Ruthless

12

As I peered at my reflection in the mirror, it felt like my own reflection was mocking me at my own circumstances, finding some twisted and sick joy. The urge to smash the mirror surged within me, fueled by a surge of frustration and rage.

Shutting my eyes, I drew in deep breaths, struggling to tame the whirlwind of emotions raging inside me that threatened to sweep me away with it. The chaos within me felt all-consuming, leaving me utterly defenseless.

When I opened my eyes again, I examined my appearance closely. Nothing about my reflection resembled that of a soon-to-be bride. My maroon red dress, modest and unadorned, and a long skirt concealing my lower body, seemed unfit for the occasion. There was no trace of makeup or jewelry, leaving me bare and exposed.

A few maids had prepared me, attending to my bath and grooming, before assisting me into the plain dress, leaving me alone to grapple with my thoughts.

The reality of getting married today still felt like an elusive dream, one that I hadn't quite woken up from. The fact that it was to a man like Adam only exacerbated matters.

Perhaps he was meant to be my fate. Not everyone finds their prince charming; some are destined to be with devils, and sadly, I seem to be one of them. Anyways, everything unfolds with a purpose, and those circumstances will improve. I just needed to be patient. However, deep down, I knew I was deceiving myself.

In the brief period that I had known Adam, he had committed acts that would remain ingrained in my memory. His ruthless murder of Nicole and Frank, along with his assault on me. I couldn't shake the apprehension that Adam might attempt to violate my boundaries once again, driven by the outdated notion of my supposed purity, as emphasized by the old man's demand for a virgin granddaughter-in-law.

I sighed once more, my hand instinctively reaching up to rub my face, the growing headache a result of the overwhelming thoughts swirling in my mind.

"You made the best decision," came a familiar voice from behind me.

Allison stood by the door, looking resplendent in her white gown, an embodiment of grace and elegance. Suppressing the sudden rush of self-consciousness, I refrained from assessing my own appearance. She seemed more like the bride than I did. I had to admit, she looked stunning.

I just nodded as a response. She smiled before speaking again, as if reading my mind, "Marriages here are different; we believe in simplicity. I understand you must have had many dreams for your wedding. Trust me, you will be treated like a queen."

But who would tell her that being treated like a queen was not what I desired? All I wanted was to be treated like a human. Truthfully, I already felt like a queen, for my fate, like theirs, had been decided by others. I was going to be trapped in a golden cage just like them.

Allison approached me slowly, stopping in front of me and taking hold of my hands, which I failed to realize was trembling violently. Without a word of comment and gently, she traced circles on the back of my hand with her thumbs.

"Don't resist Adam tonight," she whispered.

I had nearly forgotten about it, and the thought of the upcoming events made my stomach churn. I was certain my face had drained of color.

"Let him do what he wants to do. If you resist, you will get hurt," she concluded, leaving me unsure whether it was a suggestion or a warning, perhaps a bit of both.

Unsure of what to say, I shifted the conversation elsewhere.

"My friends," I managed to say.

Releasing my hands, she brushed aside the hair that had fallen over her face. "As promised, they have been safely taken to their house," she assured me.