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“I get really hungry when I’m stressed,” I explain, wrapping my arms around my stomach. It’s been almost a day since I’ve had anything to eat and somehow this ambience doesn’t encourage me to think I can expect any decent meals anytime soon.
Sammi nods at this explanation as though it makes perfect sense. “They’ve been feeding me once or twice a day. Along with the water skins.”
“Bathroom?” I ask hopefully. Sammi shakes her head and points at the drain in the corner. Fucking great.
“I wonder why different amounts different days,” I say absently, “Of food, I mean. You’d think it would be onceortwice, not changing.”
Sammi flushes.
“T-there’s a guard who likes me. He’s…scary. All I’ve done is flirt with him a bit, that one head guy doesn’t let the others touch me, but this one brings me an extra plate sometimes.”
I do my best not to cringe and give her a tight smile. I remember how I shaved off my hair and learned to fight. If it hadn’t been for Josh, I’m sure I would have had to learn how to flirt to get favors. If not for Josh, my story could have ended a lot differently. Then again, I’m still in here anyway.
“I’m not going to judge you for doing what you need to do to survive,” I say, my voice low. I pause for a few seconds. “If they don’t touch you, did they say why you’re here?”
Her eyes raise to meet mine and I feel a pang of fear at what I see there.
“Nick—I mean, the guard that likes me said…” she bites her lip. “He said I was being sold and that they weren’t allowed to ‘spoil the goods’.”
Traffickers. Fuck my luck. Literally the only people who could be worse than the guards themselves. My teeth grind with the thought of the traffickers I’ve avoided over the years. There’s been more than one close call since Josh.
“Did he say anything else?” I encourage, wanting to know as much as possible about what could happen to me. It’s the only way I can find a way to get out.
“He s-said that he-he’d come for me anyways, that I was ruined anyway.” She starts crying in earnest, letting out a little hiccup at the end. I run my hand through my hair. That wasn’t quite what I meant by what else did he say but fuck she’s obviously terrified of the guy. How can she flirt with someone she’s afraid of? And if a whore is afraid of sex with someone, what the hell do I do with that?
“I’m here now, he can’t get you,” I try to reassure her.
“He’ll come anyway,” she whispers before rubbing her face fiercely and blowing a strong breath out her lips. When she’s done, she looks more together. I wish I could do that.
“Someone should be by soon with something to eat. Drink your water before then, may as well drink as much as we can.”
As much as I don’t look forward to using the gutter in the corner, I follow her lead and drain most of the water skin. We sit in silence for a while and I’m left with my thoughts.
I’mnotletting myself get sold to traffickers, but at least I don’t need to worry about the guards coming for me in the night. Maybe.
Images of when I was sixteen flash through my mind, but I quickly shake my head. I don’t have time for that right now. I turn to look at Sammi who’s still crying but quietly, long trails running down her cheeks. I have to admit she really is gorgeous. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for her growing up and a pang of pity enters my heart.
I’ve never gained any feminine survival mechanisms, I never had to. But I can’t help but respect that this woman in front of medidhave to learn those things. Despite her tears, I do feel a sort of inner strength there and I start to understand, maybe just a little, why Ethan fell for her.
I kick myself to focus. This is the chick that was fucking my man, and I’m in a lot of trouble right now. Seriously not the time to think about this. My mind drifts to Axle and how he’s handling all this. Probably losing his shit. I’m betting John is dead by now, assuming Ax figured out who gave me up.
Sighing, I tilt my head back to the wall.
This fucking sucks.
* * *
I end up actually falling asleep only to be woken by the clanging of the door opening. Sammi stands up and I quickly struggle to follow her lead, still groggy from sleep. We aren’t bound so maybe I can overpower the guards. If I could get or make a small weapon in here overnight it would be better.
The guard walks in and his swagger immediately disgusts me. He’s a big guy for sure, about the same height as Ax but more bulky. His eyes trail up and down my body and I stare back with defiance and he only scowls before turning his attention to Sammi.
“Hello, beautiful,” he says, winking at her. She smiles at him, but I see how she’s trying not to tremble. This is the guy. He gives me the creeps and the way he is looking at Sammi right now makes me pale. I can see why she’s fucking terrified of him. Fuck, I’m terrified and he’s said all of two words.
He steps right into the room and I see a hint of motion just outside the door and know he isn’t alone. Turning, he grabs two trays off a cart and tosses them on the ground, splashing some kind of thick stew-y liquid all over the ground. A few water skins follow.
“Bon appetit, bitches,” he grins, pursing his lips to a whistle and walking out. We both don’t move until the door locks again.
“So, that’s Nick, huh?” I say and she nods in confirmation. I look down at the shit at my feet. A now half empty bowl of something that looks worse than the oatmeal-snot, and a piece of bread with a hint of green in one corner. When something wriggles inside the bowl I turn and gag, kicking the tray away and reaching for the water.
