Chapter 18
Dawn
Voices fluttered in and out,but none of them reached my ears as I lay in a fetal position on the bed. I hardly moved, hardly slept. Every time I closed my eyes, my past bombarded me. It wouldn’t go away. It left me breathless. I had no hopeleft.
“Dawn, sweetie, please,” I heard Emily beg as she kneeled in front of me. Her eyes were rimmed in red like she’d beencrying.
I simply blinked at her, not able to do anything else. My brain was like mush or turned off. It wouldn’t think, wouldn’t let memove.
I don’t know how long she stayed before I felt Elijah pull me to him, hugging me and holding me. He whispered soothing words, calming whatever was going on in my mind. I felt out of control—lost. I wanted to be found and brought out of my head, but it seemedpointless.
I could feel the man on top of me, but I couldn’t see his face as my eyes were swollen shut. I was worried I may suffer some head injury from when Erick had slammed it into the floor just the day before. I had fought him, again, and had to pay the price for doingso.
The man grunted as he sped up. I couldn’t feel him; he was as small as my pinky. I didn’t mind. As least it was an easy chore. It didn’t take much from me as I lay there limply. I just wanted to go to sleep, but Morgan kept coming in and waking me up, or dragging me to anotherclient.
This current guy seemed concerned for me, though. He wasn’t the first, and probably wouldn’t be the last. He was gentler, even though I thought this was the first time he’d comehere.
It didn’t take him long to finish and leave me at peace for a moment. I let the darkness consume me, for just a few minutes, before Morgan came and lifted me up. I groaned, not wanting to move as he forced me to my feet onceagain.
“Let her mind come to terms with things, son,” I heard Vence talk from the doorway. “She won’t eat, so any meds I could possibly prescribe won’t be able to help without food in her system.” His voice was quiet, but I could hear the hint of worry init.
“Is there anything I can do to help her?” Elijahasked.
“Just be there for her. You will most likely have to force her to eat and drink today. She can’t go on much longer without anything, since she’s still sounderweight.”
“Time to wake up, child,” Galvin said happily as he banged the dooropen.
I groggily opened my eyes, squinting against the light from the hallway. I had been in my cell in complete darkness again as a punishment for notobeying.
“Up you get,” Galvin demanded as he stood above me, looking down at me in disgust. “You have a clientwaiting.”
Slowly and shakily, I lifted myself up. My arms could hardly support my weight as I pushed myself up. My legs weren’t any better. Once standing, I slowly followed Master Galvin out into the hallway. I wasn’t sure where we were going, as he had never been the one to lead me to my next hellhole. He loved to watch the men take me and other countlessgirls.
Going down a different hallway, loud rap music reached my ears. It was noisier this way, but just as filthy as any other part of thisprison.
“Now, this is a special client, so you’d better not disappoint me. He paid a good penny to spend his time here tonight with just you,” Galvin said, motioning to an open room with a door posted on its hinges. “I expect you to be on your best behavior,understood?”
“Yes Sir,” I answered, keeping my headdown.
Once I was in the room, just like all the others, but with a small bowl of condoms on the table, I made my way to the bed, where I was sure I’d have to lie bycommand.
“Hello, my dear,” said the man in a calm and friendly tone. I kept my head down as I took a seat on the edge of the bed, waiting forinstructions.
“Hello, Sir,” I answered politely, my voice just above awhisper.
“Look at me,” he said. I slowly looked up at him. He was familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. Maybe he had rented me before, but his voice didn’t seem like one I had heard here yet. He smiled and took a seat next to me as the door shut, closing usin.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said gently, making sure he wasn’t touching me in any way. His light hazel eyes shone with compassion. He was bigger, filled with muscle and strength. His round face was shadowed in worry, but also a sort of calm. I couldn’t tell what his hair was like, since he wore a beanie down to his ears. His clothes were simple, jeans andshirt.
“I don’t really want anything but your time, and maybe a little information about you,” he continued. “I just want to give you a break from having to do what others want you todo.”
I was confused, and it must have shown on my face. Why would he waste his time, and money, to just spend it with me, talking of allthings?
“I have been here before, just keeping an eye on things to make sure no one was killed while they pleased the men,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen you a few times, usually with more bruises than the rest of the girls here—and you’re so much thinner than the rest,too.”
“Oh,” I said. That made sense, Iguess.
“How long have you been here?” heasked.
