32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

IZEL

10 years ago…

September 15, 2014, 09:38:19 PM.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I mumble.

Mom smiles at me. “It’s okay, Izzie,” she tells me. “Just don’t pull that shit again, okay?”

I nod, but deep down, I know I’ll be running away again. This time, I won’t let Victor find me. It’s surprising, though—he hasn’t punished me yet. I was bracing for him to beat me to a pulp, like he usually does, but so far, he’s done nothing. It’s almost as if he’s waiting for something more, or maybe he’s just toying with me. Just as I’m lost in my thoughts, the door swings open, and my heart sinks. Victor walks in, and he’s not alone. A girl follows him.

Mom’s shock mirrors my own, and she’s not happy. “Victor, what the hell is Isla doing here?”

Victor doesn’t answer her. Instead, he roughly pulls me forward to face Isla.

“For that little stunt you pulled, you’ll be getting punished, little girl,” he sneers, and I hate it when he calls me that. Isla’s eyes dart between Victor and me, her confusion growing.

“What am I doing here?” she asks. “And who are they? Why does she look like me?”

“You’ll know that soon, Isla.” He turns back to me, and his face is contorted with anger. With a swift motion, he slaps me so hard that I fall to the ground. My cheek stings, and I taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

He yanks me up by my hair, and the pain shoots through me. He leans in so close, I can feel his hot, rancid breath on my face.

“I hate you for making me hurt my favorite girl,” he hisses. It’s a twisted form of punishment, making me bear the guilt for the pain he’ll be inflicting on Isla.

Isla’s eyes are filled with confusion and fear, her innocence shattered by the reality she’s walked into. I want to protect her, to shield her from the darkness that’s slowly swallowing us both. But in this house, secrets have a way of devouring everything in their path.

Victor’s smile widens as he turns his attention to Isla. Without warning, he starts ripping her clothes off and his cruel hands treat her with no mercy. It’s a sickening, gut-wrenching sight, a reminder of the depravity he’s capable of. Isla’s cries of pain and humiliation echo through the room.

Mom and I can’t stand idly by as he unleashes his cruelty on Isla. We beg and plead for him to stop. But Victor is a heartless asshole, and he doesn’t give a damn about our pleas.

“Victor, please! Don’t hurt her!” Mom cries out as tears stream down her face. She’s a mother, desperate to protect her child from the monster in the room.

“Stop this, you bastard!”

I know that hurling insults at him won’t change a thing, but it’s all I can do to try and protect Isla.

Desperation claws at my chest as I turn to Victor, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’ll never do it again, Victor, please! Just let her go!”

“Victor, you promised !” Mom cries out.

But when he doesn’t even flinch, something in her snaps. She grabs the table and slams it down onto his back with a force I didn’t know she had. The crash echoes, and for a second, I can’t believe what I just saw. I’ve never seen her so angry, so done with his games.

Victor barely stumbles, though. Instead, his hand strikes out, backhanding Isla so hard she falls to the floor. The sound of the slap rings out, freezing me in place, my breath caught somewhere between a scream and a sob.

“Do that again, and I’ll make you watch while I chop both your daughters into pieces. Small ones. ”

Mom freezes, her hands hovering midair like she’s forgotten how to move. The blood drains from her face and her lips tremble, but no words come.

“Please stop. It hurts,” Isla pleads.

“Please! Stop this!” Mom’s voice quavers as she struggles to pull him away from Isla, her hands desperately clawing at his shoulders.

“Think of what you’re doing, Victor! Please, stop!” she implores.

Victor pays no heed to the anguished pleas of both Isla and Mom. He is driving himself mercilessly, causing Isla’s agonized screams to fill the room, each moment more unbearable than the last.

Isla’s eyes open for a brief moment, locking onto mine, and there’s no disgust in her gaze—only empathy and understanding. I mouth a desperate “sorry,” and she manages a nod before releasing another piercing scream from her tormented throat.

