CHAPTER 6: I'm Begging You, Please

I shot out of bed and decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. Taking my keys in hand, I head out of the house, revving my motorbike to life. I have a week at most before I'm forced to leave this place. I might as well make the best of it by exploring this little town, see how much it has changed in the past years. The cool wind blows past me as I zoom past the cars. All I could think about is how this, everything I'm experiencing at the moment, is one of the last moments I will ever know the word freedom. As soon as I step back into Joe's domain, I'm going to be stripped off of all my wants. That thought makes me shiver. A week more and I'm back in that hell hole.

Passing by a club, I shook myself out of those thoughts while I turned to study it. Flashy lights, few cars, secluded area. I checked my pocket to see if I had my fake ID and luckily, I did. I took a deep breath and let myself in. Pounding chants and noises immediately filled my ears and I understood why there were only a few cars outside. This wasn't like any other clubs. I laughed to myself. This was an underground street fighting ring. My eyes roamed around the place with disbelief. How lucky am I, to actually find a place like this; a place I belong.

I went over to the bar and ordered myself a sprite. Wolf whistles and lustful eyes followed me as I walked, and all I could do was glare at them, feeling disgusted at myself. I should've known better than to have come here dressed like this. Much to my dismay, a burly-looking guy stumbled towards me.

"What's a beauty like you doing in a place like this?" he slurred.

I huffed lightly in annoyance. Too late to back out now, I thought. "The club looked interesting, so I decided to check it out."

He stumbled again, moving even closer to me when I took a step back. "This isn't a place for pretty girls like you, hun. I suggest you find somewhere else to go. Possibly with me?" he offered.

I laughed sarcastically, ignoring the latter parts of his statement. "Why pray tell, is this not a place for, and I quote, 'girls like me'"

Even when drunk, he managed to give me a disgusting smile. "You're too weak."

I raised an eyebrow at his stupidity. I cocked my head to the side, "Let's see if you can still say that to my face once I get on that ring tonight." Moving closer to his ear, I whispered, "I'm not a weak person." I gave him a sweet smile before leaving him alone in the bar, too stunned to say anything.

Walking on my way home, I started to formulate some plans. How in the world am I going to sneak out tonight?! I pursed my lips at the thought of having to leave by the end of the week anyway. Deep down, I knew that signing up for that fight may have been one of the worst decisions I've made. I shouldn't have let that man get to me. I could've been staying with my brothers and bonding with them, but no. Instead, I have to try not to die while trying to find a way on how not to get caught sneaking out by my stepmom.

I was so engrossed with my thoughts that I didn't notice someone trailing behind me suspiciously. The person went to grab me and spun me around, catching me off guard. My arms were useless because they were pinned behind my back. I threw my head back at the attacker, making them groan. I kicked him in the groin, only to be shocked as the man spoke. "You've gotten stronger, my dear."

I froze, fear taking over my body. All the cruel things he'd done; all of the memories I've repressed came rushing back. I faintly shook it off, putting up my facade. 'I will not let him get to me," I promised to myself.

Fear took over my body and my eyes clearly reflected that. All the cruel things he'd done came rushing back, but I shook it off and put up a front.

"What are you doing here, Joe?" His name leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I was just on the phone with him about two hours ago. I did not need his bullshit right now.

He smiled at me, an evil glint twinkling in his eyes. "I missed my daughter, of course. Are you telling me that I'm not allowed to see you anymore?"

I scoffed, "Daughter?" I hissed. "You were never a father to me. Hell, you aren't even my sperm donor!" I looked at him dead in the eye. "You are no one to me. No one. Stop calling me your daughter because I'm not, and I never will be. You are no one but the asshole my mother stupidly loves."

All of a sudden, I was choking and gasping for air while my head throbbed. Joe's hand was wrapped around my neck as he pinned me hard against the bricks. "You disrespectful bitch! Don't you dare talk to me that way! I think you're forgetting about what I'm capable of doing, Nylin. Do you want to test me?" he snarled. "I can and I will call you whatever the hell I want, and there's nothing you can do about it." He smiles disgustingly at me. "Remember, my daughter. Your brothers' lives depend on you, as well as that boy Zach. Isn't little Zachy the one you love, baby? Cross the line with me one more time, and I'll kill him too." He whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I whimpered and tried to claw his hands off my neck while trying to breathe. Tears were streaming down my face when he said, "Come back to me by the end of the week, or you can be the one who murders everyone you love." He tossed me aside to the floor, and I cried out in pain as I fell on my left arm, pain shooting up on my shoulder. He bent down to my face. "Don't underestimate me. I will kill them."

That was when I lost it. "Don't you dare touch them!" I tried to yell, but it came out very raspy and soft from the lack of oxygen. I sobbed, begging him. "Please. I swear I'll go back to you, just don't hurt them. It's me you want, not them. Leave them alone, please. I'll do anything."

He looked down at me, his eyes void of anything but coldness. "Meet me by the end of the week. You'll do anything, you say?" he mocked my pathetic desperation. "Well then, we're going to have so much fun when you come back," he laughed humorlessly before walking away like nothing ever happened.

I watched him walk away before crawling towards the wall and sitting upright. I winced at the pain on my shoulder, crying silently. I sold myself to the worst person on this earth, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do. Not a single fiber and cell in me wanted to go back there, to him. I don't think I could go through that all over again. Feeling weak and powerless was something I wished I never had to feel again. That was exactly what I felt whenever Joe was around me. However, I knew that staying here would be selfish of me. I had to go back to him unless I wanted my brothers dead. I have to be strong for them, for my family, for Zach.

I took a deep breath. My love for them would always, always be stronger than my want to run away. In order to save them, I had to go back to that man, and I would do it. I want nothing but happiness and safety for them, even if it means risking my own life in exchange for theirs.

Hearing footsteps approaching, I quickly wiped my tears away. Wincing, I tried standing up, supporting myself on the wall. My shoulder was throbbing a bit, but it was nothing grave. I'll live. Just as I was about to take my first step, I heard somebody calling my name. I shut my eyes, groaning. It just had to be Zach. I slowly turned around to see that he's accompanied by none other than my twin brother.

I pursed my lips, facing them. "Hi," was the only thing that left my mouth. I mean, what could I really say? It was them who called me, not the other way around.

"What are you doing here, Nys?" Aiden questions at the same time Zach asks, "Why aren't you at home?"

I couldn't help but snort at that. Shouldn't it be my brother asking me why I'm not home, and Zach asked me what's up? I looked at them, raised an eyebrow, and shrugged. "I wanted to walk around and explore. It has been five years since I've last been here. Not that it's any of your business."

Apparently, those were the wrong words to say because Aiden started to get mad. "What do you mean 'it's none of our business?' Nys, I'm your twin. I care about you. I know you're hurting. I can feel and see it all over your face." He started lecturing me.

Apparently, these were the wrong words to say because Aiden got mad. "What do you mean none of our business? Nys, I'm your twin. I love and care about you. I know you're hurting. I can feel it and see it all over your face."

I couldn't help but pout a bit. "I'm not hurting!" I protested, but my shoulder gave me away.

Zach decided that he wanted to add his two cents in as well. "I care about you too, you know. You're like a little sister to me."

Ouch, I thought. There goes my heart.  He only sees me as a little sister. I roll my eyes at him. "That's big, coming from you," I said. "You haven't really been brothers to me for the last five years, have you?" I smirked, knowing I've got them cornered there.

I knew it hit a nerve. The both of them were fuming, jaws and fists clenching. I give them a fake smile. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'd like to walk home now."