"𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥"

I/The Beginning of Pain

Amelia had always known, in the way that young children somehow know things without understanding them, that this place was bad. The dim, musty cell was her world, and beyond its iron bars lay only shadows and screams. She was five years old now, old enough to sense the malevolence that cloaked this place like a suffocating fog.

She sat huddled in a corner, her small frame trembling with fear. Her wide, brown foxy eyes darted around the cell, looking for any sign of danger. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to make herself as small as possible. Her long, curly hair tumbled around her face, a tangle of brown that she wished could hide her from the world.

Amelia had learned early on that the woman who looked after her—if 'looked after' was the right term—was cruel. This woman, with her sour face and harsh voice, would often starve Amelia, hit her, or curse at her. Today, however, was different. Today, Amelia sensed that something far worse was coming.

Three men, their faces hard and eyes colder than any winter night, approached her cell. They were middle-aged, with graying hair and cruel mouths twisted into sneers. Amelia's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to press herself further into the corner, desperate to escape their gaze.

One of the men unlocked the cell door with a loud clang, the sound echoing ominously through the dim corridors. "There she is," one of them said, his voice a low, menacing growl. "The little brat."

"Stop crying, you bitch," another man snapped as he stepped inside, reaching out to grab her. His hand was rough and calloused, his grip painfully tight around her arm.

"No! Please!" Amelia cried, her voice a high-pitched wail of terror. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. The men dragged her from the corner, ignoring her desperate struggles.

"Shut up!" The third man slapped her across the face, the force of the blow sending her sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded in her cheek, and stars danced in her vision.

Amelia whimpered, her tiny body shaking with sobs as she tried to crawl away. But the men were relentless. One of them grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back. She screamed, the sound echoing off the cold, stone walls.

"Hold her down," one of the men ordered. The other two complied, pinning her small frame to the ground. Amelia's heart raced, fear and panic flooding her senses.

"Why are they doing this?" she thought desperately, her mind racing. "Why can't anyone hear me? Help me?"

The first man knelt beside her, his hand rough and heavy as he slapped her again, harder this time. Amelia's vision blurred with tears and pain, but she could still see the malice in his eyes.

"You're going to learn your place here," he hissed, his breath hot and rancid against her face. "You're nothing but a worthless piece of trash."

His hands moved over her body, groping and squeezing with a brutality that left her breathless. Amelia cried out, her voice hoarse and broken. The other men laughed, their laughter a harsh, grating sound that filled the room.

"Look at her," one of them jeered. "She's pathetic."

Amelia closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain, the humiliation, the terror. But there was no escape. The men continued their assault, their hands leaving bruises and welts on her tender skin. Each slap, each grope, each cruel word cut into her like a knife.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally left her alone. Amelia lay on the cold, hard floor, her body battered and bruised, her spirit shattered. She couldn't move, couldn't even cry anymore. Her mind was a haze of pain and despair.

As the darkness of exhaustion finally claimed her, she whispered a silent plea into the void. "Please... someone... help me..."

But no one came. And in the silence of her cell, Amelia's fragile hope faded, leaving behind only the stark, cruel reality of her existence.

In the dim light of the corridor, the three men spoke in hushed tones.

"That should keep her in line," one of them muttered, wiping his hands on his pants.

"Just wait," another said with a sneer. "She'll break soon enough. They all do."

"Roman will be pleased," the third added, a satisfied glint in his eye. "This is only the beginning."

And so, the men left, their footsteps echoing down the dark hallway, leaving Amelia to the unforgiving embrace of her cold, empty cell.

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Chapter 1 is Out!

I'm beyond excited to share the first chapter of my book with you all! This story has been a labor of love, and I'm thrilled to finally bring it to life.

I know I'm still learning and my writing might not be perfect, but I hope to improve with each chapter. Your support means the world to me.

Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share your thoughts. Your feedback will help me grow as a writer.

Sending lots of love and gratitude!

-M