“Everett Sinclair,” a man answers. “Founder. One suicide attempt. One pregnancy but no children—miscarriage and has been sterilized.”
“Mm-hmm,” she states as if she already knows these things about me.
My teeth chatter, and I grab at the thick metal collar around my neck. It’s pinching my skin, but at least the hood is gone.
“What do you want to do with her?” the man goes on at her silence. “She’s pretty much useless to us. Not sure why you even considered accepting her.”
“Men are useless,” she counters.
“Eve?” a new voice says.
A boot kicks my side, forcing me onto my back. I try to fight, but I’m too weak. My heavy eyes open, and I see a man kneeling next to me. He runs his fingers over my exposed chest and down my stomach before they slide between my trembling legs.
I close them tightly, and he laughs, standing to his full height. “She’ll make the perfect whore,” he assures the woman.
I’m unable to make out her face, but I can see movement as she checks her watch. “She’s all yours. I’m leaving. I’ve got dinner plans with my husband in twenty.” She pats his back. “I’ll check in on her in a week to see how she’s doing.” Her heels clap when she exits the room.
“Here,” one of the male voices says and then my collar is gone. I almost cry in relief.
Then I’m picked up. He carries me out of the room and down a brightly lit hallway. It hurts my sensitive eyes. I’ve been wearing a hood for the past few days, so any light seems to be too much.
“Pl-ease.” My voice cracks. I’m so thirsty and my throat is sore, my skin rubbed raw.
His chest rumbles with laughter. “I always knew you’d end up here, Eve.”
I don’t know who this man is. How does he know me?
My head hangs off his arm and lolls side to side while he carries me, and I see little glimpses of red lights above doors as we pass by before we enter one of the rooms. He sets me down in a cold, unforgiving chair, and I shiver.
“There’s usually a series of events that must take place before this, but I think she’ll understand. We’ll go ahead and get started. I can clean you up later. You’re just going to get dirty again anyway.”
She? Who is she? The woman in the heels who handed me over to him? I didn’t get a look at her face.
He kneels down in front of me, spreading my legs, and wraps something rough around each ankle, then does the same to my thighs.
“What—” I try to look around, but my vision is too blurry, my bodytoo weak.
Another belt is placed across my lower waist. Followed by my wrists. I can’t keep up with his movements.
He walks behind the chair I’m strapped to and places something over my face. I mumble into a mask that covers my mouth, nose and cheeks. It pinches my skin as cold air hits my face.
I’m blinking rapidly when he comes to stand in front of me. He grips my chin, pushing my head back and forcing my watery eyes to meet his. “Breathe, Everett. Deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”
I try to shake my head, but I can’t move it.
“Breathe. Come on…deep breath in through your nose.” I do as he says because I can’t not breathe. “That’s good. Out through your mouth.”
As I breathe out, a tingling feeling starts in my toes and the tips of my fingers. “Good girl.” He praises me, and his hand drops from my chin and runs down my sternum. “Again.”
I repeat the breathing, and that tingling intensifies, spreading along my arms and legs.
“That’s it.” His hand drops lower and moves between my legs. He begins to rub my pussy, and I can’t pull away. I’m strapped too tight. “You’re doing so good. I’m going to make you the best whore for them. You’re going to make such a pretty dolly.”
I sit straight up in bed. I’m gasping as my hand goes to my racing heart. My eyes dart around my bedroom and then to the bed. I’m home. Alone. My cell sits on my nightstand playing “Change (In the House of Flies)” by Deftones. Reaching over, I turn it off, needing a second to clear my mind.
Falling back on my mattress, I run a hand down my face, trying to calm my racing pulse while my heavy breathing fills my now quiet room.
Kashton dropped me off at home two days ago, and this is the second night I’ve woken up having the same dream.
