THE MAFIA'S LORD SLAVE

Chapter 1

(*THE KIDNAP*)

The sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. Outside, a tall purple hibiscus tree stretched its branches towards the sky, its blossoms vibrant against the blue of the sky. Birds chirped merrily, flitting from branch to branch as they went about their morning routine. In the distance, a rooster crowed, and the sound of bleating goats drifted through the air. It was a beautiful, serene morning, and it felt like the world was filled with possibilities.

But the room remained dark and still, cocooned in the shadows cast by the louvered windows and the heavy curtains. The house was unnaturally quiet, as if everyone within was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. If it weren't for the faint light creeping through the cracks, it could have easily been mistaken for the dead of night.

The young girl lay sleeping soundly, her golden curls splayed out across the pillow, the covers pulled up to her chin. One hand rested lightly across her face, as if to shield herself from the world outside. Her breathing was slow and even, as if she was deep in a dreamless sleep. She looked so peaceful, as if she was in a world of her own, untouched by the uneasiness that permeated the rest of the house.

Four small figures huddled beneath the window, their features shrouded in the shadows cast by the towering oak tree above them. They were still and silent, as if frozen in time. They had been watching the house for hours, debating their next move.

"Alexandra," one of the girls whispered, but her voice was no louder than a sigh. It was lost in the breeze, and did not reach the sleeping girl's ears. The other girls looked at her with frustration

Clarabella's words came out in a rush, her frustration and annoyance evident in her tone. "What are you doing, you fool?" she said. "Do you want us to get caught before we've even completed half the mission? So stop acting like a child and focus." She glared at Eliana, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I was just trying to help," Eliana said, her voice sharp with defensiveness. "But I guess it was a waste of my time. I'll just keep quiet from now on. I'm sorry for bothering you." She turned away, her face pale and her eyes downcast. She felt like she had ruined everything, and she didn't know how to fix it.

"That's enough, both of you!" Evenly snapped, her voice ringing out with authority. "Your fighting is enough to wake the entire household!" Evenly exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation.

She shot a stern look at Clarabella, not intimidated by the glare she received in return. "Don't you ever get tired of arguing and raising your voices at each other over silly things? Even a three-year-old child would simply wave you off with the back of their hand!" She let out a frustrated sigh, setting down the basket she was carrying with a dull thud.

The room was silent, save for the sound of Evenly's heavy breathing.

Suddenly, the curtains fluttered, ruffled by a breeze that blew in from the open window. The window sash creaked loudly as it was pushed open, revealing a silhouetted figure standing in the window frame. The girls' eyes widened in surprise as they realized it was Alexandra, her head poking out from the window

: "You two are really something else," Alexandra said, a small smile on her lips as she looked down at her friends." She yawned again, her eyes half-closed as she struggled to stay awake. "I'm still so tired," she muttered, letting her head fall back against the window frame.

"Get your sleepy butt down here," Sarah said, finally breaking her silence. "We're going flower hunting!" She smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Or else we'll come up there and drag you down ourselves," Eliana added, unable to contain her laughter.

Clarabella hushed, giving Eliana a fierce look.

****

They wandered into the woods, the cold air nipping at their skin and sending shivers down their spines. The hems of their gowns fluttered in the breeze, dancing to an unheard tune. All around them, the trees stood tall and proud, their branches swaying gently in the wind. Leaves, brown and crinkled, littered the ground beneath their feet, crunching softly as they walked. The only sound to be heard was the rustle of leaves and the crunch of their footsteps.

The sun, still low in the sky, cast long shadows across the forest floor.

The girls had pleaded with Alexandra's parents until they finally relented, reluctantly giving in to their wishes. But not without a long list of warnings and reminders to be careful. The girls had promised to be on their best behavior, and set out into the woods with a sense of nervous excitement.

They stopped at a tree, inspecting the flowers that surrounded the trunk. They whispered to each other.

Suddenly, the peaceful quiet was shattered by the roar of engines. The girls froze, their hearts palpitating.

"Shhh!" Alexandra hissed, ducking underneath the cover of the trees. The girls moved as quietly as possible, their hearts pounding in their chests. They shifted beneath the branches, until they were hidden by the bushes at the edge of the tree. They held their breath, listening intently for any sign of the source of the noise.

Suddenly, there was a sharp crack, followed by a loud boom. The girls ducked instinctively, covering their heads with their hands. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and the birds scattered from the trees in a panic.

"Shhhh," Alexandra whispered, pressing her fingers to her lips. Her eyes were wide with terror, her face pale. The other girls were similarly scared, their faces white as ghosts. They held their breath, trying not to make a sound.

"Search around carefully and swiftly," a voice commanded from the woods. "We must gather as many girls as possible before the day begins." The girls trembled, their hearts racing. It was the Deadly clan, notorious for their raids on villages like theirs. They were in serious danger.

[3/23, 02:46] Learning Legend🖤✨: Unfortunately, Alexandra's basket of apples rolled off to the side, tumbling down a small slope. The apples spilled out, rolling into the open, where they were clearly visible to the men. The girls held their breath, knowing that they had been discovered.

"Who's there?" a voice called out, getting closer. The girls held their breath, afraid to move. But then, Alexandra did the unexpected. She rushed out from behind the tree, grabbing the man's gun and knocking him to the ground with a swift kick.

"Come, help me!" Alexandra urged, her voice low but urgent. The other girls scrambled out from behind the trees, rushing to her side.

"Freeze!" another voice called out from behind them, the sound of a gun cocking echoing through the woods. The girls froze, their hearts pounding in their chests. "Don't dare make a move, or I'll blow your brains out," the voice continued, sounding cold and ruthless.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alexandra saw another man step out from behind a tree, his gun pointed directly at them. They were surrounded. There was no way out.

"You idiots," a man named Gray spat, grabbing a handful of Alexandra's hair and yanking it hard. Alexandra winced, tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to stay strong, but the fear was overwhelming.

The men led them out of the woods, down a narrow path until they reached a main road. A large, black truck pulled up alongside them, and the men motioned for the girls to get inside. They didn't resist, numb with fear and shock.

Gray climbed into the back of the truck, taking a seat next to the girls. They all tensed, their bodies rigid with fear.

"Listen up," he said, his voice low and menacing. "If any of you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to shoot you. I mean it." He gestured to the gun in his hand, his eyes fixed on Alexandra.

Alexandra met his gaze head-on, an unreadable expression on her face. The other girls were whispering amongst themselves, their faces pale and fearful. But Alexandra remained calm, almost unperturbed by the situation.

Alexandra knew there was no escape, not this time. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her parents, and the warnings they had given her that morning. If only she had listened, she wouldn't be in this situation now. But her stubbornness and love of picking flowers had landed her in this mess. And now, she didn't know how she was going to get out of it.

As the truck drove on, Alexandra gazed out the window, the countryside passing by in a blur. She wondered what would happen to her, and the other girls. She wondered if they would ever see their families again.

After what felt like an eternity, the truck finally stopped in front of a huge mansion. The girls were roughly pushed out by the men, who then surrounded them with their guns drawn.

Alexandra's eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings. The mansion was impressive, but also foreboding. The walls were made of dark stone, and the windows were small and heavily barred. There was a large, wrought iron gate surrounding the property, with the words "Red Axe city" emblazoned on a wooden plaque above it.

Alexandra eyes widened as she stared at the name Red Axe. She had heard the stories, the rumors. She knew what happened to the people who ended up there. They were never seen again.

As the realization sank in, Alexandra's blood ran cold. She stumbled backwards, panic rising in her chest.