Chapter 4 - The Agonizing Beating
The reminder of her child gave Elena an invisible surge of strength. She gritted her teeth, suppressing the flesh-tearing pain in her shoulders. With the final effort of a mother's instinct, she let go of the rope with one hand, trying to reach as high as she could. Rosa leaned out over the edge, ignoring the danger, and managed to tightly grab Elena's freezing wrist just in time.
"I won't let you fall!"
Rosa promised, her voice trembling but full of determination. The old woman kneeled on both knees against the floor, straining every bit of her frail strength to pull Elena up. But before she could move her even an inch, a dark shadow lunged forward. Beatriz rushed over with bloodshot eyes. She grabbed Rosa's greying hair and yanked it backward with terrifying force.
"Drop her right now, you crazy hag!"
Rosa let out a cry of pain as her scalp felt like it was being torn off. Yet, her ten fingers remained locked around Elena's wrist, refusing to let go even at the cost of her life.
"I will never let you murder a mother and her innocent child!"
Beatriz was furious. She swung her hand, slapping the old maid hard across the face, then rained a series of heavy punches onto her back.
"You are just a hunting dog, a lowly servant!"
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"And you are nothing but a vicious, murderous monster!"
Rosa gritted her teeth and endured, screaming her defiance. Those words completely distorted Beatriz's face with rage. She took a step back, then swung her leg, kicking hard into Rosa's ribs. The old woman gasped in agony, nearly slipping halfway over the edge, but her hands still locked tightly onto Elena. The nylon rope began to snap, little by little.
