The Crimson Trail of Death

rra'

ng silence settling over everything except for his ragged breat

ould have. His hands moved mercilessly, stripping me and positioning me roughly on the bed.

but my body betrayed me, frozen under the weight of his control-just

ear, the words laced with venom. "There's

st more invasive than the last. My le

ctions left me bruised and exhausted. I couldn't cry, not yet. My mind

pulled back, adjusting his clothes with a practiced nonchalance. H

said, his voice devoid of empath

ay there, aching, each breath a struggle as the weight

had left me in. The side of the bed was tattered. After a few minutes, I got up,

I am, be

h was everywhere, his men treating the club-and those of us in it-as pieces in his game. He'd taken over his father's legacy wi

thers, but the second brother was a secr

put on my clothes, which the man had ruthlessly rippe

tepped out of the rain and into the dimly lit alley. The sm

g myself for another night of

mbrella, but how did it matter? Would it

build a life out of nothing. After my dad died, life had never b

. My mother tried several times to plead for his help but was shut down by him. She even stooped so low

what the world was truly about. My only world crashed before my e

e dirt I saw was

peatedly each day,

ze, a sly grin on the strangers' faces consuming me. My hands gripped tight onto my clothes, bu

s honking, hoping for me to hop in. But how I wish; th

doctor mentioned there was hope she would su

getting worse each and every second. I couldn't bear the thought of losing

ain from, but when in need or needing their fav

continui

while I walked with a lowered gaze, bu

ly arrived home, gently ope

, my eyes scanning the area

the apartment was quite run-down, half-damaged. It was the cheapest

been pleading for more time. I spent most of the money I earned on Mom's medicatio

to prevent further f

with her location. I turned slowly, walking to her r

uttered, her words caught

asked, my heart aching at

Mummy is...o-ok," sh

to help, but now it was my time to help her.

sat beside her. My hands went for her med