In The Eyes of Alessandra

Chapter Four | Unhinge

Alessandra

My eyes began to focus, shutting and opening to the bland room in front of me. This was a dream. I was delusional. Hallucinating maybe. Moises was fond of games only this time the joker had inserted himself into this one. My eyes wandered around the room, realizing that I was in the office.

I clutched my hands at my sides at the undeniable worry that ran through me. My dress had been replaced as I tensed and looked down at the oversized shirt and sweats. Lifting the shirt up only revealed bruises that stood out in their color. Ugly hues of purple and yellow gathered at my abdomen and I didn't have to look into a mirror to see the damage done to my features. I lifted myself up, clutching my side as I peered around. Only catching certain items on the desk that were outdated. Dust covered the tops of shelves and an antique lamp with a green glass cover was chipped at the corner of the desk.

I came towards the edge of the brown couch. My body ached as I attempted to stand up. The pain in my ribs overwhelmed me as I withheld my whimpers. I clutched the cushion underneath me, my eyes wandering towards the one window that held nothing but darkness. My futile attempt wavered as I went to stand on my two feet.

"Ahh." My bottom hit the brown cushion. Pain. It bloomed right through me like needles. I brought myself back down. My arm hanging over the edge of the couch, eyes blinking up at the stained ceiling. An echo was heard.

A shout came after and then the slamming of doors. My body sank. Molding itself into the comfort of the dingy cushion. I looked at the door ready for my nightmare to come storming through it. I was met with an eerie silence that consumed the room and anything that was outside of it. I looked solemnly. I was weak. Exhausted. My eyes began to close shut and my body shook at my open wounds. I could feel myself draining as I fell into an abyss.

Flashback

I was in a room. Contained. Completely isolated. Five glass windows. Pristine enough to see myself through it. My reflection haunted me as I stood underneath the light.

All eyes were on me. A stage animal. I was being bargained. Sold. The black silk robe barely covered anything. I couldn't see their faces but I knew that they could see mine. I was paralyzed as I could feel the stares from various spots in the room. There was silence until a voice echoed within the room. I flinched as I heard a man speak into it.

"Alessandra Leanos. Bidding will start at three thousand." My body was tense. My eyes had become wide eyed as I realized that my uncle held a power that was undeniable in a place like this. My flesh and blood haunted me in the darkest of nightmares. Clouding my dreams with pain. Revealing himself when needed.

Numbers began being shouted out as they increased by the second. The people sitting behind the windows doused their money around like a dice. My chest heaved up and down as my hands trembled by my side. This wouldn't be the end. Deep down I knew it. This would continue to be my life.

I no longer listened to the fast voice of the person that bid me off. I stared at my feet and as I looked at the glass window that was a few feet away from where I stood, withered in a black robe and underneath was a torn woman that craved death. My skin was bruised, as a slither of sweat made its way down my neck. I clutched my hands. My fingernails engraving themselves into the palm of my hand. At this moment I no longer felt like myself. It was too surreal of a position that I had placed myself in. But this was nothing new, at least not for men like these. In their eyes I was just another woman. A person that would make profit as these men continued with their luxuries. I looked closer at my reflection looking deep through the glass. A figure stood close against it. The height of a man appeared. His figure was too familiar. Recognizable enough to make me realize the taunt behind his actions.