“It’s almost over, sweetie pie,” Morgan groaned as he pounded into me roughly. “Daddy likes you tight and wet, just for me.” I gagged at the name.
This wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. I wanted to pass out so I could have the darkness instead of the pain. Instead, I just lay there, limply, hoping it would all end. Either I could pass out, Morgan finishing quickly so I could be thrown back into my cell, or just die.
“That’s how Daddy likes it,” he grunted as he froze on top of me. After a few moments, he pulled out and shooed the bystanders off.
Afterward, he was gentle, picking me up and carrying me back to my cell, where he tenderly cleaned me up. He told me how he loved me, how he couldn’t wait for my mother to be out of the picture like my father, so he could be the one to take care of me. Morgan wanted me to keep his needs met twenty-four seven. I couldn’t stop the tears, knowing what he wanted wasn’t right.
I couldn’t help but remember another time in that place.
“Please,” I cried out, holding my torso as the pain racked through my veins. My ribs hurt and it hurt to breathe. Galvin stood by, watching as Morgan and another man I didn’t know took turns kicking and hitting me—all because I refused to let two men use my body at one time. I knew I shouldn’t have fought, but I had to. I had that small amount of hope flare up that I may be saved from this hell.
“Cry some more,” Galvin laughed. “It’s like music to my ears, dear one.”
With another kick, I blacked out, letting the promising darkness take over. I hoped I wouldn’t wake up this time.
The memories faded and I lifted my head, my vision blurry as I grabbed the pillow and hugged it. It smelt like Elijah’s laundry soap, but not like him.
I wanted Elijah.
I wanted out.
Chapter 17
Elijah
I was seething inside. It took everything in me to not pound my fist into their faces. Erick was smug, able to get one up on me and touching what didn’t belong to him. I knew he would try to do something.
Morgan at least had the decency to look ashamed. I knew he wanted more than any man should from Dawn, but at least he’d tried to not keep looking at her while all of us were in my office. Erick, on the other hand, couldn’t keep his eyes off her—or his thoughts, I’m sure.
I knew something was going to happen when Erick said he needed to answer a phone call, as did Galvin, and he sent Morgan out just a few seconds later.
I didn’t want these men in my house, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it if I didn’t want any questions asked about what I was really up to. Dawn had taken the news well, surprisingly. I didn’t expect her to be so calm. At the same time, it was who she was trained to be by these men. I could tell she had shut down, closing off her emotions.
I hated seeing her having to do that, but understood why: it was her way of protecting herself. I quickly shot a text off to Kaleb, letting him go ahead with our plan while I followed Galvin to the kitchen. He wasn’t happy, either.
I didn’t want to let Dawn go, but I wasn’t sure what would happen to her if she was close when Kaleb showed up. All our planning was shot out the window, but we’d make it work to the best of our ability.
Knowing Mike had been taken into custody this morning after trying to find something in Kaleb’s office hadn’t helped my sour attitude after Galvin had called.
I sadly watched her hurry away like her tail was on fire. I knew she’d be safe, as long as she did what I told her. It was the closest place to keep her safe—for the time being.
“Sorry about these two,” Galvin said, turning back to me. “They both know better than to touch what doesn’t belong to them.”
“She belongs to me,” Erick said with a glare as he walked past me. “She’s a slut. I enjoyed taking her that first time, and I will take her again and again once I get my hands on her.”
I couldn’t stop my reaction. I turned around and punched him in the face. The sound of my fist hitting his jaw echoed around the kitchen. He also got couple punches in before Morgan pulled him back. My cheek stung like a motherfucker.
“Boys, boys, boys,” Galvin said, shaking his head. “Erick, I will deal with you when we get back to the compound. Morgan, you may go wait in the car.”
Morgan left, not saying anything, but I knew he was looking around the house. He had something up his sleeve—I just wasn’t sure what.
“Now, Erick, please apologize to Mr. Hunter, since you were threatening his property. We’ve had this talk before,” Galvin said in his high-pitched voice, sounding bored.
“Sorry, Mr. Hunter,” Erick mumbled, looking anywhere but at me. He would have a few sore bruises, as I got more hits in on him.
“Now, back to why we are here today,” Galvin said, taking a cookie off the abandoned plate. “She’s done well, cooking wise.”
“She’s a fast learner,” I said. “I was glad to see she was able to have some learning tools to help her do her job here.”
“All the girls are required to have some knowledge of reading and writing, since most are meant to cook meals. That’s why I have an age limit. Normally, I don’t take ones so young, but due to her mother's . . . . debts, I didn’t have a choice,” Galvin said sadly. “I’m glad she is doing well here.”
Dawn had taken well to the change, better than I would have expected. She wasn’t as skittish as many girls would have been after living in such an abusive situation.
“She’s just what I needed,” I said.
“Perfect,” Galvin said. I could faintly hear two cars coming up the driveway, but only because I knew they were coming. “Are you by chance interested in another? I have another auction coming up in a week.”
“Possibly. Where will it be? The same place?” I asked, taking a stand against the counter to make it seem like I was calm. It would be perfect to get men in that building and get those girls out after these men were taken to jail.
