AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I yanked at the bolt and raised the upper beam to let the naked older man free. Next, I rushed to the center of the room where someone appeared to be cocooned in a web of ropes. Uncertain where to begin, I searched the knots for the end of one of the bindings.
"You will also have to kill everyone you free."
At those words, I stopped. I couldn't free people only so I would murder them. I believed Armon when he said he'd make me kill them. I looked to the man on hands and knees whose waist was trapped in a large belt attached to rods on either side of him. He was helpless against the bar lodged in his ass, and another cylindrical thing that had also been inserted in his mouth. They seemed to be extensions to some sort of rocker his hands and knees were on that swayed if he moved. He looked up to me with a silent plea.
"Good girl," Armon mused. "Let them enjoy their well-earned fun."
My focus returned to searching for a weapon. I rummaged through the large and small items, many made of wood for this archaic room theme. When my hand found what felt like a prodder, I'd made my choice on weapon. It would work as a really dull sword to impale Armon with.
A loud crash ahead had me staring into the shatters of the large wall mirror. The older man, who'd found pants, kicked it hard enough a second time that shards fell. He reached down and chose his weapon. Much better than what I'd originally decided upon. I rushed over to find a shard I could wield like a knife.
"Mal is one of the worst of my enemies you've helped." Armon spoke with loathing. They all probably were his enemies. He would use that as an excuse for whatever cruelty he planned for if he captured me again, but he wouldn't be placing his hands on me again.
A sharp prod to the back of my shoulder had me twist to look up at Mal. A very tall, overweight, older man. His height and minacious snarl made him a terror to behold.
"I'll kill her," he warned, looking the room over as if talking to a God.
A long sigh came over the speaker. "I have heard you're fond of slicing your slaves." The thought made me ill. This man had come to purchase and torture people—more specifically, women who'd been kidnapped. But no one would be so horrible as that. It could be Armon’s exaggeration to frighten me back into his arms.
The shard stuck harder on the back of my right shoulder.
"Get up," Mal spat.
I lowered the glass and rose with my hands lifted in defeat. I'd ended up at the mercy of someone equal to Armon. Possibly worse.
"You didn't even try to stab him to rectify your misdeeds? Honestly, Sweet…"
"Move it, girl!" the hostile man ordered.
Chapter Eighteen
Iwalked the hall, directed by the old man's weapon of choice that burrowed into my flesh. By the time we reached the dining area, I could feel the chill of where blood had leaked down my back and started to cool against my skin.
Once we were getting closer to an upper-level exit, the man jerked me against him and held the knife to my throat. "One stupid move, and I kill you."
Despite the glass blade to my neck, I still knew I preferred death to the future misery Armon planned. That didn't stop me from obeying, though. Instinct had me well trained to make sure to not die by that chunk of mirror.
As we neared the door to the deck, I said, "He doesn't care about me. You're only walking into your own death."
"Shut up and open that door." The blade poked upward under my jaw, and I tilted my head sideways to stop the pain of a deeper jab. My trembling hand extended to push the door open.
When we stepped out, I caught sight of Armon swiftly striding out the other exit. Already, a wall of about ten men waited, blocking us from going anywhere except back through the door.
The blade went lower to the side of my neck, pressing in a way I could feel my heartbeat at the spot.
Mal ordered, "Give me a boat, or I’ll slit your whore’s pretty little neck."
Armon said nothing as he examined a black pistol, turning it in his hand with indifference.
"I will," Mal spoke louder.
Armon shrugged. "There are plenty of women in the world, but that’s something you already know." He raised the pistol.
I wasn't sure if it was aimed at me or at Mal, but I knew I was on the losing end of this standoff. My eyes squeezed shut. Yes, I was terrified, but I'd spent so much time these last few days in horror that this had begun to feel like a bit of a loop that would continue to play out.
At this point, there was a real fear of living out however Armon intended to retaliate for aiding one of his enemies. Anyone with decent aim could have already killed the tall man behind me, but Armon would be sure I lived and suffered. I felt his cold cruelty. I felt Katya's rage at my actions that helped this evil bastard escape. I even felt my own wrongness for helping such a monster.
My knees buckled beneath me before a pain at my shoulder. The roar from above preceded a clatter from the deck. As I fell forward, my hand smeared in blood. From the jerk of my hair, all I could do was defend myself and attempt to claw at Mal.
