CHIARA
I climbed downstairs, the living room was filled with wedding planners talking to Mama and Antonio. You'd almost think the man truly cared for me, the way he was detailing how perfect he wanted the wedding to be. He looked nothing like the animal that kept me locked up inside without permission to leave until the wedding day. There were two days left until it was due, and the old man was worried sick that I'd try something out there and ruin his plans, so I was locked up instead.
Sighing, I went straight to the kitchen and asked the maid for a cup of coffee. I was hopeless. I tried to get myself out of this, but nothing worked. I never thought it was this hard to get someone to love you. And God was hell-bent on me getting married to this sick psycho. I drank my coffee, watching them as they planned things. This was not how things were supposed to happen. I was supposed to leave this house with my mother, not alone, and not heading to a worse fate than I was already in. I climbed the stairs and locked myself inside my bedroom, waiting for my fate.
The second day passed like the days before. I refused to open the door for anyone and just sat in my room thinking of how fucked up my life was. How things would've been different if my Papa were here. If Antonio didn't kill him and ruined our lives. The worst part was that I felt like crying, but no tears came out.
I would never do anything to get my mother in trouble, so the wedding had to pull through. But if they think that I would gladly accept defeat, then they know nothing about the person I am. The person Antonio has molded with his own hands. As off Enzo, I would slit his throat before he sold me off to whatever buyer that demanded me. I would flee and then come back for my mother when I had enough control of my life.
I knew my mother and brother will have to pay for my actions if I ever do anything to compromise the wedding. For the past few days, things seemed a little bit at ease between my mother and Antonio, even though it hurt to think that my mother had given up the fight. And if I was right, then Antonio would show some mercy on her while I was gone.
****
Morning came.
The morning that I wished to never happen. The morning, I would dread for the rest of my life, even if things go the way I'd planned. My mother and the maids assisted the makeup artist as she adorned me for the day. I sat, staring at the dress behind me blankly through its reflection in the mirror. The woman tried to talk it out with me, thinking that I was nervous to get married and that everything would be okay. Not knowing that I was getting sent to hell by my stepfather and I had to find my way out of it. I never replied to her, and so she learned to keep her mouth shut and focused on her work.
About half an hour later, he was done with my face, and so Viva took over. Assisting her staff on how to help me put on the dress. Once the dress part was done, she opened a line of jewelry. "This is a gift from me and Leo. Do you like them?" she asked with a beaming face. I looked at the jewelry sets. "Yes, say thank you to Leo for me," I replied. Viva excused everyone from the room, including my mother. She then came and sat with me on the couch.
She held my hands in hers. "I don't understand, Chichi. Today is your wedding day, but you look like the world is ending. Are you alright?" she asked, carefully looking at me with a deep frown. I looked at her, my lips began to tremble, and she pulled me in for a hug. "Oh dear." She rubbed my back, and I started to sob in her arms. "I knew something was fishy. I knew it." She said, her voice breaking down as well.
All the pent-up emotions that I'd tried to bury for the past few days, they all came and drowned me at once. I just cried and cried while she comforted me with her words. She even offered to help me run away if I didn't want to go through with the wedding. Which I truly appreciated. Who would've thought that my social friend would feel more comfortable than my own family? If only Viva knew the turmoil I was swimming into.
The makeup artist had to redo my face again, which she gladly did since more zeros went down her cheque. I was done after a while. I entered the washroom, and I started to pace around, while watching the phone on the sink. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. "Ah fuck!" I took the phone and searched for his contact. My hands trembled as I stared at the name. Taking a deep breath, I opened the messaging section and typed 'I'm getting married in a few hours.' And then hit the send button.
"Young Madam, we have to go." The maid knocked on the door. I stared at the phone, but a reply came after about ten minutes while the maid kept knocking for me to step out. I took the phone and slammed it against the mirror. It was scattered along with the shards. What came over me? What was I thinking? That the man I have been ignoring for the past few days would suddenly reply to my text just because I said I was getting married? Why would he even do that to begin with? He had no feelings for me, he made that clear with his actions.
I opened the door and stepped out of the washroom. Guards were already called in to break down the door. "What's the fuss about? Can someone relieve herself in peace?" I said and walked out of the room, the rest of them following me on their toe. More guards were already outside waiting for me and escorted me to the church. Mama sat with me in the car but never said a word; she only held my hand, which I was glad. My head felt like it was filled with the whole world's troubles. I wiped the lone tear and rolled down the window, feeling like the air wasn't enough for me today.
We arrived at the Church. Mama joined the rest of the guests inside while I stood before the long Church doors. My heart was heavier than two mountains combined, and my mind was a chaos. Breathing came with trouble. I breathed in and out, asking myself not to crush out now of all times. God knows I tried, but like I said, some of us didn't belong in heaven. Our hands were too bloodied for it.
The song played loudly inside. I held my breath, knowing what was about to follow. I heard some faint noise behind me, and I turned back, but there was no one, not even the two guards who were watching over me. Maybe I was hallucinating, and those guards weren't even there to begin with. Anything was possible with the way my mind was messed up these days. I turned back and took a deep breath. I gripped the flower bouquet in my hands and raised my head high. Let's get this over with, Chiara. Then suddenly something hits my neck from behind. Groaning, I saw black before collapsing.