With one final thrust, Victor releases inside Isla, and her scream pierces the room one last time before her gaze seems to drift into the void. Victor finally withdraws and stands at his full height, the evidence of his actions still visible on him.

I collapse onto the floor and scramble away from him, moving in the opposite direction as he approaches me. Mom’s attention is now focused on Isla.

Victor draws nearer, and my back hits the wall. I’m trapped, and there’s no escape from the monster in front of me.

“Victor, please,” I plead.

But he interrupts me with a cold, sadistic smile. “Girls like you deserve to be punished. It’s a shame you can’t think of anyone else but yourself.”

He then leans down to bring his face level with mine, and I instinctively pull my head away. He’s a monster, and I know he intends to do to me what he just did to Isla, only without the guise of it being his first time.

“Look at me,” he demands, and I hesitate out of sheer terror. He pinches my cheeks until I’m forced to meet his gaze.

“What do you say?” he snarls.

“I... I’m so... s-sorry,” I stammer, but he doesn’t allow me to continue. Instead, he slaps me sharply across the face, and then another brutal slap sends me sprawling across the floor, my face hitting the ground. The room spins as I struggle to hold back tears, and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness washes over me.

Amidst my sobs and the overpowering fear, Victor yanks me to my knees with a cruel grip on my arm. He towers over me, standing at his full height.

“See, that’s what happens when you’re a disobedient little bitch,” he hisses, pointing in the direction of Isla.

I’m trembling as I try to hold back the tears. “I promise, I won’t ever—”

Before I can even finish my sentence, he cuts me off with another harsh slap. “Words won’t save you now, little girl. It’s time you understand your place in this house.”

I glance at Isla, fear mirrored in her eyes, and I can’t shake the guilt coursing through me. Victor takes a step back, his gaze flickering between Isla and me. He reaches for the knife, and a chill runs down my spine. He hands the knife to me, and I know things are about to get much worse.

“Kill her,” he commands, a sick grin playing on his lips. “Or I’ll set this whole place on fire, and all of you will burn.”

“Izel, please, you can’t—”

Isla’s words are cut off by Victor. “Shut up, both of you. It’s time for a family reunion.”

“Grandpa, I love you! Please don’t let her—”

“I said shut up, Isla!”

“Victor, stop this madness! I beg you, don’t do this to my daughters. We’re family!”

“Your daughters need to learn their place, and you should’ve known better than to defy me, Ava.”

“Izzie don’t let him make you do this. We can find another way. Victor, please! We can find another way. I’m begging you, don’t make—”

But before mom can finish her desperate plea, Victor silences her with a tight grip around her throat. The room echoes with her choked gasps as she fights for breath. Isla and I, bound by terror, witness the horrifying scene unfolding before us.

“Enough of this nonsense!” Victor growls. “If you won’t kill Isla, I’ll kill your mother.”

Isla’s eyes widen with horror, and she calls out, “Stop! Please, Izel, do it!”

Tears stream down my face as I raise the knife. Mom’s choked sobs fill the room. “Izzie, don’t let him do this. Don’t let him win.”

I swallow hard. The lump in my throat is making it difficult for me to breathe.

“I can’t,” I whisper, but Victor’s sadistic laughter drowns out my words.

He tightens his grip on mom’s throat. “Time’s running out, little girl. Make a choice or watch your mother die.”

“Izel, please!” Isla gasps.

I glance at Isla one last time with a silent apology in my eyes, before I raise the knife. As the blade hovers, the room closes in on me. The choice is no choice at all – a lose-lose scenario. I brace myself for the irreversible act, knowing that whatever happens, the flames of this night will haunt my soul forever.

Isla’s eyes, filled with tears and terror, lock onto mine. My hands shake as I thrust the blade through her.

“I’m so sorry, Isla. I hope you find peace,” I mutter, but my voice gets caught in the lump forming in my throat.

