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MARIA

I must have been lying on my right side the whole time I had passed out.

If my ribs were hurting before, it was nowhere near as bad as the excruciating pain radiating from my torso to the rest of my body. I cried out in pain the moment I woke up in an unfamiliar room. A burning sensation soared through me; my legs felt unnaturally weak, and my back ached as if I had been hit by a ton of bricks. I was withering in pain on the mattress, my neck stinging. I had plasters on me, my sore wrist bandaged tight. The worst part was my head; I felt dizzy and nauseous, with every movement, my head ached, the pain running down my face.

I was desperate for some water; my mouth was incredibly dry, and my lips were unbearably chapped.

My tear-filled eyes glanced around. I was alone, and it seemed I was in a new place. Another large, modern bedroom to stay in. I wiped my eyes, wincing as I sat up, trying to remember everything that happened before I passed out.

Camille.

I smiled immediately, my heart relaxing as I realised I was safe. She might have hit me with her car, but Camille had saved me; I was finally free. I had made it. I thought that I must've been in some sort of private hospital, though I couldn't see any medical devices hanging around. Maybe it was normal to be feeling so much pain. I had clearly been attended to with a few plasters and bandages on me; however, they hadn't changed my ripped dress that was covered in blood stains and all sorts of marks. It was barely covering my legs anymore.

My hand held onto my neck; it was so tight and stiff. I groaned, about to rub my eyes until I noticed how dirty my fingers were. My nails were dark underneath and chipped. I never had unclean hands; I wasn't used to its dryness and poor condition. I held back from sighing. I was still confused as to how everything happened.

My sore legs slipped over the edge of the bed, my bare, bruised feet slowly reaching the ground. I moved with no ease; each stiff movement alerted every single aching part of my heavy body to scream at me. I held back from yelping out, restraining my groans of pain. My body was exhausted; I could've hit the pillow and headed back to sleep straight away, but my curiosity needed to be resolved.

I pulled strands of my hair behind my ear at the same time before pushing my fists into the bed, clenching my jaw as I forced myself to stand on my unsteady feet, closing my eyes momentarily as I tried to let my mind focus. I took a single step forward and gasped; my stomach twisted inside as my trembling legs were stinging with pain. I frowned, slowly making my way to the door.

There was a long flight of creaky stairs. That was the worst part; each step shot pains right through me. I winced as I reached the bottom. I must've spent at least ten minutes figuring out how to get down the stairs with ease.

My shoulders stung as I moved. I definitely needed to see a doctor. I slightly gagged as I walked, my stomach churning inside. I could feel my condition deteriorating; the constant need to throw up was in the back of my throat. I moved to what sounded like coffee being made on a machine; I must have been near a kitchen.

My legs trudged against the floor, my lips parting to shakily breathe. My chest was heavy and tight as I moved, gripping onto whatever I passed to try and keep myself stable as I trembled. A sound of humming filled my ears as I drew closer, my eyebrows furrowed slightly as I slowly got closer to a white door that was half open. The kitchen was a perfect white, with glossy cabinets and shining floor panels. I was growing more confused as to where I was.

Clutching onto the handle, I drew nearer, and my eyes landed on a woman. Her wavy hair flowed down her back. Her body was curvy, evident through her tight dress accompanied by some long boots. She hummed as she made coffee; it was Camille. I knew those hips from anywhere. My heart relaxed at the sight of her. I swallowed, unconsciously nervous.

"C-Cammy?" My eyes slightly expanded at the sound of my croaked voice; I felt so weak, so drowsy. My hand held onto the door frame for dear life, struggling to stand as the minutes went by. Her thin, smooth hand paused midair as she was about to pour the steaming milk into the mug. My breath hitched as she turned, her warm smile stretched across her face. Camille's eyes were vibrant, almost excited, as she saw me. Her dazzling teeth shone as she chuckled, staring at me intently from head to toe. My hand slowly brought the rips of my dress together, aware that one of my breasts was not exactly fully hidden. I felt naked before her. An uncomfortable feeling settled in me.

