HOLLY'S POV
Well, this...this is an ugly-ass cell. The bed is moldy which complements the wall nicely as the mold on the walls is a deep green shade. The sink and toilet look as if rats and raccoons sleep there at night. And the smell, the smell is disgusting. It has a moldy scent mixed with barf and a scent of blood. This is going to be a terrible week.
The walk down here was even worse. Dante stayed by my side the whole time while we passed different cells that were occupied. Most of the men and women in these cells paid little attention to me except a few who would occasionally catcall or whistle. Dante would shoot a warning glare and direct me down the hall.
When we got to the last cell it was by far the best of the bunch, it was a bit cleaner but still could use a lot of work. I had a neighbour beside me. A tall female smiled at me but went back to rinsing her cut that is located on her forearm, it looks as if she got stabbed.
Dante opened the cell door with a squeak. I beg him with my eyes to reconsider this punishment, but I know it is not his decision to make. Dante gives me a sad smile as he directs me in. I checked my surroundings and was not pleased. I sat down with precaution as I directed my gaze to Dante who was leaning against the cell door. Dante is definitely a handsome man, he is tall, has a good face structure, and has great eyes.
"It will be over before you know it" Dante tries to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, and when it is over, I will escape once again" I hope he knows the saying 'a tiger can't change its stripes' because I will never stop escaping.
"We know that. He knows that. But... Please try. Please try for him. He really needs you" Dante whispers the last part, afraid as if Elijah will punish him for this information.
"Needs me? Are you fucking on drugs? He doesn't care for me, and if he does, why lock me down here" I use my hands to exaggerate my point.
"Because he is teaching you a lesson. He loves you, Holly, he told me on the first night you stayed. He pays more attention to you than any of his friends or even his work. When you were with Blade, he couldn't go back to Italy until he found you, and during that week he was a mess and killed over ten people, innocent or not" my body freezes as he says 'innocent'
"H-he...he killed innocent people?" My voice was soft and squeaky, I was surprised he could hear me.
"I-I wasn't supposed to tell you" Dante whispers to himself. I can't even look at his face as he tries to explain himself and Elijah.
"Please get out. Leave me alone" I sniffle as my voice begins to break. Dante doesn't say another word as he closes and locks the moldy cell door. He looks up from the lock and gives me a sad smile. When he turns to walk away his face is void of any emotions as he walks down the cold cellular hallway.
"You two friends?" A female voice breaks through my thoughts. I look over to my right to see my neighbouring cell. A tall female with a kind smile is resting against the cell bars that separate our living space.
"Nope" I adjust myself on the uncomfortable bed as I bring the small cloth, which I suppose is a blanket, over top of my lap.
"Do you know... the big man?" She questioned as the light from the small window illuminates her facial features. Her skin is a little patchy as small smudges of dirt are illustrated on her face. She looks to be in her late 20's. Her eyes are as brown as the last leaf of autumn.
"Big man?" I asked confused, is she referring to Elijah?
"You know, Mr. Luciano. I heard you and that Dante guy discussing how he, like, killed innocent people '' I can't see this woman's face as the lighting in this room is darker than the bat cave.
"Yeah, I do know him," I confessed as I rolled my eyes thinking about how my life has switched these past weeks.
"Do you know why he killed all those people in the span of 7 days?" The woman places her fingers around the cell bars as she leans in towards my cell. She is getting a little scary
"Yes! He is a psychopath who loves to see people in pain"
"Ha. Yes. But I heard a Rumour" Rumour? Ever since I was in high school, I learnt to never believe in rumours. You can't believe in rumours until the person who the rumour is about either agrees or disagrees with the accusations.
"Rumour? How do you hear rumours when you are down here" This cellar is kinda small and I am surprised that information can spread from the upstairs world.
"You're a funny little thing. Rumours spread pretty quickly, especially down here. The cell bars don't keep all your conversations a secret. Between you and I, people get bored down here so I know at least one of these'' -she points around to the other cells- "people are listening"
"Understandable. I'm glad I don't sleep talk" I laugh which causes a deep chuckle to escape from her mouth. I have come to know her name is Ronda. When the silence echoes throughout the room, my mind is filled with worry as to why Elijah killed those innocent souls.
