Chapter 1: Nightmare!
"Please save me, please!" Ethan screamed as he bled out without mercy, he had been involved in a ghastly motor accident, his car had tumbled over with glass particles shattered all over his face.
"Let's go Brian, we can't help him, the cops will catch us if we do, he's as good as dead!" two ladies advised Brian who was the cause of the accident, they were high and drunk as hell.
"Brian, let's go!" the girls screamed as they heard the sound of an ambulance on its way, they entered their car and zoomed off with speed, leaving poor Ethan to his fate as he groaned and bled out from his wounds, his vision became foggy as he managed to crawl out of his car and through shattered glass pieces on the ground that cut through his flesh.
"Dear Lord, please help me!" that was the last statement that escaped his lips before he passed out. On waking up, his vision remained foggy and he could hear nurses screaming as they moved him on a stretcher.
"Take him to the theater now, he's badly wounded!" the nurses screamed, the white light bulbs affected his eyes and he could hardly breathe as he felt life leave his body through his open wounds that exposed not only his inner flesh but bones.
"Please call my wife," Ethan struggled to say as he coughed out blood. Before the nurses could drill needles into his body for an emergency operation, Ethan passed out again, appearing dead before their eyes.
"Ethan!!!"
"Ethan!!!"
Ethan woke up from what appeared to be a bloody nightmare and his body shook with tiny goosebumps as he screamed and fell hard off his bed, he groaned in intense pain, it wasn't any nightmare, it was a flashback to the accident he suffered from, one that almost took his life and left him in a coma for a year. Fear gripped Ethan as his heart raced, his wounds still hurt terribly even after a year, he felt a slight tear of the stitches on his body with a minor bleed.
"Ethan, where's that worthless fool!!" he could hear the screams of the woman who had become his daylight nightmare. The screams of his cruel mother-in-law, as she charged for his room, she kicked open his door, only to find Ethan shivering on the floor in fear.
"Why aren't the cars washed? You have been sleeping your worthless existence away!" she screamed as she threw the warm bucket of water she held in her hand at his face, choking poor Ethan who coughed aggressively.
"I'm sorry mother, I will wash the cars immediately," Ethan revealed as he coughed out.
"Don't you dare call me your mother, I can never be a mother to a poor wretched fool like you, never!" she screamed in anger and walked out.
Mrs. Judith had made life miserable for Ethan, she had subjected him to suffering, torture, insults and anything a poor son-in-law could ever face. The accident changed his life for the worse, he went into a coma, lost his jobs, his connections and his wealth, he woke up to poverty in the glimpse of an eye. He had been feeding off his cruel mother-in-law and his loving wife but life never remained the same.
Ethan picked himself up and headed straight for the garage with his tools to wash his mother-in-law's cars, scrubbing the tires and making sure they shined bright but in the process, he slit open his flesh through a sharp edge, watching his blood drip on the ground, he quickly tore his shirt and wrapped the wound. He had become nothing more than a slave in a place he called home, Mrs. Judith ever ready to torment his life never gave him a chance to breathe.
On reaching the aesthetic living room, he met Mrs. Judith having breakfast with a man dressed in a fine Italian suit, the sight of him made Ethan frown.
"This must be the wretched son-in-law you told me about," the man teased as he carefully sipped his wine.
Ethan growled with anger but he dared not make a move or he would starve for days without food and he would be flogged mercilessly. Mrs. Judith took a glance at him and her mood went sour.
"I regret the day I knew the bastard!" she cursed and took a bite from the pork meat on her plate.
"I'm done washing the cars," Ethan revealed and turned to walk away but the man in the suit screamed.
"Wait Ethan, forgive my manners, I haven't properly introduced myself to you and I can't just let you walk away like that, you deserve a chance to dine with me," he said with a sweet voice. Ethan turned around, looking more confused than ever.
"I'm David Sinclair, surely you must have heard my name all over the country, come take a seat my dear friend," he gestured while Mrs. Judith stared in utter confusion. The Sinclair family was one of the richest families in the country, they commanded respect from all men and women, and David who happened to be the only billionaire son of his father was ruthless and egoistic, he was nothing more than a spoilt brat feasting on daddy's money and strong influence.
Ethan was skeptical but faked a smile and joined them at the dining table, watching as David Sinclair served him from the golden pot. Ethan had not had a taste of pork or any luxurious meals in months, not under Mrs. Judith's watch.
"Lord David, how can you allow him to eat with us!" Mrs. Judith protested in anger but David raised his hand to keep her calm.
Ethan grabbed a knife and fork and just as he was about to have a taste of the delicious meal, David pushed his plate with a finger, watching as Ethan's meal fell to the ground and the plate shattered to pieces. David laughed as hard as he could, the joy on his face knew no bounds.
"Feast on your meal on the ground, that's where dogs like you should eat and be happy," he said and Mrs. Judith joined him as they laughed uncontrollably. Ethan was furious as he clenched his fist in anger.
"Clean that place up now!" his mother-in-law commanded with power.
Ethan had no choice as he came back with tools to clean the floor, sweeping the broken pieces away. David watched with a smile as Ethan turned to leave, he called again.
"Wait boy! Come fill my glass with wine," David commanded.
Ethan reluctantly filled his glass and as David held it, he let it slip off his hand, shattering to pieces.
"Oops, my glass slipped off, refill my wine again and clean that up."
Ethan grew furious with anger as his eyes slowly turned red.
"Clean up your mess and fill your glass you spoiled brat!" Ethan muttered.
David stood and walked close to Ethan, their faces so close to each other.
"What did you say to me boy?" he asked calmly.
Ethan held tightly to the cutlery knife, ready to slit the brat's throat open, his anger slowly got the better of him as his body shook silently.
"Ethan, fill my glass cup with wine now and kiss my feet as an apology or I will make the remaining days of your wretched life more miserable and painful!" David Sinclair threatened as both men stared into each other's soul, their anger slowly growing into something purely dangerous and evil.