Garcìa

chapter 1

It has been four hard years for Valentina and her family. To her family, she is missing and presumably dead. And she has been beaten for four years by Elijah. He would come by her room at night and beat her so she would talk but she never did. He would leave her alone for a few days to heal until the ritual started all over again. While Elijah was a horrible man whom she wanted to avoid at all costs, she had taken a liking to the workers here. They all treated her like family. The maid who helped her the first night had become some kind of mother figure to Valentina. The workers here are all trapped because Elijah has something on them. For some it could be a secret that would cut all ties with their loved ones. Or it could lead to unfair imprisonment. Elijah uses this to ensure his employees would never run. But Valentina had promised everyone at the house that she would someday try and help to break them free. To which they all shrugged. They hated him and the conditions in which they worked, but for most it had been that way for years. Still, Valentina didn't waver from her promise.

"Is she in there?" a voice asked from outside Valentina's bedroom.

She immediately recognised it as Elijah's. He was probably asking one of the maids if she was in so he could beat her for answers again. A second later, he swung open the door. She was sitting on her bed, already expecting him.

"Time for your night ritual." he taunted her while making his way towards her.

He had grown quite frustrated with her reluctance to answer him. Even though he beat her. It was like her walls were made from iron. He wanted so badly for her to talk but she never said anything he could work with.

"Tell me their strategies." he demanded in the same tone he always did.

"They used to cheat while playing poker. But I can't remember what moves they used." she replied with a fake smile.

She had grown quite daring over the last year. Only enraging Elijah even further. She was supposed to be the scared little girl he had brought in four years ago. But luck didn't seem to be on his side. He grunted before punching her in the ribs. She let out a huff of air but didn't cry. Or beg him to stop. She knew he wouldn't until he knew all of it. But she would never give up her family secrets.

"I'll ask again. Tell me their strategies." he said.

"Like I said, I don't know which moves they used to cheat on poker."

He growled in anger before he swung his fist in her face. She spit out the blood that formed in her mouth and looked up at him with an angry glare. She figured out last year, that he needed her more than she needed him. He wouldn't kill her. Because then these four years would have been for nothing. And he couldn't have that.

"Bitch." he mumbled."I'm leaving tonight for three weeks. But when I get back, we're going to continue this. And then you'll finally give me my answers." he tried to threaten but Valentina was unaffected as always.

"Have fun." she said sarcastically.

He grumbled before leaving her room. A second later, Valentina's favourite maid came in: Sarah. She was the one she could count on since the day she came here.

"Oh dear. He went for the ribs again, didn't he?" Sarah said, concern lacing her words.

"He did. But it's nothing that hasn't happened before." Valentina tried to reason.

"Still. I'll help you get cleaned up." Sarah said before grabbing the first aid kit.

Valentina remembered being so frightened and sad that day, four years ago. But Sarah had stayed with her all throughout the night. Through her crying and nightmares. All of it for a few months. Sarah had also been the one to persuade Elijah to get Valentina education. He reluctantly agreed on online school but Valentina was grateful to Sarah nonetheless. This way, Valentina got her High School diploma and a College degree in Business as well. Although, Elijah thought it was for Psychology.

"All cleaned up." Sarah said once she had cleaned Valentina's wounds.

"Thank you so much, Sarah."

"Off course." the woman said before engulfing the girl in a hug.

"Good night, Sarah." Valentina said and gave the woman a kiss on the cheek.

"Good night, Valentina." the woman replied before kissing the girl on her forehead.

The two smiled in goodbye before Valentina fell backwards into her bed. She couldn't believe it had been almost four years since she got here. Since she lost her parents. She had been following the news and everything. Wanting to know exactly how they were doing with finding her. But the news stopped reporting after a few months, getting bored of her case probably. At least that's what Valentina thought. The only console she had was the articles about the Garcìa gala that was held every year where Alicestar would hold a speech in her honour. To let everyone know he wouldn't stop until she was found. She loved reading the articles. About how her uncle and aunt were doing and how little Leo was growing up. She sighed before trying to fall asleep. Her mind often drifted off to her parents. The night they died, they went to dinner. Just the three of them. They wanted to spent extra time with their daughter because they had to leave the next day for two weeks. Valentina often found the dinner extra special because it was their last. And it was just the three of them. She looked over at her bedside table and found the picture of her parents that she keeps there. Elijah would often break the frame, so she now made sure to hide it whenever he came in only to place it back after he leaves.

"I love you both and I miss you both, so much." she said with a sniffle before drifting off to sleep.