"What's the rumour?"
"Ok, are you ready?" Ronda asks in a taunting manner.
"Yes! God just tell me, Ronda" I said, getting more impatient.
"Ok, ok. Rumour says that he did it for a girl. His girl. Rumour says she left him without a word and he went all bonkers and killed anyone that walked in his path. It was crazy, his own men were afraid of him."
I don't even know what to think. Elijah killed innocent people because I wasn't there. Is he that dependent on me? He goes all haywire when I am not there.
A wave of guilt washes over me thinking of those innocent souls escaping their bodies after Elijah kills them. What would have happened if I was gone for longer? Would he kill more? Would he kill some of his friends? Would he kill children? Elijah is a monster, an unreadable, uncontrollable monster.
"Holly? Hello, are you ok" Ronda quizzed as her voice was filled with concern.
"Do you know who the girl was?" I choked, my voice breaking at the end as my mind was filled with guilt.
"No, all I know is they were in Greece and she left him for a week, and they probably came back today-" Ronda stops herself suddenly. Her eyes lock with mine as she studies my face, her mouth makes an 'o' shape as she reads my facial expression. I try to keep my emotions at bay but they are leaking through.
"Holy shit. You're the girl. It all comes together. He treats you better than any other prisoner, you have long conversations with his second-hand man, and I bet you're going to get an amazing meal"
"What do you usually get for meals?" I explored. I assume they get crap meals as I see on TV, prisoners usually get bread and cheese or soup.
"If we are lucky to even get one meal it is usually soup and crackers" I gasp. They don't feed them.
"Wow, I guess I might have it better" I confess as I look down at my lap while I play with my fingers.
"So what's your story, Mrs. Luciano?'' Ronda asked. My face scrunches in anger and disgust as I hear that dreaded name. I will never change my last name to that disgusting, revolting, disgraceful name.
"Don't ever fucking call me that" I fumed. My voice is dripping with venom even though I haven't heard myself use this much compassion towards a topic.
"When you annoy me that's what I am going to call you" Ronda jokes.
"Shut up, I will never marry that asshole" I cross my arms as I direct my head towards the disgusting image of a toilet. My face scrunches in disgust as I see the dirt and mold pilling on top of it.
"I guess you don't like him," Ronda thinks out loud.
"Wow, you really outdid yourself this time, Sherlock" My voice drips with sarcasm as I direct my gaze from the toilet back to Ronda.
"What's your story? You two fell in love, he cheated, you broke up, then got back together, then he cheated again, then you got back together, then you left him for a few days, then he placed you down here" Ronda jokes. I hope she is joking because if she thinks this is my story... She is waiting for a rude awakening.
"Not even close"
"Did I get some right?" She jokes again. I am starting to be fond of Ronda, she is a very lightening presence even if she might be locked in a disgusting cellar.
"Nope, except for the placing me down here part" I smiled at how wrong she really is. She tilts her head to the right asking me with her eyes to continue. I take a deep breath as I process how my story is going to be told.
"I loved school. I loved soccer. I loved America. I lived in Newyork and attended Cornell University and got in with an academic and athletic scholarship. I was going places. I was the star of my high school and college soccer, I was number one in almost all my classes, then one night, my friends and I were going to a club" I started off
"Ah, typical. You met an overconfident mafia boss at a club" Ronda flutters her eyelashes while sending me love-struck eyes.
"Please shut up. Let me finish, god" I roll my eyes as I continue with my story.
"After that night, I saw him everywhere. It was really creepy, wherever I was, he was right behind me or beside me. He was a stage three stalker." Stage one stalking is stalking social media, stage two is calling or speaking to them occasionally, and finally, stage three is a full-blown stalker, stalks your location 24/7, finds any excuse to talk to you, stalk not only you but people around you like family and friends.
