⚠warning: violence, assualt & a lot of flashbacks⚠

AZARIAH SERENE:

Drip.

Drip.

My first sense opened, allowing me to hear the single droplets of water landing on the floor, individually. A strong stench was whiffed through my nostrils and I gagged at the smell.

I tried moving my hand to cover my nose but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't cause any movement. I tried moving my lower body but no movement was caused.

It was as if I was paralyzed.

My eyes were shut close and no matter how hard I tried to open them, they wouldn't.

All I could see was darkness and all I could feel was a throbbing headache.

I gasped and breathed for air once cold water was thrown on my face. My eyes snapped open in an instant.

Sudden light welcomed me and I closed my eyes, blinking around to adjust my eyes to my surroundings.

I turned my head to look at my hands which were throbbing and shaking. My wrist and ankles were tied up and me rubbing them to get them off only caused them friction making them splinter through my skin.

A small cry left my lip as I was feeling very helpless. I couldn't move my body. I felt like a stranger in my own body.

I looked down at my clothes. They were torn, blood all over them.

The white shirt of Levi's that I was wearing was now having holes in it exposing small parts of my stomach and cleavage.

My pants were ripped from the side allowing me to see red scratches all over my thighs.

What the fuck happened to me?

I hung my head low feeling truly helpless.

My head snapped up when I realized that someone threw cold water on me.

And there he was, the capo of the Italian mafia, the Capo dei Velluti, (The head of velvets), sitting in a wooden chair, eyeing me like a hungry wolf eyeing his prey.

"What happened? Feeling irritated in your own body?"

A cry left my mouth as my whole body tremored to be relieved.

"Just say the word and I'll cut the ropes."

"Cut this. Let go." I did as he said but the fucker had different plans.

"Beg me and I will."

I'd rather die than beg and be weak in front of my enemy.

I stayed quiet and he just rolled his eyes.

"Stubborn as always."

"Where's Levi?" My eyes widen once I remembered about Levi.

It's not like Levi cannot fight but one should never underestimate their enemy.

"Levi..... He had errands to run. He left."

"Quit the act! Where is he?!"

He closed his eyes. "I heard you tiny. No need to shout."

"Where. Is. He?"

"You're in no position to make demands or ask questions, but for you, I'll answer it....... Levi, is home. Don't worry."

"You let him go?"

He let him go so easily? I was obviously confused.

He shook his head and lit up a cigar. "No, I didn't."

My eyebrows furrowed.

"How could I let go something that I didn't have in the first place?"

I stood there puzzled.

"Y-you didn't have him?"

He shook his head.

Upon realization, I started thrashing around and pulling the ropes wanting them to break and let me free.

I can't believe I fell into his trap! That's why he didn't prove to me that he had Levi!

"Look at you fighting. Still so tiny." He chuckled.

He walked closer to me and my eyes widened once I made an eye contact.

Silver eyes.

Same silver eyes that I am obsessed with. He held.

But they weren't like the silver pair I knew.

This bastard's eyes held a malicious look. Where as the pair I knew, and am captivated with always looks at me with soft eyes that he so desperately tries to hide behind his glares.

"Struck by my beauty? No issue. I am all yours baby."

I spat in his face when he got closer to me, touching my lips.

His face snapped to his left on instinct.

"Tsk. How disrespectful of you to treat your elders like this."

"Don't you fucking dare touch me!" I shouted but a pain erupted in my throat from being so sore.

I didn't even know where I was. The only clue about my surroundings I had, was of me being trapped in a basement looking room with carters of wood around and broken windows.

He grimaced looking at me. "Bitch"

He turned around and discarded his shirt.

A panic grew in me and my heart sunk to my chest, hurting badly.

He turned around and my eyes settled on his back.

His back had a huge scar running from his stomach till up the nape of his neck.

Silver eyes, scar. Tiny.

No, no. I can't be back here.

Everything made sense and everything fit together like a missing piece to a puzzle.

Everything was coming to my mind like a broken record replaying.

Each memory had my tears falling. Each memory had my heart sinking deeper.

