Chapter 8 Escape
\[Lilia\]
I hadn’t realized that I had fallen asleep on the bathroom floor, crying. I just woke up to Aya screaming like a banshee when she saw me lying on the cold tiles the next morning. I jolted up and stared at her, bewildered, and my brain was still fuzzy from standing up straight in a rush. It was like all the blood had left my body on the floor.
“Goodness! Lilia, what happened to you?” Her shocked expression greeted me at the bathroom door.
I looked down on myself and saw my disheveled state. My torn nightdress, bruised, swollen lips, red bite marks on my collar down to my cleavage, and purple hand imprint on my wrists. I could also feel that my eyes looked like they were stung by a bee from being so puffed up.
The memory of what happened last night came rushing back to me, like an open dam flooding my system, reliving the pain and the fear that had consumed me. It all happened far too quickly. My mind was having a hard time grasping everything that occurred.
Kael almost forced himself on me; he was drunk, and for some reason, he stopped himself and left. However, he traumatized me by what he did.
“Lilia…” Aya trailed off as if, by looking at me, she already knew what had happened. I could tell the way her face fell and the pity that gleamed from her eyes.
I didn’t say anything. I just met her gaze straight in the face as I fought back the urge to cry, but I think there are no more tears left to cry my eyes out. I am so tired of being so weak. I already drained most of my strength from weeping my eyes out last night.
“Come, let’s get you cleaned up.” She stepped inside the bathroom and carefully took my arms. She was ushering me towards the tub.
This time, I didn’t protest when she slid my dress, taking it off of me. I also noticed the sharp intake of breath she took when she saw the remaining bite marks on my lower chest and on the insides of my legs, but I said nothing. Instead, she took the showerhead, set it on a warm temperature, and started cleaning me.
Carefully, scrubbing the area where Kael had clearly roamed his hands on me, lathering with a lot of soap. Aya knew the disgust I felt over my own skin.
Never in my entire life have I been assaulted. I haven’t even had my first kiss. For twenty years of my existence, no one had ever shown any interest in me. They say I am beautiful, a doll-like figure, especially my face, but no one ever showed any interest in me. The time we migrated here after my mother died, I drowned myself balancing my work and studies until I completely dropped from school.
I'm too preoccupied with keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table while my father indulges in his daily ritual of getting drunk. I didn’t have time to entertain any suitors or have the luxury of dating. I even believed that if that time came when I would start a family, I would give my purity to my future husband, him having the first of everything.
However, that notion had already been broken, much like a stone ricocheting against a wall of glass, shattering everything into tiny pieces. Making it impossible for me to pick up all the parts and mend it whole again.
Kael ripped that away from me, snatched it away like a prized possession, the moment I got sold to him.
Even though he didn't take advantage of my innocence last night, there is no guarantee that he won't do so again. And next time, I know there will be no reason for him not to take me by any means.
That is why he bought me for his pleasure.
“Lilia?” Aya suddenly called my name, breaking me out from my sentiments. I was too consumed by my own bubble of thoughts that I hadn’t realized Aya had already done bathing me, and she had a towel wrapped around me.
I only nodded my head, too scared that I would end up crying again if I spoke. It’s a good thing that she understood me and respected my silence. She didn’t ask me what exactly had happened. I know she already had a hunch about it by looking at the marks left on my body, but she didn’t go into asking me with the details on how it transpired. I also don't think I'd be able to tell her without breaking down and crying.
She escorted me out of the bathroom and made me sit on the bed while she arranged my clothes. Steaming hot soup was already set on the tray on top of the side table, together with buttered, toasted bread and a fried sunny-side-up egg.
Afterwards, Aya dressed me up and dried my hair with a towel while I sipped the soup with a spoon from the bowl. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was when I had the moment flavor burst on my tongue. I almost forgot that I had emptied my stomach last night.
Everything that happened last night came on flashing back on my mind, but I pushed them out of my head, swallowed hard on my food, and tried not to spill it out. I need to eat, or else I would die out of hunger.
As much as I hated everything that happened to my life, I still didn’t want to die.
Just as I was about to finish my food, I noticed that Aya had forgotten to prepare a glass of water. I had already raised my hand and was about to grab it when I realized there was none to be found.
“Oh, gosh! I completely forgot about your water! Please hold on a moment. I’ll run to the kitchen and get you some.” She must have noticed my action and jumped off from the bed, dashing towards the door as if her feet were on fire.
“Don’t try to swallow anything! You might choke!” She went on, yelling from the outside.
I turned around, looking at the door, only to find out that she had left it open.
As an idea rose to the top of my head, my chest pounded. My breath caught in my throat as I looked back at my unfinished meal and then towards the open door with trepidation. It seems too inviting for me to refuse, even just to have a peek outside.
Giving in to the notion, I push the tray aside and step down off the bed. Gingerly, I walked towards the exit. I poke out my head at first, looking if there is anyone guarding my room, only to find the empty hallway.
I stood straight, taking a look at my flaming red room then back to the empty hallway.
This might be my chance to get the hell out of this place.
And without thinking straight, I took a step outside and ran.
Run as if the hounds of hell were chasing me to death.