The Caged Bird

Chapter 19

A certain sadness washed over me. Yes, Edric was indeed not a great husband, nor a great person for that matter. But I had spent the last couple of months of my life with him and in a way, he helped me with dealing with my father's and brother's death.

More tears escaped my eyes.

I was dragged outside and pushed towards a van, just before I entered the vehicle, I felt a hard slap against the back of my head. My whole world turned black.

• • •

A groan escaped my lips as I tried to wake up. I was hit with a foul smell. A smell that reminded me of a public restroom, rotten food, and blood. Next, I felt hair sticking onto my neck and a headache coming up. I put my hand in my neck and felt with my fingertips what it could be. I retracted my hand and I saw blood.

Slowly the memories from hours ago flooded in my mind. The blood was probably caused by that hit against my head.

I sat up and put a hand on my stomach. Fear pumped through my veins. I was afraid they had done something to endanger my baby. The bump was still there, and I felt no pain coming from that specific area, so everything should be fine.

I rested my back on a wall and looked around. It looked like I was in some kind of basement. Multiple stains painted the walls and floors. I did not want to know what it was. I pulled my legs up, towards my chest as a protective layer for my stomach.

I rested my arms on my legs and waited for information or a person. The only thing that was on my mind was Edric's and Alex's bodies, laying there on the cold marble floors in my home.

I think several hours went by when I heard people coming from outside the door that led to my basement cell. With a loud sound, the door was opened, and six men walked in.

I tried to make myself smaller if that was even possible. My throat was dry and cold sweat formed on my forehead and back.

As I looked at the six men, I recognized one of the men. The one with the sinister voice and evil smirk. Only he was not the leader of this small group. In the middle was a man standing tall and strong with a large scar on his face. He stepped closer to me, crouched down, and spoke.

"My apologies Mrs. Verlice or should I say Miss Angelo again?" He laughed. I resisted myself from giving the man any reaction. "I'm sorry about the whole showdown at your house, but I did not know how to do things differently. And don't worry you won't be staying here for long. Once we know how to get rid of that baby you can come up." He said very casually, like it was a normal Tuesday, having a conversation with a stranger.

"W-What do you mean?" I stuttered. I tensed at his words.

"I can't have you bringing that child of yours into the world." He stated.

My mind was filled with worries. This baby was the last chance of having a family to call my own. If he of she died I had no one.

"Why? A-And who are y-you to d-demand something like t-that?" My whole body trembled now; fear pumped through my veins.

"The whole Verlice family needs to be dead for me to take power and with you, at my side, people will accept me to be the new boss in town." He stood up and dusted his clothes off. "I need to go." He walked away but stopped when he stood in the doorway. "I'm Lex by the way, your soon-to-be husband."

I looked horrified at the man who called himself Lex. I was not going to be anyone's wife ever again.

He laughed seeing my face and exited the basement.

• • •

I had fallen asleep and was startled by the sound of the basement door being opened. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as I sat up again. Lex and his men stepped inside and circled around me.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but it seems we need to do this the old-fashioned way." Lex turned towards one of the men and said, "Aim for the stomach, I don't want her dead understood?" The men nodded their heads and Lex left as soon as he had entered the basement.

I looked up and begged the men to leave me alone. They did not listen. Two of the men grabbed one on my arms, I could no longer protect my belly. "Begin." I heard and I cried out a 'no' but nothing helped.

When they left me, it was almost like I could feel the life inside my stomach dying, slipping away. I held a hand over my bump, but I knew I was already too late. The blood gave away the baby had died and was leaving my body.

I cried. I screamed. 

A/N: please don't be mad at me...

Thanks for reading and stay safe!