In The Eyes of Alessandra

Chapter One | Pain

Alessandra

I was running away from the fire. The red and orange blaze that was tearing down the building. Women were running away from the shackles that tormented them. It was a signal. A sign. It felt like hope for the exception of the bodies that lay enriched in the ashes and the women crying in despair.

Countless screams and cries could be heard. The sound of bullets echoed in every direction in which I was being led to. I couldn't see where we were going as two guards struggled to find sanctuary for me. A woman held onto me, her face holding a frightened expression. Her face smeared with black lines of paint. Tears trailed down her cheeks. Her mouth opened in a cry. The bodyguard shoved her away. Her figure helpless within the chaos. Several others crying hysterically as the flames grew aggressively. My eyes scanned the building in every direction. I grew anxious at every second.

Run. It's your only chance.

The air around me was suffocating. Full of smoke and debri. My lungs were taking it all in. I could feel the flames catching up with me. Wanting to drown me in the fire. Take me. Away from the pain. Away from being shackled.

I covered my mouth as I continued to inhale smoke. One of the guards ripped a curtain and the fabric was brought over to cover my mouth. We came upon a hallway. Coughing from the smoke that consumed the building. I could feel my eyes close and open with every second. I should have thrown myself in but survival was a funny thing as I gripped the bodyguards black shirt. My dress was ripped off the shoulder, hanging off my figure. Light brown hairs casted down my face, releasing themselves from the tight bun. My shoes had long been abandoned in the building.

We turned the corner to face wooden stairs. The inferno above me started to scream at the building ready to go down. One of the guards yanked me away by my waist rushing towards an exit. My bloody hand grabbed onto the rail. Stay. Right here. The end is so close. I gazed down at the ring on my finger, it felt heavier than before.The diamond was an heirloom and one that didn't sit right as I stared at it, burning through my skin.

Take it off. Leave it to the flames.

I ripped the diamond off my finger. The ring that was mounted on me for sport hit the wooden floors. The sound of it ringing in my ear. I could see the fire reflecting off of it. If I stared any longer I would be brought down with it. I would be brought down with him. The guard continued to haul me away with him. My feet dragging along the stairwell.

"Come on!" There was that horrid smell of burning bodies. The sound of sirens that echoed outside of the enormous building. We had finally found the exit. The letters in red, gleaming like a beam. The bulky guard threw me limply over his shoulder. I grunted at the pain that bloomed throughout my side. I lifted my head in the direction of the people still running, shouting. My panic grew as I saw the flames consume where we had just come from. The man's hand shifted as I felt him reach out to something, leaving me unbalanced on his shoulder.

I felt a sense of hesitation as a door began to creak open only for someone to barge in through the other side.

"Oh sh-" I didn't have time to hear what he said next as my body came in contact with the floor. The guard scrambled to stay in front of me. Guarding me away from whoever opened the door. Pain burst through my back as I landed on the floor. My eyes grew wide at the sight of men that held weapons. At first I thought they belonged to Moises. Coming to us for help. That thought cleared as soon as a gun went off and the guard who had been leading me away was no longer standing in front of me, his body lay at my feet motionless.

These were not his men.

A grip on my ankle held me in place. I looked up in the direction of the man who pulled me closer towards them. Each one of their gazes surrounded me. Eyes of obscurity. Their faces covered in masks revealed nothing.