Chapter 5 Five

~AMELIE~ I was dragged away from the group, Victor's grip on my arm like a vice. I stumbled, trying to keep up with his long strides as he pulled me through the winding corridors of the warehouse. Ruth's desperate cries echoed behind me, but I couldn't look back. We emerged into a bright, sunlit day, and I squinted, disoriented. Victor tossed me into a waiting car, and I landed hard on the leather seat. The door slammed shut behind me, and I was alone with Victor. The drive was silent, the only sound was the hum of the engine and my own ragged breathing.

I tried to process what was happening, but my mind was a jumble of fear and confusion. We pulled up to a grand estate, the Cassano family crest emblazoned on the gate. Victor dragged me out of the car, and I stumbled, my legs trembling beneath me. Inside, the house was opulent, marble floors and crystal chandeliers gleaming in the sunlight. But I saw none of it, my eyes fixed on Victor's back as he pulled me deeper into the heart of the house. We stopped at a door, and Victor turned to me, his eyes cold. "You'll be working here as a maid," he spat. "You'll do as you're told, or you'll suffer the consequences." I nodded, numb, as he pushed me into the room. It was small, with a narrow bed and a dresser. A uniform lay on the bed, and I knew I was to put it on. As I changed, tears streamed down my face. I was trapped, a prisoner in this gilded cage. I thought of Ruth, left behind in the warehouse, and wondered if I'd ever see her again. The door opened, and a stern-faced woman stood before me. "I'm Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper," she said. "You'll do as I say, or you'll face Victor's wrath." I nodded, defeated, as she led me out to begin my new life as a maid in the Cassano household. As the days turned into weeks, I endured unimaginable hardship and suffering. I was treated like a slave, forced to work from dawn till dusk, with no respite. The Cassano family and their staff saw me as nothing more than a piece of property, a tool to be used and discarded. I was manhandled by the staff, pushed and shoved around like a rag doll. Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, took particular pleasure in making my life miserable. She would slap me, pull my hair, and berate me in front of the other staff members. Victor Cassano, the patriarch of the family, would often summon me to his study, where he would humiliate me, making me feel like a worthless piece of trash. He would touch me, his hands roaming over my body, making me feel sick to my stomach. The other maids, some of whom had been there for years, warned me to keep my head down, to avoid drawing attention to myself. But it was hard, when every waking moment was a struggle to survive. I was forced to sleep in a cramped attic room, with barely enough space to move. The bed was a thin mattress on a narrow cot, and I shared it with two other girls. We would huddle together at night, trying to find some comfort in each other's presence. The work was endless, the chores never-ending. I would scrub floors, clean windows, and do laundry from dawn till dusk. And still, it was never enough. Mrs. Jenkins would find fault in everything I did, and I would be punished accordingly. I began to lose hope, to wonder if I would ever escape this living nightmare. But deep down, a spark of defiance remained, a determination to survive, no matter what. But my patience was running low. I stood tall, my eyes locked on Mrs. Jenkins, as I refused to back down. "I won't do it," I said, my voice shaking with defiance. "I won't clean the floors again. I've done it every day for weeks, I just did not quite long! and it's not fair." Mrs. Jenkins' face turned red with rage. "How dare you!" she spat. "You'll do as you're told, or you'll face the consequences!" I knew I was taking a risk, but I couldn't take it anymore. The endless chores, the constant belittling, the feeling of being trapped. It's just too unbrearing. Mrs. Jenkins stormed out of the room, returning with Victor Cassano. "So, you think you can disobey orders?" he sneered. "You think you're above your station?" I stood my ground, despite the fear coursing through my veins. "I just want to be treated fairly," I said. "I had cleaned this spot thrice today and yet she still demands I do it again" Victor's face twisted in disgust. "You're nothing but a maid," he spat. "And you'll be punished for your insolence." The punishment was severe. I was locked in the attic room for days, with only bread and water to sustain me. I was beaten, my body bruised and battered. But still, I refused to break. As I lay in the darkness, I knew I had to escape. I had to find a way out of this nightmare. my body aching from the beatings, my spirit crushed by the endless torment. I cried out for help, my voice hoarse from screaming, my eyes dry from tears. "Please," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Someone, please help me." I prayed for a miracle, for a saviour to come and rescue me from this living hell. I prayed for a way out, for a chance to escape the clutches of the Cassano family. As I lay there, I thought of Ruth, of the other girls who had been taken. Were they too suffering like me? Were they too praying for a miracle? I thought of my family, of my life before this nightmare began. I wondered if I would ever see them again, if I would ever be free again. The darkness seemed to close in around me, suffocating me. I felt like I was drowning in despair, like I was losing myself in the abyss of hopelessness. But still, I held on to hope. I held on to the belief that someone would come, that someone would save me. I was dragged away from Cassano's house, my wrists bound by rough hands. I stumbled, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. We descended into an underground building, the air growing thick and damp. I was pushed into a small, and a woman was already inside. "Welcome," she said, her voice low and husky. "My name is Freda. I've been waiting for you." Freda's gaze swept over me, her eyes lingering on my face. "You're a beautiful girl," she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. "You have a certain... spark. And that's exactly what they're looking for." My heart sank, my mind racing with the implications. "The Trade," I whispered, my voice trembling. Freda nodded, her expression unyielding. "Yes, The Trade. You need to get ready. You'll be meeting some very important people." