Water was sprinkled on my face. I sighed and woke up to see myself tied to a chair. I gasped, opening my eyes gradually to meet the proprietor standing in front of me with his hands in his pocket. "Oh, you fool!"
I glanced up at the school proprietor, a cruel smirk etched on his face, and I refused to let him see my tears.
"Amaya, I heard your father is living in a secluded place known to you alone. Tell me where he is now!" The proprietor's voice spoke.
I looked at him disdainfully and took my face away from him.
"Why, Amaya? Why won't you tell me where your father is hiding?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
I clenched my jaw, determined to protect my father, no matter the cost. "You think I will betray my flesh and blood? You are mistaken. Besides, why is my mother?"
He let out a slight, menacing laugh before giving a nod to the prowess men standing beside him. They moved forward, fists clenched, ready to unleash their brutality upon me. I took a deep breath, waiting for anything that could come my way.
One of the men approached me and delivered a forceful blow to my stomach. I winced in pain, enduring the lump that threatened to escape my lips. The blows continued, raining down on me like merciless raindrops. Each strike intensified agony, but I refused to break down.
My mind wandered back to the teachings of my mentor, Douglas - his teachings that had always encouraged me to fight for what was right, even in the face of adversity. At that moment, his words fueled the fire within me.
"You can keep hitting me, but I won't crack," I managed to say through gritted teeth, my voice trembling with determination.
The school proprietor's expression twisted with frustration. "Stubborn girl. I thought I could break you, but it seems there is more to you than meets the eye."
I smirked, a hint of defiance shining in my eyes. "You will never break me. My father taught me strength and resilience. Not even your pathetic attempts can extinguish that."
The school proprietor gave another signal, and the beatings intensified. I could feel my body growing weaker, but my spirit burned brighter with every blow. The pain merged with a surge of adrenaline, simmering in me more energy.
Through gritted teeth, I screamed, "Is this all you got? I have faced worse than this! You can't break me!"
The men paused for a few minutes, taken aback by my defiance. Their hesitation gave me a moment to draw strength from within.
I locked eyes with the school proprietor and spoke with newfound boldness. "You can try to break me physically, but you will never touch my loyalty or my love for my father. He is stronger than anything you can throw at us."
His face contorted with anger, his fists clenched. "Enough! Stop this nonsense and tell me where your father is!"
I let out a mock laugh, my voice laced with confidence. "You will have to do better than that because no matter what you do to me, I will never betray him!"
The school proprietor's fury became obvious, and he resumed the onslaught of blows with renewed determination. With each strike, pain surged through me, but my spirit remained unwavering. I would not let him break me, not now, not ever.
Hours passed, though they felt like a lifetime. Eventually, exhaustion claimed my tormentors, and they retreated, leaving me battered and broken, but unbowed. I took in ragged breaths, my body aching, but my spirit unbroken.
As I sat there, alone in the silence, I found solace in the strength that had carried me through the storm. My father's teachings had given me the resilience to withstand the most brutal of trials. Although physically defeated, my determination remained intact, rooted deeply within me.
At that moment, I made a silent vow to myself. I would find a way to protect my father, to free him from the clutches of those who sought to harm him. No matter the obstacles that lay ahead, I would ensure I didn't betray his trust.
---
It was in the night, I was bothered about the whereabouts of my mum, unhappy about my recent place.
As I sat in the dimly lit den of the proprietor, my head swirled with anticipation.
And then, out of the shadowed corner, Jason and Cena sneaked into the room. My heart skipped a beat as they crept closer.
I watched as they skillfully untied the ropes that bound me, their hands working swiftly yet quietly. Doubt flickered across my mind. Could they possibly have joined forces with the proprietor? No, I couldn't allow myself to believe that. Not yet.
The glimmer of hope ignited within me. Could it be? Were they my salvation?
All these questions lingered in my mind.
Once my limbs were freed, I stood up, feeling the blood surge back into my veins. Jason's eyes met mine, and he subtly nodded towards the door. Without a word, we began to make our way towards it, careful to avoid any signs of implications.
After what felt like hours of sneaking out, we finally found ourselves outside. I took a deep breath and stared at them with wide eyes.
"Thank you! I thought you guys had betrayed us," I whispered, my voice barely audible. Jason and Cena exchanged a glance.
"Quickly, Amaya," Jason urged, his voice tense. "We don't have much time. We need to get far away from here."
Curiosity mingled with the relief flooding through my veins. "But, why? Why have you helped me?" I asked, my voice trembling with confusion.
Cena stepped forward, his face grim with determination. "We know what the proprietor did to your sister, Amaya. He erased her memory and forced her into a life of submission. It's time for her to be free. There's someone up North who can help her regain what was stolen from her. We faked being with him just to get some secret about Nikki!"
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of my sister. The thought of her living in oblivion, trapped within her mind, had haunted my every waking moment. "Who is this person? How do you know they can help?" I questioned, a surge of desperate hope coursing through my veins.
Jason's eyes softened as he spoke, his voice filled with empathy. "We have been searching for answers, Amaya. Hunting down every possible lead to help your sister. And we finally found someone who has the power to heal her. But we need your help to get there."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about how Cena and Jason sacrificed all their time just to help me out. "We are friends forever, Amaya!" They hugged me and wiped off the tears in my eyes.
Jason and Cena exchanged a look of relief, their faces mirroring my determination.
"We will explain everything along the way, but first, we need to move quickly," Jason said in an urgent tone.
"What about my mother?" I stood in place, looking around in confusion.
"No worries, Amaya. We have some plans with your mother. We believe in her!" Cena said to me. I nodded, trying to agree with the fact.
"We will find a safe place to rest, plan our next move, and gather supplies for our journey. The road ahead won't be easy, but together we have a chance," Jason said to me.