churn, their eyes hungry with malicious intent.
Bethany’s face lit up with a twisted sort of satisfaction as she saw them. “Rio just got the words,” she said, her voice dripping with triumph. “You two have fun with this slut. Make sure she knows her place.”
My heart sank as the realization hit me: this entire situation, this kidnapping, was orchestrated by Bethany. She had staged this whole thing, playing everyone in her cruel little game. But for what? To humiliate me? To break me? To destroy everything I had left?
I could feel my insides turn, a wave of nausea crashing over me as I saw the glee in Bethany's eyes. She was enjoying this—every second of it.
“Don't come any closer,” I whispered, my voice shaking, weak from the drugs and the pain. The rope around my wrists was cutting into me and I could barely hold on to consciousness.
But the men paid no attention. They walked toward me, leering with filthy smiles on their faces. One of them reached out, grabbing at my clothes with hands that made my skin crawl.
In a flash of pure instinct, I jerked my head to the side, biting down on his hand as hard as I could. Blood spurted from the wound and he screamed, pulling back in pain.
“Fucking bitch!” he yelled, his anger flaring as he slapped me hard across the face. The impact was brutal, sending stars flashing behind my eyes and the pain exploded through me in a fiery rush.
I spit blood onto the floor, locking eyes with him through the haze of pain. “You’d better kill me now, or I will make you pay for this,” I hissed, each word laced with fury.
The other man quickly grabbed his partner’s arm, pulling him back. “Don’t ruin it, idiot,” he muttered. “Beth wants her in one piece.”
With that, the first man cracked the whip, the sharp snap of it slicing through the air. The tip of the whip struck me hard across the back, the searing pain lancing through my body. My scream tore through the air, echoing in the vast emptiness of the warehouse. One strike, two strikes, three... each one worse than the last.
The pain was unbearable, my body trembling, my vision swimming. And then, suddenly, a stabbing pain in my stomach made me gasp. I felt warmth spreading between my legs, a sticky, cloying sensation that sent waves of panic surging through me.
I didn't want to die. Not like this. I was still so young and there was so much I hadn't done yet. The fear was suffocating, drowning me in its grip.
“Rio... help me,” I whispered, my voice a broken plea, the tears beginning to fall freely.
Bethany’s voice suddenly rang out in desperation. “Rio! Please... help me!” Her cries were sharp and full of fear, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Just as I thought I couldn’t take any more, the door to the warehouse burst open.
