Chapter 28

Third POV

Anahi was woken up with sharp lines of pain on her back. It felt like fire burning her flesh, "Wake up my daughter. I suppose it has been a very long night for you," The deadly sound of her mother made her open her eyes. She does not say a word, only glaring at her, "Just one more day and all of this will be over,"

Anahi is still half-naked. Her skin is now pale and hard from the cold weather of the night. It has been almost two days and some hours since her stomach received any food, yet she was not hungry. Only weak.

Her mother makes an appearance once again, this time with a gold-coloured dress, looking like those that priests would wear. The golden long rosary is worn on her neck and a bible is in her arms.

Steve brings the chair for her to sit on, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and the holy spirit, amen," She now looks at Anahi, her very own daughter, "Father I thank you for everything that you have done for me and my children till this day. I ask for forgiveness on behalf of my sinful daughter, Anahi. May this punishment that you, yourself have enlightened me to do so be the best and the last lesson that I will ever have to teach her," She lets out a tear,

"Like Abraham who was ready to sacrifice his own son for you, I will also punish my own daughter that I failed to punish years ago, only for you. Let me repay you for my sins as a bad mother with this holy whip,"

"Wait, what?"

"That I have anointed myself with the blood of your son, Jesus. Hebrews 13 verse 4 says, Marriage should be honoured by all and the marriage should be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexual immoral. My lord, please do not judge my daughter and forgive her for her unalterable sin,"

Steve gives her the whip, the nine-tailed whip that she had been looking for the previous day. Anahi's whole body trembles at what is about to happen. Her mother wipes away the tears as she gets up from her sit.

"Mo... Mother," She practically begs in that one word. She is her mother. She was supposed to be her shoulder to rely on, not a whipper of her flesh. Anahi cries in the fear of the pain she is about to experience. She is half-naked for goodness sake.

"In the name of the Father,"

"Mother," Anahi cries.

"And of the sun,"

"Mother please!" She screams

"And of the holy spirit,"

"Mother I am you da...." And she did it, she thrashed her. Her very own mother thrashed her. On her back, on her legs, her thighs, anywhere she had a chance. She could not help but count as her mother continued flogging her, causing temporary wounds on her body, and permanent scars on her heart.

The wounds hurt like hell. They felt like fire kissing her bare skin. She cried more than a baby would but her mother wouldn't listen. She would only listen to that little Satan's voice claiming to be God.

Her blood was now all over the floor she touched. The mattress was all red. Her mother was sobbing, not being able to stop herself from the tears.

"You know I do not like it when I do this to you, my daughter," She looks at the blood on the floor. "No mother would want to see her child getting hurt, so why are you doing this to me, Anahi?" Anahi couldn't help but cry. Tears mixed with painful loud noises.

Of all people, why did she have to go through this? Why did her own mother have to make her kiss hell?

Just three days ago, she was having the best moments of her life. That life she wished so much to live ever since she was young, she got to live it. But even God was too cruel to let her enjoy that for at least one more day. The very God that people praise so much did not even let her say her proper goodbye to the one person that was ready to put down everything for her.

"My daughter," Her mother passionately caresses her daughter's hair, making Anahi look away, "Please promise me. Please promise me I will never have to see a day like this my whole life. Please end this madness of yours so that we can live a good life again. Please,"

Anger screamed in Anahi's blood. How could she take herself as the victim of this whole situation? Her lips were left trembling, trying to find the right words to say to this beast she calls herself a loving mother.

"Well, I was hoping you would agree. But your silence says something else," She sobs. She takes her whip again and just as she tries to use it, a silent "Mother," is heard from behind her. She turns around. Her eyes are wide open when she registers who it is, Arletta.

"Mother that is Anahi?" She whispers in disbelief.

"You would not understand, Arletta,"

"Mother this is your daughter and you are telling me I would not understand? Not even God would approve of this beastly action!" She shouts.

"Unfortunately, I heard his voice the day before. I felt in my heart that this was the right thing to do, for my daughter. This is the only way for her to join the holy home of heaven," she cries.

"Mother you are unbelievable! Please, Mother. Let her go!"

"Steve, take her outside and make sure she does not make a mess." She orders.

"Anahi, no,"

"Sister, don't leave me!" Anahi cries. Both of them scream for each other. And in no time, the torture continues. Lash after lash, painful as getting into the depth of hell is portrayed. She screams, cries, and curses but no hand is there to save her. Her mother is her villain and there is nothing she can do about it.

Meanwhile, Steve gets outside with Arletta, "Can't you feel anything bad for her? Do you like what you are seeing? I thought you had a long-hidden crush on her! How can you let that happen?" Arletta was confused, irritated, angry and all the bad things mixed in between.

"If only she came to me instead of finding some ten years younger Korean Idol, maybe I would have shown some mercy," Steve smirks as his hands are holding Arletta still.

"And do not try anything stupid, My dear," He smirks again, Of course, if you want your cover with Pablo to continue being hidden," Arletta's eyes widen. So the previous night. He was there, and so was his sister.

"I am quite sure your punishment will be worse than hers. Did she forget to tell you that priests were off-limit,"

He smirks as he gets inside. Now she has two options, to save her sister or to save herself.

It was a long dark day for Anahi, her sister and their mother, as she claims that she is hurt too, Locking herself the whole night crying as she felt like the work of God has become too tough for her. That her heart can no longer bear the aches her heart has to embrace

Again, Anahi was left in the warehouse. This time alone. with no clothes on. She basically hasn't showered for three days, only tasting cold water against her cold skin. Both pains are unbearable, the body aches as much as her heart does. This is it. This is the reality of her life.

Xiumin's POV

My mind can't feel at ease. Ever since what happened, nothing feels the same again. The pain today hits differently. My heart keeps calling for her.

Does she need me? Is she okay? Are they punishing us for something both of us cherished so much? I have no idea where to find her or how to contact her, but one thing my heart keeps telling me is, something is not right. She is not okay.