★★Mariella's POV★★



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Once the lifeless body is dealt with, I rise to my feet, dragging it away from the children's view. Dusting my hands against each other, I glance around the clearing, scanning for any lingering threats. Nothing. No one. It seems I've taken care of every last one of them.

Whew, finally.

Without wasting another moment, I peel off my gloves, tucking them into my side pocket, and sprint toward the little girl tied to the stone slab. Her tiny body is trembling, but her eyes remain wide, unblinking, staring at nothing. She doesn't flinch or react as I approach, and that stillness sends a chill through me.

It's terrifying to think how broken she must be, so young, so innocent—too pure for the horrors of this cruel world. To be tied down, helpless, forced into something so monstrous... she didn't even get the chance to live, to experience life's beauty, before being thrown into this nightmare.

As I kneel beside her, my voice softens, the edge I carried all night dissolving into something gentler.

"Hey, sweetheart," I whisper, carefully loosening the bindings around her fragile wrists. "You're safe now. I've got you."

The moment my words reach her, she bursts into tears—deep, gut-wrenching sobs that seem to come from a place far beyond her young years. My chest tightens as I see the flood of emotions overwhelm her small frame.

I kneel down and wrap my arms around her gently, careful not to startle her any further. She's so fragile, like a porcelain doll that's been cracked but not yet shattered. I stroke her hair softly, murmuring reassurances.

"It's okay, sweetheart. All the bad monsters are gone now. They can't hurt you anymore."

She buries her face in my chest, her tiny hands clutching at my shirt as if letting go would make me disappear. Her sobs rack her little body, and she clings to me with all the strength she has left.

Her grip tightens, desperate and unyielding, as she struggles to catch her breath. I can feel the weight of her fear, her pain, as though it's seeping into me. I hold her closer, my hand gently patting her back, as if I can somehow shield her from all the horrors she's endured.

I feel the burn in my eyes, the telltale blurriness threatening to spill over.

No. Not now. I can't cry. Not yet. If I break down, who's going to wipe her tears away? Who's going to remind her that it's over—that she's safe?

So I swallow the lump in my throat, steadying my voice as I whisper, "I'm here, sweetheart. I've got you. And I'm not going anywhere."

I gently pull back, just enough to look into her big, brown, doe-like eyes. They're filled with so much pain and innocence, it nearly takes my breath away. Her voice is barely a whisper, trembling through her sobs as she manages to say, "I-I want m-my mama."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Me too...

I want my mother too. The ache in my chest tightens as I think about her. I miss her so damn much. I wish she were still here.

Life would have been so different if she hadn't been taken from me. I wouldn't have to carry the weight of all this anger and violence, the constant drive to prove myself, to protect what's left of my family.

If she were here, I wouldn't feel so... broken. So murderous. But she's not. And that's how I became this—ruthless, monstrous. It's what the world made me, what my mother's death forged in me. She was the light, the reason I fought to stay human. Without her, I became nothing but a weapon, a shadow of vengeance and anger. Now, I'm just the monster I was always meant to be

I close my eyes for a second, letting the moment of grief wash over me. It's hard to admit it, but I need her.

I still need her.

I force a soft smile, brushing away her tears with my fingers. "Don't worry, you'll see her soon. I just need to make sure you're not hurt first, okay, sweetie?"

She nods frantically, her little hands clutching at me for reassurance. I carefully lift her into my arms, holding her close as if she might disappear. Her weight is barely anything, but the responsibility she carries feels immense.

I walk over to the group of children, all still sitting with their eyes tightly shut, their small bodies trembling in fear. As I approach, I speak gently, my voice soft but firm. "It's okay now, you guys can open your eyes. It's all over."

One by one, their eyes flutter open, hesitantly at first, as if afraid of what they might see. When they finally take in their surroundings, their expressions shift—relief washing over their tear-streaked faces like a wave. The nightmare is over. For now.

I grab my phone and call Eliseo. He picks up on the first ring, his voice sharp and to the point. "The cleaning crew is already on their way," he says before I can even speak.

"Good. Thanks," I reply, keeping my voice calm and steady.

His tone softens slightly. "You're not hurt, right? Your father will murder me if anything happens to you."

I pause, dragging out the silence for just a second, letting the tension build. "Actually... yeah, I think I might be. Nothing serious, though. Just a little scratch," I say, letting my voice waver slightly. "It's nothing, really. Just... you know, might need some stitches."

I hear his breath catch, followed by a sharp intake of air. "What? Where? Are you—"

I can't help it. I burst out laughing. "Omg, you should hear yourself. I wish I was there to see your face. You sounded like you were about to cry or something."

There's a long, dramatic pause on the other end. "You're a monster," he mutters, probably rolling his eyes.

I grin, thoroughly amused by his reaction. "You're welcome."

I hang up, slipping the phone back into my pocket. Just as I do, the faint sound of engines reaches my ears.

The cleaning crew is here, right on time. Their vehicles roll up silently, headlights cutting through the darkness, ready to take care of the aftermath.

The team runs in with duffel bags, fully prepared to clean up every trace of the mess, not leaving a single drop of blood behind. Another group approaches the kids carefully, making sure not to spook them.

I've trained them for situations like this. "Sii gentile con loro (Be gentle with them,)" I instruct."Voglio essere informato su ciascuno di loro non appena saranno riuniti alle loro famiglie. (I want to be informed about each one of them once they're reunited with their families.) "

They all respond, "Sì, capo, (Yes, boss,)" and continue checking the kids for injuries.

I set the little girl down gently and kneel before her. The worry in her eyes is evident, her fear palpable. "Don't worry, these people are friends. They're going to make sure you're not hurt and help you get back to your mommy, okay?" I say softly, trying to reassure her.

I glance at one of my helpers, signaling that she's ready to take her. I give a nod, then look back at the little girl. "I have to go now, okay?"

Just as I'm about to stand, her tiny fingers wrap around my wrist, pulling me back slightly. "Wait..." she whispers, her voice barely above a breath. "What is your name?" She looks up at me through wide, shy eyes, her face half-hidden by her messy hair.

I smile warmly, kneeling down closer to her. "Mariella De Angelis."

She deserves to know the name of the person who helped her.

I slowly rise to my feet, moving carefully so as not to startle her. As I begin to walk away, I glance back at her one last time.

Her small, tear-streaked face is still watching me, and I catch the brief flicker of hope in her eyes. The look stays with me as I leave, a reminder of why I do what I do.

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Hii beautiful people!

I'm gonna be asking little questions at the send of the chapters because I wanna get to know you guys. ❤

ok, so *Favorite season?*

Bye, lovies! (っ◔◡◔)っ

Maddie♡