“What the hell did I tell you before I left?” he demanded. “Didn’t I make it clear that you were supposed to protect Natalia?”
I stayed quiet.
He tightened his grip and dragged me closer. “Then explain something to me. Why did she end up giving blood for my treatment? Why did she nearly die while you stood there doing nothing?”
My chest hurt where the stitches were tearing but I didn’t react.
“Talk!” His fingers grabbed my chin and forced my face up. “Who gave you the guts to ignore my order?”
My throat felt dry. “I know I was wrong.”
Even saying it hurt.
Because I knew the truth.
Natalia had taken credit for what I did and twisted the story so it looked like I forced her to help. But what was the point of explaining? Would he believe me?
No.
Of course not.
Westley stared at me for a moment like he was deciding how angry he wanted to be.
“Since you’re admitting it,” he said coldly, “then you can reflect on your mistake.”
I didn’t answer.
“You’ll stay in the basement until you confess properly,” he continued. “No food. Just water. Maybe hunger will help you remember what loyalty means.”
Then he let go and walked out.
The guards dragged me downstairs not long after.
The basement smelled like rot and damp concrete. I barely had time to sit before I heard scratching sounds in the dark.
Rats.
Big ones.
Hungry ones.
I laughed quietly to myself. Was this supposed to scare me? After everything else, was this really the worst he could do?
By the time they opened the door again, I didn’t even know how many days had passed. Three? Four? Five? I don't know.
Blinding sunlight poured in and burned my eyes.
Hands pulled me outside and dumped me on the ground.
My body felt shredded. Bite marks and scratches covered my arms and legs. My clothes were torn and sticky with dried blood.
I saw Westley standing a few feet away with his hands behind his back.
“Do you understand your mistake now?” he asked.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
I stayed on the ground and forced myself to speak. “Yeah. I understand.”
My voice barely came out.
“This is your only warning,” he said. “Don’t make me repeat this lesson again.”
Something small landed beside me.
A pill.
“This will keep you alive,” he added. “Take it and go heal yourself. You look disgusting.”
I slowly picked it up with shaking fingers.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
The pill tasted bitter when I swallowed it. But honestly? My heart already tasted worse.
Back in my small backyard room, I cleaned my wounds alone. No doctor. No nurse. Just me.
The drug I had taken earlier was slowly doing its job. My heartbeat kept getting weaker day by day. The man who gave it to me said the body would stop breathing on the fourtenth day.
That was all I needed and I counted each one quietly. Maybe this was freedom. Maybe dying was the only way out of this place.
…
Soon Natalia’s birthday arrived.
The mansion turned into a giant party. Expensive cars lined the driveway and rich guests filled the halls with laughter and champagne.
I stood in the corner like always.
Natalia walked down the stairs in a glittering silver dress, smiling like she owned the world. Guests kept handing her gifts. Designer jewelry, luxury watches, limited edition handbags.
Westley stepped forward last. He handed her a small velvet box.
She opened it and gasped. “Westley… this is beautiful!”
Inside was a custom diamond necklace. Huge stones. Probably worth more than most people’s houses. He stepped behind her and fastened it around her neck.
“It suits you,” he said.
She leaned into him happily. “Of course it does. You have good taste.”
Everyone laughed.
After a while she slowly walked across the room and stopped right in front of me.
“Amelia,” she said sweetly. “You’ve been standing there all night. Aren’t you going to wish me a happy birthday?”
“Happy birthday.”
“And my gift?” she asked.
I stayed silent.
She tilted her head. “Wait. Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare anything.”
“I’m just security,” I said quietly. “I don’t have anything worth giving.”
She pouted dramatically and looked around at the guests. “Did you hear that? My own sister didn’t bring me a birthday gift.”
A few people chuckled.
Then her eyes lit up like she had a brilliant idea.
“Oh I know,” she said. “Why don’t you entertain us instead?”
My stomach tightened.
“You used to fight your way out of underground arenas before Westley picked you up, right?” she continued with a playful smile. “I’ve heard those stories but I never got to see it myself.”
I looked at her silently.
She clapped her hands. “Perfect. There are some starving Leopards in the backyard cage. Why don’t you fight them?”
The room went quiet.
“Come on,” she added with a laugh. “Show everyone how amazing you are.”
My eyes slowly moved toward Westley. For a second he frowned slightly. Maybe he would stop this.
Maybe.
Natalia noticed and immediately hugged his arm. “If you’re worried about your bodyguard getting hurt then forget it. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Westley looked down at her. “That’s not it.”
“Then what?” she asked softly.
“I was just thinking it might be too bloody,” he said. “You might get scared.”
She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “Not if you’re here.”
Then he looked straight at me.
“Go.”
Two words.
That was all it took. I bit my lips hard and nodded.
…
Inside the cage, four leopards paced slowly, their eyes locked on me like I was already dead.
Their ribs showed through their skin. They were starving.
So was I, in a way.
My arm still hadn’t healed and my chest felt tight every time I breathed. My body was slower than usual. Weak. Unstable.
Great timing.
The first leopard lunged.
I barely dodged to the side and grabbed the knife strapped to my thigh, driving it straight into its side. Warm blood splashed across my face and hands.
The other two went crazy.
“Come on…” I muttered under my breath. “Just come already.”
The second one came from the left. I twisted, slashing across its face, but it still managed to knock me off balance. I hit the ground hard.
The third one didn’t hesitate.
Its jaws sank into my arm.
Pain exploded through my body and I let out a low sound, not even a full scream. More like something breaking inside me.
I shoved the blade into its neck again and again until it let go.
I staggered back, my arm bleeding badly.
For a second my vision blurred.
And I thought I saw Westley stand up from his seat.
Did he finally care?
