Chapter 18: Traces of Wounds and New Promises

The small, dark room feels like a prison. Sofia sat in the corner, her body rigid, hugging her knees tightly. Her mind whirled endlessly. Ricardo, Dario, the threats, the gun that almost pierced her life, replayed in her head like a never-ending nightmare.

Dario stands on the other side of the room, his back leaning against the wall. He doesn’t try to approach Sofia, knowing that distance is the only thing that might give her room to breathe. However, his eyes kept watching the girl. She could feel the weight of guilt hanging in the air.

“I have no choice,” Dario said, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost a whisper, and nearly lost in the silence.

Sofia looked up, her eyes red from holding back tears. “No choice? You almost killed me, Dario. It was more than just ‘no choice.’”

Dario took a step closer, but he kept his distance. “Ricardo wanted to see my reaction. He never intended to let anything happen to you. I know that.”

“You know that?” Sofia stood up, her voice rising. “What if you’re wrong? What if she wanted me dead? Is that a risk worth taking just to prove something to him?”

Dario doesn’t answer. The look in his eyes turns dark, revealing the internal battle he is trying to hide.

“I never wanted you to be involved in any of this,” Dario said, his tone almost regretful. “But now that you’re here, I must ensure you leave here alive.”

Sofia looked at him, trying to find the honesty behind his words. But the wound that had just opened was too fresh to heal the disbelief growing inside her.

“It’s not the first time someone has said that to me,” Sofia said quietly, her voice almost drowned out.

Dario frowned. “What do you mean?”

Sofia turned her gaze to the wall, her eyes glazed over. “My father. He always said he wanted to protect me, but ultimately, he made my life harder. He uses me as an excuse for every mistake he makes. I’m sick of people saying they’re doing things for me, but they’re just protecting themselves.”

Dario was silent. Sofia’s words were like daggers piercing his heart. He knew he had no right to defend himself now.

“I’m not your father,” Dario said, calm but firm.

Sofia chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “You’re right. You’re worse. At least my father never held a gun to my head.”

Dario took a deep breath, trying to calm his own emotions. “You can hate me. You can doubt me. But I swear, Sofia, I will get you out of this. Alive.”

Sofia looked at him with eyes full of disappointment. “Those words don’t mean anything, Dario. Not if I can’t trust you.”

Dario moved closer, this time close enough to see the hurt in Sofia’s eyes. “I will regain your trust,” he said, his tone full of conviction. “Even if it’s the last thing I do.”

The tension between them remains palpable as the night wears on. But slowly, Sofia begins to open her mind to reality. She may hate Dario now, but she knows she can’t survive alone in this place.

“You said you had a plan,” Sofia finally said, her voice flat. “What is it?”

Dario looked at her thoughtfully. “I’m looking for an opening to take Ricardo down. He’s an old enemy of mine, and I know his weaknesses. But I need time.”

“How long?” Sofia asked sharply.

Dario shook his head. “I don’t know. But I’ll make sure you stay safe until then.”

“Safe?” Sofia laughed bitterly. “In this place? With you?”

Dario still needs to reply. Instead, he looked at her with a determined gaze as if trying to reassure her without words.

When Sofia finally fell asleep on the small sofa in the corner of the room, Dario stayed awake. He sat in a chair with his gun in hand, his eyes never leaving the door.

He knew danger was approaching. Ricardo was different from the type who settled for small tests. He will continue to try to destabilize Dario, and Sofia is the key in this game.

Dario looked at Sofia, who was asleep; her face seemed calmer. At that moment, he realized something that surprised him—he didn’t just want to protect Sofia because of his plan. There was something deeper, something that made him willing to risk his life for her.

Sofia wakes up with a racing heart in the middle of the night. The echoing nightmares of the previous events made it difficult for her to breathe. In the darkness, she could see Dario’s shadow sitting on a chair, his back straight and his eyes alert.

“You’re not asleep yet?” Sofia asked quietly, her voice hoarse.

Dario turned his head slightly but didn’t answer. Sofia could see dark circles under his eyes in the dim light, indicating that the man hadn’t rested in a long time.

“What are you waiting for?” Sofia sighed, trying to relieve the tension that kept taking over her mind.

“An attack,” Dario replied briefly.

Sofia raised an eyebrow. “You always think everyone wants to attack you?”

Dario sighs softly, finally looking at her with a penetrating gaze. “If you lived like me, you’d know that paranoia can save your life.”

“What kind of life are you living?” Sofia asked, her voice full of curiosity despite the lurking weariness.

Dario was silent for a moment. The question made him reflect. “A life that never lets you have anything without the risk of losing it all.”

Sofia tilted her head, trying to figure out the meaning behind his words. “And me? Am I one of the things you want to have, albeit at great risk?”

The question kept Dario silent for a while longer. He finally said, “I don’t know. But I know I don’t want to lose you.”

Sofia felt those words were honest, but she was too tired to dig deeper. “What are your plans exactly, Dario? Don’t give me any more vague answers.”

Dario stood up from his chair, walking closer to the window. He looked outside, making sure there was no suspicious movement before speaking. “Ricardo has a weakness. He believes that everyone around him fears him. But I knew one of his men, Marco, held a grudge. I just need time to capitalize on it.”

“Marco?” Sofia repeated the name, trying to remember the man’s face.

“Yes. He’s a big man with a scar on his face. You might have seen him when we were first brought here.”

Sofia nodded slowly. “And you’re sure he’ll help us?”

Dario turned around, looking at Sofia seriously. “I’m not sure of anything, Sofia. But I have to try. If there’s one loophole we can exploit, it’s there. “I

Sofia felt something different in the way Dario spoke. The man is usually calculating, but he sounds more open this time. Maybe it’s because of the pressure that continues to crush them, or perhaps he’s starting to care about Sofia.

“If you fail...” Sofia starts to speak, but Dario cuts her off.

“I won’t fail,” he said firmly. “I can’t fail. If I do, neither of us will leave this place alive.”

Sofia remained silent. Although she still found it challenging to trust Dario completely, his tone made her want to believe him—if only he.

I’ll help you,” she said finally.

Dario looked at him with raised eyebrows. “Help me?”

“Yes,” Sofia confirmed. “If we’re going to get out of here, I don’t want just to sit back and wait for a miracle to happen.”

A faint smile appeared on Dario’s face. “You’re stronger than you think, Sofia.”

They spent the rest of the evening devising a simple plan. Sofia would try to approach Marco, using his presence as an excuse to start a conversation. She would find out what Marco felt towards Ricardo and if there was any way to persuade him to side with them.

However, amid their discussion, Sofia couldn’t help the curiosity growing in her heart. “Dario, why are you so sure I can do this?”

Dario looked at her intensely. His dark eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light. “Because you don’t give up easily. If you can survive this far, you can do anything.”

Sofia felt her cheeks flush. She wanted to argue, but Dario’s words were too sincere to ignore.

Before they rested, Dario approached Sofia. “Whatever happens tomorrow, remember this. I won’t leave you.”

Sofia looked at him, trying to find doubt in his eyes, but all she saw was sincerity.

“Don’t say something you can’t fulfill,” Sofia warned, although her voice was softer than she intended.

“I never break my promises,” Dario replied firmly.

That night, although tension still loomed over them, something had changed. For the first time, Sofia felt there was a small hope amidst all this chaos.