Part 5: I'm Feeding the Monsters

That same day, Don Rafael brought me back to the villa. But this time, he was angry. He said nothing. I tried to catch a glimpse of his face in the rearview mirror, and even from that glance I could see it — the similarities between us. His nose was perfectly sculpted, his lips soft and red, and his eyes almost angelic. He was never a monster, not to me. He was the only person I wanted to see every day.

But maybe he was mad because I tried to escape and almost put myself in danger again.

When we arrived at the villa, he opened the door and went straight inside.

After a few minutes, one of the yayas (Maid) came and opened the door for me. She guided me on what to do. I was brought back to my room and given the same dress as them, with an apron.

She said, "Never do that again. Don Rafael is not a patient man. When you are ready, put that dress on and we will teach you how to work here."

I never spoke the entire week. Until—

"Wait, I want to go home," I said.

She stopped. "You will never be home unless you behave here!" she said in a high tone.

I had no choice but to put on that uniform. I was told all the chores I needed to do and the places I was allowed to go. I was only assigned outside the villa, and our room was far from it. I was not allowed to enter the house, or else I would face the consequences.

I started liking it there this time, because I didn't have to steal food anymore since I was working. I got used to talking to some of the yayas, except for the mayordoma (chief maid); She was strict, always watching.

We had a curfew and a set time to wake up.

I never saw any member of the Montecarlos there, only the guards and yayas.

I was hoping to see Don Rafael, but I failed. Until a month passed.

Until one afternoon.

The sound of that Mercedes-Benz announced his return. But this time, he wasn't alone. I saw three children and a lady step out of the car before Don Rafael himself appeared. His wife and children, I thought.

More cars followed, black and imposing. Out came men with dark auras, and from the last vehicle, an old man.

"What are you staring at? Back to work!" the mayordoma barked.

I hurried back to work, changing the water from the pond.

Some yayas were preparing food at the villa. So much food, food I had never seen in my entire life. My mouth watered just looking at it. It must be delicious.

From that day, the villa was never quiet. It was like every day there was a party. Everyone was always drunk and dancing.

I learned that those men were Don Rafael's brothers—two of them—and the rest were their friends from other rich families.

The old man was Don Napoleón, with his young wives. He was old, but I never saw weakness in him. Instead, I saw a lustful body, like he wanted all women to bow to him even at that age.

The lady with the kids was his wife, Doña Camille. She was around her 30s too, like Don Rafael. The kids were about my age, just younger maybe.

I met Doña Camille every day. She was always watching me from afar, like she wanted to do something to me. I always stayed away whenever I saw her approaching.

One day, I was changing the pond water when suddenly—

Splash!

I fell in. Someone had pushed me.

"Oops, I didn't see you," Doña Camille said.

But the way she looked at me, it was like she wanted to do it more.

It kept happening. Subtle, cruel little things. She always seemed to appear behind me, waiting to see me falter.

And then there were Don Rafael's brothers.

One night, they were drinking under the umbrella hut on the cliff. They called out to me.

"Hey, you! Get us more beer!"

"I'm not allowed inside the villa," I replied nervously.

"Are you stupid? Then ask someone else!" one of them snapped.

I slowly walked toward the villa, but I didn't see anyone. So I just went straight to the kitchen.

I opened the freezer to grab some beers when suddenly someone grabbed me from behind.

One of his brothers. I think he was the youngest.

He pushed me against the freezer and trapped me there.

"Sssshhh, quiet," he whispered, his voice full of malice.

His hands were all over me. He pressed his body against mine. That same helplessness from before washed over me, but this time, I didn't fight. I let him do whatever he wanted.

Some part of me was still aching when he touched me, especially when he tried to put his fingers between my legs. 

I felt rebellious, but I never showed him any reaction or feeling. 

I let him do his thing until he lost his strength and melted down. 

Then he grabbed the beers and left me there. shaken and broken.

I fixed myself and walked out.

It never stopped. Every time they got drunk, it happened again. His brothers took turns, each time stripping away more of my will. I became their secret, their shadow, their prey.

I was like a slave to them—trapped whenever they wanted.

It made me rebellious. It made me see men as nothing but monsters.

And deep inside, I was only waiting for the moment to end them all.