I watched as Yury raised the hand that had struck me and touched his own stomach.
“Yes. A hollow spot there.”
His hand dropped as his teeth ground against each other. “Let’s go.” Yury grabbed my upper arm and practically shook me for daring to make him… feel.
Back in the hallway, my hands attempted to cover my privates with the washcloth. Being completely naked was extremely isolating.
Yury rattled me again. “Drop your hands.”
There was a man with a lusty stare. He had a gun strapped to his hip. It was unnerving to let my hands fall to my sides and allow the stranger to see all of me. Not a thing could be done as Yury twirled me around once so that a full view could be offered to the stranger. My hand tightened around the material I wasn’t allowed to conceal myself with.
Russian words were exchanged before Yury took hold of my upper arm again to guide me back toward the cell where I was being held. Approaching the room Shelly had been forced into, I saw Kirill exit while removing his black hood. He was back in his robe, breathless, sweaty, tired, and smiling. When he saw me, he suddenly acted rejuvenated. “And the fun begins.”
Again, I was twirled. Yury asked, “Quite the beauty, yes?”
“For being older, yes.”
A cold sweat broke through my skin. If I was considered older, at eighteen, what age did Kirill prefer?
Kirill bent over to touch my leg. I cringed away before Yury shook me. He sternly told me, “Let him touch you.”
Feeling so violated, Kirill stared at me right in the eyes as he slowly reached down and touched my lower leg. “The scar I gave you is healing nicely.”
My ears began to ring and my body shook as I stared at the man who drove the car that had hit me. Not caring about the punishment, I retracted my leg. “Don’t touch me.”
Practically breaking out in a dance of celebration, Yury laughed. “Yes, burn, Fire. Burn.”
Kirill wasn’t as impressed with my Whit attitude. “Need me to break her in for you?”
My eyes raced to Yury, silently begging for the answer to be no.
Observing me, Yury smirked. “I don’t think Fire likes you much, Kirill.”
The rapist faked hurt feelings, grabbing his chest. “Say it isn’t so.”
Absolutely toying with my emotions of fear, Yury shrugged. “But I will be sure to let you know if she changes her mind.”
I felt my eyebrows scrunch as I tried to understand the message. I had no choice in anything that was happening to me. What was he telling me?
Kirill backed away from the open door while gesturing inside. “Show Fire what she is missing.”
My bare feet pushed against the concrete floor but I was no match to Yury’s strength. At the door, I was forced to peek inside and witness what can only be described as the destruction of one’s soul. Shelly was on her back, motionless, vacantly staring at a wall. Her naked body had red marks, and white fluid dripped from her swollen breasts. It was as if she had mentally escaped while her body was left to be abused and disrespected.
I don’t know where the bravery came from as I slowly walked into the room, leaving Yury and Kirill behind. Aiden was still hooded as his robed body walked past mine, but I could hear his chuckle.
Once I was kneeling in front of Shelly’s face, in her line of sight, she finally looked at me. Her eyes filled with tears as she asked the only question I would ever hear her speak. “Why?”
Her voice was worn out from the screams…
I had no answer so I didn’t try to give her one. The cruelty was beyond any words I could find. All I could offer was my damp washcloth. So that’s what I did. After drying her tears that wouldn’t stop, I gently wiped her soiled chest. I didn’t feel they had a right to mark her in such a vile manner.
“Fire.”
My master had summoned me, so I had to leave the poor girl to face her grim future alone, just like I had to face mine.
Shared battle blood.
With my head held high, I walked past the heartless human traffickers. Laughing, they all followed me to the room where I was to stay. My heart raced with adrenaline when they didn’t stop at the door. Putting my back to the wall farthest from the entrance, I watched Kirill test my bed with his hands.
His palms pushed against the springs. “This should be fine for tonight.”
Trembling, I moved to a corner, hoping it could offer protection. Yury studied my every move—every exasperated pant I exhibited through terror and anger. His pleased expression told me he highly enjoyed my internal struggle, which was between telling everyone to fuck off or stay quiet and not poke the hungry bears in the room.
Aiden headed for the door. “I need water before another round.”
Kirill licked his teeth as he ogled me. “I want to drink you.”
Fighting to keep my mouth shut, my fingers gripped the walls behind me.
Yury smirked. “Sounds like you need a lock on your door tonight, Fire.”
Kirill faced him while patronizingly saying, “Oh, locks are expensive.”
As if following a script, Yury agreed. “Everything has a price.”
Kirill winked at me as he left.
After Yury closed the door behind Kirill, I slumped to the floor. I simply had no strength left to pretend I wasn’t petrified. Yury sat on my bed while watching me try to catch my breath. Tiredly, I leaned my head back against the block. “Well played, Yury.”
“Yury is not my name.”
I exhaled my exhaustion of his horrid games. “Master.” He tried to hide the annoyed twitch his jaw made by looking away but I caught it. Trying to avoid making him angry, I asked, “Do you want me to call you something else?”
Yury shook his head. When he finally looked at me again, his coldness had returned.
I wasn’t the only one fighting an internal battle.
Placing my hands in my lap, I asked, “What is the price to keep him from raping me?”
Yury’s stare went to my necklace.
My eyes closed.
“He can’t help you here.”
My eyes opened.
“Only I can.”
After he reached into his front pocket and held up what appeared to be a dog collar made of red rhinestones and a key, I realized I had been guided into the trap I was now in.
“Here is what I’m offering you, only once, Fire.” He showed me the collar. “This replacement for that necklace.” He showed the key. “This for your new lock.”
We both knew who was in control, therefore we both knew what he was offering. This choice had another purpose. Yury wanted a surrender from me. He wanted me to admit weakness, and he wanted me to choose him over Link. This wouldn’t be the first time Yury would win. There were many more wins for him to enjoy, but this one was the hardest. It was painful to relinquish Link’s gift. It was painful to admit I needed Yury. But I knew it would be even more painful to let Kirill have his way with me.
My defeated expression must have told Yury of my decision. He pointed to the ground under his feet. “On your hands and knees, come to me.”
My clothes had been taken and ownership given.
Give and take.
I let the concrete scrape my knees and palms as I crawled to the only salvation I had. I wanted to be reminded of this moment when seeing the ripped skin. I wanted someone to see the wounds being placed on my heart.