Chapter 25 Anything to keep you by my side
Madison's POV
That man knew no mercy.
He knew just how to pass his message and it was obvious he didn't give a shit about who was at fault.
I knew I meant nothing to him but I was just a girl. All these punishments were messing with my mental health.
I didn't know how long I had been there in that dark room.
It was a miracle that I was still alive. I had even come in terms with facing my fear.
Only my hands were cuffed but I could walk and jump whenever I heard the shuffling sounds of the rats.
The guard had brought dog food and water. I called it dog food because they looked like leftovers and just something that was rejected or badly cooked.
I had rather starve than eat those.
"Madison? It's your lucky day." Stefan was the one who had come to bring me out of my misery. Two guards trooped in, pulling me up as they dragged me out with them. My legs were all jello and my stomach stung from being empty for days.
I was sure Stefan was laughing at me internally as he watched me.
"You stink." He snorted, covering his nose as he walked past me.
I knew I stinked. I could smell myself in there. I had begun to smell like the rats.
"Freshen her up and give her good food. I'm sure she has learnt her lesson." Stefan said to Dina when we had gotten into the Manor.
Kat paused what she was eating, staring at me wide eyes. I should get mad at her for all the lies she told but she already told me that she'd not be involved if I was caught.
"Oh dear. I'm so sorry about what Ales did. I don't know what came over him." Dina unlocked my room door, letting me go in first. "Wash up while I go prepare something good for you, okay?"
My head bobbed up and down, heavily. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled loudly like an earthquake.
"I'll be fast." She chuckled, closing the door.
When she closed the door, I fell to my knees, sobbing quietly, my hands on my mouth. My whole body hurt from staying on cold ground. I had even caught a cold and I wouldn't stop sneezing.
I felt like I wouldn't have made it out alive. If it wasn't them letting me die there, then the sore throat I had gotten from not drinking water and the growling, grumpy intestines that threatened to tear my flesh open, would've killed me.
Generally, I felt really terrible both inwardly and outwardly.
"Have water first." Dina walked inside again. I couldn't raise my head up because I didn't want her to see me crying.
She also didn't say anything as she dropped the water on the nightstand.
"Thank you." I whispered. I didn't think it was audible enough for her to hear me though.
She bolted the door softly as she left. Bracing myself up, I dragged myself to the bathroom, lazily scrubbing the dirt and smell away from my skin. I had no energy in me anymore but I managed to pull through everything.
"Took you a lot of time." A voice welcomed me once I entered the room.
I halted, holding my towel tight to my skin as I glared at him.
What did he want? Round 2?
I couldn't even talk because my throat still felt sore.
"No hi or hello to Don?" Alessandro smirked from where he sat on the bed. Of course, all these would be amusing to him.
Firstly, I had to get the water and so I did just that, ignoring him. The water scraped my throat, making me groan in pain.
"Are you okay?" Alessandro asked almost immediately, standing up. He creased his eyebrow in concern.
I concluded that I was hallucinating. He didn't care about me. He said it himself.
"What...what are you doing here?" I eyed him, taking a seat on the bed.
He just stared at me for a while, not saying anything. He opened his mouth and shook his head afterwards. "Are you cold?"
"I'll take care of myself. Please just..just leave." I begged, my voice soft.
He was the last person I wanted to see. I needed a me time. Some time away from him and everything that had to do with him.
Ignoring me, he walked up to my closet. He kept saying "No. Not at all" as he shuffled through my clothes.
He turned to me, holding up a sweatpant and hoodie. Just what I needed but I wasn't going to tell him.
"I don't need your help." I told him, eyeing him in disgust.
He was the cause of all these. He put me in this condition.
"Maddie, compared to what I do to people, that was an easy punishment. So don't push me." He frowned at me, his nose flaring.
Memories of when he shot Jero and beat his cousin until he blacked out, ran in my head. My body shivered slightly.
