Chapter Ten
Risa woke up once more. Her eyes darted to the figures huddled in the corner. A woman with long white hair and piercing blue eyes was clutching two small children protectively.
She began to wonder where she was, only to realize that the place looked familiar. Her gaze swept around until it hit her. They were back in the barn. And there, in the corner again, Amelia and the twins cowered in fear.
"What should we do now?" Amelia asked, her voice trembling. "They might find us here soon."
'What's happening? Why are we back in the barn?' Risa wanted to ask, but the words wouldn't come out.
Instead, her mouth twisted and said mockingly, "What should we do? What should we do!?" Her voice rose in anger.
'Wait!' That's not what I wanted to say! Inner Risa panicked. 'What was happening?' Why couldn't she control her body? And why were they back in the barn again?
She felt herself stand up and storm toward the white-haired woman. Her hand shot out, yanking Amelia to her feet. The kids tumbled to the ground as Risa violently pulled Amelia away from them.
"Let go of me! You're hurting me!" Amelia said, struggling to break free.
Inner Risa's panic deepened. 'No! I don't want to do this. I don't want to hurt her.' She fought to regain control, to stop herself, but it was no use. She was trapped inside her own body, forced to watch helplessly.
The fury building inside her wasn't hers. It belonged to someone else. Whoever was in control now was seething. Is this the original Risa? The one from this world?
A loud smack echoed through the barn, snapping Inner Risa out of her thoughts.
She saw Amelia's head snap to the side. A small cut bloomed on her lip.
'Did she just slap Amelia?' Inner Risa reeled in disbelief, rage simmering. She tried again to wrest control, furious that she couldn't stop what was happening.
"This is what you would do, you stupid bitch," Outer Risa snapped, her voice thick with venom. She grabbed Amelia's face, squeezing her cheeks hard, while her other hand clamped down on her arm in a bruising grip.
"We're going back there, and you're going to do whatever they tell you to. Do you understand?" she growled, cold and cruel.
"Are you hearing yourself right now?" Amelia snapped back, still struggling. "I'm still your wife."
She was trying to stay strong, but disbelief cracked through her voice. She couldn't believe it. Risa was actually going to hand her over to Douglas. There was no love between them, but she was still her wife.
Outer Risa slapped her again. This time, Amelia couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Inside, Risa burned with fury. 'Why the hell am I sharing a body with this monster?' If she have her own body, she swore she would beat this bastard to death.
The twins were crying now, terrified. Little Rika ran to Risa and started hitting her with tiny fists.
"Let go of Mommy!" the girl screamed, sobbing as she hit her. The blows didn't hurt, but the tantrum irritated Outer Risa.
She turned and backhanded the child. Rika flew back a few steps, landing hard on the ground. Her cheeks burned red as she wailed in pain. Airi rushed to her sister, and both of them cried harder, Rika clinging to her face.
"You bastard! How dare you!" Amelia screamed, her voice now raw with fury. She could take the abuse herself, but her children? Never.
Fueled by maternal rage, Amelia began to fight back, clawing and thrashing. But Risa was stronger. Even with both of them malnourished and weakened, the Alpha still had the advantage. Amelia, an Omega, couldn't match her strength.
Risa struck her again, this time even harder. Amelia crashed to the ground.
Grabbing the white-haired woman by the hair, Risa yanked her head up and leaned in close.
"You want to survive, right?" she hissed.
"We're going back, and you're going to do whatever the fuck Douglas wants. I don't care if the entire camp fucks you bloody, as long as I survive. You care about your kids, don't you? I'm sure Douglas will keep them safe, as long as you behave."
Amelia trembled, wide-eyed and pale. Was this really her fate?
Meanwhile, Inner Risa was losing it. What the fuck is wrong with this Risa? How the hell is this piece of shit even my counterpart? She had just watched this Risa beat her own wife and slap a child. And now, she was about to hand Amelia over to be what? A sex slave? A bargaining chip?
