"In the shadows of her past, Ivory's life is a dark and twisted labyrinth. But her greatest reason for living is her daughter-the spark that keeps her from succumbing to the darkness that has consumed her.
When she's forced to team up with Salvador...
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*TRIGGER WARNING : ABUSE , VIOLENCE *
Chapter|3|
The river flowed gently, nourishing the surrounding landscape with its mineral-rich waters. While it was a source of sustenance for the people who relied on its waters, it was forced to drain itself and sacrifice for someone else's survival. The cycle of life and survival was a constant struggle, where the needs of some came at the expense of others.
In a nearby park, the sound of children's laughter and screams of delight filled the air as they played on the swings and slides. Amidst the joy, a young boy approached Ivory, asking for her help in opening his bottle. She smiled and assisted him, taking in the serene atmosphere before returning to her gaze.
As she sat, a woman guided her daughter to the swings, her presence striking a chord within Ivory. She rose from her seat and approached them, trying to engage in conversation without drawing attention from the guards she noticed watching them.
"Don't look my way," she whispered urgently. "You're being watched. Be ready at 11 tomorrow. Gather your essentials and tell him you're taking your daughter to the park. Move to the hotdog stand after 15 minutes of your arrival. Don't move too quickly or too slowly."
With that, Ivory vanished into thin air. The woman she had spoken to was left standing alone, her eyes gazing out at the park with a mix of sadness and determination. She was a victim of abuse, her face covered in expertly applied makeup to conceal the physical bruises inflicted by her partner. Her elegance and simplicity belied the pain she had endured.
Ivory thought about her past, how she had been pushed into a situation she didn't understand or couldn't comprehend. She picked herself, up from the hotel room carpet and began to dress for the day, knowing she had to get to the park by 10 to leave no room for error.
As she prepared to leave, she couldn't help but feel a sense of inadequacy compared to the woman she had just met. Why couldn't she have been stronger? Why couldn't she have stayed with her daughter? The questions swirled in her mind as she made her way to the park, determined to face whatever lay ahead.
She waited patiently until the woman had finally arrived. Her nameless figure stood by the swings before moving to the hotdog stand, clutching her daughter's miniature hands. The guards were successfully eliminated, scrambling the security around the park. They were ushered to the car as I moved off to drop them off at their destination.
As they drove away from the park, Ivory couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. She had successfully carried out the mission without being detected. The woman, whose name she still didn't know, was now safe and on her way to a new life.
But as they pulled away from the curb, Ivory's thoughts turned to the woman's circumstances once again. There she was without her daughter as she escaped alone, but this woman was able to carry on with her daughter and still be safe. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of hurt and sadness. As they drove further away from the park, the woman finally spoke up. "Thank you," she said softly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't helped me."
Ivory smiled, trying to hide her own emotions. "You're welcome," she said. "You're free now."
The woman nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'll never forget this," she said.
Ivory pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the engine. "I'll never forget it either," she said. "You'll never be alone again."
As they sat there in silence, Ivory realized that the situation she sat in was one of hypocrisy and irony. She had successfully protected and freed someone of their abuser but could not protect her own self.
As Ivory watched the woman disappear into the distance, she couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. But for now, she was content to sit in silence, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The river flowed gently beside her, its waters nourishing the surrounding landscape just as they had nourished her own soul.
And as she closed her eyes, letting the peace wash over her, she knew that she would always be ready for whatever lay ahead. She had freed another should and hoped maybe one day she could do it for her own self. The scars still implanted on her skin and looking at her body reminded her that he still owned her.
Past Time
"Good morning baby, how is mommy's sweet precious gift this morning," she said kissing the soft head of her young one.
She giggled moving her tiny feet and feeling the presence of her mother. He came dressed in his suit for business. He would come to greet them every morning, forcing Ivory to bid him farewell with a kiss and a fake I love you.
"Good morning my beautiful wife and daughter," he said, kissing his daughter's forehead and passionately kissing Ivory. She stood in disgust but bayed her tears to prevent his anger. He was so sweet to his daughter but became a callous, dark man towards Ivory. She would pray and hope her daughter never had to experience any sort of life like the one she found herself in.
She hoped she would find a loving man outside of this world with who she could grow old and someday have kids of her own free will. After he left she let go a soft shaky breath trying her best to soothe the ache in her heart. She sat in the rocking chair peering out at the beautiful roses in the garden, singing a sweet lullaby to her baby.
She had finally gone to sleep, and Ivory just sat there, peering down at the beauty. She didn't want to let her out of her arms, and instead held her tightly in her arms.
BACK TO PRESENT
Again, she had found herself forcefully waking up in tears and clutching a necklace. She held the pillow in her arms, rocking it from side to side, hoping that her daughter would appear and that everything that had happened was a dream. She wanted it to just be her and her daughter. sitting on the patio, peering out at the beautiful roses, and watching the river flow as an account of mother nature. Again, the regret of the abandonment she had caused her child had broken her, and tears began to flow even quicker, unaware of her screams. She longed to be the river, wishing she was strong enough to make the necessary sacrifice instead of succumbing to selfish desires.
