Episode 5

Malu Castellani

I woke up with my head throbbing, I opened my eyes and everything started to spin. I don't know what happened, I only remember that after the argument with my brother, I went to the kitchen to drink water. When I came back, I felt something on my nose and lost consciousness. I bring my hand to my temples, still throbbing, I sit up and realize I'm in a dark room I don't recognize. I get up and go to the door, but it's locked, fear and desperation take over me, I bang on the door and scream.

"Help! Get me out of here! Someone, please!" I scream, banging on the door, but no one comes.

The window is small and the light outside barely illuminates the room. The door opens and a complete stranger enters. I run and sit on the bed, hugging my legs. He observes my entire body with a piercing gaze.

"Good that you're awake. I think you already know why you're here and what happened."

"I won't be here for long. My brother will come for me." I say, with an ironic smile.

"How would he come for you if he was the one who sold you?" He says, and I can't believe my own brother's cruelty.

"No, he didn't do that!" He throws me the cell phone.

"Read it and see." I take the device with trembling hands, not wanting to believe it. Tears stream down my face. "No, this is a lie!" I scream, throwing the cell phone against the wall. The man stares at me.

He looks into my eyes and grabs my chin tightly, making me groan in pain. He brings his face close to my neck, making me shrink in fear as his body shudders.

Man: Do you know what's going to happen to you? — He whispers, sliding his tongue along my neck, making me nauseous with his closeness. — You're going to become the worst whore in my brothel, you'll be used by all kinds of men. You'll be worse than an animal. So get ready, tomorrow you'll have clients — He releases my chin and slides his hands up my thigh. — I don't know if I'll be the first to fuck you, but I'm dying to feel that virgin pussy gripping my cock. And I can still make money, I have important clients who would love to fuck a virgin. — He says, squeezing my thigh.

"Let me go!" I say, my voice choked with emotion.

"I'll be around. Wait until tomorrow night, when you'll have your first clients." He leaves the room with the shattered cell phone. I lie down on the bed and cry uncontrollably, thinking how my brother could do this to me, he's become someone I don't recognize, even worse than my father. As wrong as my father was, he would never do something like this to any of us. I still don't understand why my parents had to die in such a tragic way. And the person who should have loved me did this to me, my only family now is just a man consumed by drug and alcohol addictions, willing to sell his own sister to support his vices, sobs echo through the room.

An older woman comes to bring me food and clean clothes, but I'm not hungry and I don't touch the food. I go to the small bathroom and face my reflection. My face is swollen from crying so much. I promise myself that no man will touch me, but I don't know how I'll get out of here tomorrow, when I get a chance.

I take a quick shower, letting my tears mix with the cold shower water. I stay there as long as I need to feel the cold, as the cold has become my refuge. I prefer to feel pain from the coldness to relieve the pain I feel in my body and heart. I get out of the bathroom and get dressed, hugging my own body. I try to sleep, but nightmares come to mind. I see my mother being abused and then their bodies on the floor, in their own blood.