Chapter 6 The reveal
Revised 6
Madison's POV
Blood.
They were all over my hand. Sticky and drying into my skin.
I had taken someone else's life.
I wrapped the blanket around my body, rocking myself back and forth on the bed. My body trembled.
Breathe, Madison. Breathe. I chanted in my head.
How could I do that after what I had I just witnessed?
We shot a man without thinking twice and now his blood was on my head. I kept saying we because the truth was harder to swallow. If I hadn’t showed up at the Don's office; If I hadn’t pushed to see the Don; If I hadn’t existed -
Maybe he would've still been alive.
"You are going to kill yourself this way, dear child." Dina, the lady that had been looking after me, said.
She talked to me even though I was mostly acting mute around her.
Not waiting for my response, she rushed to my side, pulling me into her. Her soft palm grazed my cheek, cleaning the tears.
My body shook uncontrollably as she patted my back. It was as if all hell had been broken loose. "How can a human be so cruel to his fellow human."
"He wasn't always like that as a growing child. In fact, you wouldn't believe it but he had a good part."
Indeed, I wasn't ever going to believe that.
All I knew was that Alessandro had a heart of stone and was definitely not human.
He probably sold his emotion and human empathy for wealth and riches.
"What will I do without Ales. He pays me so well and takes good care of my family." She told me, rubbing my back softly. The tears had begun to reduce.
I didn't have any reply for that. He may have his reason for doing all those things. I had learnt not to put anything past him.
Suddenly, the familiar smell of wood and cinnamon became stronger. I could tell he was very close by.
"Ales." Dina's grip softened.
"Excuse us, Dina." Alessandro voice was cold.
I sat up, moving away from her. My blood was boiling inside of me from just hearing him talk.
"Ales she's running temperature from crying too much. If you can just give her a little time to rest and maybe come back -"
"Dina." He growled, his tone sharp.
She gasped slightly, standing up. The bed made a squishy sound to prove that.
Alessandro didn't say anything until the door slammed.
"You failed your test yesterday, Madison." The sound of iron scrapping the ground, pierced my ear.
"You shot him." I said, my voice hoarse.
"Were you going to?" I could hear the smirk in his tone. "One thing I hate is delay and you did just that yesterday. Very bad of you, Raven."
His hand trailed up my thigh, slowly. My breath hitched, my heart racing fast. What was he up to now?
"S..still you shouldn't have shot him. He apologized."
"And I don't give two shits about his damn apology." He snapped, gripping my thigh hard, a bit. "This isn't even about the bastard. You failed your test to prove yourself worthy of my mercy."
I scoffed in disgust. "You really don't have a heart."
"I don't."
"You don't care about anyone but yourself and your selfish gain."
"Exactly. You're getting it slowly." He patted my thigh softly.
I pulled my thigh away, knocking his hands away. "Don't touch me."
"I'd advise you drop this behavior now. You're crossing your boundaries." He said, his voice low but somewhat threatening.
"You said you'd do anything. I rarely show mercy but today, I'm going to give you another chance to redeem yourself." His hand brushed my hair roughly.
I wasn't interested anymore but then my life would be on the line if I said that out loud.
What was I going to do?
"It all depends on if you want that." He asked, acting like my opinion suddenly mattered.
"What are the stakes?"
"Stakes? Nothing much." He leaned forward, his breath fanning my neck. "We're just going to repeat same routine from yesterday but this time, it's a lady."
My blood ran cold. Impulsively, I pushed him away with all my might. "You're disgusting." I spat. Like, literally.
"Hm." Was all he said. My hair was yanked back roughly, my scalp hot. "You spat on me?"
I held his hand, trying to stop him from ripping out my hair from my scalp.
"You're hurting me." I cried, my voice small.
"Maybe it's high time I punish you. You've been naughty." He yanked me up by my hand, pulling me away, not minding if he was hurting me with his grip or not.
From the way his grip stung, I could tell he was so mad and that I was in big trouble.
He forced me down on a hard steel - one I figured out to be a steel chair. I could only hear his ragged breathing as he shuffled around.
"What are you going to do with me?" My voice shook as I spoke, the little boldness I used to confront him, gone.
"You'd find out soon." He pulled my hands behind the chair, tying it. I began to panic, my heart beat rummaging hard against my ribs.
"Don..."
"Save your strength for what you're about to face." He patted my cheek, his voice a bit lighter. "This is going to be fun."
"Look I'm sorry. I didn't mean to -"
"Oh you did. If you were given a gun, you'd have shot me too." He growled sinisterly.
His switch in mood baffled me.
"But anyway, I'd feel good in 5, 4, 3, 2...." He stopped counting for a while. Then his voice echoed loud. "Now!"
Something fell on my dress and then it's number increased. They poured on me like rain, some clung to my skin.
My body went rigid when I felt the cold slimy movement up my skin.
"Since you can't see, I'll tell you my plans." Alessandro spoke. "So these worms are going to enjoy the benefit of moving freely until they enter into your nostrils or your eyes - whichever happens first - and yeah, just like that." His tone was so light.
I thought he was joking until one dangled in my vision, hanging from my eyelashes.
Don't yell, Madison. Remember, you need to keep acting blind until you get what you want.
Don't react.
Don't -
"Stop!" I yelled, shutting my eyes.
My body froze when I realized what I had just done. Slowly, I peeled my eyes open, staring directly into his onyx eyes, gauging his emotion.
His eyes turned darker, his hand clenched into a fist. "You see."
Oh boy.