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MARIA

I had made a promise that I was certainly not going to keep.

Giving myself to Giovanni? I would die before he could ever have me.

I would do anything to protect the girls that had been taken, anything to release them from the never-ending hell they had endured over the last long months. I would rather save them first and figure the rest out later. They were innocent.

I couldn't stop thinking about my mother the next afternoon. She might have been unstable and self-absorbed, but she fought for what she wanted in her life with an unwavering determination that had passed down to me. I wasn't going to stop until the girls were safe and Giovanni faced the harsh consequences of his demented actions.

Rosa was heartbroken. "Go," I softly encouraged her, taking her hand off my arm and smiling. The tears continued to race down her cheeks as she sobbed in a trembling voice, "You can't stay here by yourself, Ria. I can't leave you here alone—I won't go!" I knew she wouldn't unless I forced her to. Rosa was like that, loyal and stubborn. She would never let me face anything by myself. I shook my head, sighing. I tried to ignore the sadness building in my heart.

"You have to," I nonchalantly replied, though my heart was breaking inside. I turned my back on her as I began folding the bedding. Her arms held me tight around my waist, her head buried in my back as she cried. I stopped momentarily, closing my eyes to fight back the stinging. I wasn't scared of being alone. It was better that way. I wouldn't be so worried about Giovanni harming any more of them, and it would be much easier to end the whole mess. It was something I needed to battle alone. "You have to go in order to save me."

I turned to face her, her weak arms returning to her side. Rosa's eyes were so red, her body shook with anguish as she cried, unable to compose herself. "You're helping me more by leaving," I honestly told her, placing my hands on her shaking shoulders. "Rosa, you know everything that's going on here. The rest of the world doesn't." I steadily gazed at her as I empathised, "So you need to go. All of you do." I looked up to see the rest of the girls standing around my cage, their fearful eyes filled with sombre.

"To tell the truth about what's happened," I said strongly in a low but powerful voice. "I can handle myself," I added, more to comfort them with a brave smile. I let out a gentle chuckle, "So don't have such little faith in me." My eyes met Rosa's once more as I wiped her flowing tears across her cheeks, deeply inhaling. "I promise," I more quietly reiterated as she bit her quivering bottom lip, fighting back the tears. "I promise I'll come out alive and well. Just you wait, Rosa." She let the tears loose again as her hands pulled me into another hug, deep and woeful sobs coming from her. Her whole body wracked with tears of pain. I closed my eyes, resting my chin against her shoulder, gently rubbing her back.

Rosa knew it was the best choice. I would never allow her to stay. It was my final battle, and I was surely going to win it. Months of Giovanni's torture would soon come to an end. It wasn't long before I began to feel several arms wrap around us, and the crying grew louder; the agonising wails of relief, sadness, and guilt echoed through the basement. Their desperate hands clutched onto me, all of us holding each other. I forced down the tears, clinging onto my composure. I couldn't alarm them just before they were going to leave. Giovanni had vowed to return them back to their homes, but I was moving. A new location Giovanni could hide me in for himself.

"Thank you." I met Diamond's tear-filled eyes. She stood by the door, holding onto her folded sheets with a stooped posture. Her face was crumpled, threatening to burst out into tears. She shakily let out a breath before quietly adding, "I'll finally get to see my family, thanks to you."

I simply smiled just as her tears spilt out down her cheeks, her legs running over to us as she joined the large hug, her sobs merging with the rest. It was the last day I'd see them all again.




We would all leave at the same time. It had been a while since I had actually been outside. I stood by the side in a different white dress. It was plain and long with spaghetti-thin straps, a somewhat decent upgrade to the tacky costume Giovanni had forced on us. I had given my comfort and goodbyes to Rosa. The van was already beginning to be filled with the missing girls that would soon be free. I watched from afar as Daisy stopped in her tracks. I frowned, wondering why she wasn't following the others.

