Emilia

06: Emilia

-Emilia-

My body felt heavy, like I was trapped in some sort of sleep paralysis state. I couldn't move and I couldn't open my eyes. I was back at the apartment, sitting inside of the closet. I sat on the floor of the closet, weak and I could barely keep my eyes open. He had left me inside of the closet for four days, only giving me water and never food.

My body was screaming at me to eat something. It was craving anything that was remotely close to being edible. I was supposed to be let out this morning but he hadn't opened the door. The growling noise in my stomach made me start to cry. My lips were chapped and my water cup was empty. Not even the slightest bit of liquid was concealed away at the bottom.

I heard the front door open and my eyes widened but my body didn't move.

"Emilia!" Ryan yelled for me and I slowly sat myself up from the floor as I placed my hand on the locked door knob.

"Ryan.." I tried to yell back but my voice was hoarse and dry. Not even my own saliva could help me. The door knob rattled for a moment and then it pulled open, exposing the bright light of the bedroom lamp that I've missed so much.

I collapsed onto the carpet as the door opened and I laid there, unable to move. He crouched down and picked me up.

"You don't look so well." He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. I was malnourished and dried out so of course I didn't look so well. I didn't have enough energy and I felt like I was slowly deteriorating. My body gave out and I could hear the muffled sound of his voice calling out for my name.

I was done fighting for my life. If this was how it was going to be, I didn't want it anymore. As soon as I was about to enter a deeper state into darkness, cold water splashed all over me and I snapped my eyes open.

I looked around at the bathtub that I was laying in with the cold water streaming from the shower head and I seen Ryan sitting down next to me, outside of the tub as he tried to catch his breath.

"Jesus Christ you scared me!" He said reaching over and brushing my hair out of my face. I broke down into tears because I was back with him. I couldn't escape him no matter what. Death couldn't even help me get rid of him.

I was stuck with him for good.

I opened my eyes slowly as my vision came to focus on the white ceiling above me. I laid there, wallowing in my tiredness for a good five minutes before I got up and started my morning routine.

Turning on the shower, I felt a smile pull across my face. Yesterday was my last day training with Brandy and Nina. They've taught me so much within the past few weeks and now, Salvatore has me performing for him today. He wants to see what exactly it is that I've learned and how much I've improved. Stripping in front of Brandy and Nina is one thing but stripping in front of Salvatore? That's a whole different story.

I got in the shower and closed the door behind me as the room began to fill with steam. The soothing feeling of the water beating down on my body was relaxing. I never wanted to leave. Not even in the slightest bit. Living here—in a mafia household—has been the best home that I've had. Not even my real home felt as comforting as this one did.

I finished up showering and wrapped my towel around my body. I tucked it inside of itself so that it would hold up without me having to touch it as I began to do my morning regimen. The dark circles under my eyes went away after a while because I've been getting more than enough sleep.