Semua Bab Her Shield in the Shadows: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains depictions of physical assault, domestic abuse, non-consensual sexual contact, and severe distress. Reader discretion is advised.A suffocating numbness settled over me as I walked toward the exit of Sitio Maligaya. The night air was biting, blowing with a fierce coldness that seemed to perfectly mimic the agonizing ache deep inside my chest. The tears in my eyes had already dried up, but the burning sting they left behind only intensified with every single minute that ticked by.My feet carried me forward, moving entirely on instinct. I was completely disconnected from my surroundings. The only coherent thought left in my mind was the desperate urge to just keep walking, to put as much distance between myself and that bedroom as humanly possible. My legs refused to stop. A sudden, sharp gust of wind blew past, causing my entire frame to shiver violently. I embraced the bleak coldness of the night as my exhausted legs dragged me toward a part of

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains depictions of ongoing captivity, domestic abuse, trauma, and mentions of past suicidal ideation/self-harm. Reader discretion is advised.It's easy to just give up and die. It's easy to just leave the pain here, to just vanish to feel free. It is such an easy thing to do for people who are completely exhausted by life, like me. I only wish I had just died from blood loss or an infection from the nail I saw. With that, I'll escape all the sufferings.But here I am, waking up to another day inside the cold room. I spent hours staring blankly at the ceiling when I woke up. I had no desire to stand up or go out, but I knew I shouldn't just sit here doing nothing. I need to escape, I need to be free. I don't want this life.With the heaviness lingering in my body and mind, I stood up and went to the bathroom. I hoped I might find another sharp object to end my life, but there was nothing. It seems like Ate Yolly's afraid that I will attempt it again.I

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains themes of ongoing captivity, domestic abuse, sexual violence, trauma, and mentions of past suicidal ideation. Reader discretion is advised.I woke up in a completely unfamiliar place. The violent throbbing in my head made me intensely nauseous. I tried to stand up despite the crushing dizziness, and when I peered out the window, my worst fears were confirmed... We were somewhere else entirely.What happened? Where am I?My knees buckled, and I almost collapsed, so I sat back down on the edge of the bed to piece together what had occurred. Flashbacks flooded my mind, dragging up the last things I remembered: the desperate struggle to fight back, my frantic attempt to escape, and the brutal moment I was knocked unconscious.I buried my face in my hands as the crushing weight of my failed escape washed over me. I yanked at my hair in pure frustration, aggressively wiping away my tears. Now, I had absolutely no idea where I was, let alone how I would

I could not bring myself to step inside because I could still hear his quiet sobbing. I did not know the reason behind his tears, but hearing them was enough to make my heart ache. Uncertain of what to do, I decided to sit on the floor outside his door and wait.As I sat alone outside his room, my mind wandered to a million different places. I thought of Ate Yolly and her safety. I prayed that she would not get hurt and that she would finally get the justice she had been chasing for her mother for so long. My thoughts drifted to my return to Sitio Maligaya, the place where I first met Dominic, and how I was now sitting right here in their house. I had not found Lola Aida or even Lester yet, and now I could hear Dominic crying. Did something terrible happen to cause those tears? Had that much changed during the months I was gone?I looked up and spotted a photo hanging on the wall in front of me. It was a familiar one, the photo of Dominic with a girl, both of them wearing their sports

We headed to the kitchen of the rest house where we were staying. Dominic reassured me that we had not left Laguna and were currently in Majayjay. It was far away from San Pedro, which brought a small sense of peace to my racing heart. He explained that we were staying on a private island owned by a Mr. Yurinard Madrigal. Lorjeon had managed to ask him if we could use the property while Archie was still out in the open, and the owner had agreed without a second thought. I was deeply moved by the lengths they were going to help me. I truly appreciated their efforts to keep me protected and far away from Archie. I never imagined things would go this far, or that they would think to hide me away in a place like this. It was completely unexpected. But the biggest surprise came when a sudden knock echoed at the front door. Dominic flashed me a soft smile before stepping forward to swing it open. I gasped loudly, instantly leaping to my feet and sprinting toward the person standing on th