"Wait. Is this taking place in America" Ronda quizzed?
"Yes"
"Elijah Luciano. In America? That is strange '' Ronda acts as if she knows Elijah, in my opinion, Elijah and Ronda don't seem like they have much in common.
"You know what is also strange?"-I wait for her response, her eyebrows raised in confusion- "Why do you keep interrupting me"
"Sorry" she smiles shyly.
"You should be, I'm just kidding. But, it was my final exam day. I studied so hard and after I took the test I knew I aced it. I put my heart and soul into that test, my brain was begging me to stop cramping information into it, and then, that day, everything fell apart. Elijah barged into my university class and... he killed everyone there... he killed my teacher, my classmates and then he took me. It's funny how he thinks I am ok with this, how he thinks I will love him after everything he has done. But it gets worse"
"Worse than a school shooter?" Ronda questions again. I can agree with her, what is worse than shooting innocent young adults at a university?
"Yes. I don't know how he could top that, but he did,'' My ears perch up as I hear the cellular doors open from down the hall. A smile grows on my face as I see a small old lady walk down the hall. I could never picture Yolanda walking down this creepy hallway even with a tray of food in her hands. I am glad that it is Yolanda and not one of Elijah's friends or worse, him.
Yolanda walks down the hallway as my voice begins to die down. I guess I will continue my story after, as Yolanda's heels click against the cold concrete floor.
"Here you are darling. I could barely see with the lighting. I still don't agree with what Mr. Luciano is putting you through '' Yolanda unlocks my cell door as she stands with the tray of food in her hand.
"Well, here is your first meal of the day. I made your favourite blueberry pancakes" Yolanda's smile is so welcoming that a small smile tugs on my face. I haven't smiled since Blade, I miss him, I hope I can see him soon.
"It looks great, Yolanda, but I've kinda lost my appetite. These cells aren't the nicest!" I confess, I lost my appetite as I think of all the wrong Elijah has caused not only to me but the people around us.
"But you must eat, Elijah would be very mad-" I cut Yolanda off.
"I don't give a shit what Elijah feels, I lost my appetite" I look over at Ronda who is watching this conversation as if it is a murder documentary. I think back to when Ronda told me about her lack of food throughout the day and I can't believe I only thought about myself, I am so selfish not to think of how the others are feeding themselves.
"Actually, I would like the food. Thank you for making it, Yolanda" I place a soft, welcoming smile on my face as I direct Yolanda to the edge of my bed.
"No problem dear, Elijah will be very happy" She smiles. I repay her with a smile that doesn't reach my eyes because just hearing his name sends shivers down my spine.
Yolanda's heels click against the cold concrete floor after leaving my food on the edge of my 'bed'. As I hear the creak of the cellular door close, I quickly take the stack of five pancakes and push them over to Ronda who is drooling at the sight of them.
"What are you doing?" Ronda likes to ask questions.
"I don't want them, and you told me, you barely get any food down here." I smile softly as I instruct her to take a bite.
"I-I can't... I can't take this" She shakes her head as she tries to shove the plate back to me but I place my hand on the plate and direct it back to her.
"Why? Are you allergic to blueberries, you can just pick them out" I suggest.
"No, I am not allergic to them, I just don't want to die... because I know Elijah will murder me if I ate his girls' food" I understand where she is coming from as I to wouldn't want to die in the hands of Elijah.
"A. Not his girl, and B. You're going to die if you don't eat something. I'm not going to eat this food regardless unless you want to waste this delicious food Yolanda worked extremely hard to make" I pulled out the guilt card and I moved the fork along the edge of the plate.
"Fine, you've convinced me, but while I eat this, I want you to finish your story, I am very invested in your life" Ronda caves in as she grabs the fork from my hand.
"Where did I leave off?" I ask myself, trying to remember the last part of my horrid story.
"He kidnaps you," Ronda says with a mouth full of blueberry pancakes as she inhales her food.
