CHAPTER 5

Elina walks towards me and takes me in her arms, squeezing me hard. She hadn't noticed that she was no longer alone.

Fence strength it has.

__ Elina __ gasp.

__ Mnm.

__ I can't breathe __ I can tell him.

__ I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it __. He lets go of me letting my lungs come to life, I'm about to think that fate wants me dead __. You are so brave __. He hugs me again, but this time carefully.

__ I don't know if I'm brave, but I felt ...

__ Strong __ conclude for me __. Honey, the mule was not surly, they made it out of stick.

__ Well. Should I be offended or flattered that you compare me to a mule?

__ A bit of both, I think __. He looks up at the ceiling, tapping his finger on his lip as if analyzing it, then looking at my unfriendly face and laughing at my expense.

__ Did you hear it all? __ His smile is the one that responds.

__ Not everything, but enough.

__ And instead of helping you just stand there __ I jokingly recriminate. Not that she can do something if it happened.

__ I couldn't, you left me cold. How dared you? Come on, not even Yenla has thought to go that far. Threatening him and you made him run.

Of all of us, Yenla is the most aggressive, even more than Elina and that she returns with a bare fist every blow she receives, she only leaves it for my brother. I've long suspected it's because she likes it, but I've never dared face her. When he is ready he will decide whether to tell it or not, I will not be the one to pressure him.

__ Thank you for taking care of us, even though it was you who was in danger __. His gaze looks sad, as if he feels guilty.

I lift his chin forcing him to look me in the eyes __. You are my family __. I hug him tightly feeling her sob on my shoulder.

We only have each other, they came to this mansion when they were sold at an early age, they were kidnapped when they were just girls from their countries and from the arms of their families. Some remember their parents, others even that. Over the years you forget even that first name with which loving lips named you. Cruelty through time robs you of humanity, turns you into an empty being that no longer feels anything. It compresses you by extracting from you every ounce of vitality with which you were born, until it molds you to its whim and sadistically mistaken understanding of what a woman is.

We parted to walk back to my bedroom. We enter it listening to the girls laugh, not a second goes by for my partner to go limp. They all listen to her tell it attentively feeling as if it were her victory, and it is, I am part of them and that one of us managed to make Argus tremble for once, it is the most longed for dream.

It doesn't take long for Ali to arrive with the ice, I decide that it is best not to tell him what happened, in the end, it will only serve to make him feel guilty. I know him well enough to know that it will be so, anyway, nothing happened. At least this time.

I will enjoy my achievement as much as I can. For once I feel strong, brave and proud of myself.

The day is passing by in a hurry, the mansion has an unusual movement. Thanks to my few guardian angels, I have had a day without major incidents. A day in which I did not end up hitting the guards with my stick and they did not reprimand me with blows. There are only a few who dare to try something with me and the main one is that pig from Argus.

I'm still afraid of him, I'm not going to deny it, the way he looks at me makes me want to die before I allow him to come close to me. Thank God he has never had the opportunity to satisfy his desires. But I fear that one day my luck will run out, and today that day was close.

__ Suhaila __. Caili's voice takes me out of my thoughts, today is one of those days when I'm in the clouds, working mechanically.

__ Caili what are you doing here? __ I come over in a hurry, she never comes to see me during work hours so as not to cause me problems.

__ Girl, your brother sent you to get ready.

__ But it is still too early for the happy dinner to begin __. Not only dinner is what will begin in a few hours, but also the exemplary family show. It is dedicated to displaying my well-being as a trophy.

__ Leceth has decided to do a dance this year. Cars have been arriving all day with guests I have never seen.

__ I don't understand Caili. He has excluded me from all social activities, except for the family dinner for the commemoration __. So much kindness does not give me a good feeling.

__ I know girl, but he wants you there, you better not disobey him. He is in a thousand demons with his bad temper __. She snorts in exasperation, and I can tell from her tone that she's already gotten a bit of a Leceth-style temper.

I don't care about his bad temper, the truth is, if I can contribute something to make a vein burst from irritation, I don't miss the opportunity. At this point, what else can you do to me?

__ Suhaila, I know that you and your brother don't get along, but if you could show yourself something more docile and kind perhaps….

I roll my eyes at him in exasperation, already tired of hearing the same nonsense all the time. I turn my back on him and walk to the balcony for the first time all day. The breeze is refreshing and calms my body heat from so much work.

__ I know you Suhaila, what has Leceth done to you to make you hate him like that?

I feel that familiar pang in my chest that threatens to break me into a thousand pieces, I close my eyes and cling to the edge of the balcony to bear it. I don't want to remember any of that, let alone tell how aberrant and unbalanced Leceth can be. I pray to God he's sick. I can't bear to think that someone in their right mind can ever do what he does. This world can't be that twisted. That is what I hold on to, only that makes me endure, only that keeps me sane.

__ Suhaila __. Caili tries to look at me, but I can't let him see through my eyes the secrets that I hide in my soul.

I take three big breaths before facing him __. Nothing you don't already know.

I lie the best I can and even so I see the doubt in her, Caili knows that something is wrong for a long time and has tried to find out, only that she no longer insists as before, she knows how stubborn I can be. Silence is the best, for her, for those around me, for me, it is the only way I have to protect them.

__ Then try to behave today __. Caress my face as a plea.

That's what she does when she tries to show me her point of view so I don't get stubborn. Even after so many years it still works for him.

__ I'll try __ I reluctantly concede and fake a smile.

__ Everything will be fine today girl __ he encourages me nonchalantly. He pats my cheek before heading to the kitchen.

So why do I feel like something bad is up to?