...

Her Story Through Her Voice

"Breaking News! One more girl has been found missing from the country. Police have been trying to catch the culprit but failed miserably. Therefore, we're warning that people shouldn't wander alone at night."

The sound of the television could be heard from the living room where father had been sitting, reading 'The English Daily' he didn't heed much attention.

The same news had been displaying since one month. Only God knew where all the girls were disappearing all of a sudden.

The idea of being dragged and killed by some assassins sent a shiver down my spine. My stomach churned by the feeling of being one of them.

If only there was anything I could help with.

"ISABELLA!" I flinched as my father's angry voice boomed from inside the dining room and I found myself almost dragging my feet towards him.

"Ye-yes, father?" My knees were trembling as I stood there, waiting in anticipation, what could be his next order.

"Go and buy me a drink!" he snapped at me and my eyes widened at the thought.

I looked over at the clock to see it was already past 11 pm.

Did he not pay attention to what was shown on the tv?

"Bu-but fath-"

"I'm a very impatient man Isabella. Go before I throw you out of this damn house!" he threatened me in a very deadly tone and I nod instantly, afraid he might beat me again.

The bruises from yesterday hadn't healed completely and now I didn't want another one to adorn my body.

That hurts a lot.

So, pushing past the negative thoughts away I made my way outside the house and started walking through the deserted street in the chilly midnight.

As my father won't allow me to use his car, it was my only way to reach my destination.

White street lamps were the only source of light in the dark alleys as I, alone, with not a sign of a single street dog, strolled across the footpath. Imaginary shadows flickered past, as the endless era of obscurity tried to swallow me.

Fear would be an understatement for what I was feeling then.

'What if those serial killers took me away too?'

'Heck, I didn't even know the basic self-defense.'

'How could I possibly fight against all of them?'

With those thoughts running in my mind, I subconsciously tightened the leather jacket around my body— a futile hope of it turning out to be my knight in shining armour. My heart was thumping loud against my chest in the silence. The occasional cold wind prickled my cloth-clad body in goosebumps.

Another day to prove that I was still surviving. 

My name was Isabella Evans, 19 years old, working in a small café to pay off her father's rent above anything, or if not then he would beat me to death and threaten to sell our home.

Home. It almost sounded pitiful now.

Home is where your heart belongs to. But when the heart was dead, there was no longer a home but a house to exist.

This house was very dear to my mother and the last thing I wanted it to lose.

My mother loved me very much and used to call me Bella. She was so beautiful, and kind-hearted and always taught me to treat people with kindness, no matter what.

Everyone said I was just like her. Though I'd doubted that. None could replace her place. She was the definition of Angel.

My father married my mom when she was pregnant with me. He loved us so much back then that sometimes people used to throw us envious glances. We indeed made a happy home.

But after my mother died, he became abusive all of a sudden. He used to get drunk frequently and accused me to the extent where I had to believe I was the reason of my mother's death.

An ominous shadow which brought destruction. 

I couldn't deny the fact, that night if it wasn't for my insisting, that she must buy me a cotton candy, then perhaps she would be alive today.

After my mom passed away I would cry for hours and begged her to come back. When my father first hit me I was so close to run to my mom's arms and hide. To wake up from the horrible nightmare.

Only if I knew it was just the beginning of my sufferings.

The chocked tears and the slashing sound in the empty house confirmed the bitter agony filled reality of mine.

The reason why I agreed to live with him in that house because there were two reasons:

One, somewhere I still believed that he loved me. Maybe, one day he would come to me and apologies to me that it was a mistake and hug me like before.

And two, I had nowhere to go...

Unconsciously a traitorous tear rolled down from my cheeks and I missed no second to wipe it away.

'I had to be strong.'

Realizing I was near the bar, I stepped inside as loud blasts of music welcomed my eardrums.

The strong Alcoholic smell made me gag as I scrunched my nose in disgust. I watched as some horny teenagers were grinding against each other whereas some girls were practically naked sprawling on the floor.

One of the places I hated the most.

Without wasting a minute I called the bartender to give me a bottle of whiskey as he eyed me up and down like a ravishing meal with his lustful gaze.

I dropped my eyes and started rubbing my arms up and down awkwardly to ease the uncomfortableness of some boys intense stares at me.

'Save me, oh God!'

As soon as I got the bottle, I quickly paid the bill and almost ran out from there.

But before I could do so, someone yanked my arm harshly and I collided with a hard chest.

The same group of guys evilly smirked down at me as I was trying my best to get rid of their tight hold.

"Ple-please... leave me," I begged them with teary eyes.

"Why so hurry, doll?" one of the guys husked near my ear and my instincts were screaming danger.

"Seems to be a good fuck for tonight. What do you say, David?" another guy suggested.

'No way!'

Seeing them distracted, I bit the guy's hand where he hold me and ran from there as fast as my legs carried me.

The beer bottle fell abruptly from my hand and shattered on the road creating a loud clanking noise but at that time I was too scared to notice that.

I panicked to hear their yelling from behind.

"STOP! YOU BITCH!"

'They were chasing after me!'

I increased my speed and felt as if my lungs were burning out from my ribcage.

'Today would be my last day on earth.'

I ran and ran and ran. Everything happened in a blur. I didn't know how long I was running through the woods. And only when did I not hear them near me I slowed down my pace.

I looked back and forth to see if they were still coming or not and to my relief they were nowhere to be seen.

I collapsed to the muddy ground and groaned in pain as my ankle twisted from tripping over a rock. Small scratches were around my knees.

Once my breathing became normal I eyed the adjacent and realized I lost my path. As far as my eyes went, I saw darkness where long and thick trees surrounded me proudly.

Tears that were threatening to fall now started flowing down nonstop from my eyes.

'How could I go back home now?'

'Heck, even I didn't have my phone with me to inform father.'

Anxiety and helplessness clouded my mind as my throat tightened from suppressing a sob.

In no time any ferocious animal could jump over at me or worse some robber could found me in there alone.

My head started spinning vigorously as my stomach churned in anxiety by thinking of the possible dangers awaiting for me in that eerie forest but before blackness could fully consume me I heard a noise. A low distant noise.

It sounded like something or someone was whimpering in pain.

Curiosity took the best of me as without thinking of the consequences I slowly made my way in that direction as if in a daze.

As soon as my footsteps stopped before the noise a gasp left my mouth discovering the front scene.