"Yes. After that bastard kidnapped me he brought me to Italy to this mansion. The whole week I was here, I escaped a total of three times and got taken back all three times. Elijah punished me for two of the three times but nothing compared to this. I tried, believe me, I tried to give him a chance, but my brain is smarter than my heart. I kept replaying images of him killing people right in front of me. He shot two people in front of me, not including my classmates and teacher. I think after those three escapes we got invited to the Greek mafia gala. While there, I met my friend Blade. He helped me escape and for that week, I was finally happy. I think I love him, but of course, Elijah had to rip all the happiness away from me. I don't know what happened to Blade but I hope he is safe. He is a fighter and... and I hope I can see him again"
"And now you're here. Wow. My life is amazing compared to yours" Ronda laughs but no humour is laced within her laugh.
"What is your story? How did you end up here?" I'm generally curious.
"Nothing too special, I robbed a coke container here in Italy and didn't realize it belongs to the Italian mafia"
"How do you know Elijah and Dante?" I ask once again. I, along with Ronda, love to ask questions.
"Went to school with them"
"Really," I asked. She doesn't sound Italian so I don't understand how they could attend the same school but this is a small world after all.
"No! As I said before I believe a lot of rumour and I have heard a lot about the Italian mafia" Ronda laughed with amusement.
"You don't sound Italian" I speak my mind.
"I'm not. I am from America but I am here with my friends for a few weeks. Turns out my friends are actually part of small gangs in America and they do some drug trades with Elijah. And when Elijah did not give them their promised amount of coke, they asked me to take a few grams from his crate"
"Some friends you have" I laugh quietly. My friends are amazing compared to her's, I miss my friends, they probably think I'm dead but who blames them, maybe I want to be.
"When I get out of here, I'm going to sue them" Ronda jokes which causes me to let out a genuine laugh.
"Ha. When I get out of here, like out of this goddamn country. I am going to go to America, find my friends and hug them for days and file a restraining order on Elijah."
"The restraining order won't hold him back. Have you talked to your friends or family?" She speaks the truth, I know the restraining order won't hold back this beast, it will most likely drive him more towards me, the sacred fruit he isn't allowed to touch.
"I don't have a family" I sniffled. The memories of that day, the day at which my father's limp body lays in my clean arms, his bloodstain my tanned skin as my tears spill from my eyes.
"What about your mom or dad?" Ronda questioned. I give her a sad smile as I hold in my tears, memories of my past haunt me as I can see my mom and dad laughing with me at the dinner table.
"Nope, they both committed suicide. My mother when I was 17 and my father one month before Elijah kidnapped me"
"I'm sorry" Ronda apologizes even though she did nothing wrong. This situation keeps getting more and more awkward but I love her company even if it might be in a disgusting cell.
"Don't be sorry, they wanted to leave this horrible world even if that meant leaving me alone" I sniffled as I wiped a lone tear that escaped the corner of my left eye.
"Maybe they knew you could take care of yourself" Ronda tries to reassure me.
"Yet here I am, kidnapped by the Italian mafia boss"
"Well, that is just a bump in the road" Ronda states. The space between us goes silent as I think of what she has said.
"How were the pancakes?" I try to switch the topic, the topic of my dead parents doesn't exactly bring up my mood.
"Amazing, are you sure you didn't want any?" Ronda points to the nearly empty plate, a quarter of a pancake is left but I can see in Ronda's eyes that she wants to finish it.
"I kinda lost my appetite after hearing Elijah kill those people"
"More for me" Ronda smiles as she inhales the last of the blueberry pancake. I don't know if I can eat ever again.
"Well I am going to try and get some rest,'' I informed her as I wrapped the thin cloth around my body. The cell by itself is freezing and the fact that I am wearing only a t-shirt and shorts does not help. The blanket does not provide any heat whatsoever.
"Alright, if someone comes down with food what would you like me to do?" Ronda questions as she wipes the corner of her lips.
"You can have it. Whatever it is, I don't want it" I smile as I lay on the cold, hard bed. I am starting to think this bed is made of stones or something.
