Where are you going, my dear?" Ariana froze, her blood turning to ice.
Selene was standing in the shadows of the living room, her eyes glowing cold in the dim light.
Ariana's legs almost gave way. She turned slowly, her heart was beating fast. Selene stood there, arms folded, her red nightgown glowing faintly in the dim light. The soft smile she usually wore was gone.
"Why are you out here at this hour?" Selene asked, her voice calm but sharp like a knife.
"I… I just wanted some fresh air," Ariana stammered, her throat dry.
Selene stepped forward, her heels clicking softly on the tiles. "Fresh air? At midnight? With a bag in your hand?"
Ariana clutched the small bag tighter, her eyes darting to the open door. Just a few steps and she could run. But Selene's eyes were locked on her, dark and dangerous.
"Don't lie to me," Selene said, her tone dropping lower. "You were trying to leave, weren't you?"
Ariana's lips trembled. She wanted to speak, but no words came out. Tears welled in her eyes.
Selene sighed, shaking her head slowly. "You don't understand, do you? Out there, no one wants you. No family, no friends, no protection. You'll starve. You'll suffer. Only I can take care of you."
Ariana's voice finally broke out, weak but fierce. "Take care of me? Or sell me?"
Selene's eyes flashed. For the first time, the mask dropped completely. "So… you heard."
The silence that followed was heavy. Ariana's chest tightened. She knew this was her only chance.
Without thinking, she dashed for the door. Her bare feet slapped against the cold tiles as she bolted into the night.
"ARIANA!" Selene's scream tore through the air.
Ariana didn't look back. She ran, her heart pounding in her ears, the bag bouncing against her side. The street was dark, the air thick, but she pushed forward. Each step was a prayer, each breath a cry for freedom.
Behind her, she could hear Selene's voice calling, furious and sharp. But the night swallowed the sound as Ariana disappeared into the shadows.
The night air was cold against Ariana's skin, but she didn't stop running. Her legs ached, her chest burned, but the thought of Selene's voice behind her kept her moving.
She dashed through narrow streets, past broken fences and old houses. Dogs barked in the distance, and a car drove slowly past, its headlights sweeping over her. She quickly hid behind a tree until it was gone, then kept moving.
At last, when her legs could no longer carry her, she stumbled to the side of the road and fell to her knees. Sweat dripped down her face. Her small bag slipped from her hands.
For a moment, she thought she would faint. But then she lifted her eyes and saw the city lights far ahead, glowing faintly against the dark sky.
She whispered, "God, please… let me make it there."
The streets were empty, only the sound of her breathing filling the silence. She gathered her bag and started walking slowly, each step heavy but determined.
Hunger gnawed at her stomach, fear crawled in her chest, but one thing was clear, she would rather die out here than go back to Selene's house.
The night stretched long, and Ariana finally found an old bench by the roadside. She sat down, hugging her bag close. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but for the first time in many days, they were not just tears of pain. They were tears of survival.
As she closed her eyes, shivering under the night air, one thought remained in her heart: I escaped.
But deep inside, she also knew this was only the beginning.
The morning was bright. Ariana opened her eyes slowly where she had slept on a wooden bench. Her body felt stiff, and her stomach was empty.
She sat up, holding her small bag close to her chest. People were moving up and down the street. Men in suits rushed to work, women balanced trays of bread on their heads, children laughed as they ran to school. Nobody looked at her. It was as if she did not exist.
Her throat was dry. Her stomach kept turning. She had not eaten since yesterday. She stood and began to walk, even though she did not know where she was going.
The smell of street food filled the air. Her mouth watered as she watched people buying and eating. She touched her pocket. Empty. She had nothing.
Her eyes became wet, but she quickly wiped her face. Shame and hunger pressed her at the same time. She thought of begging, but her pride held her back.
She walked again. The city was too noisy. Bus conductors shouted, cars honked, loud music came from the shops. Everything felt heavy in her head.
At last she saw a small corner near a wall. She sat down and hugged her knees. Her heart was beating fast. Her mind refused to rest.
She whispered to herself, "Where do I go now? Who will help me like this?"
She had escaped Selene, but the street had its own danger. And now, she was in the middle of it.
Ariana sat by the wall for a long time. Her legs were weak. Her head was hot. She watched people pass but nobody stopped.
A small boy came close to sell water. She looked at him, her lips dry.
"Please… can you give me one?" she asked.
The boy shook his head. "Bring money." He walked away fast.
Her chest felt heavy. She bent her head and held her bag tight. She thought of her mother. She thought of the house she once knew. The tears came down, but she cleaned it with her hand quickly, so people would not laugh at her.
Time moved slow. The sun climbed high. Heat beat her skin. She stood again, even though her legs were shaking. She began to walk.
She passed a shop where meat was frying. The smell followed her. Her stomach made a loud sound. She pressed her hand on it, as if that would stop the hunger.
At one point, she almost begged a woman eating. But the words did not come out. Shame covered her mouth. She turned away and kept walking.
Everywhere felt too big. Too strange. She wanted to run, but she had nowhere to run to.
She whispered again, "God, please. Just one person. Let one person see me."
And then, as if her prayer touched the air, she saw a man watching her from across the road.
The man across the road kept looking at Ariana. His shirt was clean, his shoes shining, and he held a small bag of food. For one second, she thought maybe this was the help she prayed for.
But before she could take a step, a black car stopped close to her. The door opened fast. Strong hands pulled her inside. She tried to shout, but a cloth was pressed on her mouth.
Her eyes widened when she saw Selene sitting inside. Selene's face carried no smile this time, only anger.