By my upper arms, Yury picked me up off the floor. My feet dangled in the air as I looked down to a man who had lost his mind. The young man I had aroused during my dance had transformed into the angriest man I had ever seen. His body was shaking, incredibly so, while he studied my tears. Then he slammed his eyes shut, facing away from me.
Too terrified to talk, I stuttered, “M-Mas-ster—”
He dropped me to the ground. “Not. My. Name!”
I stayed as low to the ground as I could while watching him deal with his fury. I simply couldn’t understand what was happening.
Then he screamed, “Whit! My bed!”
Rising to my feet, I was shocked to hear him scream, “You are Fire!”
Traumatized on the floor, I watched the Pretend Whit crawl into his bed, Yury following her while unbuckling his pants. Scared I would get sick on his carpet, I covered my mouth in horror. Pretend Whit moved like a robot. His anger was not alarming her, nor what he was asking of her. She laid on her back as if his pent-up rage was an everyday occurrence.
Walking to the other side of his bed, the one farthest from the door, he pointed at me. “You move or head for that door, I will kill you.”
He meant every word. I sensed it in my bones. So, I didn’t dare move.
“If you look away, I will starve you for a week.”
It was demanded that I kneel and watch what should never have happened. Men should not take possession of women or young girls as if only an object. We deserve a choice. We deserve the rights that are legally and morally ours.
During the act of violating Pretend Whit, Master yelled how I had never been sold to the man who loved redheads, but that he would sell me to a sex farm if I didn’t behave. That sex farms were the only places who would take a slave with scars on their leg. While witnessing the degradation in front of me, I cried for so many reasons. I cried for Pretend Whit. I cried because Yury was part of the reason for the scar he was yelling about. I cried because this crazed man had made my body climax only moments earlier. I cried because my heart was shattering for the violence that seemed would never end. I cried for the man I’d just watched be murdered. I cried because, even with all that happened, I was attached to Yury. Mentally and physically, he owned me. And, now, I was forced to watch him with another. I cried because, shamefully, it bothered me. It was a low I will never forget. It was a low I’m still trying to forgive myself for to this day.
While having sex with Pretend Whit, Master also told me that I was there for him only. Had been from the start of my abduction. That I was his. I had no idea what he craved. I was unaware of his past and the reasons I, in particular, was so important to him.
I guess that was his story to tell.
After his sexual release, Master, dismissively, told the used girl to go and shower. She didn’t leave the room. Instead, she entered a private bathroom. Had she not just been violently abused, I would have envied the hot private shower she was about to get.
Buckling his pants, Master was sated and Yury exhaled. “It was wrong of me to kill someone in front of you. What happened downstairs won’t happen again.”
I wanted to say killing someone and raping humans is what was wrong, but didn’t dare say a word. Shaking through more tears, I swallowed. Shooting a man made it clear to everyone present, including me, that Master had no limits to getting what he desired.
Yury took a step toward me. I couldn’t help it. I recoiled in fear.
He squatted. “Fire, I want to help you understand why I did what I did.”
I hiccupped a cry, “O-Okay.”
“The man with grey hair is my father.” He sighed. “I basically just demoted him.” My lips trembled as they formed into an O, and I realized my owner was now the head ringleader of the corrupt business of selling slaves. “The disposal of an employee was crucial to get everyone on board with the minor adjustment in rank.” Yury wiped snot from under my nose onto his pants. “They shouldn’t have tried to interfere with you.”
I could smell Pretend Whit on his hand. I pointed to the bathroom.
“After that first night you danced for me,” dismissively, he shrugged, “she was required.” With a hint of remorse, he wiped at my tears. “We all have needs, I guess.” He stared at me for a bit then grinned. “Would you like to see Link?”
Too terrified to answer wrong and possibly be shot, I said nothing.
“Relax, Fire. I am calm again.” Yury took hold of my hand. “Come.”
Crossing his large bedroom past a very tall dresser, we walked toward a window. There was snow everywhere outside, and no other houses to be seen. It appeared we were in the middle of Nowhere, Russia. Even the dreary weather was beautiful after being in a basement for almost nine months.
Under the window sat a desk with a laptop. Yury gently sat me in the chair. He tried to calm my ruffled hair, that he had manhandled, then pushed a button on the laptop.
A video began.
Link was sitting in his dorm room, facing his laptop’s camera. It appeared he was alone. Daylight shined in the window behind him. Link exhaled and then said, “No one will probably ever see this video blog, but, uh, I need to talk.”
Link. His voice, so familiar, made me ache inside and find what I had just witnessed that much more horrific. The desire to be free of all the mayhem I couldn’t escape had me wanting to crawl through the laptop screen and be held by the best human in the world.
Besides sad eyes, Link looked so healthy. So unlike me. I peered up at Yury who was standing at my side, studying me. I asked, “M-May I touch the screen?” I wanted Link to heal my broken heart like he almost managed after my brother passed. I wanted… my best friend.
“If you like,” replied Yury with a touch of irritation.
Even though it would most likely cost me, I touched the outline of Link’s face as he continued to talk. “I’ve recently learned my life is full of lies. Not only my life, actually. And, I’ve recently learned of a horrible crime happening in the world, all over. It’s called human trafficking. This can come in the form of forced or grossly underpaid labor, stealing someone’s organs, or selling bodies for other purposes such as sexual slavery.” Link rubbed his face with his palm. “We live in a beautiful world; we just have some evil people with us.” His eyes welled. “I’ve never been a slave, thank God, but am linked to it. I can’t say more because I don’t wish for the ones I love to suffer any repercussions.” He played with a pen in his hand while lost in thought. “I would do anything for the ones I love.”
As would I. I whispered, “Link, I’m here.”
Link looked into the screen. “If a young woman,” he smiled, “my Little Treasure—”
I burst into tears…
“—happens to ever see this, I love you, girl.” He held up a pointer finger.” One. Always have.” He added a finger. “Two. Always will.”
In silent hysterics, I touched the fingers so far away from me.
The video ended. My hell continued…
Amusement and Ammunition
“What are you feeling?” asked my captor as he turned my chair and squatted between my thighs.
When I only stared at his laptop, he shut it.