CHAPTER 2

Isabella’s POV

The morning sun crept through the thin curtains of my  room, casting faint streaks of light across the cracked walls. I sat on my cot, my heart racing as I reread the letter Natasha had slipped into my hand the day before. It was crumpled and slightly torn from how many times I had unfolded it.

“Isabella, the bus to the city leaves at 7 PM. Meet me at the station, and we’ll figure things out together. Don’t worry—I’ll get you out of there."

Natasha’s words were my only hope, she had given me a glimmer of hope in this darkness. I tucked the letter into the waistband of my skirt, I would finally be free today.

Tonight, I will leave this house. I would leave Draco and Sophie behind and never look back.

I worked through the day as usual, cooking, cleaning, and enduring Sophie’s endless jabs. Draco barely acknowledged my presence, engrossed in a call about his debts. I clung to my silence, careful not to let anything slip.

As the hours ticked by, my anxiety grew. I had packed my few belongings—a spare dress, a photo of my parents, and the little money I had managed to hide away. Everything fit into a small cloth bag I had stashed under my bed.

When the clock struck 6:30 PM, I felt my chest tighten. It was time. I quietly slipped my bag out from under the bed and tiptoed to the door. My heart thundered in my chest as I opened it, the creak of the hinges echoing like a gunshot in the quiet house.

I froze, waiting to see if anyone had heard. The house remained still. Swallowing my fear, I crept down the hallway, avoiding the spots on the floorboards that I knew would groan under my weight.

When I reached the front door, my hand trembled as I reached for the handle. Freedom was just on the other side.

“Going somewhere?”  The voice sent a cold shiver down my spine. I spun around to see Draco standing in the hallway, his silhouette framed by the dim light from the kitchen. His expression was cold, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer.

I clutched my bag to my chest, my voice trembling.

“I— I was just—”

“Save it,” he snapped, his voice cutting through my stammering. “You really thought you could run away from me?”

Fear coursed through me as he closed the distance between us. His imposing figure loomed over me, and I took a shaky step back, bumping into the door.

“I’m not going to marry Santiago,” I blurted, my voice shaking but firm.  Draco’s lips curled into a cruel smile.

“Oh, you won’t have to. He doesn’t want you anymore.”

The words took me by surprise, but my relief was short-lived. His next words were like a slap to the face.

“I’ve found a better use for you. You’ll make me more money than I ever imagined.”

Panic set in. I turned and yanked the door open, bolting into the night. The cool evening air hit my face as I sprinted toward the gate, my feet pounding against the dirt path.

“Isabella!” Draco’s furious shout echoed behind me, but I didn’t stop. I was so close. The gate was just ahead.

Then I felt it—a sharp prick at the base of my neck. My legs faltered, my vision blurring as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I stumbled and fell to my knees, gasping as the world around me spun.

Draco’s boots crunched against the gravel as he approached, his shadow falling over me. I tried to crawl away, but my limbs felt like lead.

“Did you really think you could escape me?” he sneered, crouching beside me. He held up the syringe he had just used, its empty barrel gleaming in the moonlight.

“You’re mine, Isabella. You’ll always be mine.” I tried to speak, to scream, but the words wouldn’t come. My vision darkened as the drug took hold, and the last thing I saw was Draco’s cold smile.

---

When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a cold, metal floor. The faint smell of rust and dampness filled my nostrils. My head throbbed, and my limbs feel weak. I tried to sit up, but the movement sent a wave of nausea through me.

Looking around, I realized I was in the back of a van. The walls were lined with metal, and there were no windows. I wasn’t alone—three other girls huddled together in the corner, their faces pale and frightened.

“Where are we?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

One of the girls shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I don’t know,” she whispered back. “But the bad guys are here.”

Before I could ask more, the van hit a bump, jolting me painfully. The motion was too much for my weakened body, and I felt my body slipping back into unconsciousness.

---

The next time I woke up, the air was colder, the ground harder. I blinked against the dim light, my surroundings coming into focus.

I was in a dungeon.

The room was dark and damp, the walls made of jagged stone. Heavy iron bars enclosed me and several other girls, their faces etched with fear. Chains hung from the walls, their clinking sound a cruel reminder of where we were.

My breath quickened as I tried to process what was happening. Memories of Draco, the van, and the needle flooded my mind.

“Where are we?” I asked again, my voice trembling.

Before anyone could answer, the heavy iron door to the dungeon creaked open. A woman stepped inside, her presence commanding and cold. She was tall and elegant, with sharp features and a cruel smile that sent chills down my spine.

“Welcome to Hell’s pit,” the woman said, her voice dripping with malice.

The words struck me like a physical blow. I looked around at the other girls, their terror mirroring my own.

Hell’s pit.

I didn’t know what it was, but I knew one thing. I had to escape.