She turned to face me, her eyes filled with tears as she quickly ran over and threw her arms around me, blubbering in tears as she loudly cried. I held her tightly, my heart heavy with sympathy and gratefulness that she would finally get to go home. I slowly stroked the back of her head, swallowing the pain rising in my throat.

"You did well, Daisy," I kindly whispered, gently swaying us as I held her, her throat erupting with painful cries and her body heaving with sadness. I pulled back and cupped her puffy face, gazing into her sorrowful eyes. "You did so well surviving in here, and I'm so proud of you." I wiped her cheeks with my hand, noticing Giovanni's cold and piercing gaze on us. It was time to go. "Go home and take care of yourself." As I stared at her, I was sincerely, desperately hoping in my heart that she would heal from her trauma, that I would finally get to hear her voice, see her smile. I anticipated Daisy's recovery the most.

I was sitting right next to Giovanni in the car as we moved to his next location. It was completely unfamiliar to me, even the signs. We were out of the city, surrounded by what seemed like lands and lands of grass and farming, endless large trees, and not a single sight of a person or home. His large hand held onto mine the whole journey, his thumb rubbing over my skin with a natural grin on his face as though we were truly on a honeymoon together.

"You're gonna love this new place," the deluded man kept saying, a giddy and excited tone in his voice. I gave her a brief smile, sitting uncomfortably in my seat. I needed a way out, and I needed it fast. "Just you and me," Giovanni enthusiastically piped, his grin widening as his eyes flicked over at me for another joyous response. He squeezed my hand again, "Just you and me forever, my love."

A smile was plastered on my face as I focused inside on how the hell to get away from him. We were passing places that were starting to become more comforting. The area was like a village; remote houses, less modern than in the city, some small shops, but still stuck in a place of greenery. A rest stop just had to be coming up; I could sense it. I turned to him, an innocent and meek look masked on me. His eyes lit up at my initial interaction. "I really need the bathroom. I promise I went before we left..." He looked flustered for a moment before meeting my guileless eyes. "And after..." I sweetly smiled, rubbing his hand before coyly adding, "Can we have lunch together? I love having meals with you."

Giovanni was a really gullible and deranged man. It was easy to convince him; therefore, it was easier to quickly find a way to free myself.

The rest stop was massive. A large building filled with restaurants and shops for travellers, areas to sit, eat, and some perfect for me to hide. There were people everywhere; it was the most I had seen for a long time. So I made it my most important priority to make sure people saw me.

I wasn't recognised by anyone. Giovanni kept me close, with his arm tight around me, as we walked to find the toilets, his guards and driver in tow. I needed to make myself known.

Thus, I became clumsy that day. "Ouch!" I loudly yelped as my foot somehow tripped over the other; an ungraceful landing on the ground had caught many eyes and attention. I flicked my hair over my shoulder as I met the eyes of different strangers, all staring at me in passing with confusion at my sudden fall. "Careful, sweetheart," Giovanni warmly told me as he lifted me up, his hands brushing the rest of my hair away from my face.

He was a simp, and I used his emotions to my full advantage. I smiled, nodding with a childlike look of innocence on my face. "Sorry, I'm just so hungry I can't walk straight." So he continued to hold me with his arm guiding my way, but I didn't let that restrict my desire to be known.

"Wow! A fantasy colouring book!" I noisily exclaimed, my eyes wide as I pulled Giovanni to a shop filled with various customers, their attention caught as I lunged forwards to see the pack closer. "Oh, please, can I have this? I really love to draw!" I boisterously asked, my excited eyes meeting Giovanni's. He was a sucker for me, unable to say no. I purposely ensured to thank the cashier with the same enthusiasm as before.

We reached the toilets with a few extra bags of shopping that I had managed to make Giovanni grab in order for my face to receive more exposure. I went to enter until his hand pulled me back. I frowned, turning with my bottom lip sticking out in a childish pout. "Don't take too long or wander off," Giovanni warned, his lovestruck eyes gazing at me. He softly chuckled, "you're more adorable than I thought." His hand rubbed my cheek as I smiled, practically batting my eyes at him. "I won't be long," I replied, eager to get away from him.

