Leaving my chin, he grabbed both of my arms and pulled them forward, holding me still. My heart cracked open in a million pieces when I felt one of them at my entrance.
My whole body was shaking violently and I quickly went numb. The first man slammed into me. Over and over again. He came with a roar. And then the second man took his turn.
With each thrust, I lost a piece of myself. With each groan, I lost the pieces of my shattered heart. With each moan, I lost a piece of my soul.
I no longer felt anything. I was just an empty shell. It felt like there was a big hole in my chest and my stomach twisted painfully when the man finished inside of me. My throat closed up and before I could stop myself, I vomited on the table.
Alberto laughed and then pulled out his gun and pointed it behind me. Closing my eyes, I let my head fall on the table, my body broken, ravaged and limp. I silently begged for mercy.
I heard two gunshots.
My eyes snapped open and I saw blood.
They were dead.
I screamed.
My screams filled my ears as I sobbed. My cries were filled with pain and fear.
Please. No more. I can’t take it. No more. Please.
I woke up crying and shaking. My ears were still ringing from the screams in my nightmare. I couldn’t breathe. The pressure in my heart was painful. I gasped and then sucked in a deep breath, but choked instead.
My body shook violently and I gagged several times. My night dress was soaked with my sweat. My skin was itching. It felt like thousands of ants were moving underneath them. I scratched and scratched.
But I saw blood. I was covered in blood.
No. No. No.
Grabbing my head, I pulled at my hair. My scalp hurt and burned. My vision blurred with tears and dizziness filled me.
I was burning.
I was dying.
My heart was beating so hard in my chest that my rib cage was hurting. My stomach churned as my legs spasmed.
Pushing the comforter away with shaky hands, I stumbled out of bed and fell on the ground. My legs couldn’t hold me. I looked at my hands and saw they were clean. No blood.
Gasping, I shook my head and closed my eyes. I gritted my teeth as a searing pain went through my skull.
My breathing was coming out in hard pants and my chest was squeezed so tightly I couldn’t take in a breath. Opening my eyes, I looked down at my hands to see blood again.
Blood. Their blood.
I rubbed my hands over my dress, trying to get rid of it. I dry heaved, my body bending forward painfully. Snot ran down my face and tears were streaming down my cheeks as I cried, falling down on the floor.
I wanted to die. I couldn’t take it anymore.
The pain.
I couldn’t live with it anymore.
I wanted peace.
I needed peace.
Please, I begged. To whoever was listening. I begged. Please.
I didn’t know what came over me, but I started crawling toward my door. My harsh gasps filled the room, and through blurry vision, I made it to the door. I pulled myself upward and opened it. Swallowing hard, I stumbled outside and fell down. My legs wouldn’t hold me up.
I dragged myself to the bedroom down the hall. My sniffles filled the hallway and tears continuously ran down my cheeks.
Peace.
Just for one moment.
I needed it.
I needed to breathe.
When I reached the door that I wanted, I slumped against it. My heart clenched tight. I wheezed, my lungs fighting against the air I was taking. I choked on my breath as I tried to stand up. Holding onto the door, I dragged myself up and collapsed against it.
“Alessio,” I whispered, my eyes rolling back in my head as I started to lose consciousness.
Peace.
Alessio brought peace.
And I needed it.
My hand slapped against the door. I could barely move my hands but I tried.
Just when I was about to give up and fall down, letting my impending death take over my body, the door opened and I fell forward. Right into his arms.
Peace.
Clenching his shirt in my fist, I cried.
“Make…it…stop. Please. I can’t…take…it.”
I sobbed.
“Make it stop.”
Chapter 22
Alessio
I was just about to the turn off the lights when I heard a light knock on the door. My forehead creased in confusion as I stood up straight and stared at the door. I heard the tap again.
It was late. Who could it be?
I waited for the knock again, but it didn’t come. Instead, I heard something rustling against the door. Quickly walking toward it, I grabbed the knob and opened the door wide.
Before I could blink or see who it was, someone tumbled forward into my arms. My eyes widened. Ayla.
She was trembling from head to toe, her whole body shaking so violently that she could barely keep herself up. I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her to my body.