Her Haunted Nightmare

The asphalt burned my bare feet as I sprinted down the dark highway. My lungs felt like they were on fire, and every breath was a jagged sob. I didn't care about the pain; I only cared about the railway station. If I could just reach it, I could disappear.

I had to get away from him.

The silence of the night was broken by the frantic slap of my feet against the road.

Then, my toe caught on a stone. I gasped, falling hard. The impact knocked the air out of my body. Before I could scramble up, bright headlights blinded me.

Six cars surrounded me like a pack of hungry wolves. I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs. The door of the lead car opened, and Rudraksha stepped out.

My blood turned to ice.

"Trying to run away, mogliettina?" he asked. His voice was smooth, but deadly.

"Please, Rudraksha," I sobbed, crawling backward on my hands and knees. "I'll do anything. Just let me go. Please, I'm begging you!"

"Get in the car. Now," he commanded, his voice booming.

"No! Please, no!" I shrieked, but he didn't listen. He grabbed my hair, forcing me up, and shoved me into the back seat.

I cried and beat my fists against the door, but he just stared at me with cold, cruel eyes.

When we reached his mansion, he dragged me to his room and threw me onto the massive bed. I tried to crawl to the other side, but he lunged at me. With one violent move, he pinned my wrists above my head.

He looked at me with a dark, terrifying hunger. He reached down and gripped the front of my dress, ripping the fabric down the middle with a loud, terrifying tear.

I screamed, covering myself as much as I could, shaking with the fear that he was about to take everything from me.

"Please, Rudraksha, don't do this! Have mercy!" I wept, my voice breaking.

He didn't say a word. He ignored my begging and reached for a small black case.

The high-pitched buzz of a tattoo machine filled the room. He flipped me over onto my stomach, his heavy weight crushing me into the mattress so I couldn't move.

I felt the dress tear further, exposing the skin of my back. I was sure the worst was happening until I felt the sharp, stinging bite of the needle. I screamed into the pillows as the ink was forced into my skin. It felt like he was carving into my very soul.

When the buzzing finally stopped, my back felt like it was on fire. A large, permanent R was now part of my body.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear. His voice was a low, dominant growl.

"Cry all you want," he whispered. "But before you ever think of leaving me again

, remember that mark. I am your owner."