I don't know how, but I managed to fall asleep. Years of surviving in a world that demanded vigilance have conditioned me to remain hyperaware, even in the most vulnerable moments. My senses are sharp, my body ready to act at the slightest hint of danger.
The sound of footsteps stirs me. My eyes snap open just in time to see Number 2 stumble back into the room. She's been pushed, her balance unsteady, and her limp tells a silent story of what she's endured. She clutches at the wall before collapsing into her corner.
It doesn't take a genius to guess what happened to her. One look at her disheveled state is enough to confirm it. The men who run this hellhole are monsters of the worst kind. They aren't just criminals—they're pedophiles. Predators who prey on the most vulnerable. It's a truth most people don't want to think about, let alone acknowledge.
This life has taught me that anyone with that thing dangling between their legs is a potential enemy. Even the people you love and trust can betray you. My instincts have kept me alive this long, and I've learned to expect the worst.
The girl wraps her arms protectively around her younger sister, whispering soft words of comfort that do little to erase the fear etched into their faces. I watch them, hoping to summon some semblance of pity or sympathy, but I feel nothing. Time in this life has stripped me of emotions I once thought were intrinsic to humanity.
Stoic. Detached. Unfeeling. That's what I've become.
I turn away from the heartbreaking sight and curl up again, forcing myself back to sleep.
~◇~
The warm rays of the sun against my skin wake me. For a moment, I lie there, letting the light seep into my aching body. Slowly, I take the opportunity to assess my condition.
My arms and legs are covered in bruises—some deep purple, others a sickly yellow-green. Small cuts crisscross my skin, likely from the fall that brought me here. Each movement sends a dull ache through my muscles, a reminder of how fragile this body has become.
The sound of the door creaking open draws my attention. My heart skips a beat as I see him enter. Stuart Greg. The man I've been waiting for.
He's here earlier than I expected. In my past life, it had taken two weeks of captivity before he made his grand entrance. But the events of yesterday—especially that man's death—must have hastened his arrival.
Still, his presence is an opportunity. If I can complete my mission now, I can focus on recuperating and training my body. This time, I won't let anyone violate me.
"Well, if it isn't the Sterling child," he sneers, his voice oozing with mockery. His beady eyes gleam with a twisted sort of satisfaction. "They said it would never be possible to get my hands on one of you, but here you are."
His words send a chill down my spine. He's gloating—not just about capturing me, but about the blow he's dealt to my family.
"Save this one for me," he says to his men, pointing directly at me. "I want to personally have the first taste."
The smirk on his face makes my stomach churn. It's a smirk I've seen before, one that haunts my memories.
~◇~
Flashback
"Move, bitch!" The man's grip on my arm is like iron, his fingers digging into my skin as he drags me from the room. I scream, cry, and claw at his hand, but my resistance only earns me a tighter hold.
I glance back at Gisele, my last hope for help. Ever since I was brought here two weeks ago, she's been my caretaker. She's the one who comforted me when I cried and kept me close to her younger sister, Katie.
Gisele had told me about her life before this nightmare. She had lived in Manhattan with her parents until these men broke into their apartment and took her and Katie away. Now, they've been stuck here for almost two months.
I told her about my own family, about my father's wealth and power, and how he would surely come to save me. I was in Canada for Thanksgiving with my aunt and uncle when these men found me. But even as I tried to cling to the hope that my father would come, a small voice in the back of my mind kept asking: What if they didn't escape in time? What if they're gone too?
As I'm dragged away, I look at Gisele one last time. Her expression is a mix of sadness and guilt. For a fleeting moment, I believe she truly feels sorry for me. But then I see something else in her eyes—relief. And excitement.
That look terrifies me.
The man takes me to an office at the far back corner of the warehouse. When we enter, I see two men talking. One of them looks vaguely familiar. There's something in the way he stares at me that makes my heart skip.
"Hello, Rose," he says with a smile, crouching down to my level. "My name is Stuart."
My heart soars at the sound of my name. He knows me. He must know my family.
"Hello," I reply shyly, hope blooming in my chest. I missed home so much. I missed my mom's horrible cooking, my annoyingly smart twin brother who corrected everything I said, and even our occasional arguments.
We were an unusual pair, my brother and I. Our father is Italian with a deep tan, while our mother is Black. Yet both of us were born with pale skin—albino, but without the traditional features. There had been a whole scandal about our lineage when we were born. It turned out we inherited traits from some distant Slavic ancestor.
I want nothing more than to go back to that life, back to them.
Stuart stands and gestures for me to follow him. "Come with me," he says, his tone gentle and inviting. I eagerly agree, thinking this is my ticket home.
But instead of leaving, he takes me into the room next to the office. The other men leave, and Stuart locks the door behind us.
I don't think much of it at first. My attention is drawn to the snacks and candies on the table.
"Go ahead," he says with a smile. "Have as much as you like."
I beam at him, my defenses lowering as I dive into the treats. For a brief moment, I forget where I am and the horrors I've endured.
But that moment doesn't last.
~◇~
Present
The memory burns in my mind, searing like a brand. Stuart Greg isn't just a man. He's a monster. And this time, I won't be his victim.
My hands curl into fists as I force myself to meet his gaze. This time, the power dynamic will shift. I'll make him pay for what he's done—not just to me, but to every girl he's hurt.
The system notification flashes in my mind again.
[-MISSION 1- Eliminate Stuart Greg]
It's time to end this.