The folks in Green Heights Village were terrified of me.

One guy, unable to stand my presence, decided to pour a bucket of calf's blood into my home while I was sleeping, then let the grieving mother cow in.

He stood outside, snickering to himself, but three minutes later, I emerged, gripping a cow horn in my hand, still warm with blood on my face.

His expression shifted from smugness to sheer panic as he turned to flee.

Unfortunately for him, that little stunt left him with a permanent disability—his thigh pierced through, leaving him unable to stand again.

I had reluctantly agreed to marry Justin.

One day, Amanda Dent showed up at my door, a basket of eggs in her hands, worry etched on her face. "Alicia, are you really going through with this?" she asked, concern heavy in her voice.

I met her gaze, and she sighed deeply, "What kind of man goes around bragging about you having sex with him before you're even wed? You're a strong girl; why the sudden change?"

Yes, in this godforsaken place, there were still those who cared for me.

I decided to steer the conversation away from my impending marriage and picked up an egg. "Did you gather these with the others?"

She nodded, her brow furrowed. "You don't have parents, and we've watched you grow up like you were our own. Your mother... she came with us, but..." Her voice trailed off as she wiped away a tear.

A muscle in my neck twitched.

"Amanda, you should head back. Your husband will find out you brought me these eggs and will give you hell."

That evening, Justin swaggered into my home as if he were already my husband.

He reached out to touch me, but I shot him a glare that made him pull back.

"I've heard from the villagers that you've got quite the fiery spirit," he said, trying to sound authoritative. "But with a little discipline, I'm sure we can work it out."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

The villagers wanted him to take me away, hoping he'd mistreat me, yet they were terrified he'd discover who I really was and back out.

So they spun this tale instead.

I served myself a second bowl of noodles, just the right amount for two. Justin slurped his down with a satisfying noise, but as he stood to leave, he suddenly collapsed back onto the table, clutching his stomach in agony.

I finished my last spoonful of broth and wiped my mouth.

"What did you put in this?" he whimpered, his features twisted in discomfort.

I knelt beside him, squeezing his cheeks until they turned pale. "You need to tell them you're going to observe me for a while. Make it a fortnight before you leave."

He looked bewildered, but it was clear he was under my spell now. The antidote was in my hands, and he had no choice but to comply.

Before long, fishes were hooked.

For the first time in Green Heights Village, someone had emerged who could potentially subdue me. The villagers, sensing an opportunity, flocked to my doorstep.

Marvin Hartey, the same man who had previously dared to challenge me, was the first to arrive. I was crouched, dutifully washing Justin's feet.

"Wow, Alicia, this meek act is quite a sight," Marvin sneered, his eyes flicking to Justin, but his words were directed at me. "Make sure you keep up the facade. Don't let anyone catch you slipping."

Justin's body trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, as he spoke, "Come inside for a while, Alicia. Get him a glass of water."

Marvin's grin widened as he sauntered into the house, collapsing onto the sofa and crossing his legs, looking every bit the cocky guest. "Alicia, make me a cup of coffee," he demanded.

I followed him inside, closed the door, and headed towards the wardrobe.

"What are you doing? Are you deaf or something?" Marvin snapped, his annoyance clear.

I turned to face him, a slow, deliberate smile spreading across my lips.

With one swift motion, I kicked him into the wardrobe.

The man tumbled down, a series of muffled thuds echoing as he fell into the hidden chamber I had prepared meticulously beneath. I descended after him, gagging and binding him to a wooden post.

"Make another sound and I'll break a finger," I warned coolly.

Marvin's bravado evaporated; his eyes darted around the dark, damp cellar, his body trembling uncontrollably.

I removed the gag from his mouth. "How did my mother, Miranda Knightley, die?" I demanded.

Marvin rolled his eyes, thinking hard before hesitatingly answering, "She... she fell off a cliff..."

A solid wooden rod struck him, eliciting a sharp yelp of pain.

"If you don't start telling the truth, you'll be beaten without the luxury of clothes."

Marvin panicked instantly. "It was... it was a hanging!" he blurted out.

"Who did it?"

He shook his head, "I don't know."

Another sharp crack, this time with a slender rod that inflicted a stinging, acute pain. Tears streamed down his face.

"I swear, I don't know! George was the one who told us to bury Miranda. All I saw was a ligature mark on her neck. I don't know who did it!"

I retrieved his phone, found George's contact, and sent a text message before gagging him once more.

Ten minutes later, George showed up, a cigarette dangling from his lips, wearing that same friendly demeanor he always had.

But his arrival meant trouble. I was still crouched in front of Justin, whose feet were beginning to swell, the skin turning a ghostly white.

"Alicia, if you'd been like this sooner, you wouldn't still be single at your age," George said, shaking his head.

I straightened up and replied, "George, I wasn't raised with a mother. If only she were still here."

He cleared his throat. "Yeah... life sure has a way of throwing curveballs."

I smiled faintly. "Thanks for always looking out for me. Come on in; I'll make you a cup of coffee."

George squinted at me. "What about Marvin?"

"He just headed out."

Two minutes later, George found himself tied up next to Marvin.

"Alicia, what the hell is going on?" he exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

I let my fingers linger over the assortment of tools on the table, finally resting on a sharp iron needle.

George's face drained of color. "Alicia! Don't do anything rash!"

I chuckled darkly. "Rash? Oh, you have no idea how much I've done already."

I twisted the needle between my fingers and lightly traced it along the tip of George's finger, eliciting a shudder from him.

Just then, I heard a commotion outside and stepped out to close the wardrobe door.

The newcomer was Marvin's brother, the man I had left battered and broken—Logan Hartey. He sat there, a tense figure, while his wife, Diana Hartey, pushed his wheelchair, her fierce gaze locking onto me.

"Alicia! Marvin's been in your house for ages. Where is he?" she demanded, frustration evident in her voice.

I told them Marvin had left, but they didn't buy it.

They insisted on coming inside to check. I shrugged and stepped aside, letting them enter.

Suddenly, a whimpering sound came from the wardrobe.

Logan and Diana exchanged glances and moved to open the door.

Before they could, I shot out a question, "Diana, do you remember how my mother died?"

She turned to glare at me, her eyes cold as a snake's. "Hmph! Your mother, that worthless woman, fell off a cliff—God took her away. You think the villagers did it? You're just a bastard, no parents to speak of. The village raised you, and you should be grateful!"

Logan sensed the tension and tugged at his wife's sleeve, trying to calm her down.

But Diana only grew more agitated, shaking off his grip. "You little bitch! I've never liked you! Logan's leg is your fault! You deserve to be beaten to a pulp by that man outside!"

Logan couldn't help but smirk at his wife's words, but he quickly suppressed it, trying to play peacemaker. "Alicia, she didn't mean it. Don't take it to heart."

I couldn't muster a smile, and in a flash, I kicked Diana hard in the rear.

She stumbled forward, crashing into Logan and the wheelchair, and they all tumbled into the wardrobe, knocking it open.

I swiftly followed them inside and locked the door behind me.

Logan fell from his wheelchair, scrambling to get up, panic in his eyes.

He turned to see Diana's terrified expression, both of them frozen in shock as they realized they were tied to a wooden post in my dark room.

Now, I had four people trapped in my lair.

I grabbed a chair and faced them, ready to interrogate them.

Just then, I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see Justin, trembling, standing at the wardrobe door.