Four

Eira

The hatred in his eyes was raw, and I knew, deep down, that in this hell I was trapped in, there was no escape—no chance of survival.

“Now strip,” he commanded, his voice thick with fire, the fury in his eyes scorching my very soul.

Didn’t he hate me? Why then was he ordering me like this? Why did he want my body?

I shook my head, the urge to plead building inside me, to beg him to tell me what I had done to deserve this. What had I done to make him hate me this much?

“I won’t say it again, Eira. Pull off those fucking clothes!”

I shook my head, tears falling freely, blinding my vision as I stood there, frozen under his command. His words felt like a whip, each one tearing through me.

I couldn’t do it. I shouldn’t. I had to fight. I had to resist. There had to be a way out.

I pushed myself off the bed, my limbs shaky, heart pounding, but his eyes didn’t leave me. They tracked every movement, his lips curling into that damnable smirk, the one I’d come to dread.

“I see you want to play,” he said, his hands dipping into his pockets as he stood there, watching me, his eyes cold, measuring.

He didn’t move, and I hated the stillness. The way he made me feel like I was a prey, trapped in his gaze. It was like he could see every thought, every possible escape plan in my mind.

“Go ahead, Bird,” he taunted, his voice like ice. “Do it.”

I stared back, fury surging through me, thick and suffocating. But beneath the anger, something deeper lingered in his eyes—a raw, guttural loathing that seemed to claw its way to the surface, a hatred so intense it threatened to drown me.

He had no right. No right to look at me like that, to treat me like I was nothing.

Katz’s family was gone—destroyed by his hands. He had obliterated my life, taken everything I knew and loved, and now he wanted to reduce me to nothing. To strip me of my dignity, my soul.

His eyes weren’t just cold; they were empty. Cold, cruel, and devoid of humanity.

I glanced at the door, then at him, calculating. I had no time to waste. My heart thundered in my chest as I thought of my escape. He was watching me, but would he let me go?

“Afraid I’ll catch you before you even get to the door?” His voice was sharp, mocking, the challenge in it clear.

I couldn’t let him win. I wouldn’t go down without a fight.

With a final, desperate breath, I bolted for the door.

But to my surprise, he didn’t chase me. Didn’t stop me.

I grabbed the knob, twisted it, and dashed outside, my heart racing as I slammed the door behind me.

The mansion was enormous. I could see the vastness of it now as I glanced around. If I was quick, I could make it.

I tore down the stairs, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I looked back once, twice, but there was no one following me—at least not yet. The silence in the house was unnerving. I had expected to hear the bustle of staff or guards, but the place felt like a tomb.

I couldn’t stop. Not now. Maybe this was my one shot.

I pushed myself harder, adrenaline coursing through me as I made my way through the corridors. Down another staircase. Through what felt like endless halls.

I finally reached the door. Two large men stood guard. I wasn’t fast enough to rethink my plan.

Then, they did something strange—both of them touched their earpieces, communicating something I couldn’t hear. A moment later, they darted off in another direction, as though called away.

My heart seized, and I took my chance. I darted out of the door, feeling the weight of each step as I ran as fast as I could. The cool night air hit my skin, and I barely registered the distance between me and the mansion.

I kept running. The rush of freedom was almost within reach.

But then it happened.

I stumbled, the realization crashing into me as the vast property opened up before me. The men hadn’t gone far. The backdoor. The path they’d taken—the one I hadn’t noticed until it was too late.

Before I could process anything, a presence loomed behind me.

The next thing I knew, I was lifted off the ground, my body dragged through the air like a ragdoll.

I didn’t even have time to scream. I was back inside the house within seconds, thrown onto the floor as the door slammed shut behind me.

No stairs this time. They took me straight to the elevator. I barely had time to think before I was deposited back in the room, the door locking behind me.

There he was, sitting in the same chair, looking like he was waiting for me. His eyes were cold, but there was something darker beneath them, something that made my blood run cold.

“See who’s back,” he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I scrambled to my feet, my body trembling with rage, but more so with the helplessness that clawed at me.

“Where am I? What the fuck is this place?” I demanded, my voice breaking despite my attempts to sound strong.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “Somewhere far from home,” he replied, his voice laced with something that made my skin crawl.

Then he stood, walking toward me with a slow, deliberate pace, as if savoring the moment.

I hadn’t even registered the shift in the air before his hand was around my throat, lifting me effortlessly from the ground, his grip tightening just enough to make my breath falter.

“I’ve had enough of your games,” he growled, throwing me onto the bed with a force that left me gasping.

Before I could even try to move, I felt the rip of fabric, the sound of my clothes being torn from my body.

“Let me go!” I screamed, pounding my fists against him, but it was like hitting a wall. He didn’t budge.

“Leave me alone, you monster! Let me go!”

His eyes never left mine, cold and indifferent, even as he removed the last of my clothing.

The air was thick with tension, suffocating. I hated the way he looked at me, the way he seemed to take pleasure in my pain.

“You will keep quiet and be the obedient slut I’ll train you to be, or you will be this whore, and I’ll have you treated like one,” he said, his left hand still clenched to my neck, but not so hard. “The latter would really work for me.”

His hand tightened around my neck again, but this time, it wasn’t enough to cut off my air completely. It was a reminder.

The world felt heavy as his gaze bore into mine.

No…” I blurted, now pleading with him. “Please don’t… do…” And in one swift moment, without him trying to be gentle while his eyes held that smirk, the devil pushed his length forcefully and fully into my core.

And then, before I could even comprehend what was happening, I felt him—his body pressing into mine in one brutal thrust, forcing himself into me.

The pain was excruciating. My body burned, torn apart, and I couldn’t stop the scream that ripped from my throat.

“Ahhh!” The pain was unbearable. It felt like my entire body was being shattered in that moment, each movement tearing at me, both physically and emotionally.

His eyes flashed with something like surprise, but it was gone in an instant, leaving only cold satisfaction.

“Fucking virgin,” he spat, his words venomous. “Good. I might have had to kill him if you weren’t.”

Tears blurred my vision as I lay there, broken. His cruel words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper than the last.

Felix’s face flashed in my mind, his sadness, his disappointment. We had dreamed of this moment, but now, I was losing it to this monster. To the man who had taken everything from me.

Love. Family. Life. Dignity.

He had claimed me, not with care, but with violence. His brutal act sealed my fate.

"I hate you!" I screamed, the words choked with tears, but he didn’t stop. His gaze remained indifferent, unfeeling as he continued.

The pain was unbearable, and the world around me faded, slipping into darkness as I succumbed to unconsciousness.