Camille took a sip of her black mug, leaning against the counter. I struck up a conversation first: "Camille...how did you find me?" I shook my throbbing head, a smile growing on my face as she intently gazed at me. "No—you saved me. Cammy, I—" I couldn't finish; the tears began rolling down my cheeks.

"I don't know what t-to say," I tearfully said, limping over to her as the tears grew. Her head tilted to the side with her small smile as I came over and wrapped my weak arms around her for a hug. "Thank you!" I breathed out, crying into her shoulder, "Camille, you have no idea how grateful I am to you." The relief began pouring out of me as I cried, holding onto my saviour in complete happiness. I was safe, free from captivity. It had never felt better.

Her hands hadn't returned the hug. "You think you're safe?" She casually said. My eyebrows furrowed a little at her sentence, my hands loosening around her. I blinked, opening my eyes again at her unexpected words. Despite being confused, I pushed past it and said, "Of course." I pulled back a little to see her refreshing face. The closer I saw her, the more I realised how different her smile seemed.

A sweet smile, one that Camille always gave me, was suddenly dripping with what felt like hatred. A bitter and yet amicable look across her beautiful face had left an unsettling feeling within me. It reminded me of the last time I saw her at the gala, that twisted smile that was unfamiliar and discomforting. "I'm with...you," I finished in a hoarse voice. I must've looked perplexed as she chuckled again, a churlish and spiteful sound coming from her.

"Ma chérie..."  Camille chuckled, her hand brushing my hair away from my face. Her arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me to her. I winced, my freer hand holding onto the counter in surprise. Her eyes were intense, never leaving mine before she leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek. Her hand rested on my cheek, her thumb rubbing it softly. "You're so innocent, aren't you?"

I rapidly blinked, feeling the hairs at the back of my neck rise as the tears subsided. "So beautiful," she murmured, her thumb becoming rougher as she stroked my cheek. My eyebrows narrowed as my heart began to thump in my chest, vibrating down to my sore ribs, paining me. "So gorgeous..." Her hand then gripped my jaw, and my eyes widened as she tightly held my face, her complete look changing as she coldly stared at me.

"No wonder he wants you." Her hard voice was filled with fury, practically trembling as she spoke.

"Camille..." was all I could say in confusion; my hand tried to pry hers off me. I inhaled as her piercing gaze was burning a hole in me.

Her sharp eyes were enough to tell me the truth. I wasn't safe. That was it. It felt like time had paused momentarily. My heart dropped and shattered inside, the tears welled into my eyes once more as I realised the reality. "You didn't save me...did you?" I slowly whispered, unable to hide my pain, my sadness. It all made sense. It would make sense. Her constant compliments, the comparisons she would make between the two of us, her strange comments. Everything I had ignored to focus on the better side of my friend. Everything I should've paid attention to when I had the chance. The chance to realise she was my enemy.

Camille darkly laughed, and immediately the truth was confirmed. The hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I completely let my guard down. I couldn't stay strong any longer after that moment; she had broken me. I had lost all hope in myself and humanity.

Her hand reached behind her for an opaque bottle. It was small, covered by a dark label. She smirked slightly as she looked at me, slowly unravelling the lid. "Do you know what this is?"

"You..." My eyes glowed with a mixture of anger and disappointment. "You betrayed me."

Her unwavering glare was cast upon me. I pushed her arms off me, moving back slightly as I stared at her in shock and disbelief.

Camille tossed the lid on the floor and slowly poured drops of the contents into a flowerpot. I silently gasped as the petals began to writhe, the steam releasing as it melted the leaves.

"Seducer..." She whispered, her eyebrows narrowing as she coldly stared at me like a predator, her hand extended and tossed the liquid towards me. I yelped as my whole body turned away from her, collapsing onto the ground with the acid landing on the floor not too far away from me. My eyes widened as I stared at the burning substance, gasping in shock.