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My thoughts swirled, trying to process the horror of my situation. And then, a question formed on my lips. "Will... will all the crime families be there?" Freda's smile was enigmatic. "Maybe. But that's not for me to say. Let's just focus on getting you ready, shall we?" A glimmer of hope flickered to life inside me. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to escape, to get help. If all the crime families were going to be there, perhaps I could find an ally, someone who could help me bring down the Cassanos. I clung to that hope, no matter how small, as Freda began to outline the preparations for The Trade. I would be dressed, groomed, and presented to the gathered families like a prize to be won. As Freda closed the door behind her, I was left alone in the room, surrounded by the eerie silence. I gazed down at the dress I was wearing, the short, sparkling blue fabric hugging my curves in a way that made me feel vulnerable and exposed. I felt like a doll, dressed up for someone else's pleasure. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to shake off the feeling, telling myself I needed to focus on the task at hand. I needed to find a way to escape, to get out of this place and back to Alessandro. But as I looked around the room, I realised I was trapped. There were no windows, no doors except for the one Freda had used. I was at the mercy of the crime families, and I knew I couldn't trust anyone. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I needed to think clearly, to come up with a plan. But my mind was blank, my thoughts consumed by fear and uncertainty. As I waited for Freda to return, I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. What would happen at The Trade? Would Alessandro be there? And what would become of me if he wasn't? The questions swirled in my head, taunting me with their silence. I was alone, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, with no lifeline in sight. Freda's return was like a harbinger of doom, her words slicing through the air with deadly precision. "It's time," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. I felt a chill run down my spine as I followed her out of the room, my heart heavy with dread. We walked in silence, Freda leading the way, until we reached a large, ornate door. Freda turned to me, her eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and cruelty. "Good luck," she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. As I scanned the room, I saw several other girls, all beautiful and dolled up as well. But as I looked around, I realised that Ruth was nowhere to be seen. I felt a pang of worry and fear. What had happened to her? Has she been sold already? Was she okay? I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment. I needed to be strong, needed to survive this. But my mind kept wandering back to Ruth, wondering if I would ever see her again. I watched in horror as Victor and his subordinates entered the room, their eyes scanning the space like predators. Victor's gaze landed on a beautiful girl with long, curly hair, and he strode over to her with a confident smirk. He reached out and roughly grabbed her breasts, his hands squeezing hard. The girl's face contorted in disgust and humiliation. "I know you like that, huh?" Victor sneered, slapping her face lightly before pushing her away. My anger boiled over as I watched him move from girl to girl, harassing and humiliating each one. He shoved his tongue into the mouth of a petite blonde, who struggled to break free from his grasp. I couldn't watch anymore. I felt a surge of adrenaline and fury, my heart racing with the urge to act. The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could even think to stop them. "Leave her alone, you imbecile!" I snapped, my voice ringing out across the room. Victor's head swivelled towards me, his eyes narrowing in surprise and anger. "And who do you think you are, telling me what to do?" he sneered. I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest. "You're a monster, Victor. You and all of your men. You should all rot in jail for what you're doing to these girls." The room fell silent, with all eyes on me. I knew I had crossed a line, but I couldn't back down now. I had to keep fighting, no matter what. Victor took a step closer to me, his face twisted in rage. "You think you're brave, don't you?" he spat. "Well, let's see how brave you are when you're the one being auctioned off to the highest bidder." I felt a searing pain as Victor's hand connected with my face, the slap sending shockwaves through my skull. I doubled over as his fist punched into my stomach, the wind knocked out of me. His subordinate held me in place, their grip like a vice, as Victor's hands closed around my throat. I struggled to breathe, my airway constricted, as he choked me with a devilish grin spreading across his face. "It's a pity I can't keep you anymore," he spat, his hot breath on my face, before pushing me away like a discarded rag doll. I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air, my body wracked with pain. My vision blurred, but I could see Victor's feet, clad in sleek black shoes, as he turned to leave. I let out a silent cry. <><><><><><><><> Please like share and comment. Thank you.