"Please let me out! Daisy, Ma'am, I am sorry." I yelled, knocking the door aggressively.

I sniffled softly, trying to calm myself as choked sobs left my throat. I slide down the wall next to the door and rubbed my throat, scared of the dark. I was sweating profusely even though it was chilling cold here.

'1... 2... 3... 4... 5...'

I counted, calming myself and closed my eyes.

Not that it is the first time I'm here in this cold and dark dungeon.

Whenever Daisy or my step mom want to punish me for something and dad is not around, they would lock me in here.

My dad cheated on my mom when I was just 6, they had a divorce but soon she passed away in a car accident and left me alone in this cruel world with that ruthless man and his "lover".

She never treated me right, I was never a daughter for her but a maid and orphan, weird right? My dad is alive yet I am an orphan. He was my dad but it all changed when he abused me just because Daisy had accused me of something I never did, not that even if I did I deserved the beating, just me playing with some plastic toys won't make them untouchable for his daughter or will it.

Suddenly the door flew open, as I quickly stood up and tried to hurry out but I froze on my spot when I saw him, looking extremely furious standing at the door.

"Sir,-" I whispered as blood drenched off my face making it turn pale.

"Look at this bitch, she broke our daughter's expensive watch and even talked back to me! That's what her whore for a woman, mother taught her." She stated angrily. I could see her and daisy standing behind dad as daisy was smirking at me.

"Sir I was.. I was cleaning the dressing table and it accidentally fell... fell from my hand." I stuttered out.

He stood silent, towering me making me scared out of my mind.

"Daisy, get the belt." He spoke coldly, sending chills down my spine.

"No, I am sorry, I am sorry, please don't hit me." I begged as my whole body trembled badly.

He still didn't spoke as I kept looking at him with hope that he'll back out from the plan of beating me.

"What are you staring at, bitch." He growled before slapping me hard on face making my face turn to other side.

I felt the heat radiating on my cheek and soon it became numb, as warm tears rolled down my cheek.

I was totally dazed when Daisy handed the belt to dad, he pushed me back causing me to fall. I didn't move nor did I try to back off, not that i didn't wanted to... I just couldn't. He lashed the belt on my petite figure ruthlessly, I did scream in my mind, but it was too low to be heard by the demons, I was numb...

They all had left after a while, as I laid on ground. "You're just a worthless bitch like your mother, and a burden on us." Were the last words I heard, before I realised I was having a panic attack.

I felt everything spinning and it was all black soon.

I laid on the ground, throwing fits, my body trembling badly, and my mind numb. My dad kicked me across the ground rather than helping me as I got a deep cut on my arm. I saw him heading upstairs leaving me there. I didn't know what was happening to me, I couldn't move nor I could breathe, I tried hard to breath but I felt like I was being choked. I tried to move myself, I tried so hard... nothing happened. I was dying, it was the end of me. I tried to force my lips to part and again tried to breath, I failed and soon everything blacked out.

That was the first ever time I had panic attack and fits... when I was 7, he abused me for the nth time in just few years, this time because he had an argument with his wife or my stepmom.

***

I woke up and sat up slowly, placing my palm on cold tiles, wiping the sweat off my face by my dress' sleeve, I breathed heavily. I wasn't feeling numb anymore but instead pain piercing my body. I somehow stood up and opened the door which wasn't locked, thankfully.

I headed to my room or basement, dragging my legs. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror I looked at myself as a few more tears left my eyes but I wiped them off harshly.

My eyes trailed to the sharp, shiny blade kept at the sink. I picked it up and stared at it intently.

"life is too hard... I can't take it anymore. Why me? Just w-why." I mumbled.

Suddenly my phone ringed, pulling me out of trance as the blade slipped from my fingers.

'What was I even thinking.' I backed a bit, sighing and picked up the call.

"Maria?" I asked.

"Edla, actually can I ask for a favour?"

"Y- yeah sure." I replied hissing a bit as I felt my body ache.

"Hey? Are you fine?" She asked, however I stayed silent.

"Are you fine?" She asked again.

"I am fine, don't worry, What were you saying?"

"Actually Raul and I had a date tomorrow but boss denied to let me take a leave... so I was thinking if you could do my shift too." She asked.

"I- Okay." I sighed as she cuts the call after a quick thanks.

I wonder when will I learn to deny people, it's so annoying, even if I want to say no, only a yes comes out of my mouth.

Soon I took a shower and dressed in a comfortable hoodie and loose trousers. After that I went to bed, hugging myself and drifted to sleep.

***

"Here, your beer sir." I forced a smile and headed back quickly to prepare another order.

"Edla, where is Maria?" I flinched a bit as the supervisor asked out of sudden.

"I- I'm doing her shift, sir." I replied, as he nodded and left.

I sighed and continued my work.

It was already 10 pm, my shift ends at 11. There weren't many people here anymore.

Suddenly my eyes fell on another man who was wearing a black mask and a hat. I headed to him to take his order.

"What can I get you sir?" I asked.

He looked me, his face was covered but he had a cut on his nose just above the edge of the mask.

I felt him stare at me, so I quickly looked down.

"wine will do." He said, as panic was evident in his voice.

"Anything else sir?"

"No." He spoke rudely as if he was annoyed.

"2 mins sir." I bowed a bit and left to get his order.