“As it always is,” Erick mumbled.
“Hush, boy,” Galvin said, giving Erick a look. I could tell Erick wanted to be anywhere but under the watchful of this man. I didn’t blame him, really. Galvin was full of power and could end his life easily without a thought.
“I didn’t do anything!” Erick said, agitated, flinging his hands up.
At that moment, Kaleb and two officers came barging into the kitchen, yelling, “hands up!” I instantly put my hands up, watching as Erick and Galvin were handcuffed behind their backs and told their rights. I made sure to keep my face in a state of shock.
“Where’s Dawn?” Kaleb asked once he got the two men into the police cars, saying he needed my statement. He already had my view of what went down, since it was mostly completely planned out.
“Upstairs, hopefully not panicking. Did you get Morgan?” I answered, walking away to go find my girl, knowing he’d follow.
“No, he must have left as soon as he went out, but at least we got those two. The others will fall in easily, and we have a team at the compound as we speak getting most of the other men,” Kaleb said.
“He’ll show back up here, and probably with Joan,” I sighed, not sure how I would deal with that. Morgan already left a threat on my voice mail about doing anything to get to Dawn. I of course, told my FBI team about it.
Getting to the closet after unlocking the door, I saw my girl hugging a pillow tightly to her chest. “Dawn?” She was rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around a pillow, her knees pulled up as tight as they could be.
“Dawn?” I repeated, easing my way into the room, hoping not to scare her. I called her name louder, and she finally looked up at me with wide red eyes.
“Elijah?” she whispered, but seemed confused.
“Come here, sweetheart,” I coaxed. She began to slowly move, still not quite herself, as the panic was still full force.
“Will you be okay if I leave? I have to be back at the office to oversee the ones that will be brought in shortly,” Kaleb sai
d once I had Dawn in my arms.
“That’s my girl,” I said to her, before nodding at Kaleb. “I’ll be fine. Make sure the doors are locked before you leave, please.”
“Of course, brother,” he nodded before leaving me.
“Dawn?” I asked again. She still seemed to be in a daze. What was she thinking, or remembering, in the short time that she was in that room? “Can you talk to me?”
“Elijah,” she said again as she laid her head on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry I had you go in there, but it was safer. Galvin and Erick won’t ever hurt you again,” I said, hoping my voice would bring her back from her thoughts. “Morgan ran off before Kaleb and his fellow officers got here.”
I had never seen her like this, but I knew whatever she was remembering had to be worse than her dreams that she’d woken up from many nights in a row. I just knew that she wasn’t truly with me, as her eyes were glazed over in a dazed-like panic state.
I gently picked her up and carried her to the bed, where I tried to lay her down, but she only hung on as tight as she possibly could, and her breathing picked up. Not wanting to cause her more panic, I easily slid onto the bed with her wrapped around me.
I somehow maneuvered a blanket from the end of the bed up around Dawn’s shoulders, to help with the shaking that was wracking her body. I was at a loss of what to do for her, other than hold her and comfort her. I slowly ran my fingers through her hair while I talked to her.
“You’ve done wonderfully today,” I soothed quietly. “I am so proud of you.”
I leaned back against the headboard and pillows with Dawn curled up in my lap and her head on my shoulder. Her knees were still pulled up to her chest, but at least her breathing began to even out some.
Looking down at her, I saw her eyes were closed, but her face was still saddened with worry and fear, even as she slept. My heart hurt, knowing I couldn’t do anything about it right now.
Chapter 18
Dawn
Voices fluttered in and out, but none of them reached my ears as I lay in a fetal position on the bed. I hardly moved, hardly slept. Every time I closed my eyes, my past bombarded me. It wouldn’t go away. It left me breathless. I had no hope left.
“Dawn, sweetie, please,” I heard Emily beg as she kneeled in front of me. Her eyes were rimmed in red like she’d been crying.
I simply blinked at her, not able to do anything else. My brain was like mush or turned off. It wouldn’t think, wouldn’t let me move.
I don’t know how long she stayed before I felt Elijah pull me to him, hugging me and holding me. He whispered soothing words, calming whatever was going on in my mind. I felt out of control—lost. I wanted to be found and brought out of my head, but it seemed pointless.
I could feel the man on top of me, but I couldn’t see his face as my eyes were swollen shut. I was worried I may suffer some head injury from when Erick had slammed it into the floor just the day before. I had fought him, again, and had to pay the price for doing so.
The man grunted as he sped up. I couldn’t feel him; he was as small as my pinky. I didn’t mind. As least it was an easy chore. It didn’t take much from me as I lay there limply. I just wanted to go to sleep, but Morgan kept coming in and waking me up, or dragging me to another client.
This current guy seemed concerned for me, though. He wasn’t the first, and probably wouldn’t be the last. He was gentler, even though I thought this was the first time he’d come here.
It didn’t take him long to finish and leave me at peace for a moment. I let the darkness consume me, for just a few minutes, before Morgan came and lifted me up. I groaned, not wanting to move as he forced me to my feet once again.
“Let her mind come to terms with things, son,” I heard Vence talk from the doorway. “She won’t eat, so any meds I could possibly prescribe won’t be able to help without food in her system.” His voice was quiet, but I could hear the hint of worry in it.