She takes the pain like a warrior. Her eyes never leave mine, and I can’t handle the forgiveness in her gaze. Isla starts crumpling to the ground with tears streaming down her face, and I can’t look at her. I can’t bear to see the result of my own hands.

As I pull the blade out, Isla’s body drops, and my hands are covered in her blood. I’m angry at myself, angry at Victor, angry at this whole situation.

In those final moments, Isla manages to squeeze out words that pierce through the despair. “Take care of our mother, Izel,” she breathes with a heartbreaking smile. My eyes widen, and my heart squeezes with an indescribable ache. Isla glances at mom, whose struggles intensify, and she is trying to say something, but I can’t make out the words.

I crawl over to Isla’s lifeless form. “Isla, fuck, I’m sorry,” I choke out. I want to understand, to make sense of this nightmare, but all I’m left with is the haunting silence of death.

Victor finally leaves Mom, and she falls to the ground beside Isla. She pats Isla’s lifeless form, as if expecting a miracle.

Time stretches, and the room feels like a grotesque tableau frozen in despair. Victor finally lifts his gaze from Isla’s motionless form and directs his attention to me. His crazed eyes lock onto mine, and a malevolent smile twists his lips.

“Your time’s over, Izel,” he declares.

I’m confused, disoriented, and I have no fucking idea what he means. But before I can comprehend his intentions, Victor grabs me roughly, pulling me up. Panic sets in, and I start shouting, “Let me go!”

“Victor, stop this madness! Let her go!” Mom shouts.

But Victor is deaf to reason. He tightens his grip on my hair, and the pain shoots through me. I kick, I struggle, I fight against his hold, but it’s of no use.

“Let me fucking go!” I scream.

“Victor, for the love of god, stop!”

He drags me across the room. I shoot a venomous look at Mom because all of this is her fault. “I wish you’d have killed yourself the day you got here,” I yell, and then the door slams shut behind me.

Victor throws me to the ground in the forest clearing. I scramble to my feet as I take in the sight before me. Isla’s body lies there, lifeless and broken. He stands over me as he pulls a knife from his belt.

“Izel,” he says. “Time for your lesson.”

My stomach churns as he holds the knife out to me. I back away, shaking my head. “No, please, Victor. Don’t make me do this.”

Victor’s smile widens. “You’ve already killed her.” He shoves the knife into my hands, the weight of it feels foreign and terrifying. “This is just the next step. You need to learn how to dispose of a body.”

A lanky man steps forward. His face is a mask of indifference as he takes the knife from me, turning it over in his hands. “This is a special knife, Izel,” he says. “The handle is made from snakewood. It's strong and durable. Perfect for the job.”

Tears stream down my face as I look at Isla’s lifeless form. “I don’t want to do this. I didn’t want to kill her in the first place!”

“You think you have a choice? This is your life now, little girl. And it's about to get worse. Charles, do me a favor and teach her how to use a fucking knife.”

Charles kneels beside Isla’s body, motioning for me to join him. “It’s important to make precise cuts. Start at the joints. The handle will give you a good grip, even if your hands get slippery.”

I choke back a sob, my vision blurring as I kneel beside Charles. “I can’t... I can’t do this.”

Victor’s voice is a harsh whisper. “You will do this, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”

With shaking hands, I press the knife against Isla’s shoulder. Charles places a firm hand on mine, guiding the blade. “Apply more pressure. You need to cut through the muscle and tendons.”

The knife slices through flesh, and bile rises in my throat. I gag but Charles doesn’t let up. “Focus. You need to keep your mind clear.”

I sob openly now because each cut is adding a new wound to my soul. “You’re doing great, Izel. Keep going.”

Charles continues to instruct me. “Now move to the legs. Remember, precise cuts.”

I want to stop, to run away, but there’s nowhere to go. Victor and Charles have made sure of that. And now, I’m being molded into a monster, just like him.

Charles hands me a cloth to wipe the blade. “You did well. It gets easier with time.”

I look down at my blood-stained hands, feeling a numbness spread through me. “I don’t want it to get easier.”