Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Lifting his hands, he claps, loud and fierce, as he steps toward me. “You’re fucking incredible.”
A compliment, but from him, it’s a life sentence.
He likes what I can do, but I’m counting on that.
“Well, you didn’t take me for my personality,” I say on an exhale, dropping down so my legs hang off the edge of the stage.
“We will begin training, daily.”
No, no we won’t.
“I’ll need better treatment if you expect me to dance for you,” I say, crossing my arms, sweat coating my skin.
“You’ll do as you’re told.”
“If you do not give me what I want, I won’t dance,” I throw back.
“Yes, you will.”
“No,” I grind out, “I fucking won’t.”
Anger flashes across his features, and he waves a hand, calling over yet another one of his minions that do every single thing he asks. “Take her to her cage. No food or water. Let her think about obeying me.”
I jump off the stage, but the guard is quick, taking hold of my arm and hauling me toward the exit—he pulls me so hard he loses his grip, and I topple to the ground, twisting my wrist. A sharp cry leaves my lips as pain shoots up my arm. It hurts like hell, and when I’m hauled to my feet, I bite my lip to stop the pained cries from escaping.
“Get her a bandage, nothing else,” Marek orders, unfazed by my injury.
The guard jerks me forward, and as we pass Marek, I flip him the bird which earns me a sinful smile, one that is so dark, it sends shivers up my spine.
“You’ll be thirsty after your little workout, Ellie Mae. Think about that before you throw your demands around. I hope your wrist doesn’t hurt too much. Just remember, I own you now.”
Gritting my teeth, I grind out. “Over my dead fucking body, Master.”
This earns me another grin.
Sadistic fucking prick.
He knows what he’s doing.
And he loves every second of it.
The guard takes me to my cage, and, as promised, I’m given no food or water. My wrist isn’t broken, but it is swollen and sore. I do my best to strap it with the flimsy bandage but it’s as good as useless. I need painkillers, but I know I’m not going to get them from anyone around here. No, he’s going to make me suffer in any way he knows how.
At least a day passes before I see a single person come into this hot, horrible tent. I’m starving and I’m thirsty, but I know he won’t leave me long enough to die, just long enough to suffer. He wants to break me, and he’s going to do whatever he can to do that. It gives me a little peace knowing he won’t end my life.
Not yet, anyway.
It’s probably the second day in when a new girl is brought in. She is small in stature, has beautiful curves and stunning blond hair. I can’t see much else as she frantically looks around, trying to get out of her cage. She doesn’t look like the usual girls Marek brings in, and I wonder if she is in here for a different reason.
“I wouldn’t bother,” I say, causing her to shuffle and turn. “You’ll never escape.”
She glances at me, and I see she has light eyes, maybe green, it’s hard to tell in this light—she’s really pretty. She looks like she could be a teacher, or a nurse.
“What is happening here?” she whispers, moving to the side of the cage so she can see me better.
“What is happening is the devil has risen and is using girls to make a show,” I murmur.
“How long have you been here?”
How long indeed. I have no idea. I shrug. “A week, maybe two. I don’t know.”
“I’m Alexis,” she tells me, her eyes darting around once more.
“I’m Ellie, and yes, before you ask, my parents through it would be fantastic to make my middle name Mae.”
She smiles, and I know already that I like her.
“Well, Ellie, I like it.”
I huff, offering a small smile. “What are you here for? Drugs? Stealing? He always has a reason.”
She shakes her head. “He killed my abusive husband and is using me to get money off someone who owes him. If they don’t come for me, I’m toast.”
I take her in. She’s not his usual, but she is pretty and definitely catches the eye. “No, you’re pretty enough for him to use. He keeps the pretty ones for the shows.”
She stares at me, horrified. “He keeps them. What do you mean?”
“He trains them, like circus monkeys. Out there every day until they learn what he wants, if they refuse or aren’t good enough, they get punished. If that doesn’t work, he sells them off for cash.”
At least, that’s what I’ve managed to figure out since I’ve been here. There has been more than one occasion I’ve overheard them talking about selling the girls while they guard the exit. It’s disgusting.