Heart Of A Beast

Ava  

It was midnight, and I needed to escape before my buyer came to take me away as a slave. Quietly, I sneaked out of my cell through a dark, dirty hallway. But I heard a girl moaning, so I peeked into a room and saw Lisa being treated badly by one of the security guys. He was doing things to her, but she seemed to like it. Her naked breast bounced with every forceful thrust, the sound of skin meeting skin and her moans filling the air. He held her hair, spanking her relentlessly as the rough encounter unfolded. Lisa and I had planned to escape together, but her penchant for getting entangled with these men who tormented us thwarted our efforts. I gave her a sad look and turned away, searching for the way out. I'm not going to let anyone come between me and my freedom tonight, besides I've just known her for three months.

At 2 a.m., when everyone was sleeping, I made my move. I had planned to escape when the men who controlled us were away partying in another town. When I reached the big door, I felt tears in my eyes but smiled as I looked back at the place where I had suffered for years. Remembering the torture and hunger, I ran out into the open. The night wind made my skin tingle as I ran towards the forest, leaving the painful memories behind.  

Darting through the forest, I felt the toll on my feet from stones and spikes, my skin bruised by the relentless lashes of grass in the wind. Glancing back, I detected no pursuers, allowing me a moment of respite beside a tree. Gasping for air, my lungs strained, and panic gripped me, prompting a desperate plea to the silent night sky shrouded in darkness beneath a full moon. Exhausted, I sank to the ground, leaning against the tree. Rubbing my arms, I whispered my weariness, expressing a fervent wish for escape from the horrors left behind. The torn dress, unkempt appearance, and bare feet reflected the toll of my escape. Nestling into a soft spot on the grass, I longed for a reprieve, whether through death or slumber, away from the troubles that pursued me. My hair was all over my face as I turned and shivered because it was raining. I woke up and yawned quietly, my body was wet and sticky as the rain tried to wash off all the dirt. I was so thirsty and starved, it seemed like I hadn't eaten for two months. I stood up because the grass I had laid on was now muddy and making me dirtier. I walked away from the tree and opened my mouth, tilting my head upwards to sip some water from the rain. My drenched hair clung to my face as I turned, shivering in the rain-soaked surroundings. Waking up, I yawned quietly, feeling the stickiness of my body as rain attempted to wash away the accumulated dirt. Thirst and starvation gnawed at me, the sensation of not having eaten for what felt like months. Rising from the muddy grass, I walked away from the tree. An attempt to sip rainwater ended in a futile scream, realizing the potential danger of attracting unwanted attention. Moving briskly, drained of energy, I pressed on, acknowledging the looming threat of starvation.

After covering a few miles, a lake emerged, offering a glimmer of hope. Cautiously checking my surroundings, I sprinted to the lake, quenching my thirst with handfuls of water. With a moment of relief, I shed my clothes and immersed myself in the cold water, sending shivers through my nerves. The cleansing sensation was a welcome reprieve. Washing my hair, I lingered in the water, gazing at the moonlit night. In the midst of despair, I emerged from the water, tears mingling with droplets on my face. Clutching my gown, I tore it into a makeshift rope, my desperate decision unfolding. Gripping a hefty rock, I knew it was a foolish choice, but the weight of loneliness seemed unbearable. As I wailed, I dragged the rock and torn cloth towards the water, surrendering to the deep blue calmness. Submerged, the water embraced me, my lungs yearning for air as my heartbeat echoed rapidly. Hallucinations of family flickered before my eyes, drowned out by a commanding voice calling my name. A massive hand wrapped around my neck, abruptly pulling me from the water. Gasping, the material around my legs torn away, I found myself confronted by a towering figure in the darkness. The tall man's voice cut through the darkness, his words heavy with both authority and concern.  

"How dare you?" he thundered, his figure outlined against the night. "I asked how dare you try to end your own life, Ava?" Stunned, I looked up from the grass, my name hanging in the air. He turned away, his silhouette rigid with disapproval. "Life might be difficult, but you can't escape it that way. There's always another path, the path which I'm the one to end it!" he declared, his voice softer but firm. "Now, face it."

His words lingered in the night, a powerful plea for resilience and a stark reminder that, even in the darkest moments, there's an alternative to surrendering to despair.  

⸻  

Lucian's POV

Observing her now, she appeared vastly different from the memory of our last encounter, where a knife threatened my chest. The uncertainty gripped me as I questioned if she truly was the one. If she proved to be during the upcoming test, I vowed to end it swiftly before second thoughts crept in, aware that her spirit lingered in this young girl's reborn body, as foretold by the universe. Turning my attention to Ava, peacefully asleep, she clutched the pillow as if it were her lifeline. Her skin, smooth yet adorned with goosebumps, framed by brown hair cascading over her face and neck, captivated me. Contemplating the decision to end her existence, doubts lingered as I grappled with her apparent innocence and fragility. The need to consult Theo about this peculiar situation arose, as Ava's uniqueness stirred questions about my centuries-long existence. With a lingering glance at the enigmatic girl, I exited the room, knowing that the resolution to this mystery held profound consequences.  

Ava