Sunlight and Shadows

I turned my gaze to the window; it was the only place the sun shone light into the room. Looking outside seemed so distant and unreachable, so I closed my eyes and opened it immediately. Then this thought came to me: the thought of the man with jet black hair, growing smaller as he rode away on his bike. I felt some sort of regret hit me. I should have gone with him. I should have seized that chance to escape.

But here I am, trapped in this nightmare with Rashad. His cold eyes bore into me, making every minute of my life a living hell. A man who saw me as nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game of power.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I could feel the pain but wasn't willing to stop. I wanted it as a distraction from the turmoil within me.

With a deep breath, I pushed myself up from the floor. My clothes were soaked, sticking to my skin, making every movement feel heavy. I staggered towards the window, my steps unsteady, like a drunk lady lost in her thoughts.

"Hey, Ms! Come back and sit down!" One of Rashad's men called out to me. His voice was gruff and filled with annoyance.

I ignored him, continuing my slow journey towards the window. The light was so close now that I could almost feel the warmth of the sun on my skin because I needed to dry off the wetness that Rasha's men had caused me.

Rashad's laughter echoed around the room—a cruel sound that made my skin crawl. "Let the grumpy lady go," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "She will be fine."

His words were met with more laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls, filling the room with a weird amusement: "Like what's really funny, stupid fools!". But I didn't let it stop me. I kept moving, one step at a time, towards the window and towards the sun, at least to dry myself a little.

These bastards did this to me, and they don't feel like they messed up. I don't blame them; it is Rashad, my so-called boyfriend, that I blame.

Finally, I reached the window. I looked out and saw Rashad's men. They were wearing black coats, and some had tattoos on their faces. They looked like ugly goats with their beards and tattoos. A few of them had black bandanas on their heads. They were all dressed in black, from head to toe.

"Hey, you!" I called out to one of them. "Can you get me a towel? I need to dry my hair."

He looked at me, his eyes icy and mean, like a cold-hearted jerk.

He tried peeking inside, looking for some sort of approval from Rashad, his boss. But I wasn't going to let him. I positioned myself in front of the window, blocking his view.

Suddenly, Rashad appeared behind me. His footsteps were heavy, echoing ominously in the room, and so he raised his hand and signaled to his men standing outside, including the one who was staring at my face earlier. The sign with the way they dropped their hands and started walking was clear; he signaled that they were to leave his window and give him some privacy.

Despite my soaked clothes clinging to my skin and the irritation gnawing at me, Rashad, as usual, did not care. But then all thanks to the highest for letting the sun shine down through the window on my wet hair, cloth, and skin.

I turned my head to look at Rashad; his smirk was still plastered on his face. "You think this is funny, don't you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rashad shrugged. "I find it amusing, yes."

I felt a surge of anger rush through me. "You're a monster, Rashad," I spat out, my voice filled with venom.

His laughter echoed around the room again: "And you're my little mouse, always running, always hiding. But you can't escape, not from me."

And so I turned my gaze back to the window, ignoring his taunts. The sun was setting now, casting long shadows across the room. I could see the men outside dispersing, leaving me alone with Rashad.

"Are you done with your little tantrum?" Rashad asked, his voice laced with mockery.

I didn't respond, choosing instead to stare out the window. The sun was almost gone now, leaving only a faint glow in the sky. The room was growing darker, and the shadows were creeping in.

I could hear Rashad moving behind me, his footsteps echoing in the silence. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for whatever was to come. But instead of the expected harsh words or cruel laughter, I felt a soft fabric being draped over my shoulders.

I opened my eyes in surprise, looking down to see a towel in my hands. I looked up at Rashad, confusion written all over my face.

He shrugged. "Even monsters have a heart, you know."

I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded, wrapping the towel around myself. As I stood there, staring out the window, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Rashad than I thought.

Rashad's recent behavior puzzled me. He had been a mix of harsh and gentle. It was strange. He is so unpredictable; to think of that, he never let me stray too far. He is always there to rescue me when things get out of hand.

I moved to the wall and was drying myself with the towel in my hands. Each time I close my eyes, I remember the incident where Rashad's men drenched me with water. Tears started to fill my eyes. I could feel the chill of the water on my skin. Unable to hold back my tears, I let out a loud cry, my sobs filling the room.

All of a sudden, the door swung open. Rashad was standing there, his gaze fixed on me. "Take her for a ride," he commanded his men. "But keep an eye on her. If she gets away, don't bother coming back. You're done." His words were stern, and I stared at his face, surprised.

Then I nodded at Rashad's words, seeing he was serious, my tears momentarily forgotten. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, trying to regain some composure. I walked towards the door, my steps shaky. I could feel the eyes of Rashad's men on me; their gazes were heavy like those of aliens from Jupiter.

As I stepped outside, I took a deep breath, the fresh air filling my lungs. I climbed onto the bike, my hands gripping the sides tightly. The engine roared to life, the sound echoing in the quiet night. I didn't look back as we drove away, the wind whipping my hair around my face.

The city lights blurred past me, a kaleidoscope of colors against the dark sky. I closed my eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over me.

While I was enjoying the ride with my eyes closed, a loud roar interrupted my peace. It was another bike; its sound was louder than the one I was on. I opened my eyes and saw two bikers with helmets coming towards us.

"Hey, we've got company!" I shouted over the noise of the engines. The driver glanced back at me, then turned his attention to the road ahead.

The bikers were closing in fast. I could see their faces now, hidden behind dark visors. They were dressed in black, just like Rashad's men. I felt a chill run down my spine. Were they friends or foes?

"Who are they?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the roar of the engines.

"No idea!," the driver shouted back. "But we're not stopping to find out!"