~~~Aria~~~
I found myself in a dimly lit basement, the stench of dead rats and rotting decay assaulting my senses. Spider webs clung to my skin, making me shudder. I tried to hold my breath, but the smell was overpowering.
Tears streamed down my face as I sat helplessly on the cold floor. "What have I gotten myself into?" I whispered, despair washing over me. If only I had known things would turn out like this, I wouldn't have ventured out today.
The darkness seemed to closing in on me, suffocating me. Time lost all meaning as I waited, unsure of my fate.
Finally, the door creaked open, and a sliver of light illuminated the dingy space. I squinted, my eyes adjusting slowly. The basement was even more decrepit than I had imagined.
A hoarse voice echoed through the space, "Bring her to the living room." I felt a surge of fear as the guards dragged me up the stairs.
We entered a lavish living room, filled with exquisite antiques and opulent furnishings. My stomach growled, drawing my attention to the sumptuous feast spread before me. Without waiting for permission, I devoured the food, ravenous from my ordeal.
One of the guards cleared his throat, and I froze, realizing my mistake. Mr. Zeus's piercing gaze bore into me, his eyes blazing with anger.
I sprang up from the chair, my tattered gown rustling. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." I stammered, my voice trembling.
Mr. Zeus's expression remained unyielding as he sat down to eat. I watched, mesmerized, as he savored each bite with refined elegance. My own hunger pangs returned, and I salivated at the sight of his food.
When he finished, he turned his attention to me. "You're going to be working for me," he stated, his voice firm.
My eyes widened in shock. "What?!" I exclaimed.
Mr. Zeus's expression darkened. "I don't like repeating myself."
I swallowed hard, fear creeping up my spine. "It seems like you're so good at pickpocketing, so you're going to work under me, following my instructions. That will be your punishment for trying to steal from me."
My mind reeled as I processed his words. I opened my mouth to protest, but Mr. Zeus's Hazel eyes seemed to bore into my soul, silencing me.
"You should be thankful I'm not sending you to meet your ancestors," he thundered.
I cringed, my apology tumbling out. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
Mr. Zeus's expression remained unyielding. "My guard will drop you off. You're to report to me here by Monday."
I nodded, still standing, my eyes fixed on him. "Okay, sir."
The silence between us grew oppressive, until finally, Mr. Zeus spoke. "What are you still doing here?"
I flinched, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Uhm... I was wondering if I could... Nevermind, I think I'm full already."
I turned to flee, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere. The cool night air enveloped me as I emerged from the penthouse, a black 2023 SUV waiting to whisk me away.
I stepped out of the SUV, my eyes scanning the familiar surroundings of the Arcade. The driver's abrupt departure left me stunned, but I couldn't muster the energy to care. The encounter with Mr. Zeus had drained me, leaving a lingering sense of unease.
As I stood there, lost in thought, a familiar face emerged from the hotel. It was the same girl I had asked for information from earlier. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she approached me.
"Hey, bitch," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I'm guessing things didn't go well for you with Mr. Zeus."
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I covered my face, embarrassment washing over me. Her question hung in the air, but I couldn't bring myself to respond.
"So, what happened?" she pressed on. "Did his wife catch you with him?"
I wished that had been the case. Anything would have been better than the reality. I stared at her, my lips heavy with unspoken words.
She handed me back the $100 bill I had given her earlier. "Here, I think you need this more than I do."
I took the bill, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks."
As she walked away, I couldn't help but think that our encounter had been a good investment. Without her, I would have been stranded.
A new day dawned, and I woke up with a pang of sadness. December 22nd was a day I dreaded, a day that marked the anniversary of my loss.
I got out of bed, my movements mechanical, as I prepared to visit the cemetery. My mind drifted back to the painful memories of the past year.
In a flashback, I relived the moment I held the pregnancy test results, my heart racing with excitement. I had been eager to share the news with Axel, my then-partner.
But the scene that greeted me at home was one of betrayal. Axel was with his secretary, and my world came crashing down.
The memories of that day still seared my mind – the pain, the anger, and the sense of loss. The divorce, the miscarriage, and the overwhelming grief that followed.
The memory of Axel's brutal rejection still lingered, a festering wound that refused to heal. I recalled the feeling of being thrown out of our home, my stomach crashing against the hard floor. The pain had been excruciating, but it was nothing compared to the agony of his indifference.
Despite my desperate pleas, Axel had turned a deaf ear, his eyes cold and unyielding. The word "divorce" had cut through me like a knife, leaving me shattered and broken.
And then, the unthinkable happened. A few days after signing the divorce papers, I had lost my baby – the one thing that had given my life meaning. The grief had been suffocating, a heavy weight that had threatened to consume me whole.
For a moment, I felt a surge of regret and anger. Why hadn't I inflicted more pain on Victoria, the woman who had destroyed my family? The woman who had taken away my child? The thought of her smug face at the airport still haunted me, fueling my resentment.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I relived the memories of that fateful day. The pain still felt like an open wound, raw and tender. But as I stood there, surrounded by the quiet of the cemetery, I couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over me. The pain still lingered, a constant reminder of what I had lost.
I gently placed the flower on the tomb, my eyes fixed on the bold inscription: Alexa Mchenry. A pang of sorrow shot through my heart as I recalled the decision to give her my last name instead of Axel's. It was a small act of defiance, a way to reclaim my child's identity from the man who had destroyed our family.
As I stood there, a wave of grief washed over me, threatening to consume me whole. "I'm sorry, baby," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry." The words poured out of me like a prayer, a desperate plea for forgiveness.
Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed, my body shaking with anguish. I was sorry that Alexa had never gotten the chance to experience life, to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin or the gentle touch of a summer breeze. I was sorry that her life had been reduced to a mere memory, a fleeting moment of joy snatched away by cruel fate.
As I wept, the weight of my sorrow felt crushing, a burden I couldn't shake. But even in my grief, I found a glimmer of solace in the knowledge that Alexa was mine, that she would always carry my name and my love with her.
I harbored a secret, one that I had kept hidden from Axel, even after our divorce. The weight of that secret still lingered, a constant reminder of the pain and heartache he had caused me.
I was convinced that sharing the truth with Axel wouldn't have made a difference. He had shown me time and time again that he was incapable of empathy, that his own desires and needs were all that mattered.
So I had kept the secret locked away, hidden behind a mask of indifference. But the pain still lingered, a raw and tender wound that refused to heal.
With a heavy heart, I knew I had to move forward, no matter how daunting the future seemed. Monday loomed ahead, a day that would bring new challenges and uncertainties.
As I stood up from the cemetery, brushing away the dirt and leaves from my clothes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation about the day ahead. I looked up at the sky, the gray clouds seeming to mirror my mood. I wondered what the day had in store for me. Would it bring more heartache, or perhaps a glimmer of hope? I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead, and began my walk back home.