Page 28 of Isabela

I hate both of them so much. I’m also getting really tired of boiled chicken and salads for every meal. My uncle has men watching me while I’m at school, and one of them stocks my refrigerator now to ‘free’ up my time.

I’m a prisoner in my own home, and I’m worried about being able to sneak away for the Key Party, because one of his goons is always close by. Although, I’ve noticed their cars are usually gone by nine at night.

“Yes, I’m still doing everything on the list you sent me,” I say quickly when I realize I’ve been lost in my head. “The company’s books are also balanced.”

My uncle is taking on very wealthy new clients, and the amount of money they’re pouring in and is going back out is alarming. My parents’ company appears to be money laundering now.

Swallowing around the bile rising, I force myself to breathe. This new diet and increased running means I’m losing weight. While my curves are starting to disappear, I’m surprised it hasn’t affected my breasts at all.

“Good. You’re going to be someone else’s problem very soon,” my uncle grunts. “You should feel grateful I’m not insisting you do all the shit he wants. The mayor wants daily photos of your pussy, tits, and ass, but I reminded him that’s how you treat whores, not virgins.”

I’ve never been more grateful to my uncle than right now. His antiquated ideals are coming in handy, even if they’re for all the wrong reasons.

I don’t know if I could handle the depraved demands from Mayor Markship every day and still stay sane. It’s bad enough having to hear them from my uncle.

Uncle Eli promised my parents he’d watch out for me when they made their wills. They wanted to make sure plans would be in place in case anything ever happened to them, not knowing they’d be dead six months later.

I graduated high school but refused to walk the stage to accept my diploma. I couldn’t face walking across the stage without anyone who loved me in the stands. The administration thankfully agreed to simply mail it to me.

I was the only exception. I understand it’s an exciting moment for most people, but milestones hit differently now that my parents are gone.

“Thank you, Uncle,” I murmur, managing to force the words out without choking on them.

“I make so many sacrifices for you, girl,” my uncle grunts in disgust. “What are you doing today?”

Knowing better than to lie because he could easily find out, since he has my schedule and has people following me, I run through my day for him.

“Why are you going to the gynecologist? If you’re a virgin, I don’t know what the purpose is,” he snaps.

God save me from imbecilic men.

“I’m getting birth control,” I tell him. It feels as if I’m saying this from a wind tunnel, the words ripped from my vocal chords as soon as I say them. There’s ringing in my ears, and I try to force the panic away. I just have to make it to the end of this conversation.

I can do it. I have to.

“I guess that makes sense,” he muses. “I guess there’s more than a few brain cells in there after all. I have to get to a meeting now. Don’t do anything stupid.”

For someone who insists on having complete control over my life, he sure got off the phone quickly. My knees give out on me as soon as the line goes dead and I hit the ground hard. Bending over, I lay my head on the cool floor, eyes closed.

I’m safe. I’m in my apartment. No one is hurting me right now.

It’s so sad that this is the best I can do to console myself and pull myself out of this spiral. Unfortunately, it’s not enough, and darkness encroaches on my vision.

“Fuck,” I gasp. Searching my memory, I try to find one good thing that’s happened to me recently. Aria pops into my head, and I can see her shining blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, as she spoke to me about her smutty books a couple of days ago. It doesn’t even matter that I don’t think she could remember my name, because she held my hand.

I’m so fucking starved for attention it’s pathetic, but I hold onto the memory as the burning pain in my chest starts to ease and I’m able to get a full breath.

Gasping, I start to sob as I realize I don’t have anything in life to look forward to, outside of this party.

It’s easy to have a completely open mind, willing to try anything, when it may be the only time you ever will. I thoroughly researched the different soft and hard limits on the list given to me as part of the application, so I wouldn’t accidentally agree to something I didn’t want to try.

Leaning up, I sit on my ass, drawing my knees up to my chest. No matter what, I’m going to enjoy myself at the party.

I am even going to buy a new outfit after I go to the health center for my appointment, which is included in my tuition. Part of me knew my uncle would rush off the phone when faced with anything to do with a women’s reproductive system.

He’s willing to sell his virgin niece to a vile and depraved politician as part of a business decision, but isn’t willing to mention the importance of birth control.

I read it takes at least a week for the medication to take effect, and I just finished my period a day or two ago.

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