Chapter 70: Losing Everything

Dante
Pain had become a constant. Every day, every moment, was a struggle to keep my mind intact. We were deep in some dark, cold place, and hope was a luxury I couldn’t afford to lose.
The men holding us captive had new methods of torture, techniques designed not only to inflict pain but to break the spirit. Today, however, something was different.
The cell doors creaked open with a sinister sound, and two men entered, dragging me out without warning. Mateo looked at me with eyes full of worry and desperation, but there was nothing he could do.
They took me to a room lit with harsh fluorescent lights. The air smelled of disinfectant and metal, a scent mixed with the sweat and blood that permeated the space. In the center of the room, a metal chair with leather straps awaited me.
“This isn’t going to be pleasant, Dante,” a familiar voice filled the room.
Luisa was there, watching me with a mix of satisfaction and coldness in her eyes. I knew she relished every moment of my suffering.
“You’re never getting out of here. It’s better if you accept your fate and surrender.”
I ignored her as they strapped me to the chair. My mind was focused on one goal: resisting. I wasn’t going to let them break me, no matter what they did.
One of the men brought in a strange device, something I hadn’t seen before. It looked like a mix of cables and electrodes, with a screen that flickered intermittently. They started attaching the electrodes to my head, connecting them to various points on my skull.
“We’re going to reprogram you, Dante. We’re going to erase those useless memories and turn you into someone useful for us.”
I felt a current of electricity surge through my body. The pain was unbearable, but I clung to my most cherished memories. The faces of Ana and Paolo became my anchor, my refuge in the storm.
“You won’t get anything. You can’t break me,” I growled through gritted teeth, fighting against the waves of pain coursing through my body.
Luisa leaned in closer, her gaze piercing.
“You’re stronger than I expected, Dante. But everyone has a breaking point, and we’ll find yours.”
The procedure continued, each electric pulse an attempt to erase my identity, to mold me into something I wasn't. But I clung to hope, to the image of Ana and our child. I knew she wouldn't give up, and neither would I.
Time blurred into a sea of pain and resistance. I didn't know how long had passed, only that I wasn't going to give in. The men murmured among themselves, frustrated by their lack of progress.
"This isn't working as expected."
"Increase the intensity. We need to break him."
The next pulse was the strongest yet. I felt my mind tearing apart, fragmenting into a thousand pieces. But amid the darkness, I found a spark of light. The image of Ana, her eyes full of determination and love, gave me the strength to resist.
"I... won't... give up."
Luisa's frown deepened, her expression shifting to one of pure rage.
"This is pointless! You can't beat me, Dante."
The procedure continued, but my resistance only grew stronger. Every moment of pain was a reminder of what was at stake. I wasn't going to let them turn me into their puppet. My love for Ana and Paolo was stronger than any torture they could inflict.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the men stopped, exhausted and frustrated.
"This will take longer than we thought."
"It doesn't matter. We have him here, and eventually, we'll break him."
Luisa approached once more, her face a mask of coldness.
"This is just the beginning, Dante. There's no escape."
I looked her straight in the eyes, letting my determination shine through the pain.
"I don't care how long it takes. I won't give up. And someday, I will get out of here."
Luisa walked away, her laughter echoing in the room.
"We'll see, Dante. We'll see."
The men unstrapped me from the chair and dragged me back to my cell. Every step was a struggle, but every step was also a victory. I had resisted another day. I had kept my mind intact.
Mateo helped me sit when they dropped me into the cell.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I am. I just need to rest a bit."
We sat in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. We knew the road ahead was long and hard, but we also knew we weren't alone. As long as we held onto hope, as long as we resisted, we had a chance.
That night, as the pain slowly faded, I promised myself I would find a way to escape. It didn't matter how long it took, it didn't matter how many times they tried to break me. I would get out of here. I would return to Ana and Paolo. And I would make Luisa pay for every moment of suffering she had inflicted on us.
The struggle continued, but I wasn't defeated. And as long as I had something to fight for, I never would be.
Days passed and we were still in the cell, with dim light filtering through the small slits in the door. The air was heavy with despair and pain, but also with a quiet determination. Mateo leaned towards me, his voice barely a whisper.
"Are they trying to change you?"
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, the pain still fresh in my mind.
"They're trying to erase my memories. They want to turn me into someone else, something they can control."
Mateo frowned, his expression a mix of horror and anger.
"We can't let that happen. You have to stay strong, Dante. They can't break you."
I nodded, though the truth was that each day it felt harder to hold onto hope. We sat in silence for a moment, each lost in our own thoughts.
"We need a plan," Mateo finally murmured. "We can't just sit here, waiting for something to change."
"I know. But I have no idea how to get out of here. They're always one step ahead."
Mateo sighed, softly hitting the wall with his closed fist.
"We have to find a way. For Ana. For Paolo."
I remembered the promise I made to Ana, the promise to return to her, to protect our son. I couldn't let those memories fade.
"I won't give up. I swear. We'll find a way out of here."
Mateo nodded, and at that moment, the cell door opened again. Luisa entered, her presence filling the small room with a palpable darkness.
“It’s time to continue, Dante. Don’t think you can resist forever.”
I stood up slowly, my legs trembling slightly, but I kept my gaze fixed on hers.
“I’ll never give you what you want.”
Luisa let out a cold laugh, shaking her head.
“We’ll see.”
They took me back to the torture room. This time, the device looked even more sinister. They strapped me to the chair, the electrodes covering my head once more.
“We’re going to try again, Dante. Let’s see how much you can resist this time.”
I felt the electric current surge through my body, more intense than before. I closed my eyes, clinging to the images of Ana and Paolo, remembering every moment, every promise. But the pain was overwhelming, and slowly, those memories began to fade.
“I can’t… give up…”
The words barely escaped my mouth, my voice choked by the pain. Luisa approached, her eyes filled with cold determination.
“It’s useless, Dante. You can’t beat me.”
The procedure continued, each electric pulse tearing at my mind. I felt my memories dissolving, fragmenting into darkness. I tried to hold onto them, but it was like trying to grasp water in my hands. Slowly, inevitably, they slipped away.
“Ana…”
The name left my lips one last time before everything went black. When the procedure ended, I felt empty, as if a part of me had been torn away. Luisa looked at me with satisfaction, knowing she had won.
“Welcome back, Raphael.”
I looked at her, not fully understanding. Raphael. Was that my name? I nodded, accepting my new identity without resistance.
“You’re going to follow my orders to the letter. You’re going to be the best agent for the Italian mafia. Understood?”
“Yes.”
She smiled, pleased.
“Perfect. Take him back to his cell.”
They unstrapped me from the chair and led me back. Luisa stayed at the door, watching me with strange satisfaction.
“You’re going to be a good soldier, Raphael. A perfect weapon.”