Chapter 1 Falling In Front Of Mr. Seward’s Car

- Sabira’s POV -

"No! Do not touch me. I beg you, stepfather."

I screamed in utter terror. Curling up beside the old bed, I held a worn, tattered blanket to cover my body, staring with wide eyes as Dante, my stepfather, approached me step by step with a greedy look. He pulled me violently, his filthy hands touching my body from every angle.

"Don't be scared, Sabira. I will make you happy right now."

His voice sounded deep and muffled, filled with delight at touching the body of a young girl who had never known a man. On the days when my mother was not around, he always looked at me with pure lust. Now, with alcohol in his system, he completely lost control of his senses.

I fought back frantically. The top buttons of my shirt were torn off by him, exposing my youthful skin. That only fed the wild beast inside him even more. I pushed him away with all my strength and tried to run, but he grabbed me back by my hair.

"You ungrateful brat. I have taken care of you for years, and you dare reject my kindness?"

A heavy slap landed on my face, sending me crashing onto the table. Dishes shattered noisily on the floor. He immediately pinned me down, greedily inhaling the sweet scent of a young girl on my neck. The foul smell of beer and his despicable nature disgusted me to the point of tears.

I frantically reached around on the table, firmly grabbed a teapot, and smashed it hard against his head. He stumbled, clutching his bleeding head, before collapsing motionless. I did not dare to delay for even a second and bolted out of the house.

In my state of panic and pain, I looked at the indifferent people around me, feeling my heart sink. I ran past house after house, person after person, yet not a single soul answered my cries for help, as if I did not even exist.

My bare feet stepped on rough rocks and dirt. I felt exhausted and in pain, but I did not dare to stop. I finally reached a main road. Bright lights illuminated a wide open space. Compared to the dark, narrow street I just left, this place felt completely different, making me feel smaller and more lost than ever.

I stumbled forward with no destination in mind. What would become of my future? To make matters worse, why did my mother leave me alone with my stepfather? Where did she go? She knew he had bad intentions toward me, yet she still abandoned me so heartlessly.

Or did something terrible happen to her? It must be that. I had to go find her.

Dazed, I crossed the busy street. In my confused state, I failed to notice the danger right in front of me. A sharp car horn blasted, pulling me out of my chaotic thoughts. The car slammed on its brakes, tires screeching against the road, and stopped just inches away from me. My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat, though a part of me wished the car had not stopped in time.

Before I collapsed onto the road, I caught a glimpse of two men inside the car. The man in the back seat quickly set his iPad aside, frowning deeply as if my presence had wasted his precious time.

I did not want to cause trouble either. I was not trying to put on a show, but my strength was completely gone after everything that happened today. Unable to stand up, I could only drag my fingers along the ground, using all my remaining power to crawl toward the sidewalk. What did it matter if I looked miserable? I no longer cared.

The back door opened. The tall man paused for a few seconds to look at me before stepping closer at a slow pace. I did not dare to look up at him, curling into a ball to protect myself. I was terrified of meeting someone who thought like my stepfather.

"I... I am sorry..." I managed to force out a few broken words.

The man squatted down in front of me. His movement made me crawl backward in fear. What did he want with me? Did I even have any strength left to fight back?

Suddenly, he took off his jacket. To my eyes, this scene looked no different from the moment my stepfather pulled off his tank top. I closed my eyes tightly, covered my head, and pulled my legs close to my chest.

"Sorry... I said I am sorry." In a panic, I stammered out excuses. "I have nothing... I smell terrible... please do not hurt me..."

Contrary to my fears, he gently placed the jacket over me. It felt warm, just like my mother's embrace whenever I brought food home for her. Still, I could not calm down completely.

He leaned down and spoke in a very soft voice: "I will not hurt you. Let me take you home. Where do you live?"

Hearing the word "home" made me panic even more. I could never go back to that place, so I begged desperately:

"Please! Do not take me back there. I beg you..."

Then, everything before my eyes turned pitch black. I lost consciousness. My last memory was the panicked look on that man's face. When I woke up, would I be somewhere safe, or would I be back in that terrible house with my twisted stepfather?

I did not know how long I was passed out, but fear forced me to wake up as soon as possible. I found myself in a plain white room with the sound of machines beeping in my ears. As I looked around groggily, a group of people wearing white and blue uniforms entered. Among them, some men held strange instruments. I had seen those before, and they always made my mind go completely blank.

In a panic, I threw off the blanket and tried to rush out of bed. However, my weak body and the wires attached to my arms stopped me instantly. I fell hard onto the cold floor. Screams echoed around me. Were they trying to capture me?

I tore the wires off my hands, desperately trying to keep my distance from them. I did not know where I was or why I was here, but I did not want to stay. I could not let them use needles to inject strange substances into me, the kind that used to make me sleepy and confused. Then I would see my mother turning her back on me, scolding me for being a burden and ruining her gambling time.

"Please calm down. We are doctors. We are not going to hurt you."

Everything was too loud. I ran and pushed away wheelchairs to block them. Finally cornered, I had no choice but to kneel, bowing and crying out in tears:

"Please do not touch me! Do not come near me!"

Even so, they grabbed my hands, trying to force me back to that room. Just then, someone pushed through the crowd and stepped in. It was that same man. Could it be that he was the one who brought me here?