Rest

Selena's POV

My instinct tells me to run, I couldn't afford to rest for much longer.

So, I do just that. I ran as fast as my battered legs could carry me, the cold night air stinging my skin as I push deeper into the forest surrounding Gonzalo's estate. I keep going, there's no time to look back, no time to think about the pain pulsing in my injured leg. I try to force my thoughts away from the throbbing ache, focusing solely on the need to escape. 

My heart hammers in my chest like a war drum, and every breath I take is filled with a desperate determination to survive.

The trees blur together in the darkness as I dash along the narrow and uneven trail. Branches claw at my arms and legs, and I grimace every time my foot catches on a root or a stone. 

I couldn't help but wonder how I managed to outrun Gonzalo's men just moments ago. 

It was the rage and the taste of freedom, they continuously fueled my spirits. I wasn't going back to that house as a captive but as a woman who would destroy Gonzalo and everything he stood for.

I glance down at my leg, the wound is deep, and every step sends a fresh surge of pain shooting through me. But I push on. I refuse to let the injury slow me down. The thought of Gonzalo's cold and calculating eyes searching for me propelled my legs forward.

Knowing Gonzalo, I was already being searched for and he would leave no stone unturned.

After running for what seems like an eternity, I finally broke out of the forest's edge into an open clearing. 

Before me stretches a lonely main road, illuminated by a few scattered streetlights and the moon light. The relief I feel is immediate and overwhelming. 

For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself a small smile, surprised that I managed to reach the road at all. I'm aware, that this small victory might be short-lived. The realization that Gonzalo's men are already combing the area makes my heart sinks.

The road is desolate, a long stretch of asphalt cutting through the darkness with no sign of life. I pause for a breath, listening for any sound that might indicate I was still being pursued.

I could already imagine the sound of tires screeching and the shouts of his men echoing in the night. 

I resumed my run along the side of the road, my injured leg protests, but the thought of being recaptured pushes me forward. 

The silence of the road is so eerie, no headlights in the distance and no hum of a moving car to mask the sound of my feet slapping against the asphalt. 

I'm alone, vulnerable, and painfully aware that I'm the only one who dared to break the stillness of night.

Then out of nowhere, a harsh sound breaks through the stillness of the night. 

The roar of an engine, too close and too fast. 

Before I could react, there's a blinding flash of headlights and a crushing impact. Everything goes dark.

I awaken to the sound of my own ragged breathing and a throbbing pain that seemed to radiate from… everywhere. 

My eyelids flutter open and I find myself in a strange room. The space is dimly lit by a single overhead lamp, and the sterile smell of antiseptic hung in the air. Confusion and terror course through my nerves as I try to piece together what happened.

"Gon…zalo…" I choked out, my voice raw with fear. I sit up, heart pounding, and scan the room for any sign of him. My eyes dart around the unfamiliar surroundings, there are no windows, just a heavy, locked door, and bare blue walls. Panic surged through me, and I let out a loud, anguished scream, convinced that Gonzalo has recaptured me.

Almost immediately, the door opened, and a woman stepped in. Her presence is calm and her expression soft. She quickly moved towards me, and I instinctively shrink back, terrified.

"Easy now," she said in a soothing tone. "You're safe."

I blinked rapidly, my eyes narrowing as I tried to make sense of her words. "Safe? Where am I?" my voice trembled, not just with fear but with the raw adrenaline still coursing through me.

The woman stepped closer, her eyes gentle but firm. "Listen…," she began, "I know you're frightened. You were hit by my boss's car, and he had you brought here. You're at his house."

I stared at her, trying to process the information. Boss? What boss? It's all a jumble confusion. "Your… boss? I don't understand. Who is he…" I began to speak again, but the woman raised a hand, cutting me off.

"Shhh," she said softly. "Just know that you were hit my boss's car and became unconscious immediately. He brought you here immediately for your wounds to be tended too."

I glanced down at my leg, only noticing now that it is bandaged. My hands too. "Oh…" I whispered and then stared back at the woman and saw a glimmer of reassurance. 

"Who are you and what is your name?" I asked.

"My name is Belinda," she replied gently, sitting on a stool by the bedside. "I am a part time nurse, and I have been instructed to take care of you while you recover. For now, just rest. You've been through a lot."

I wanted to protest, to demand more information about this boss of hers and what exactly has happened, but the room seemed to close in around me but every muscle in my body aches, and the pain in my leg is a reminder of why I should listen to her. 

But, the determination to know more is stronger. I try to force myself to sit up, but the dizziness overwhelms me, and I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling me down.

Belinda immediately placed a cool, damp cloth on my forehead. "You need to calm down," she murmured softly. "There's nothing to fear here. I'll get you something to drink, and then you can rest a bit longer."

I watched as she stood and left the room, her footsteps echoing as she moved farther away from the room.

I closed my eyes for a moment, despite the chaos going on in my head. The shock of being hit by a car, the impact, the darkness, it all felt so distant now. The quiet of the room eased my racing heart, although my mind remains a tangle of uncertainty and fear.

After a few minutes, Belinda returned. 

"I didn't get to know your name," she said.

"Selena…" 

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl," she said as she set the glass on a small table beside the bed and offered me a kind smile. 

"Drink this slowly," she instructed. "It will help with the pain. And Selena… please, rest for a while. You seem to be on guard and you don't have to feel that way."

I nodded weakly not even bothering to reassure her that I'll let my guard down, accepting the water and taking a small sip. 

The cool liquid soothed my parched throat, and I can't help but feel a bit of gratitude. "Thank you," I managed to say, though my voice is barely a whisper.

Belinda sat down on a chair nearby, maintaining a respectful distance. "I know you're scared," she said softly, "but I promise you, everything will be alright. Try to get some sleep."

Her words stirred a mix of emotions in me, gratitude for being saved, and a deep-seated resentment for being treated as a pawn. I tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the present moment, the need to rest and regain my strength. "Thank you…" I said.

The warmth of the room and the gentle care from Belinda has created a temporary sanctuary, a brief reprieve from the terror that has followed me for so long.

Before I knew it, my sight began to blur. My thought eventually slowed down as if sinking into a deep, untroubled sleep. 

I tried to stay awake, but the fatigue is overwhelming and soon I find myself sliding back into a drowsy, numbed state.

As I sunk further into sleep, my last coherent thought is a quiet promise to myself. I would definitely get my revenge on Gonzalo, whatever it takes. 

But for now, I surrendered myself to the need to rest, even though a small part of me remained ever vigilant in the back of my mind. I listened for any sign that my nightmare is far from over.

When I awake again, the room is even dimmer than before, and the pain in my leg is still throbbing, reminding me of the chaos that I just escaped. I blinked slowly, and tried to get used to the dim room.

Belinda wasn't by my side anymore; it could be that she has already retired. 

The thoughts of revenge seep into my mind again, and I am reminded of why I am where I am.