Chapter 11

But now she regretted it every single part of it.

As they dragged her away to the cell, she didn't have the energy to struggle anymore, roughly, they threw her to the cold damp floor, and then they walked to a part of the cell where different sizes of whips were hanged.

"Boss didn't specify the types of whip to be used." The first one said.

"Let's use level two then." The second one said. The whips were five levels, according to how strong and thick they were, the fifth was the largest.

They walked up to Tanya, who looked fearfully at them, as she was still laid on the ground.

"We'll give you thirty even though boss said, seventy, thief."

With that they gave her the first whip.

"Ahhhh!" She yelled.

Tanya's eyes widened as the whip cracked against her skin, the pain searing through her like a branding iron. She screamed again, her voice echoing off the cold, damp walls of the cell.

The two men stood over her, their faces expressionless, as they took turns administering the lashes. Tanya's body arched with each strike, her muscles tensing in agony.

Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, the whipping stopped. Tanya lay there, her chest heaving, her body trembling with pain and fear.

One of the men leaned down, his voice low and menacing. "You should have thought twice before stealing from the mafia, thief."

Tanya's eyes fluttered open, her gaze locking onto the man's face. She knew she had to stay strong, had to keep her wits about her if she was going to survive this.

With a Herculean effort, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I...I didn't steal from the mafia."

The man's expression didn't change, but Tanya saw a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Oh? Then who did you steal from?"

Tanya's heart was racing, but she knew she had to tread carefully. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"I stole from...from myself," she said finally, her voice firm.

The man raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Tanya's eyes locked onto his, her gaze burning with determination. "I mean that I stole my own freedom, my own life. And now...now I'm paying the price."

The man's expression changed, a hint of curiosity creeping into his eyes. He nodded, then stood up, his movements fluid.

"We'll see about that," he said, his voice low and mysterious.

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Tanya to wonder what lay ahead.

*NEXT DAY*

The sound of the cell doors being opened awoke Tanya, who had cried herself to sleep, the previous day.

She looked up, her vision a bit blurry to see Lucas staring at her.

Her heart skipped at the sight of him. What was her fate? Was he here to kill her?

He slowly bent to her, since she was sitting on the ground, her back on the wall and her hands tied behind her. She didn't know when they even had her hands tied together.

Lucas gave her a brief stare, before speaking, "Buenos días (good morning), little thief, now I have a simple question for you, how did you get in ?"

Tanya bent her head low, not ready to say anything.

"Can't you speak?" He asked.

"I...won't tell you." She said.

"Really? I guess you don't value the lives of your relatives then. Maybe your sisters." Lucas said, and her eyes widened.

"No. I'll tell you. It was two guards, they thought I was here for a nightstand and let me in. Please don't hurt my sisters." Tanya said, raising her head to make eyes contact.

"Good. You three clean her up and have her come meet me in the torture room." Lucas said, before walking away.

It was then she saw three maids, standing at the cell.

A guard then came in and cut the ropes, which bound her hands together.

Slowly she got up, she was weak and thirsty. The maids nodded at her, and began leading the way and she followed, partially limping in the process.

Soon after what seemed like forever to Tanya, they got to a wing, which contained different doors, with maids coming out now and then from each. Seems like it was the maids quarters.

"Follow me, please." One said, as the other two followed different directions.

Tanya followed her and they got to a particular room, which had two bed in it.

"Time for your bath." The maid said, with a smile and then walked to Tanya who looked like she was about to collapse.

She helped Tanya strip, and got her into the bathtub, which had been prepared for her.

As the warm water enveloped her, Tanya felt a mix of relief and agony. The maid, noticing her distress, gently began to clean her wounds, applying a soothing balm to the whip marks.

Tanya closed her eyes, trying to shut out the memories of the previous day's torture. But Lucas's words kept echoing in her mind: "Maybe your sisters."

She knew she had to protect her family, no matter what. The maid's gentle touch and the warm water seemed to wash away some of her fear, replacing it with determination.

After the bath, the maid handed Tanya a maid's gown.

"A maid's gown?" Tanya asked.

"Yes. That was what boss said to give to you. What's your name?"

Tanya nodded, her mind racing with thoughts of what Lucas had in mind.

"I'm Tanya, and you?"

"I'm Maria and we're roomies." Maria smiled lightly.

Tanya's eyes narrowed. "Roomies!. What do you mean by roomies?."

"You're a maid. So from now on you'd be staying here." Maria said, and Tanya's eyes widened.

What had she gotten herself into?

Staying here? In a mafia clan.

She wanted to ask a question, but wasn't sure whether to trust Maria, so she kept quiet and began putting on the maid gown.

"Stay here. I'll go get you food, I'm sure you are hungry." Maria said, before walking away.

Tanya had thought of running away, but hearing of the word food, she retreated, atleast she couldn't escape on an empty stomach.

Soon Maria returned, with a mouth watering dish, and without a word Tanya digged into it, savoring it's delicious taste.

As she was through eating, she took a bottle of water, opened it's cap and drowned its whole content. Then she felt satisfied.

Maria smiled, "Hmm...you sure we're hungry."

Tanya nodded, "Let's go meet the boss. We don't wanna keep him waiting."

"Oh right." Maria said, and got up, Tanya following her out.

"Do you have any idea of what's he wants to do to me?" Tanya asked.

Maria who glanced slightly at her.

Her expression turned sympathetic. "I don't know, Tanya. But please, be careful, just do as he says."

Tanya's heart sank, but she steeled herself for what lay ahead. She followed the Maria to the torture room, her mind racing with thoughts of her family and her own survival.