The Fire That Burns Within

The Boss

When I came to I could feel every muscle in my body protesting. My duck tape was removed and I tried to move my mouth a bit, my lip was cut from one of the slaps he gave me but at least I still had all my teeth. I shivered and slowly got myself to sit up. My insides twisted along with the movement and the content of my stomach emptied into the toilet.

I had lost all sense of time. I yanked against the chain willing it to come of but eventually when the blood started dripping from my wrist I gave up. I sank down against the wall. How did I come this far?

The whole point of the Witness Protection Program was to protect you right? Well a fine job they did... It's weird how one small mistake your father made can land you in a position like this. The small mistake of taking a wrong turn and accidentally witnessing a mob murder can get you and your wife murdered. I was 7 at that time and they said I was lucky they hadn't seen me witnessing every bit. Well if you can call that lucky, the police found me asleep in my dead mothers arms.

I was placed in the witness protection program and when one of the murderers was arrested I testified against him. The big boss Ramos was not happy to have one of his best and not to forget his brother incarcerated and spared money nor effort to find me. His efforts were ineffective until my foster dad got alzheimer. The government decided that the case was so long ago that a 24/7 guardian wasn't necessary anymore so I stayed in the program but the protection was gone. I was careful just as always but because of Joe's condition I didn't want to move around that much anymore and risk him getting worse. So yeah that's what landed me here, but why didn't they just get it over with and kill me. Why didn't my captor do that in the first place? I didn't understand it and my brain still felt fogged up so I gave up trying to understand.

The footsteps approached again and I heard the electronic keypad on the door being used. The door opened with a buzz and he stepped in. He grabbed another can of unidentifiable food from the cabinet and I ate it in silence, I was way to tired to go for another round. "See it isn't that hard" he said, he was obviously pleased that I obeyed. He walked back to the kitchen and grabbed a rag.

"Mister Ramos wants to see you now, so I'll take you to him, but you have to behave because compared to him I'm as sweet as a bunny" he said but there was a sort of urge in tone. He tied the rag around my face and ordered me to get up, I tried to will my legs beneath me but they were still weak from the sedation. In one swift movement he picked me up and carried me out the door.

Although I wanted to resist and fight him my head wasn't cooperating and I wasn't in control of my own body. He loaded me into a car and I drifted back in a deep sleep. The sudden slamming of doors brought me back and I was pulled from the car. "I have the girl here, where does he want her?" I heard him say to another person. "He's in the living room bring her there" the other person said.

I was hoisted to my feet by him and he guided me along a long path and into a house. I smelled cigars and alcohol and tried to back up but his grip never failed. The laughing became louder until we were in what i thought must be the living room.

"Ah, noel, my good good friend, what have you brought me today" said a man with a heavy Italian accent. The man walked up to me and blew his cigar smoke in my face. He grabbed my blindfold and pulled it from my face. The light was so bright that it took a while before i could see his face. He was younger than I had expected, but I did remember him from the court-sessions. "Ah Roselyn, how nice it is to meet you again" he said with a fake smile. "the pleasure is not mutual" I responded. A couple of the other man laughed, some just made oooh noises. Ramos smiled this time not fake but of really pleasure. He grabbed my arm and put his burning cigar on it, tears stung in my eyes but i willed them to stay. I was not going to look weak in front of this maniac. "Paolo, put her on the chair over there" a guy in a training suit stood up and I took a step back.

Unfortunately Noel was in my way, I looked up at him and for the first time his eyes met me with a worried look. Paolo grabbed me and did as he was ordered. The others moved closer to enjoy the performance. My arms and legs were taped to the sides of the chair and Paolo stood behind me. Ramos was grabbing something from a big dresser. He turned around and walked towards me, every fiber in my body wanted to run but moving was made impossible by the tape and Paolo. "Now my dear, tell me are you the girl that snitched on my brother and sentenced him to jail?"

"Yes and I'm proud of it" I said trying to sound strong. Ramos didn't look impressed one bit and revealed what he had taken from the dresser. It was a small knife. He stepped closer and while he sharpened his knife he said "I like you Roselyn, it is a shame to deny the world the pleasure of such a lovely girl like you" he took his knife and started carving in my arm. I bit my lip trying not to cry but the tears found their way out relentlessly. I screamed at him "You basterd you..." Paolo stuffed a rag in my mouth. "From this day forward you are mine, your life belongs to me, and I decide your fate" Ramos said while moving the knife in my arm. "This is and will be forever a reminder of that" he revealed my arm in which he had carved -property of Ramos Fortuna-. The men around me laughed, Ramos stood up and grabbed a little bottle of liquid. Facing me again he took the lid of and let some of the liquid drop on my skin. I screamed, the pain was unbearable as the acid forged the letters further into my skin. Ramos stood before me admiring his work. Slowly the stars in my eyes turned black and the pain took my consciousness away as tears streaked my face.