Chapter 9

Jocelyn nestled herself deeper in James' arms and asked softly, "Nothing's going to happen, right?" James scoffed. "Naomi's the one who brought those beggars in. What could possibly happen?" After a while, he stopped to listen. When he was sure that he didn't hear any screams at all, he left feeling at ease. What he didn't know was that Naomi had stopped screaming because the beggars had begun throwing themselves on top of her. She was already well-conditioned from her time at the academy. No matter how many men were on top of her, she couldn't scream, or it would result in more severe beatings. The beggars' hands slithered all over Naomi's body like venomous snakes, tearing her clothes apart, trampling on her dignity. Her body, like a broken doll, was theirs to play with however they pleased. Her fingers gripped the sheets tightly, her knuckles white as snow, but she made no sound at all. "Naomi's the one who brought the beggars in. What could possibly happen?" James' words played on repeat in her mind. A heavy pressure weighed on her chest, so painful that it felt like she could barely breathe. That night, Naomi's abuse continued throughout the entire night. Her body felt like it had been torn from the inside out. Her blood stained the sheets crimson. Her eyes were hollow and empty as she allowed countless vile men to defile her. The next morning, the swarm of beggars finally got up from her body. They got dressed and left her room, feeling satisfied. Naomi curled up into a ball on the ground. She had injuries all over her and looked just like an unwanted, discarded rag doll. After what felt like an eternity, despite the numbness consuming her, she forced herself to stand and unsteadily made her way out of the room. She had just stepped out of the room when gasps were heard from all around her. "What happened to her? Why isn't she clothed?" "Oh heavens, what happened? H-Her… Her intestines are hanging outside of her body!" Naomi walked on, indifferent, as if nothing around her mattered, until a ping from her phone broke the silence. It was a text reminding her to board the plane soon. That day was supposed to be the day when she could finally leave for good. She was so close—so incredibly close to escaping. She wanted to live so badly. Even when she was trapped at the academy, she had never lost hope. However, that day, both her body and spirit were completely shattered. When she read the text again, tears finally streamed down her cheeks. She could no longer take another step, nor could she bring herself to leave. James Payne, the man she loved the most, had personally sent her to hell time and time again. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was James calling. Naomi had just answered the call when his angry voice started berating her. "Did you think you're all grown up now? How dare you stay out the entire night! "Are you addicted to lying now? You were the one who brought those beggars in. What could they do to you?" Naomi looked down at the wounds on her body and felt something die inside of her. What could they do to her? She was gang raped by a horde of men for an entire night just when she was about to embark on a new journey of life. What she endured was so painful, it mirrored the memories of her time at the academy—memories she would never, ever be able to forget for the rest of her life. They've utterly ruined her. James was still reprimanding her over the phone. "Enough is enough. It's mine and Jocelyn's wedding today. You'd better show up on time. "Stop with your games. I've told you, it's impossible between us. Once you've witnessed our wedding with your own eyes, you'll naturally give up on these thoughts." Naomi finally spoke. Her voice was hoarse as she calmly said, "Okay, Uncle James. I'll make sure you see me clearly, with your very own eyes." She hung up, made her way to the elevator, and went up to the topmost floor of the hotel. As soon as James hung up the call, an unsettling sense of foreboding rose within him. Just as he was about to call Naomi once more, the wedding car that he was in arrived at the hotel entrance. A loud thud sounded. A silhouette fell from a great height and crashed right onto his car. Shrieks and screams instantly erupted from all around them. When James looked up, his pupils shrank. Through the shattered windshield, he saw Naomi's blood-soaked face. Her eyes were wide open, but there was no longer any sign of life in them.