UNDER THE DON'S COMMAND

in, Rosa's eyes

only movement was the soft rustle of c

e air, burning her nostri

e sliced through the silence, s

rs curled ti

heart hammerin

the weight of his voice a

oment. As her eyes adjusted, they locked onto him,

fell in messy

t caught her attention. A striki

rt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint

rls of smoke into the air. He t

ing

ied to run" he

oo

the words out "Yes, and l will keep runn

d at his lips. "Little girl

sing despite the fear creeping up h

stood, movements deliberate and calm. As he closed the distance between the

h a quiet click. The envelope inside looked heavy in his hand

, his voice clipp

s were stiff

led out the first sheet and felt

in her hands as

at the botto

ion. The words

them. She scanned t

led up her chest, she fought

jumped out at her like a slap across the face. You are to give birth to a so

't want to read it again but she couldn'

ghtened painful

per so hard she

ting into

in quarters, the sound of the pa

ieces to the fl

ury burning

but steady "I will never, never belong

He moved toward her and grabbed her chin.. forcing her to loo

ow, dangerous. "Women who aren't submissive. And you.."

smile. "And you know what I hate

r a second, staring at her with a mix of disbelief and dark amusement

g and it sent a shiver of fear down Ros

s shoulder with ease. Rosa kicked and screamed, hitting her fists ag

f me" she

ied her across the room, openi

beat as she was throw

ot through her back but she barely had time to react before her eyes

d. What is

oice cut through the stillness,Without

pushing her to her feet. She ran toward the door, her hands

she fell to the floor, her back pressed against the door. The

ou're going to get throu

her thoughts, cold and unwavering "Your

itched, and she jerked

angrily. No, they're all lying. She promised. She promised to

*

nd then she saw her mother..standing just a few feet away,

bered but there was sadness in her eyes, Rosa wanted

a whisper "You have to take c

with tears "I can't be there to protect you anymore

perate to cross the space between them. She moved but her body f

king in her throat "Please... don't l

as something final in the way she stepp

ispered again, her voice fading like a

fingers scraped against the cold floor

sobbed, her voi

.. Don't leave

o

the light.She reached out one last time but her

and in that instant,