Chapter 4Pout or Suicide? My Brother’s Mad Regret

And so, I was imprisoned.

The basement was dim and gray, a prison cell meant to hold me. I don’t know how much time passed before Sophie came down with a plate of food.

The sight of her made me snap. I lunged at her.

“Why are you doing this to me? Haven’t you hurt me enough?!”

She caught my wrist with surprising ease, a vicious light in her eyes. “Why did you come back with him? You were gone. You should have stayed gone.”

“This family has no place for you anymore, Nina. I wanted to make sure you understood that.”

I was shaking with a rage so profound I couldn’t speak.

She, however, was perfectly calm. “It was just flour in the bottle, you know. I said a few words, and just like last time, he believed me completely.”

“Admit it. In his heart, I’m the one who matters more.”

“I’ve been so patient with you! These last three months have been hell for me too, you know! What is it you really want?” I screamed, my voice raw.

She grabbed a handful of my hair, a strange, twisted smile on her face. “What do I want? I just want Jake to hate you a little more before you die.”

“You have leukemia, don’t you, Nina?” she whispered, her voice a soft caress, like a demon’s murmur in my ear. “It must hurt so much… without your medicine.”

A wave of goosebumps washed over my skin.

“You’re insane, Sophie. You’re a complete lunatic!”

At that, her smile vanished. In one swift, unexpected motion, she kicked me hard, sending me sprawling into a corner.

The pain, the fury, the emotions I had suppressed for three long months—it all came rushing out. I scrambled to my feet and threw myself at her.

My slaps landed on her face. She didn’t dodge, just took the hits and then started screaming.

“Jake! Help! Nina’s having a withdrawal! She’s going crazy!”

I didn’t even register her words. All I knew was that if I didn’t let out this boiling rage, I would suffocate. I hit her and kicked her with every ounce of strength I had, each blow harder than the last.

Suddenly, the basement door flew open.

Jake stood there, his face instantly turning to stone as he took in the scene.

Sophie was sobbing. “Jake, her addiction is making her violent! She tried to make me go buy her drugs, and when I refused, she attacked me!”

“I did not!” I roared, but I didn’t stop hitting her.

She shrieked in pain. In the next second, Jake’s hand clamped around my wrist, pulling me off her.

“Nina, stop this madness!”

He held me by the shoulders, his eyes a storm of anger and worry. He gritted his teeth, his voice a low growl of disappointment. “I’m trying to help you, Nina! Can’t you just stop making things harder for everyone?”

My head was buzzing, a chaotic mess of static. In my emotional breakdown, only one coherent thought remained.

“I’m not on drugs!” I screamed.

Jake’s lips tightened, his own anger rising to meet mine. “Of course not. Like you’d ever admit it.”

“You’re going to stay down here, and you’re going to be good. When you’re better, I’ll let you out.”

He produced a length of rope from somewhere and tied me to a chair. Then, he helped Sophie to her feet and walked out without a backward glance.

As the door closed, I could still hear his concerned voice. “Sophie, are you okay? Is your face alright? I’ve spoiled Nina rotten, don’t be mad at her.”

“Let me get some ointment for you…”

I dug my nails into my palms until they broke the skin. I struggled against the ropes, and the chair tipped over, sending me crashing to the floor. The rope was so tight it cut into my flesh.

But that pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

I thought if I let everything go, Jake might finally be a little kinder to me. But with just a few words from Sophie, he believed the worst.

A tear splashed onto the concrete floor. I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice, a creeping numbness and a deep, throbbing ache spreading through my body. I couldn’t even get up. I just lay there on the cold ground, a broken heap.

From that day on, I remained a prisoner in the basement.

Without my painkillers, the agony grew worse with each passing day. Sophie brought me food sporadically, always with a side of taunts and insults. I would just curl into a ball on the floor, too weak to even respond.

My mind began to drift. I couldn’t tell the difference between dreams and reality. Sometimes, it felt like my soul was floating outside my body, watching myself lie there in misery.

I knew I didn't have much time left.

One day, I dreamt of my mother. It was the first time I had seen her in a dream since she passed away. She held me like she did when I was a child, stroking my hair gently. I felt like I was finally home, safe in her arms. I cried and told her how Jake had hurt me.

My mother's eyes filled with tears. "That can't be, my sweet Nina. Your brother has always loved you more than anyone."

I told her everything—how he favored Sophie, how he had hit me. She listened quietly, her expression growing sadder and sadder, before finally cupping my face in her hands.

"Nina, my poor child, you've suffered so much…"

SPLASH!

I never heard the rest of what she said.

A bucket of ice-cold water shocked me awake.

I opened my eyes. My mother wasn't there.

Only Jake, holding the empty bucket, his face a grim mask.