"Frank, please," I mouthed, my eyes pleading.
He just smiled at me, that same false tenderness I had once loved."It's okay, Ava. Just go along with it." This was the man who had reduced me to the lowest of the low, a laughingstock for everyone.
As soon as we entered the dancing pool, a storm of malicious gazes assaulted me.
"Look at her, all prim and proper on the surface, but a total slut underneath," someone sneered from the shadows.
Another voice piped up,"Yeah, I bet she's loving all the attention. She probably planned this whole thing." I wanted to run, to hide, but Alice still had a firm hold on my arm."Smile, Ava. This is your night," she hissed in my ear.
Suddenly, a beautifully wrapped blindfold was thrust in front of me, blocking my line of sight to Frank.
Alice stood there, beaming at me, but her smile sent a shiver down my spine.
"Ava, dear sister. I was wrong to cut in line yesterday. I want to make amends. Let's play a blindfold guessing game. If you can guess correctly, consider it my apology, okay?" she said, her voice sickeningly sweet.
"And about those videos online...?" she trailed off, her eyes glinting with malice."I mean, is that really you, sister - in - law? If so, you wouldn't... be cheating on my brother, would you?" She stole a quick glance at Frank, leaving the question hanging in the air, perfectly calculated.
"But hey, I believe in you. And I'm sure my brother does too! Come on, Ava. Let's have some fun to lighten the mood," she added, feigning innocence.
"Alice, don't go too far," Frank interjected half - heartedly.
In an instant, all eyes in the room were on me.
I opened my mouth to decline, but Frank beat me to it.
"Sure, you play. Consider it a favor for your future sister - in - law," he said, his tone casual yet dismissive.
I was stunned. All those times he seemed to put me first were just an illusion. He had never really cared about me.
"Can I go home after this game? I'm exhausted and just want to rest," I asked, my voice weary.
Frank hesitated for a moment, then nodded after a pointed cough from Alice.
The game was simple: I was to be blindfolded, spin ten times, and then find Frank.
The moment the blindfold was secured over my eyes, I felt a searing - hot liquid splash all over my body.
I gasped in shock and horror, my heart pounding wildly in my chest."What the hell?!" I cried out, my voice echoing in the suddenly silent room.
Something spicy splashed on my body.
"Who the hell did this?!" I shrieked, my hands flying to the blindfold.
But before I could even touch it, a pair of rough hands clamped down on my wrists."Let go of me!" I screamed, thrashing wildly.
"Not so fast, bitch," a gruff voice growled."You're not going anywhere." Suddenly, my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor.
"Look at her! She's already breaking!" someone cackled.
"Yeah, what a weakling," another sneered.
Hands were everywhere, pulling at my clothes, groping my body. I tried to push them away, but there were too many.
"Stop! Please!" I begged, my voice breaking.
"Didn't I warn you about Alice?" a cold voice hissed in my ear."She's Frank's precious little sister, and you thought you could mess with her? You're paying the price now, sister - in - law.""On your knees, slut!" someone roared.
"Lick the floor, or we'll make you regret it!" The room erupted in laughter and whistles."Do it! Do it!" they chanted.
I was sobbing, alone in the darkness of the blindfold, surrounded by this mob of cruel strangers.
"Please, have mercy," I whimpered, but my pleas were drowned out by their jeers.
"Get up and show us what you're made of, or we'll keep going," a voice threatened."You thought you could stand up to us? Now you're nothing but our plaything."
I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth as I mustered all my strength to call out for Frank.
"Frank! Please, don't let them humiliate me like this!" I cried, my voice hoarse and desperate.
But he remained unmoved, sitting in the corner, casually puffing out smoke rings as if the nightmare unfolding before him was of no consequence.
Suddenly, someone shoved a foreign object between my legs.
A searing pain shot through my body, and the world around me darkened.
I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness, the last of my dignity and hope fading away.
When I finally regained consciousness, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.
The soreness that permeated every inch of my body was a constant reminder of the horror I had endured, and it filled me with a profound sense of despair.
Just then, Frank pushed open the door.
Gone was the cold, heartless man from the previous night.
He wore his usual gentle expression, as if nothing had happened.
"Feeling better? You fainted after just two spins yesterday. You really scared me," he said, his voice soft and soothing.
Behind him, Alice stepped forward, pouting slightly as she feigned concern and placed a hand on my forehead.
"Don't worry, big brother. Ava is going to be just fine," she cooed, her eyes glinting with something malicious.
I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Fragments of the previous night's humiliation flashed through my mind, assaulting me relentlessly.