Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
Leila’s voice was quivering yet defiant. Standing firm, she countered, “If you hadn’t ignored me, I wouldn’t have had to do this. But make no mistake, I don’t take well to threats. Facing humiliation, I’d choose death.”
Saniya’s jaw clenched tight. “Then you’d better hope that baby stays inside you indefinitely.”
Her anger palpable, Saniya stood up. She lashed out with her foot, kicking the two men sprawled on the floor, and declared loudly, “This woman is my hostage. Lay a hand on her, and you’ll end up just like them.”
The onlookers, who had been itching to harass Leila, froze in their tracks.
Relieved, Leila exhaled deeply and decided it was time to rest. Saniya, clearly displeased, challenged her. “How can you possibly sleep at a time like this?”
Leila placed a hand on her belly, steadying her breath. “What choice do I have? I must accept the situation and make the best of it. For now, I need to stay as comfortable as possible, at least until the baby arrives.”
Saniya scoffed and returned to her seat, closing her eyes once more.
An hour later, the plane touched down.
Leila scanned her new surroundings. Nothing but a vast desert stretched before her. Sparse, dilapidated houses dotted the landscape, with no sign of life. This was a forsaken place.
Up until now, Leila had maintained a brave front, but the fear was setting in. She found herself in a remote area, far from any signs of civilization.
Their journey continued under the relentless weather, making every step a struggle.
Physically, Leila was holding up, but she sensed that Saniya was intentionally making their path harder. This seemed to stem from an earlier confrontation on the plane, where Saniya had felt threatened.
Refusing to bend to Saniya’s will, Leila suddenly sat down, claiming she was too tired to go on. “I can’t go any further. I’m completely drained.”
Saniya shot Leila a fierce look but eventually relented.
“Take a break here, then.”
As they rested, the scorching sun blazed overhead. Only Saniya and Leila enjoyed the scant shade available, while the others stood by, suffering quietly, not daring to voice their discomfort.
It was clear to Leila that Saniya held some authority within their group, possibly as a low-ranking leader.
They resumed their walk after a short break, but within ten minutes, Leila was again complaining of exhaustion.
Annoyed, Saniya clenched her teeth and approached Leila, whispering sharply, “Enough with the act. I know you’re not that frail.”
Looking pale and weak, Leila responded softly, “I’m not acting. I’m pregnant and really struggling.”
Frustrated yet resigned, Saniya conceded. “Alright, let’s stop so you can rest.”
The group trudged forward, stopping every so often, repeating the grueling cycle five or six times. Most of them were on the brink of dehydration, their resentment toward Saniya growing with every step.
“Why do we have to endure this? Everyone’s on the verge of collapse,” one of them muttered bitterly.
“Yeah, I don’t get what the boss sees in that woman. It’s ridiculous.”
“She acts like she’s above us just because of her pregnancy. I’m not convinced by her at all.”
Saniya could sense the rising tension and knew that it wouldn’t be long before it boiled over into full-blown conflict. She glanced over at Leila, her eyes cold, and with a sigh, reluctantly ordered a car.
But the moment they climbed in, Leila’s eyes were immediately blindfolded.
For the rest of the journey, Leila was kept in the dark, led blindly out of the vehicle when they arrived. And then, they switched to a boat.
After a grueling journey, they finally reached their destination by evening.
Leila’s blindfold was removed, revealing a scene that left her momentarily stunned. The harsh yellow sand they had first encountered gave way to a lush, almost dreamlike landscape. In front of her loomed a beautiful complex of buildings, resembling a grand castle.
As Leila turned around, she caught sight of the endless sea. This should be an isolated island. The realization came with the sinking feeling that any hope of escape had just slipped away.
They moved toward the grand house at the center of the villa complex.
As they neared, someone emerged to meet them. It felt more like handing over a hostage than welcoming a guest.
Several foreign bodyguards flanked Leila, their expressions stone-cold and menacing. Leila knew they wouldn’t hesitate to strike if she made a wrong move.