I take a deep breath as the stench of mold enters my nostrils. I try to think happy thoughts as I begin to close my eyes. The cellar is quiet as the only sound heard is the occasional cough or sneeze.
Mom and Daddy begin to set the table for dinner. It is taco Tuesday and Daddy has prepared hard tacos for him and Mom, and soft tacos for me.
"How was the last day of fourth-grade sweety?" My mom questions as she places a soft kiss on my forehead before taking a seat directly in front of me.
"It was great Mom. Johnny signed my yearbook and gave me his email" I smiled as I took a seat at my unassigned-assigned seat.
"Johnny? Johnny David? Evans kid?" My daddy questions as he begins to prepare my soft taco, layering meat, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and cream cheese.
"Yes. I really like him, Daddy." I smile as I take a bite of my taco.
"My forever will not have a boyfriend till she is 25" My daddy jokes which earned him a slap on his arm from my mom.
I break into a fit of laughter as lettuce spills from my mouth. My mother and father are in a staring war with each other as my father has sour cream on his nose and my mother has sour cream on her cheek.
My laughter soon died down as the room began to darken. Goosebumps crawl up my skin like an ant on a log. A gust of wind crashes through the window as I notice I am still in my family's living room.
But my living room looks different. My mother and father are sitting still in their chairs as their faces drain of colour. Their eyes don't even move, they don't even blink. The cold air brings a new sense of fear as my limbs can't move, they are stuck in place. I let out a scream but nothing comes out, nothing moves, I can't move. I scream and scream at my parents but the only sound that could be heard is slow and creepy steps.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.
I move my head frantically trying to register what is going on. My living room is pitch black, the only light to enter is from the broken window behind me. The window is cracked and has tree branches scratching against them.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.
The steps become slower and closer adding to my fear. My voice can't be heard as nothing escapes my mouth. Suddenly a hand wraps around the frame of the door and Elijah comes walking in. His face is different, it holds nothing, not even a sliver of emotion. He looks like the monster I have always portrayed him to be.
"It's ok, kitten. I will take the pain away." Elijah reaches into his back pocket and retrieves his gun. Tears run down my face as I try to scream. I scream for him to stop. I scream for my parents to move. I scream for the sake of screaming. I am afraid of what he will do. Elijah points the gun at my mother and father, not taking a breath, he finally releases the two bullets and my mother and father fall to the ground in slow motion as my screaming can only be heard in my mind. I look up and see Elijah smiling and laughing as he points the gun towards me. Hands crawl up my legs, I look down and see Elijah's hands crawl up my leg. I look up and see the gun still pointed at me.
BANG
I quickly sprout up as I am covered in sweat. I pat myself down making sure it was a dream. That wasn't a dream, it was a memory that got infected by the Elijah disease.
I look to my right to see Ronda sleeping peacefully on her bed with an empty plate on her chest. I can only assume that was my dinner.
I take a deep breath reassuring myself that that was just a dream. I truly miss my parents, I missed the interactions we had, I miss our laughs, our cries, and our bickering. Back then I couldn't see my mother's struggle, she was always the perfect mother, always happy and kind to me, but maybe that was just an act... she is good at that, pretending.
I lay down on my back as I stare up at the mold cover ceiling. Mold covering every square inch of this place, I am surprised the ceilings haven't caved in. Spider webs and insects dance across the corner of the cell and I get this creepy feeling they are crawling on me, I hate insects.
I flip onto my side as I stare at the wall. My back is to Ronda's cell as I keep my focus on the different bricks in front of me. I trace them with my fingers despite my knowledge of the mold. When I was in grade 7 I read that inhaling mold can cause allergic and respiratory symptoms.
I close my eyes as I bring my hands close to my body trying to create warmth. When I woke up from my dream my body was sweating yet I was freezing cold. My body was shaking even though it was covered with sweat.
I think back to my college days, studying, parties, and my friends. My friends and I would always go to this coffee shop down the street after someone's exam. This memory creates a smile on my face as I close my eyes and drift off to a night of hopefully better sleep.
Day 1.
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