Rory.
My best friend.
Her face had been beaten black and blue, one eye swollen, a gash across her right cheekbone, and her bottom lip split and fat. Her one good eye widened when she saw me, and a sob of pure and utter agony escaped her throat. I’d never forget that sound.
“I believe you’ve been listening, these walls are rather thin after all.” Marcus cocked his head to the side, “my men seem to enjoy this one along with the pretty little thing next door.”
The scream that echoed through the room after that could only be described as inhuman, I wailed, the pain blooming so fast and furiously it exploded out of me.
It was just me before. I didn’t know these women, as much as it made me sick, I could disassociate myself from it but not Rory. NotmyRory. My innocent best friend who had managed to escape a life of hardships to come out on top. Not my friend who loved life, loved to laugh, loved to explore. She was as innocent as a child. And he had her.
He had ruined her.
All the screaming, the memories of the cries and pleas beat like a drum inside my head. I had listened to the demise of my best friend and I had done nothing.
“Wren,” she sobbed, bloody spittle drooling from her swollen bottom lip.
Marcus reached down and gripped the hem of her dress, dragging it up almost to her underwear, and there, on her right thigh was a brand. Not cut in like mine but burned, scorched into her skin like they do to cattle.
The burn is weeks old, healed over but still raised and angry, the skin around it blackened.
“Let her go!” I screamed.
His fingers continued up, tracing the edge of her underwear, “Perhaps I should give it a go.”
“Get your hands off her!”
Aurora just stood there, she didn’t fight, didn’t scream or cry. Her eyes are glazed over, dead, soulless. They did this to her.
“You want it to stop?” Marcus continued, pulling at the strap so it comes away from her hipbone.
I knew what he wanted.
My submission. My willingness to do what he asked.
No questions. No fighting.
I could feel the numbness seep in at the edges to begin with. There was no way I wasn’t going to do what he asked. There was no question as to whether this was right. I’d save her.
“Yes.”
His hand came away, “then you be a good little girl.”
“She stays in here with me,” I told him.
He laughs, “you are in no position to negotiate, daughter.”
“Then I’ll scream and I’ll scream. Kill us both. Do it, you coward.”
His nostrils flared.
“I’ll fight. I’ll make sure I do everything I can to stop whatever it is you have planned. I don’t believe you won’t harm her the moment my door is closed, the only way I will behave is if she stays in here with me.”
Marcus growled, grabbed Rory and launched her across the room, causing her body to slam into the wall with a hard thud. With a whimper she sunk down to the floor.
There were no more words. No more threats. They untied me and pushed me back towards the bed before leaving and bolting the door behind them.
I didn’t waste a second. I moved to where Rory lay crumbled on the floor and gathered her into my arms.