When I came back he wasn't there anymore.

"Where did he go?" I mumbled.

Maybe he had some emergency so he left.

***

I feel like I'm going to freeze today as I only wore a thin dress in the chilly winter night, I hugged myself as my teeth chattered because of cold. I walked hurriedly towards the turn of the alley to reach the last place I would like to go, but it was the only place I found some warmth.

Suddenly I saw the same man from earlier, he was breathing heavily as if running from someone, this time his hat and mask were off. After him, some men wearing all black came in and pointed their guns at him. It all happened too quick before I could even understand what was going on.

'guns.'

I was about to scream but closed my mouth by my hand. I slided in the space near the wall of the turn in the alley and closed my eyes tightly as tears already started building up in my eyes.

I just prayed no one would find me.

'You should be glad if they found you! You can finally die and have some peace' My inner demon mocked.

'No, no, no You can't die Edla! And you know why!' another voice shouted.

I covered my ears with my palm tightly, clenching my eyes close and holding back every sob and noice.

'Expose yourself! I'll be an easy death!' The demons again mocked as I shook my head to get rid of my thoughts.

There was nothing but silence all over the place when I heard sound of shoes.

"You really think, you can escape from Luca Marino? The most fucking dangerous man in the underworld." I heard a deep, dangerous voice.

"Pl-please spare me, I'll never do this again, I'll be loyal. Please forgive me" The man from earlier begged.

"Hungry dogs are never loyal." He stated calmly and silence took over again. My heart was beating so fast due to fear as I could hear my own heartbeat.

Suddenly I heard a heart chilling gunshot and again silence.

"Get rid of this bastard." That dangerous man ordered.

"Sí capo."

Did I just witnessed a murder in front of my eyes?

"porta quella ragazza," That dangerous man again spoke something in his smooth deep voice, which I didn't understand. (Bring that girl.)

"Sí, capo." His man answered.

Suddenly I felt someone grab my arm and pull me by force.

"Aah, let me go." I screamed as I realised that he probably told them to kill me.

He didn't leave me instead held my both wrists in his one hand behind my back, before pushing me on my knees. I whimpered silently, closing my eyes, as my ribs began to hurt because of the earlier abuse.

I opened my eyes and saw a pair of black shoes which seemed more expensive that my existence, I looked up to see that dangerous man dressed formally, standing in front of me, a burning cigar between his fingers.

Dark piercing eyes, broad shoulders, dark-thick hair, sharp jawline and that gaze... that piercing gaze... and tattooed arms. It was him. The Italian Mafia Luca Marino.

The man who was described exactly how you would describe the Devil.

Beautiful, intoxicating, mesmerizing, hypnotizing but so dangerous with the gun in his hand, he wore black leather fingerless gloves and that piercing gaze, looking as dangerous as a devil.

My eyes stuck on the gun as I tried hard to calm myself and not get another panic attack.

"What's your name, gattina?" He asked, calling me something in Italian as he dropped the cigar near my knee and soon blew it off by crushing it under his shoes.

"E-Edla." I replied, trembling in fear. I was dazed, I couldn't understand what was happening.

"Did you see anything, gattina?" He asked cupping my chin with his hand, making me look up.

"You- you killed him." I replied truthfully, scared that he would kill me for lying.

"You saw nothing!" One of his men stated, placing his gun at my head.

I nodded hurriedly as he left my chin with a chuckle.

"Should we kill her capo?" The man pointing the gun at me asked, as I shivered.

"No, è solo una ragazzina timida." He replied with a glint of amusement and walked away soon followed by all his men. (No, she's just a timid little girl.)

I sobbed, still scared and sat on the ground, clutching my dress tightly in my fist.

I am alive. I.. am... Alive

I sob silently and stood up before hurrying back home, scared of the consequences of being late. Even if I tell them the truth of what happened they'll beat me to death stating that I'm lying.

I pull out my phone and stuff it into the hidden compartment of my bag before opening the door and slipping inside as finally the warmth embraces me. I look around to check for anyone's presence and then I head towards the basement but... A normal night isn't in my fate.

"EDLA!!!" I heard my dad yell.

I held tightly on my bags straps and walked towards the living room where I wasn't usually allowed.

"You're late!" He stated angrily.

"I'm s-sorry sir." I mumbled.

"So here comes the Princess, late like always." I heard my step mother's voice as I turned around.

She pushed me on the floor, taking my bag from me and opening it.

She pulled out the cash from the front pocket and turned the bag upside down causing everything to fall on ground.

"Tsk just this much." She said crumbling the notes in her fist.

I quickly get on my feet and turn to my dad.

"S-sir can I pl-please get some of the money to buy a coat for myself, I had caught cold recently and it's really cold o-outside-"

"Aren't we already doing enough for you, you fucking greedy whore!" He snapped.

"S-sorry sir." I apologised.

"Get the fuck out of here!" My stepmom yells. I quickly gather all my stuffs from the floor and leave from there heading straight to the basement.

Yeah my little room was in the dark and cold basement, with a attached washroom which was enough to fit me.

I sit on bed and took my phone out of secret compartment.

I look at the screen as my heart falls. I thought I had enough tip money for tomorrow's meal but seems like I'll be starving.

I sigh and set an alarm for early morning before freshening up and drifting to sleep.

*******

To be continued . . .