Pain exploded through me and I screamed, but it came out muffled behind the tape. The second hit came and my vision blurred instantly, it felt like hot metal was pressed into my flesh, burning and ripping everything apart. I couldn’t breathe, or maybe I was breathing too fast, I didn’t even know anymore.
The third hit made me bite down so hard I tasted blood, my whole body curling and shaking, pain sinking into my bones with no escape. It didn’t stop. Again and again and again.
By the time he reached ninety-nine, I wasn’t fighting anymore. My body was soaked in blood, twitching like it didn’t belong to me. My mind drifted somewhere far away and I remembered something. He once said he’d punish her, said he’d tie her up and whip her and make her pay for what she did to me. He promised. So why… why was I the one here? Why was I the one bleeding under his hands?
“Shannon,” his voice came through the haze, calm like nothing happened. “How many men did she bring to mess with you?”
“…Ten,” she whispered.
“Good,” he said coldly. “Then I’ll make it worse.” My heart dropped.
“Bring in a hundred of the filthiest guys you can find,” he ordered. “And give her something to make it more fun.”
He stepped forward and kicked my chin hard. “You think you can touch my wife and walk away? I’ll fucking ruin you.”
The mask fell off.
“Felix…!” I forced the sound out, everything breaking inside me. “If you knew it was me… would you regret it?”
But it didn’t come out right, just broken sounds and choking sobs. He didn’t even look. He had already turned away, holding Shannon’s hand.
“Don’t look,” he told her gently. “It’s disgusting. I’ll stay with you the next few days, alright?”
Their voices faded and the door closed. Someone came in and untied me just enough to shove a pill into my mouth. I tried to resist but couldn’t. My body started heating up almost immediately, too fast, too much. My chest tightened and my skin felt like it was burning.
Then they came. One after another. Dirty men, reeking, their eyes crawling over me like I wasn’t even human. Hands touched me, rough and sick. I felt like throwing up and then something worse happened, my body reacted, heat spreading in a way that felt wrong and disgusting, mixing with the pain until I couldn’t tell anything apart. Tears streamed down my face. What is happening to me…?
I grabbed the nearest thing I could reach, a vase. Smashed it. And drove a shard into my thigh. The pain hit sharp and clean and cleared my head just enough. I looked up and they were getting closer, no way out except the window behind me. I didn’t think, I just ran and jumped.
For a second I thought I was dead, but I hit grass. It hurt like hell but I was alive. The back door of the club was open and I ran, didn’t stop, didn’t look back. Blood soaked through everything and my body screamed at me but I kept going.
My phone kept vibrating. I checked.
[Danica, this project’s gonna take a few more days. Be good and wait for me at home. Love you.]
I laughed, broken and empty. Another message came.
“Your identity cancellation has been completed. All records under this name are now invalid.”
I stared at it and then I smiled, for real this time. I was finally gone.
...
Back at the villa, I packed fast. He had taken most of my documents long ago but it didn’t matter anymore. That person didn’t exist. I only took what I needed. I took off the ring, still stained with my blood, and placed it on the desk. He’d see it. He’d know everything he did.
I used to think I’d take revenge myself but now I didn’t have to. That ring was enough. It would destroy him.
When I left, it was night. The sky was deep blue and the stars were faint under the city lights, but they were still there. And stars… they always shine eventually, right?
I bought a ticket under my new name. One way.
As the plane lifted into the sky, I leaned back and closed my eyes. I was getting closer to something new.
Goodbye, Felix. I just hoped we’d never meet again.