“Is there anything I can do to help her?” Elijah asked.
“Just be there for her. You will most likely have to force her to eat and drink today. She can’t go on much longer without anything, since she’s still so underweight.”
“Time to wake up, child,” Galvin said happily as he banged the door open.
I groggily opened my eyes, squinting against the light from the hallway. I had been in my cell in complete darkness again as a punishment for not obeying.
“Up you get,” Galvin demanded as he stood above me, looking down at me in disgust. “You have a client waiting.”
Slowly and shakily, I lifted myself up. My arms could hardly support my weight as I pushed myself up. My legs weren’t any better. Once standing, I slowly followed Master Galvin out into the hallway. I wasn’t sure where we were going, as he had never been the one to lead me to my next hellhole. He loved to watch the men take me and other countless girls.
Going down a different hallway, loud rap music reached my ears. It was noisier this way, but just as filthy as any other part of this prison.
“Now, this is a special client, so you’d better not disappoint me. He paid a good penny to spend his time here tonight with just you,” Galvin said, motioning to an open room with a door posted on its hinges. “I expect you to be on your best behavior, understood?”
“Yes Sir,” I answered, keeping my head down.
Once I was in the room, just like all the others, but with a small bowl of condoms on the table, I made my way to the bed, where I was sure I’d have to lie by command.
“Hello, my dear,” said the man in a calm and friendly tone. I kept my head down as I took a seat on the edge of the bed, waiting for instructions.
“Hello, Sir,” I answered politely, my voice just above a whisper.
“Look at me,” he said. I slowly looked up at him. He was familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. Maybe he had rented me before, but his voice didn’t seem like one I had heard here yet. He smiled and took a seat next to me as the door shut, closing us in.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said gently, making sure he wasn’t touching me in any way. His light hazel eyes shone with compassion. He was bigger, filled with muscle and strength. His round face was shadowed in worry, but also a sort of calm. I couldn’t tell what his hair was like, since he wore a beanie down to his ears. His clothes were simple, jeans and shirt.
“I don’t really want anything but your time, and maybe a little information about you,” he continued. “I just want to give you a break from having to do what others want you to do.”
I was confused, and it must have shown on my face. Why would he waste his time, and money, to just spend it with me, talking of all things?
“I have been here before, just keeping an eye on things to make sure no one was killed while they pleased the men,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen you a few times, usually with more bruises than the rest of the girls here—and you’re so much thinner than the rest, too.”
“Oh,” I said. That made sense, I guess.
“How long have you been here?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, Sir,” I answered. I had no idea how long I had been held here. Maybe a year? Two years?
“Hmm,” he said, thinking. “It’s 2013, mid-March.”
“So, about a year and a half then, Sir,” I answered.
“That long?” he said, shocked and leaning back on his hands.
I shrugged, not having anything to say to that. I had no choice in the matter.
“Why are you here, girl?” he asked. “Being so young, you aren’t the type or age Galvin usually brings in.”
“I don’t know, Sir. Morgan brought me here to pay a debt off for my mother,” I simply answered. That was the only answer I ever got when I had the courage to ask.
“Where is your mother, then? Shouldn’t she be the one paying the debt off, not you?” he asked, cocking his head to the side and watching me with his light hazel eyes.
“I don’t know. Somewhere better than here,” I answe
red.
“So, you aren’t here willingly?” the man asked, looking at me, almost through me, in a way.
I shook my head. “I don’t think anyone is here willingly. Not with what we are forced to endure.”
“I see,” he said. “I’m guessing you don’t know when you’ll be allowed to leave, then?”
“No, Sir,” I answered sadly. I wished I knew. I wished I wasn’t here now. I would gladly even take my father’s place than be here.
“I’ll see what I can do to get you out. I’ll talk to Galvin, but I highly doubt he’d let you go willingly—not yet. He seems to like you,” he said. “Oh, by the way, I’m Kevin.”
He left shortly afterward, claiming I was the best action he’d had in months, with the promise of wanting my services again. I never did see him again after that, but I didn’t think much of it, either. What would be the point? So many men came and went, and I hardly ever remembered names after the deed was done.
The next day, Joslyn came by, and with the help of Elijah, I was made to take a bath. It felt nice to be clean, but I still didn’t want to face reality. I didn’t want to face my nightmares. I wanted to be in between the past and the present—or skip to the future, if it were possible.
After being bathed and dressed in clean clothes, Elijah fed me spoonful after spoonful of soup, in a tender and loving manner. I was sure I looked like a wreck, but he never said anything; never demanded me to come out of the space my brain was in. He could have, and I would have followed his orders.
Time seemed to become a blur once again, the nightmares and what was real crashing into one another. I woke a few times, gasping for breath. Each time, Elijah was there, holding me, talking me down and calming my racing heart. I just wanted it to end.
I briefly thought about how easy it would be to end my life then. Elijah never once left me alone, but I could have used the razor blades in the bathroom, or starved myself to death. It wouldn’t take much. I had nothing to live for, no reason to keep on fighting the darkness that weighed heavily on my shoulders.
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