I had to behave myself immediately.
"I'll change inside the bathroom." I stretched my hand to take the clothes but he wouldn't give me. "What?"
"I'll get you undies. Change here." He went straight to where I kept my undies and pulled an underwear out. No bra.
How did he even know the position of these things?
"It's not com... complete." I said, trying not to act unaffected by the way he held out my undies with just his index finger. This was embarrassing.
He smirked. "I know. You don't need a bra. It gives chest pain and besides, the hoodie is thick."
I didn't argue any further as I dragged the underwear from him. I raised my eyebrow at him, silently asking him to turn.
He groaned, rolling his eyes. "It's not like I haven't seen it."
Huh?
"What did you say?" I asked, looking at him confused.
"You have 30 seconds to change, Maddie. Keep asking questions." He started counting down from 30.
By the time he got to number 5, I was bringing the hem of my hoodie down.
"And 1. Time's up." He sighed, turning to face me. His eyes slowly dragged around my body. "Are you sure you wore everything correctly?"
I rolled my eyes, sitting down. "Can you leave already? I'm dressed now and would love to sleep."
He took a seat too. "I have all the time in the world. Besides, you can't sleep on empty stomach. I heard you skipped food for 3 days."
So I was in there for 3 days. Tough. No wonder my stomach was giving me all that shit.
"They looked like dog shit." I admitted, frowning as I remembered everything all over. My chest tightened, the tears threatening to slip out, "You left me there to suffer. That was equivalent to pulling a trigger at me. There... There were rats and cockroaches with wings and you..you shot the only surviving bulb that would've lightened or kept the room warm."
"But look. You didn't die." He trailed his hands down my hair, softly.
I moved back - away from his touch, turning my face away. "That was so mean and wicked of you." I muttered under my breath.
He chuckled darkly. "I have never ever portrayed myself to you as a good person, Madison."
True.
"I'm sorry it's coming late dear. Oh Ales, you're here." Dina shot us amused look.
The sweet smell of the meal was the first thing to reach my nostrils. I sneezed strongly, covering my face.
"This sucks." I murmured, a bit irritated at myself.
"Exactly why I brought tea too. It'll help with the cold." Dina was about to drop the tray of food on the bed when Alessandro took it from her.
"I got this." He told her, ordering her to leave. "We wouldn't be needing you for the day."
Dina was shocked and so was I. Who was this person?
"You don't have to stress yourself, Don. I am -"
"I'm sure you don't want me returning this back to the kitchen." He glared at me - not so strong. I clenched my jaw, eyeing him. "So, just eat."
Obeying him, I quietly stuffed my mouth with food. I tried not to rush it and choke but I also couldn't eat slowly too.
Alessandro eyes were heavily focused on my face. I refused to look up or else I knew I'd have felt embarrassed and stopped eating.
"I think I'm okay." I attempted to carry the tray from his leg but he stopped me, placing his hands on mine.
My breath hitched, my eyes shooting up to his. He looked at me softly, his eyes flickered between my eyes and lips, trapping me. I swallowed hard, finding it hard to peel my eyes away.
He left you to die in there. Remember
I pulled away harshly, placing my hand on my thigh. He stood up with the tray in his hand. I watched him place it on the nightstand.
"You should sleep." He advised.
I wasn't feeling so sleepy but I wanted him gone and so I climbed the bed and pretended to sleep.
I expected him to go but then I felt the bed dip. His hands brushed my hair lightly. Only his calm breathing fanning my face.
My body had begun to relax, his soothing touch putting me into sweet slumber. My body shuddered, giving into the sleep little by little.
"I'm sor - I...I didn't mean to put you through that. Trust me." His voice cracked, a sound so small, making my ear perk up.
Oh you did.
"You can't leave my side, Raven. I will do anything to make sure of that." He paused his hand movement on my hair and then spoke again, his voice serious.
" Even if it means getting married to you instead. "