He turned back around wearing a new shirt.

He saw the expression on my face and smirked.

"Ahh... I see. Remember me now?"

My words were caught in my throat. No matter how much I wanted to yell, thrash around, I couldn't. My body and mind were not in their right places and all I could do was let tears fall and be weak, as always.

"I told you I'd meet you again."

~Flashback~

I came home early from school excited to show omma, my piece of art that I did today.

I took off my shoes and walked to the living room.

"Please don't do this Rodriguez! I am begging you! She's my daughter! Please!"

The sounds of my omma's cries echoed around the house.

What's happening? Why is omma crying?

"She's only sixteen! Don't do this p-please. Take me instead. Please."

"QUIET!"

My father's booming voice sent chills down my spine.

"She's a grown adult and has responsibilities now. She will do this. And I'll see who stops me!"

"A-appa?" I called out to my dad.

They both looked at me and I didn't miss the look on my mom's face.

It was as if she was warning me to run away. Run away and never come back.

Her beautiful brown eyes that were always lit up, were now filled to the brim with tears.

"What's going on? Why is omma crying?" I walked to omma and took her hand in mine.

"Why are you crying?"

But before she could answer, I was snatched away from her and pushed to the floor.

"How many times have I told you to not call me that stupid name, in your stupid language!?"

He hates it when I call him appa.

I started backing away but he picked me up from my collar and slapped me.

My mother's cries only got louder asking and pleading dad to stop.

"A-appa" I cried looking at the monster in front of me.

Without any notice, he took me outside and pushed me in a car.

"Appa! Appa!" I banged my fists on the window but he just smiled at the driver and turned around.

"Be a good whore to him"

I flinched.

Soon the car started moving. I looked up front to see a man in his suit, driving the car.

"Where are you taking me!? Stop!"

He paid no heed and kept driving.

"I-I will call the police! S-stop!"

When he didn't answer, I took out my phone and was just half way through when the seat folded making me bend with it.

"Ouch!"

My phone dropped from my hand and the driver caught it as it flew up to his dashboard.

I pushed the seat up and just waited for when I'll get to my destination.