Inner Risa was livid. This version of her went against everything she believed in. End of the world or not, there were lines she would never cross. She didn't condone domestic violence. She didn't condone human trafficking. And what this other Risa was doing was exactly that, selling her wife's body to buy herself a chance at survival.
'There are a hundred other ways to survive in this world,' Inner Risa thought, seething. 'But this lazy, cowardly excuse for a human being would rather throw her own family to the wolves than lift a fucking finger to find a better way.'
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside. The barn door creaked open, and three men entered, weapons in hand.
"Kurt," Risa called out as she immediately released Amelia and walked toward them.
"I've already got them here. Don't worry, she won't fight back. I can bring her to Douglas without any trouble," Risa said with a grin.
"Heh, I'm sure the boss will give you the best reward for this," Kurt replied with a smirk, while the other two tried to suppress their laughter.
"Really? Yes, yes. The boss is really kind, right? Don't worry, if she causes any trouble, I'll make sure to discipline her," Risa said, eager to please them.
"That's good to hear. Actually, the boss already prepared a gift for you. He gave it to us after making sure you'd find your wife," Kurt said.
Risa's eyes lit up with anticipation. Was it meat? She hadn't eaten meat in so long. Or maybe alcohol? Things like that were nearly impossible to find now.
"Really? What is it?" she asked, trying to mask her excitement.
"Here," Kurt said.
Then he drove a powerful punch into Risa's stomach.
She doubled over and collapsed, clutching her midsection in agony.
"The boss said to take care of you before we head back," one of the men sneered. He kicked her in the head, and the others joined in, stomping on her mercilessly as she lay on the ground.
Kurt eventually stopped them and motioned for the other two to lift Risa up.
"W-why?" she asked weakly, stunned. She had done everything Douglas asked. They had a deal.
'Motherfucker, this is what you get for making deals with the devil,' Inner Risa muttered, furious.
"We just don't like you," Kurt spat. "Bagging a chick like that." He pointed his weapon toward Amelia, who was huddled in the corner, shielding the twins behind her. All three trembled in fear.
"Better to cut you off now. One less mouth to feed. And I doubt you'd be much use back at camp," Kurt said.
He swung the bat in his hands and slammed it into Risa's stomach.
She coughed up blood and groaned, nearly collapsing again. The men held her upright.
"You know," Kurt continued, leering, "you don't look so bad. If it weren't for the conflicting pheromones, we'd have had our turn with you too."
The three men laughed cruelly.
"But killing you will be just as satisfying," Kurt said. He swung the bat again, this time at her head.
Blood splattered, but the blow didn't kill her.
"Douglas sends his regards," he said coldly. He swung again. The bat struck her head. Risa collapsed, bleeding heavily. Her breaths were shallow. Her body was wracked with pain. She could barely move. Her clouded eyes remained fixed on the corner, on Amelia and the children.
The men turned and began walking toward them, sadistic grins on their faces and a twisted gleam in their eyes.
Inner Risa watched helplessly as they approached. 'Move!' she begged. 'You have to move. You have to protect them!' She struggled with everything she had, but she still couldn't control the body.
She watched as the three men attacked Amelia and the twins. They brutally murdered the children and forced themselves on her wife. Inner Risa felt helpless, watching the nightmare unfold. All she could do was feel the life slipping away as if the body she shared was dying.
"NO!" Risa snapped upright, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. Sweat clung to her skin, and her heart pounded so violently. What greeted her was Amelia's face, close to hers. The white-haired woman's eyes widened in surprise.
Risa stared at her for a second before pulling her into a hug.
"Thank God you're okay," she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.
'It was just a dream. Thank God. But what kind of fucking dream was that?' It had felt so real. She had actually felt the beatings, the pain, the blood, everything. Even though it was the original Risa in control, she had lived it all.
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Author's Note:
Hi! It's been a while, but Chapter 10 is ready at last! Thanks for your patience!