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I opened my eyes to a familiar ceiling. A ceiling I hadn't seen in more than a month ago. The last thing I remember is Ignacio hovering over me. I have no idea what happened after that. How I ended up here.
I couldn't believe I was here. I was in Nikolai's home. I couldn't believe that I was in this bedroom. At first, I thought it was a figment of my imagination but then I tried to touch things around me and they felt so real. They were real.
I was no longer in Ignacio's captivity. I was no longer in that dingy, dirty cell. I was no longer in Ignacio's bed, tears pooled in my eyes as I thought about what Ignacio might have done to me.
I lost consciousness, I don't remember anything. I tried to fight him but he was stronger, he hit me in the head. I looked down at my clothes, they were just simple PJs, not the kind of revealing clothes that he had made me wear.
Did he force himself on me? Did he assault me? I didn't feel different. How do you know if you have been assaulted?
I sat up and brought my knees to my chest and winced as my muscles ached, reminding me of the torture I went through.
My mind failed to accept that I'm back in Nikolai's home. Maybe, I'm still in that cell and this is just my imagination, a dream.
I got off the bed and walked to the window. I opened it and let the warm summer breeze hit my bruised and battered skin.
I looked at the vast garden and all I could think of were my father's words.
My parents were right, they were right about everything. People are horrible. They are just so horrible. I can't trust anyone anymore. No one had been my friend. No one.
Bianca deceived me, Scott was only nice to me because he thought that I'd sleep with him and Nikolai... I don't even know what to think about him.
I hadn't planned on telling Ignacio that I loved him. The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. I don't even know if I loved him or not. I was beaten up, starved, and hallucinating. I wasn't in the right state of mind. I don't love Nikolai Costello. I just don't, I can't.
I went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, showered, and changed my clothes, it was difficult because of how many bandages I had on me. I wore the first dress my eyes fell on, the one that was oversized and didn't touch the wounds I had.
They didn't let me take a shower for days, they didn't give me a change of clothes, they gave me stale food, they groped me, hit me, and touched me. There wasn't a single part of my body where Ignacio and his brother Sergio hadn't touched me.
I could still feel their hands, their dirty fingernails, and their smell. They reeked of cigarettes and alcohol. It all made me sick, even the thought of it make me want to throw up.
I heard the faint purr of an engine and my eyes went toward the source. I walked to the window to see Nikolai getting out of his car and heading inside his home.