"I'll just be out here. Waiting."

I was quick the moment I got into the ladies' room, stealthily moving to find any route to escape from. A window. It was blurred and definitely large enough for me to climb out of. It was my only chance, and I would certainly seize it. The toilet flushed, and a woman, tall and wearing a simple pair of jeans and a shirt, came out. She sighed as if she had endured a long day of travelling and went over to the sink, squeezing out some soap, ready to wash her hands.

I stood right in front of her; my sudden movement surprised her. Her hands jolted in the air, the specks of water splattering between us. Her wide eyes stared into mine, shocked by my unexpected closeness. I used my only opportunity to communicate with someone. "Look," I seriously said, "my name is Maria Amante. I am a ballerina from Dream and— She suddenly gasped, her blue eyes intensely gazing at me as she took in my appearance. Her finger pointed towards me, "Y-You're the missing-"

"I know," I interrupted, finally having some faith in humanity. At least someone knew I was gone. "I won't put you in danger, but all I need you to do is..."



As soon as I had climbed out of that window and started running, the adrenaline pumped through me. I had asked—no, ordered the stranger in the bathroom to let the police know of my last location, who had taken me, and what the current situation was. I wouldn't use her as an escape route. The last thing that I wanted was another person to be implicated and harmed; she had a life of her own. All Natalie needed to do was leave the bathroom casually and quickly leave to share my truth without being suspected by Giovanni. By the time he'd come in to check on me, I would already be gone.

I had no clue where I was going, but as long as it was far away from Giovanni, that was the only thing that mattered. But it was a mistake. My body was unexplainably weak. My willpower wasn't enough to sustain how far I was going. I had only been running for what felt like an hour, and my body was starting to give out. The lack of energy in me and decreased strength was hindering my ability to find refuge.

My legs took me to the middle of what looked like nowhere; I was back in the village that we had passed before, remembering seeing a fire station earlier. I was desperate to find it, but my chest was burning with a need for a break and water. My dry mouth was open, panting and heaving as I ran for my life, for Luna, for Dream, Iris, Rosa, for Leonardo, for my whole damn world. I refused to let my story end there—I had to save myself.

I saw a pair of headlights approaching, the familiar sound of an engine revving as a car began to drive down the road. It was black and looked luxurious from afar. My shocked eyes widened immediately as I slowed down, breathlessly panting. I couldn't do it alone; I desperately needed a way to get into the city.

I stuck my arm out urgently, my hand waving at the driver that I couldn't see. I found it hard to catch my breath, my chest rapidly rising and falling. Please, please, please. I couldn't let the opportunity pass.

The moment I stepped out, I let out a deep exhale, expectant and hopeful the car would stop, but it didn't. It approached me in such a fast manner that I didn't even get the chance to move.

From there, all I could remember were the shining headlights and the screeching sound of the wheels in front of me. I had never experienced the air being knocked out of me that way; my whole torso was shoved backwards, my back colliding with the ground, unable to move.

My vision started to disappear first; I was sure someone was approaching me; the sound of quickened heels filled my ears. My lips separated, but not a single scream or cry came out of me; my whole body was frozen in shock. I couldn't speak; I couldn't move; I was stuck, numb to any pain.

But I knew I was heaving, heavily drawing in breath to inflate my legs, unable to regularly let in air easily. I was battling to ventilate myself. I could feel the hot tears begin to roll down my cheeks slowly; the way my body was starting to shake, I was suddenly extremely cold.

"Ria?" It was a voice I could recognise, Camille. I didn't know why she was there or how, but it didn't stop the relief and happiness running through me.

Her hand was against my cheek, but I could hardly see her face. I remembered her scent; the heavy smell of her favourite perfume filled my nostrils. Immediately, I was relieved, though a weight had been lifted off my chest.

I let myself drift off the moment I realised Camille was with me. I was safe; I could go home, finally.

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~ Author's Note ~

Camille has found Maria after a dangerous fight for freedom!

But is Maria really safe with Camille?

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