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Taking a deep breath, I shield my face once more as I dive into the smoke. Anabel is unconscious with a gash on her head, but her chest is still bobbing weakly up and down.
I scoop her up and rush to the basement, hearing Alessia’s footsteps not far ahead of mine.
Once I get to the underground palace, I already see Maria wiping off the coffee table. Anabel stopped breathing in my arms, and still, all I can think about is what she’s done. I drape her across the marble top as Maria directs Jane to fetch her oxygen mask.
“You’re a doctor?” Alessia asks, in shock.
“Nurse.”
Gabby rushes out of her bathroom. “What’s all the commotion—oh my—” She sprints over with both hands over her mouth. “Anabel!”
Maria rests her ear to Anabel’s chest, checks for a pulse, then starts performing CPR. I fold my arms, the dark part of me thinking it would be better if she didn’t wake up. One less headache.
But the truth is, Anabel didn’t ask for this. Circumstance brought her here. Her husband, Rocco, was scum of the earth – ten counts of rape, frequented brothels to abuse the women there. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who goaded the others to violate Marissa before killing her. It makes sense that he chose a wife like this one. A nymphomaniac by definition, coupled with too many screws loose.
“Back up!” Maria tells the other girls, pressing hard to jumpstart Anabel’s heart.
I hear the crack of ribs in the process. Every pump sends Anabel’s limp head and open mouth flopping in another direction like a fish out of water. It’s a sad sight. The woman is tormented in her own way, like me.
Just let her go.
“One, two, three, four,” Maria whispers as she works, then pinches Anabel’s nose while breathing air into her lungs. “One, two, three, four.” She repeats the process.
The women’s expressions are familiar. I’ve seen them before. Whether by their husbands’ hands or mine, this isn’t the first time they’re experiencing death first hand. Yet, there’s something different about this.
They see her as innocent. While I… I want her to burn for her sins.
Anger flares through my chest again. My memories. Marissa’s face.
This is justice, I tell myself – the darkness riling in me.
“One, two, three, four.” Maria pumps again. Her face is stoic, determined. It’s a marvel to see her at work.
Jane returns with a portable oxygen tank attached to a mask. She knows to stay put. If Anabel doesn’t come back… there’s no point.
Horrified sobbing resounds behind me. These women have grown close in captivity. It’s like losing a sister, I would imagine. This one brought it upon herself, though. Can’t all of you see?
“Don’t go, Ana.” Gabby clasps her hands together in prayer. Alessia comforts her by rubbing her shoulder.
Maria’s getting frustrated by repeating the process. It’s almost over.
“One, two, three, four.” She takes a deep breath before exhaling hard into Anabel’s mouth.
“Huuu!” Anabel’s eyes fling open, her cough shooting up a heap of black smoke. The hacking continues as everyone sighs with relief.
I curse to myself and turn away as everyone praises Maria for her quick work.
Why did I opt to help save her? Is my code more important than my wife? Never.
I growl while heading up the stairs, grabbing the omelet that Jane left for me at the top. Now that the immediacy of life-or-death is over, I’m left in my sorrow. Upstairs is still filled with smog, but it’s beginning to dissipate, and I can’t help but plant myself in my normal spot – on my knees in front of Marissa’s memorial. Everything is charred and ashes, except for a few half-burnt pictures distorted from hosing them down.
“This is all wrong.” I punch the ground, now on all fours. “It was supposed to get better after Joey.”
An hour goes by where I’m lost in memories of her, worried that they’ll begin to fade without my reminders. I hold on as best I can, tracing all the times we shared, remembering every piece.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My eyes narrow when I feel the vibration of someone ascending the stairs. I’d left the door open – not like it matters. The footsteps draw closer, forcing me to rise back to my knees.