The air around them was thick with intimidation, and Leila felt a chill wash over her, her face paling slightly. Saniya noticed Leila’s fear, a smug smirk playing on her lips as she let out a disdainful snort.
But then, a voice broke through the tension, low and gravelly, yet commanding. “Is this how you treat a guest? Have you forgotten the meaning of hospitality?”
The voice spoke in Leila’s native language, and the sudden familiarity made her pause.
Leila turned toward the voice, her eyes landing on an elderly man being wheeled out.
The elderly man’s frail frame was hunched, and his clothes hung loosely on his thin body. Yet, despite his apparent fragility, he wore a warm smile that gave him an almost kind appearance at first glance.
The people around the elderly man straightened, their expressions turning respectful.
Leila’s mind raced. This elderly man had to be the boss here. But confusion nagged at her. How could someone so old and feeble command such a group of intimidating individuals?
Leila’s eyes landed on the young man behind the wheelchair. He couldn’t have been more than nineteen, dressed just like the other servants.
At first glance, Leila dismissed the young man as part of the hired help. But something made her pause. Unlike the rest, who were all clearly foreign, he was unmistakably from her homeland. The realization sent a ripple of unease through her.
The elderly man came closer, his gaze sharp despite the warm smile on his lips. “Ms. Nixon,” he called out in a smooth, almost too-friendly tone. “I must apologize for the abrupt way you were brought here. But I had little choice. Had I approached this openly, your fianc? would’ve blocked me at every turn.”
Leila’s mind raced, but she kept her voice steady. “So, you know Landon?” she asked, carefully choosing her words.
The elderly man’s smile deepened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I’m quite familiar with him,” he replied, his tone growing more cryptic. “But that’s not the issue now, is it? You’re here, and I suggest you settle in. Forget any ideas of leaving. I promise my people will make sure you’re… comfortable.”
Leila bit back a dozen questions, opting for silence. She knew better than to ask questions that might reveal more than she intended.
“After such a long journey, you must be exhausted. Go and rest,” the elderly man said, dismissively waving his hand.
The bodyguards responded instantly, motioning for Leila to move.
Left without a choice, Leila fell in line.
As they escorted Leila away, she couldn’t help but glance back. There, Saniya stood close to the elderly man, locked in a quiet, familiar conversation. Their rapport was obvious.
Suddenly, Leila had a chilling sensation. Instinctively, she scanned her surroundings, searching for the source of her unease. That was when she noticed him, the young man pushing the wheelchair.
He had been watching her all along, his gaze sharp and unsettling. When their eyes met, the young man gave a slow, eerie smile that sent a wave of cold through Leila’s veins.
Leila sensed something amiss about him. His movements were too deliberate and poised, betraying an unnatural maturity for his age.
The bodyguards led Leila through a maze of corridors before stopping at a room. The space was luxurious, but its opulence felt almost sinister. Lavish furnishings filled every corner, and a line of servants stood ready, including nutritionists who waited silently.
The sheer excess of care suffocated more than it comforted. Yet, something was unmistakably wrong. Every servant wore a mask, their eyes downcast, their lips sealed in an unspoken vow of silence. It was unsettling in a way Leila couldn’t quite describe.
Unable to stay quiet any longer, Leila turned to one of the bodyguards. “Why aren’t they allowed to speak? What is going on here?”
The bodyguard shot her a strange smile, one that made her skin crawl. “Ms. Nixon, just relax. You’ll find out soon enough.”
With that, he turned on his heel and exited, closing the door behind him.
All eyes were on Leila, the room waiting in tense silence for her command.
The stillness was suffocating, pressing down on her like a physical weight. She took a slow, calming breath and nodded. “Alright. Go back to your tasks.”
With that, the servants and nutritionists moved with mechanical precision, dispersing to their various duties.
As they worked, Leila’s eyes caught sight of a young girl, no older than ten. She was thin, and like the others, she wore a mask. But unlike the rest, her eyes weren’t blank. They held a flicker of fear.