Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Sierra pov.

He didn't care to check on me; he didn't even bother to know how I was feeling. He just left me there. The sight of his retreating figure made my heart sink, and the smell of his aftershave lingered in the air, taunting me with memories of happier times. The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of my own sobs.

Most of the time during the daytime, I sat close to the small window, as I lay my head down, trying to forget the pain that was boiling inside of me. The bright sunlight filtered through the dusty panes, casting a warm glow on my tear-stained cheeks. I could smell the scent of fresh flowers from the garden, a stark contrast to the musty air of the small room.

I felt lost, as if my heart was about to turn into a stone. The weight of my despair was suffocating, and my body felt heavy as if I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I longed for the touch of a comforting hand, but I knew that I was alone.

The maids always brought food for me, and most times, they took me out to bathe. The water was cool and refreshing against my skin, and I could feel the knots in my muscles loosening. After I was done, I was taken back to the dark room, feeling lonely once again. The sound of the creaking door was the only indication of their arrival and departure, a constant reminder of my captivity.

I felt like regretting not following Henry in the first place. By now, I could be free, smiling to myself, but I just had to blow everything up, all because of the name of Mate. It felt like I was drowning in regret and the weight of my decisions.

Just as I sat on the cold floor, thinking about my life, future, and how to survive the day, I heard the lock on the door opening. When I looked up, I saw it was Alex, standing and smiling at me. The sound of her voice was like nails on a chalkboard, and her perfume made me nauseous.

"Hey freak, stand up. I have some work for you," she said with a smirk.

I looked at her when she called me a freak. I wanted to chuckle out loud, telling her she was such a fool, but I soon remembered the punishment ahead, and I just kept quiet. I walked over to her as my eyes just looked up at her, trying to hide my anger and fear.

"Hey, move it, bitch. Stop staring at me," she said, with a sneer.

Her words hurt like hell, and it was as if I was a chained being dragged out to be beaten for a sin I didn't commit. The weight of her disdain was heavy on my chest, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

As I walked slowly towards her, I could see the anger burning in her eyes, and the veins on her neck pulsing. The scent of her fury filled my nostrils as I approached her. I didn't want to make her shout any louder than she already had, so I remained silent.

After I walked out of the room, she slammed the door shut, pushing me hard enough to make me fall to the ground. As I looked up at her towering figure, I felt a wave of anger wash over me. "Next time try to walk faster," she spat at me.

I said nothing as I stood up, brushing off the dust from my clothes. I followed her as she turned a corner and walked into a room, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea where she was taking me.

As I stepped into the room, I was struck by the sight of the filth and dust that covered every surface. The air was thick with the musty smell of neglect, and the sound of rodents scurrying in the corners filled my ears. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I surveyed the mess.

"I need you to make this place clean and sparkling by the end of today," she said, her voice cold and demanding. "There shall be no food or water until this place is spotless. Understood?"

I didn't know what to say as I looked around the room in disbelief. Could she really expect me to clean all of this in just one day? I looked up at her, searching for any sign of leniency, but her expression remained stern and unyielding.

"Do you understand?" she repeated, her eyes boring into mine.

"Yes, Luna Alex, understood," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled coldly and walked away, leaving me standing there in the midst of the mess. I felt sick to my stomach just being in her presence, and the thought of spending the whole day cleaning made me want to scream.

I looked around the room, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. I sank to the ground, feeling weak and helpless, and wished for death to take me away from this nightmare.

After a long time of sitting in the hot room doing some calculation, I stood up and walked out, searching for a mop, broom, and other cleaning materials to use. The scorching heat had left me feeling drained and sweaty, and I could smell the dampness in the air.

As I held a bucket of water in one hand and the cleaning supplies in the other, I turned the corner and came face to face with William. My heart raced as I looked up at him, unsure of what to say. I tried to avoid his gaze and was about to walk past him when he reached out and held my hands, stopping me in my tracks.

I turned to face him, and I could see the worry in his eyes. "Sierra," he whispered as he stepped closer, causing me to feel a sense of fear. "I'm sorry," he said, attempting to touch my face, but I moved away.

I couldn't help but think how men always say they're sorry, but it only makes things worse and life unbearable. I pulled away from him, stepping back as I refused to look at him. "I need to go. Your Luna asked me to clean a dirty room, and if I don't, she won't give me food for the day. Since I have nothing to eat, I don't want to starve to death."

As I turned to walk away, he grabbed my hands again, causing me to turn back and slap him. "Don't touch me!" I yelled, feeling both relieved and scared at the same time.

As I walked away, I realized what I had done and how it might lead to more punishment. I locked myself in the room, rested my back against the door, and took a deep breath, trying to forget what had just happened.

After a while, I opened my eyes, only to see tears streaming down my face. I wiped them away, but they kept coming. I screamed and hit the wall, feeling like a failure. "Why me?" I asked, regretting the day I met him. If only I had known what my life would become, I would have avoided him from the start.

I didn't want to dwell on the past, so I picked up the cleaning supplies and began to clean the room. The sound of the broom sweeping across the floor was soothing, and I felt a sense of calm as I worked. The scent of the cleaning supplies filled the air, and I could feel the roughness of the mop handle in my hands.