Haven And Chaos

16) You belong on the floor

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MAYA'S POV
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I was barely alive when I snuck back into my room from how fast my heart was drumming. We had overslept, which meant I was so late for classes and the rest of the house was already awake. Gale hadn't said anything to me when I was leaving the room but the dirty look he gave me was enough to remind me of my place. Without him having to say it, I was aware he expected me in his room at nightfall.

I thought about all the things that could go horribly wrong with this odd arrangement. But knowing his deep hatred for me, I felt safe by his side- sexually. He wouldn't lay hands on that which disgusted him.

As a layer of perspiration formed on my forehead from all the running I was doing around the mansion, I managed to dash into the kitchen, catching the maids by surprise. Some gasped while others jumped from the sudden shock.
"Jesus! Miss Maya!"

"You scared us!"

"I'm so sorry. I'm super late and wanted to get something to eat on-"

"Here!" Lisa, the quietest of them all interrupted handing me a lunch bag. "I, I prepared it...for you."

Just like me, the other three girls averted their shocked gazes at her. Her eyes were fixed on my feet and her cheeks seemed flushed.
"Thank...you." I walked over and received the small blue bag. "It's so nice of y-"

"What do we have here?"

Another round of gasps lifted. Only this time, they weren't shocked gasps, but rather, terrified ones. They all scurried away from me and got back to their posts at the counter to clean, chop, and wash vegetables and such.

A fraction of their fear got to me as I turned around to face the tigress. She stood by the doorframe, hands crossed beneath her ample bosom. The fierce glare directed at me made my insides shiver, but, I acted along and flashed her a smile.
"Good morning, Lori."

A twisted frown quickly ate up her face and she sprung up straight as a board. "We're you taught no manners whatsoever? Do you know who I am? Do you not know my family?"

"Um... Gale didn't introduce us, so you're just another person in this hellhole. He only said I should listen and obey him."

As my blunt statement came to an end, murmurs from behind me took over. They were half audible, dammit! Couldn't they gossip about me once I was out of there?

"You...you just-" Lori came forward at me, her steps quiet due to the furry slippers, "-talked back at me? Insulted me? Made fun of me in front of these lowlives?"

We came face to face. So close that I could almost feel her rage steaming from her body. Her eyes fell on the bag, and without any warning, she grabbed it from my hand.
"Hey!" I cried. "Give that ba-"
She shut me up with a hot slap before smacking the bag on the floor like a wild animal going berserk.

The cracking and shattering noises from the bag indicated the end of the lives of the lunch box and bottle Lisa had used.
Some kind of aromatic soup began flowing from the bag, smearing the floor close to our feet.

"Lick it!" Lori ordered.

"What?" I asked in disbelief, my right hand holding my flaming cheek.

"Don't look at me with those stupid eyes. I said-" she suddenly grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled it down, "-lick it!"

"Ow!"
The pain of having my scalp assaulted like this had the rest of my body follow my head until I was on my knees. But she didn't just stop there. Using all the energy in her body, she brought forward her other hand on my hair and pushed my head on the tiles, pressing the side of my face on the soup.
I was lucky that the cold floor had absorbed most of its heat for I'd have suffered some burns.

"Sto-"

"I heard Daniel became the new CEO a few months ago. He must be thrilled to occupy such a spot. I'd hate to imagine the look on his face if he were to be kicked out because someone bought off the family company," a threatening whisper penetrated my ear from the woman who was now squatting beside me. She laughed, yanking back my head mercilessly.

"Look at me, dear Maya."
Our eyes met.
"You look like a good dog licking things from the floor. I think we should be serving your food on the floor from today, don't you think?"

"Why?" I whimpered. "Why are you doing this?"

She scoffed, and then roared out heavy laughter. "Oh gawd! How adorable. These tears look so great. You should cry more often when you see me. Maybe I'll cut you some slack then."

Was I beyond saving? Had I underestimated Lori's power? If going against her would jeopardize Mike's status, did it mean that I would stomach every abuse she'd throw my way?

"If you know what is good for you, I suggest you leave this place and never look back. Whatever plans you have for Gale should end right here, right now. He's mine! And I'll tear you to pieces if I see you close to him. And if you think I'm bluffing, wait for my gift tonight. It'll be on your bed."

A large lump formed in my throat from her cold heartless words. The scowl she had didn't make it easy for me. For no reason, the chills running down my spine told me that she meant every word she had spoken.
But I still wanted to remain in denial and call it a bluff.

There was no way her family could hold such power, right?

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I ended up not going to school. The ordeal made me have a panic attack, leading me to lock myself in my room.
Once or twice, Lisa came to check on me, even leaving food outside the door. But I was deep in my negative emotions to think about eating.

Threats. More threats.
Why did these grown-ups threaten an insignificant person like myself? They had their busy lives and places to be if at all they were bored. Why did they keep coming after me?
I had only down one simple mistake.
Just one.

"Why won't you leave me alone?" I cried pulling my hair and curling on the cold floor. My naked body directly absorbed the coldness of the tiles, yet I didn't feel a thing or care about it.
Maybe making myself as suck as possible would get me out of this prison!

Maybe pushing myself to death just on the edge would make them leave me alone!

Death? That wasn't an option. Gale had made it clear he could unleash his wrath on my family if I dared seek comfort in the arms of the grim reaper.
"What should I do? What should I do?"

"Help me! Help me! Anyone!" I cried, my ugly sniffs making it sound so desperate.

As my emotions got the better of me, I drifted out of consciousness without knowing it. All I could feel were the distant pleas for help which sounded so much like my voice.

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