Chapter 10

"W-What are you d-doing?" I moved back on the bed as he came closer. "Ace, stop," I said, when I had reached the edge of the bed.

Without batting an eyelid, he grabbed hold of my wrists and pulled me towards him.

"Stop it!" I tried to get out of his hold, but he immediately pinned me down. His eyes fixed on mine, and they showed no sign of compassion.

"Please…" I mumbled, resorting to begging. I could not get him off me despite trying my best, but I did not give up. If I gave up, then I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror again.

Ace shifted a little, now using only one hand to hold my wrists. His other hand gripped my waist, making me scream at the realization of what he planned on doing.

"No, no, Ace, no!" My screams fell on deaf ears as his hand violated me.

"Shut up," he said, his nails digging into my wrist. "You'll only make it worse for yourself."

My mouth had gone dry. A million thoughts raced through my mind. I could not let this happen. Not now. I was not ready.

"You can't do this to me," I said, the helplessness in my eyes replaced with furious rage. "I'm not ready. You have no right to exploit my privacy."

"Oh yeah?" he challenged me. The loathe in his eyes vanished and he scoffed. "I have every right. You're my wife. This is your duty."

I struggled against him, trying to kick my legs, trying to push him off, but his hold on me only tightened, making me cry out in pain.

"Let's get this over with quickly," he said. It was more of a warning than a statement.

You can't give up. No, Dalia. Do something. This can't happen. No.

"I'm begging you, Ace. Please let me go." My tears had wet the sheets. I could feel the wetness touch my cheeks as I struggled.

His weight shifted again and then he exposed me.

No one could hear my screams and those who could did not have the power to save me. Like a leech sucking out blood, with every touch, my soul was sucked out of my body. My mind stopped working, there was only numbness everywhere.

Ma, help me.

***

"Don't touch me," I muttered, pulling the quilt over my body after snatching it from Irene's hand.

"Why don't you freshen up? I'll bring you some breakfast," she said, trying to lighten up the situation. She knew what had happened. She had heard my screams filling up the house. From her voice, I knew that she had cried. But she was here, behaving like nothing was wrong.

Did she think that ignoring something would make it disappear? Did she think that not acknowledging a situation would somehow make it unhappen?

Ace had left the room over an hour ago, taking away with him every ounce of self-love that I had for myself.

I could no longer feel anything. No pain, no sadness, no regret, no anger, no hatred, no fear. I was just there on that bed, not knowing what to do.

"Go away," I said, seeing Irene still standing there, staring at me. My voice was hoarse and sounded like a damaged recorder—broken and useless.

"But…" She seemed unsure.

"Just go." I could not face her.

I heard her leave. Then I heard the door closing behind her and I jumped up to sit, my heart beating ruthlessly. My breathing had quickened, and my limbs had frozen.

I thought he had come back.

Placing a hand on my chest, I sat quietly for a few minutes. I could feel again. The dam guarding the water broke down and all at once the water flooded everything in sight with a demonic force.

At first, a sob escaped my lips, then another and another until I was eventually bawling. My fists clenched around the quilt and my teeth gritted. He had murdered my spirit and I had done nothing to stop him.

He was an animal that ate away my flesh. Like a coward, he had held me down and robbed me of the one thing that was solely mine.

Flashes of his scoffing face played in my mind, alternating with the hatred his eyes had carried. What had I done to make him loathe me this much overnight?

I pulled a pillow towards me, burying my face into it. Then I screamed. Again and again, until I no longer had the strength. I hit my fists on the bed, but nothing took away the stabbing pain in my heart.

How had this happened? Everything was going fine.

Why with me? Why with us?

I could still feel his hands on me, his cologne was everywhere. This bed, these sheets, this room…I had to get out. I could not stay in the room that had witnessed my defeat.