As soon as we got out, I blacked out when a heavy object dropped on my head.

~~~~~~

I opened my eyes to find myself standing in a basement cell, wearing only my inner wear.

I saw a blanket to my left and quickly hid my body with it.

I dropped to my knees and balled my eyes out.

"I promise I'll be good, dad! Get me out! Please!"

I heard footsteps and my eyes widened making me freeze.

"I see you have awoken."

There stood a man in a velvet suit looking at me with his silver eyes.

"Look how tiny you are. How beautiful you are..... I can already imagine you begging and trembling under me."

My eyes widen and with shaky hands I crawled back until my back hit the wall.

No no no.

I can't be in this situation! I promised omma I won't let anyone take advantage of me like dad does.

I can't. I won't. No.

"Don't be scared. Wear these." He threw some clothes that looked like bits and pieces of a cloth judging by the amount of it's quantity.

With that he left leaving me there crying.

~FLASHBACK ENDS~

Memory after memory flashed in my mind.

Memories of my past. Memories of the past six years flooded my mind.

My breathing stopped and all I remember is my head hanging low and me passing out as Alejandro chuckled.

~◌~✤✤~◌~

ZEMEN ACÉTTA:

"The only clue we have right now is of Azariah getting a call from someone that shook her making her run outside and leave-"

Levi said pacing back and forth.

"-And we couldn't catch the convo because of the fucking sound modulator being broken-"

Santino completed.

"-Hence, boss thinks she betrayed us because Terence said she was happy when she left-"

Jade completed.

"-But Terence is just a guard in the premises, why didn't he stop her?"

Jessie completed.

"Guys just chill! We gave her all we could but she still betrayed us.... What a bitch."

"FUCK OFF NOAH!" All three of them shouted together making Noah raise his hands in surrender.

Having enough of listening to these idiots. I stepped in the living room.

The clicks of my shoes caught their attention and they all stood up straightening their postures.

"Did I or did not order that her topic wouldn't be discussed anymore?"

All stood there, quiet with their head bowed.

"Did I or did I not?!"

"Lo siento jefe" (sorry boss), all muttered in synchronicity.

"No mentions of her will be discussed. If you want to, get the fuck out of my house."

All stood quiet and nodded.

"Get that inside your thick skulls." With that being said, I left the room for my office.

"I told you all, she is nothing but a betrayer."

"NOAH!" I roared.

"S-sorry boss." He scurried off to the hacking room shutting the door close behind him.

Why the fuck is he so hell bent on convincing everyone about Azariah?

~◌~✤✤~◌~

AZARIAH SERENE:

"I took you, I fed you, gave you shelter, and what did you do? You ran away with some fucker after charging at me!? How disappointing. And still I have you here after six years... Can't let you go now... Can I?"

I sobbed quietly as he was hurting me not only physically but mentally too.

"Now be a good one and eat this food. Go on."

He placed a plate full of fresh steak and mashed potatoes in front me, but I kicked it and threw the water glass charging it at him.

I hissed as the glass broke and shattered around my foot with it's pieces emerging into my skin.

"Still won't eat it?" He sighed, "you didn't change one bit"

My eyes were swollen red from all the crying and my face hurted from all the punches and slaps.

All these years I have done my best to take my anxiety pills, go to therapists behind dad's back, all just to keep this part of my life away from me. Only for it to come back much stronger.

~FLASHBACK~

I don't know when he'll be back to beat me up to the point where my knees will give up and I'll pass out.

I don't know when I'll get to eat proper food because I have not been eating their food which they have probably drugged.

I don't know when omma will come save me.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to get out of here. Safe and alive.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to see Ye-Joon and omma again.

I just..... Don't know.

I heard the metal door of the basement slam shut and my heart started racing.

I plopped down on the dirty cell bed that I was given and acted as if I was still passed out from the previous beating.

"This is her. Isn't she a pretty little thing." His perverted voice filled my ears.

"She sure is.... Can I have her after?" Some other voice filled my head and I could only shiver.

Of course he wants me too. It's like I am a piece of meat thrown towards a pack of hungry wolfs.

James chuckled, "I paid 15 million for her... Name your price."

I didn't know who was at the other end and who he was talking to. But I was sure that my misery isn't ending any time soon if I land into the hands of my next predator.

"You know dad is still having troubles handing me his mafia. He has trust issues that I will lead him to go bankrupt. So I can't say anything about the bills right now."

James tsked. "Sorry pal. Too bad, She's all mine then."

"Will you have a go at her?"

James groaned when I moved a little because I felt a bug crawling on me.

"Look at her shaking that petite ass of hers. And yes..... I will. I will make her submit to me."

The other man congratulated James as if he had just won a medal. A medal for being the biggest perverted bastard out there.

Soon I felt some hands on my body and I jolted up and backed away.

"Don't get scared tiny. It's me. James."

I gulped hard.

He isn't going to do it now right? He can't. I don't have any plan yet.

"Why don't you eat the food I send you?" He touched my jaw slightly but I slapped his hand away.

