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Nothing is making sense here. What does Clarence want with Nick? How does he even know Nick? The throbbing in my head isn’t helping any.
“It took me a few years, but I managed to dig him out. And now with you here, I’m going to be handing you and him over to a few very unhappy loan sharks.” I must look confused and terrified because he chuckles. “I’m surprised you don’t remember me, Charlotte. I used to be your stepfather’s arresting officer. He was also the one who encouraged my gambling problem.”
My hand creeps to my bag and I feel the cylindrical shape of the small mace tucked inside. Terror is rampant in me right now.
“You used to be a small thing back then,” Clarence continues. “Underfed, broken. Maybe it’s not that strange.”
A dark room. I was tossed on the ground in front of a bunch of men who leered down at me.
“You were there!” I gasp out, remembering that night. “You stood in the corner, watching me.”
“Good job, Charlotte!” Clarence seems almost delighted. “It was my idea, you know? To sell you to pay off both of our debts. And it was going great. They liked the look of you. Probably would have sampled you before selling you off. But then you had to go ruin that by running away. And then your father decided to go into hiding, or wherever he went. I was stuck paying off both our debts.”
He whistles a cheerful tune that is at odds with the atmosphere.
“Ten years, but I finally found you. Now, you and your father are going to clear my debts, while I can retire peacefully.”
“I am not some piece of property. I’m a person! You can’t just sell me like I’m like livestock!” My voice shakes in fear and outrage. Clarence shrugs.
“I feel bad, obviously. But I have to look out for myself, first.”
When I try to open the zip of my bag, my fingers feel too numb to open it.
He glances at my lowered head, and sighs.
“Don’t be so glum. You’ve always been a slippery little thing. Even at the bakery, I was going to set the fire and get you out of there. That particular accelerant is so strong, the entire place would have been razed to the ground. But then, that husband of yours showed up. And you started attacking me like a maniac. Sorry about hitting you. I didn’t have much of a choice.”
I struggle to open the zip.
“You’re crazy,” I whisper, hoarsely. “You’re completely insane!”
I see the main street just as the zipper comes apart. My hand goes onto the mace and I draw it out.
Alarmed at the sudden movement from behind the bars that separate the first half of the car, Clarence looks towards me, and I spray him in the eyes, making him howl in pain.
The car swerves, and as he claws at his eyes, my slim hand reaches the side of his seat and pressed the unlock button.
Hearing the doors on each side of me unlock with a loud click, I don’t hesitate, pushing the closest one open and throwing myself out of the moving car. I roll out, my hands around my head in a protective movement.
When I come to a stop, I ignore the way the ground seems to move, and I ignore the thousands of cuts and bruises on me.
I just run towards the main road.
Hearing Clarence shouting after me, I push my feet harder, tears of desperation in my eyes.
Oh, God! Let somebody recognize me!
I hear his feet splash in the water as he gains on me. The rain has me drenched and I am just praying and hoping with fervor that I reach the road.
Hearing the sound of him slipping behind me, I pick up pace and burst into the middle of the road.
Cars honk at me, people swear, a few cars stop. A man opens his door.
“Hey, get out of the road, lady!”
“Help me!” I scream at him over the rain. “He’s going to kill me!” The man blinks and then takes in my face.
“What? Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
