Zaviel tended to Sandra's wounds carefully, his fingers gentle against her bruised skin. Sandra sat still, her body tense, tears slipping silently down her face.
"It's okay… everything is going to be fine," he said softly, though his voice carried a quiet uncertainty.
Zino stepped in, holding a plate of food.
"Here," he said, stretching it toward her.
"You're not hungry?" Zaviel asked, glancing at him.
"She needs it more than I do," Zino replied, his eyes lingering on Sandra with concern.
"I… I don't think it's necessary. You should eat," Sandra said faintly, her voice fragile, almost breaking.
"It is necessary," Zino insisted, his tone firmer now. "You need to eat."
"But…"
"Say no more," the two brothers said in unison.
For a brief second, silence hung in the air then a small laugh escaped Sandra's lips.
It wasn't full.
It wasn't free.
But it was something.
And somehow… it mattered.
As the days passed, Sandra and the brothers grew closer.
In a place filled with fear and uncertainty, they became each other's small piece of light.
The brothers tried really tried to make her laugh.
And even when her laughter came out broken… they held onto it like it meant everything.
In a dimly lit room, Sandra sat with her hands chained, her body battered and bloodied.
Unconscious.
Then suddenly, Her body jerked as she gasped for air.
Her eyes flew open.
Pain shot through her limbs as reality crashed in.
Chains.
Cold. Tight. Unforgiving.
Panic surged.
She struggled against them, her breath quickening.
"Help! Someone, please help me!" she cried, her voice cracking under the weight of fear.
A man stepped into the room. He stood before her, silent.
Watching.
Sandra squinted, trying to see his face but the darkness swallowed his features.
He turned and began to walk away.
"No! Please don't leave me!" she screamed, her voice trembling with desperation. "Help me! I need your help!"
He paused. But didn't turn.
"No," he said coldly. "You don't need my help."
Her heart dropped.
"No… I do," she begged, tears spilling uncontrollably now. "Please… protect me from these people."
"But you said you don't need my help… you don't need me to protect you."
His words hit deeper than the chains ever could.
Sandra froze.
"I didn't say that to you… I only..."
Then it came back.
That night.
The argument.
Her mother's voice.
Her own words sharp, careless, final.
Her breath hitched.
"Wait… are you..."
But he was already walking away.
"No! Please! I'm sorry!" she cried, her voice breaking completely now. "I'm sorry! Please don't leave me!"
Her cries echoed. But he didn't come back.
She woke up with a sharp gasp, her body trembling violently.
"Please don't leave me… I'm sorry…" she whispered, before breaking into uncontrollable sobs.
The brothers woke instantly and rushed to her side.
"What happened?" Zaviel asked, his voice filled with worry, his eyes scanning her face.
"Tell him I'm sorry," she cried, her words uneven, desperate.
Zaviel didn't ask questions.
He simply pulled her into his arms.
And held her.
Tightly, as if letting go would break her even more.
Later, Sandra rested her head on Zaviel's shoulder, her breathing slowly steadying.
The room was quiet but not empty.
Zino paced back and forth, his steps restless, his mind clearly racing.
Sandra and Zaviel watched him in silence.
Then suddenly,
"Guys… I have an idea," Zino said, stopping abruptly.
Zaviel sighed lightly.
"All that pacing… just for an idea?"
"Yeah, bro," Zino replied.
"What's the idea?" Zaviel asked.
Zino looked at them both.
His expression changed.
Serious.
Determined.
"I think… we should escape."
"What?!" Zaviel exclaimed, sitting up straighter.
"We can't stay here forever," Zino said, his voice tight with frustration. "We can't keep living like this."
Zaviel hesitated.
"…True."
"I don't think that's possible," Sandra said quietly, her voice carrying fear… and memory.
"Why?" Zaviel asked, turning to her.
"…Because I've tried before," she said.
Zino frowned.
"You've tried escaping?"
She nodded slowly.
"And I got caught," she whispered. "It was… terrible."
Her voice faded, as if the memory itself was too painful to hold onto.
Silence settled heavily.
"Well… then maybe it's not possible," Zaviel said, uncertainty creeping in.
"Yes, it is," Zino said firmly.
"Didn't you hear her?" Zaviel argued. "She tried and got caught."
Zino's jaw tightened.
"The fact that she failed doesn't mean we will."
"Zino"
"No… let him speak," Sandra said softly.
Zino exhaled, then looked at both of them really looked.
"It's okay to fail sometimes," he said. "We're human."
His voice softened.
"But what's not okay… is giving up."
He paused.
"We all have something we want. A life we want to go back to. A future we're hoping for."
His eyes burned with quiet determination.
"And if we want it… we have to keep trying."
A brief silence followed.
Then he added, more gently
"Besides… we have God. And with Him… nothing is impossible."
Zaviel let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"…Yeah, bro."
Zino suddenly grinned, breaking the heaviness.
"I think I should be a motivational speaker," he said. "I'll call myself Zino the Great."
Sandra let out a soft laugh, wiping her tears.
"Zino the Great…"
"All hail Zino the Great!" Zaviel added dramatically.
And this time
Their laughter came a little easier.
A little warmer.
A little more alive.