"I am not eating your druggy food! Get your hands off me."

I looked behind him and saw the door opened and rushed to it. But before I could reach the handle, my head was banged on the metallic door.

Not once, but thrice.

My head started throbbing. I heard a patter and looked down to see blood dripping from my head to my hands to my toes.

He let go of my hair which he had clutched tightly and I fell on the ground spitting out some chocked saliva.

"Next time I'll do much worse!" He kicked my ribs and I groaned and curled up into a ball.

It hurts. It hurts. God it hurts.

My legs, my hands, my face, my head, there wasn't a single part of my body that didn't hurt.

~FLASHBACK ENDS~

"Stop crying. It's you and only you that has brought you into this situation. Had you not run away with some fucker, you wouldn't be here." He smiled his wrinkled smile at me which totally looked malicious.

His salt and pepper hair which were almost not there exposing his bald spots, were combed perfectly making me irk in disgust.

I wanted nothing more than to get out of this place and take a shower which I haven't for 24 hours now.

He leaned in and smelled my hair and I looked away, biting my lip hard almost drawing blood.

"Fresh. As always."

Fresh my ass.

I smelt like blood and rodents while he stood there in his suit being the fucker he is.

"Zemen is going to shred you to pieces when he sees you. He is going to ki-"

I was cut off when a harsh slap snapped my head to the left.

I looked up at him with teary eyes and he took a deep breath.

"Don't make me hurt you." He glared at me and went to sit down back on his seat.

"I heard you all went to a club for a certain file?" He laughed and crossed his legs over one another.

My eye twitched wanting to break those legs of his.

"Stupid of you all to think that I'd ever actually leave lose ends behind...... It was just a warning for him to see what comes in the future. When his mother—"

"Don't you dare touch her!" My chest heaved when I thought about his threat.

He can't take Zemen's mom away from him. I have seen the boyish smile that lights up my heart, whenever he talks about his mom.

"Right now, you shouldn't be too worried about that old woman. Instead, worry about him coming to save you."

He just smirked and took out his phone.

"How's all going there?" He asked the person on the other end while looking straight at me.

"All is going good boss, the Acéttas don't suspect anything. All think that she betrayed them."

My eyes widen and I stood there, appalled.

The voice was awfully famiiar. I know that voice.

He cut the call and placed his phone inside his suit jacket.

"No.. No." I whispered looking at the floor feeling my heart thundering.

Zemen has a rat in his group who's working for Alejandro. Fuck no!

"You see... I planned out the perfect revenge."

"W-what did you do?!"

"See for yourself."

He started playing a video which had my eyes widening making my brain throb and fell numb.

~◌~✤✤~◌~

ZEMEN ACÉTTA:

"BOSS! BOSS!" I heard Noah call me from the security room.

I speed walked upstairs and into the room.

"Look here." He pointed at a camera footage.

For the first time, I was speechless. I had nothing to say. I was baffled.

"Noah, you called?" Jade entered with Levi and came forward to see the footage.

"T-that's Azariah.... "

"That's our warehouse footage, boss. She's going through your files."

"Where is it?"

"Oh yep. It is Azariah. It's her voice"

My eye brows furrowed. "Didn't the voice modulator broke?"

Noah froze in his seat. "I-I managed to get back this footage's sounds."

I hummed and nodded, looking back at the footage of her going through my files.

Only her back was shown. The same brown hair was falling down her back.

My eyes moved down to her ass.

"Boss. Why are you looking down!? I am telling you it's not Azariah! We have more important matters right now than her ass!" Levi shouted and banged his fists on the table.

I looked at him, more like glared but the fucker grew balls.

"No! Don't you dare glare at me! I have had enough! Didn't you see her? The look on her face whenever she used to panic?!"

I didn't say anything and just got out of there.

I walked outside to where Terence guards the gates.

He bowed down once he saw me walking up to him.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Sí. She ran outside and was looking quite happy, she was dressed nicely in a dress and-"

I raised my hand to stop him and he bowed.

With that, I left for the warehouse.

I got every answer I needed.

~◌~✤✤~◌~

AZARIAH SERENE:

He showed me the fake video that he made of a girl who looked exactly like me.

"Come in" he called someone in and I looked in the direction of the door.

The door opened allowing her in.

She looked exactly like me. The same hair, same figure, same posture.

Her face was completely different making sense as to why the footage only had her back and hair.

"They think you betrayed them. Tsk. Tsk. So sad."

No, no, no. Zemen can't. He will come save me.

"He will be here! He won't let you get away! H-he won't trust those lies!"

I was stuttering as my hands were shaking because a part of me knew that he will believe those lies.

All he ever saw me as was nuisance and trouble. From the very start he wanted to get rid of me. Why would he save me?

My mind said no but my heart was conflicting. It was beating furiously at the mention of Zemen, believing that he'd come save me and will bash those lies.

Oh how wrong I was.
_____________________

Are you guys keeping up with the story?
And oh-oh. It's seems like there's a rat in the group. Who do you think it is?