The Wife Who Escaped Cruelty

obbed with a dull, persistent ache. My hands and feet were b

ulb hanging from a wire overhead, casting long, menacing shado

. Three large, brutish men emerged fro

ke," one of

Fear, raw and primal

ere am I?" I man

ibs. Pain shot through my side, stealing my breath.

," he sneered, his breath hot an

self, but it was useless. Pain was everywhere. A metallic taste filled

die here. No

d torn from my throat. "Plea

mocking sound that echoed in the small space. They backed

teps, lighter and more deliberate,

triumphant smirk on her face. She looked me

th as silk. "I knew you remembered. I could see it in your eyes. You thought you cou

ed, the pain in my ribs

"I was supposed to go to Harvard! I was supposed to have everything! You ruined it. But not this t

a terrifying, mad ligh

as an amulet, carved from a piece of dark, polished stone that

l will go into the dog, and you can live out the rest of your pathetic life eating kibble and chasing squirrels. I, on the other hand, will get a pe

The thought of her, this monster,

"You' ll never get away with this. You

"Maybe. But you' l

er face inches from mi

ed my j

led to her thugs. Two of them pinned my arms, while the third

smooth amulet and pu

it," she

they held me fast. With one final, cruel

from my stomach through my entire body. It felt like my very essence was bei

from her designer jeans, a look