She tried to burn my face. Camille, the person I once called my friend, tried to burn my face. "Why are you doing this?" I shuffled up to my feet, standing well away from her and the acid.

"You ruined my marriage!" Camille suddenly burst, the muscles in her jaw tightening with fury. She was practically heaving with anger. Perplexed, my eyes were wide with confusion. What the hell did she mean? I began to question everything; it didn't make sense—Camille was my friend.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, frustrated and hurt. "Francis?" I managed to question, wiping my stained cheeks. "Camille, what—" Her hand struck my cheek, and I stumbled backwards with a slight yelp, holding onto the island behind me. My shaking eyes stared back into her jealous glare, the tears pouring out again. I held onto my stinging cheek as she snapped, "Don't you fucking say his name!"

"I don't understand!" I exclaimed, trying to stand straight as my body was running with vexation. "You're my friend, Camille. Do you think I have something to do with him? I'm so fucking confused right now! You guys love each other!"

She scoffed, her face beginning to redden as she grew more furious. "'Love'?" Camille let out a bitter chuckle again, her eyebrows low. "Francis doesn't love me." I wiped my wet cheeks again, still unable to get over the fact that she was against me.

"He loves his women, he loves his luxuries, his money, his fucking power—" she uttered in complete resentment, "and you," her words icy. "He has always had his fucking eyes on you." I stared at her, unable to understand what was going through her head. I ran through all my interactions with Francis; she didn't care, she didn't mind, she wanted it. She wanted me involved with the two of them. They were open. My lips separated in confusion, but nothing could come out. I was speechless.

She clenched her jaw, scoffing again. "Francis has always wanted you," she chewed out her words. "He wanted you to permanently be with us."

"I have no interest in your husband, Camille. I'm en—" I couldn't even finish my sentence. It would be a lie. I was no longer engaged.

"'Husband'?" She glowered at me, her tone chilling as she continued, "He's fucking divorcing me." I blinked in shock. Francis loved Camille; anyone could see that. There were cracks in what looked like a carefree relationship that I hadn't realised would completely shatter the two of them.

"Francis would've had you if you weren't taken. It was a matter of time before he would pursue things with you. He watched all your performances, bought all your pre-release tickets, and donated all he fucking could for you. Complimented you like you are a fucking angel. And me? He would barely look my way when he came home unless he wanted sex." She was filled with malice and hatred. I had never seen Camille look at me that way before. "So I planned to buy you."

I felt like throwing up. The more she spoke, the more I felt like I was losing it. It was all too much for me to get my head around. "I planned to purchase you for him. Buy you to stay in his house," she scoffed at herself as I stared at her in bewilderment. "Maybe he'd stay with me then...Maybe he'd finally forget about you!"

She let out a bitter sound and continued, "but I thought better of it. Giovanni was wanting you for himself. He wouldn't budge to sell." My eyes widened as my hand tightened onto the counter I was holding onto. "What?" I uttered, feeling my whole body freeze. Camille chuckled again as I shivered at the sound of his name.

"G-Giovanni?" I could barely say, feeling my pulse race inside, the anxiety began crawling back up in me.

"'Keep her,' is what I told him." Camille went on, her tone hard. "'Keep her however you like, then end her. As long as she never comes back. She never appears before my face, and she never appears before anyone's face again. I want her gone'." I swallowed roughly, taking a step back only to bump into a person.

I froze. A warm breath trickled across my neck as a pair of large arms held onto my hips. Camille's smirk extended as her eyes lifted, and she folded her arms triumphantly, staring behind me.

I knew instantly without having to turn around.

"You lied to me, little red."

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~ Author's Note ~

Maria is in trouble again!

Was Camille's betrayal expected?

How will Maria get of out this twisted situation?

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