Rebecca stopped arguing. These women lost themselves a long time ago. They refused to help her save an innocent child. She sat down on the cold floor, relieving her tender bottom area. Nothing they did anymore surprised her. When they called her to entertain their special guests, they never talked much. The men wanted to get to business, and she learned to separate herself from what happened until they finished. Where did they take the little girl? Worry ran through as she imagined what they did to her. Rebecca bit the skin around her shortened nails as her anxiety increased. The other women lay listlessly on the pallets, begrudging her for their missing meal.
The hours ticked by when she heard the footsteps coming toward them. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Jim’s keys rattled in the lock and he flashed his light into the area. His eyes roamed over Kara as he walked in and grabbed her roughly, jolting her from her sleep. Dragging her from the cage, he scowled as the other women opened their eyes and sank into the shadows.
“Stop, you’re hurting me,” Kara pleaded as he handed her off to another man. The footsteps grew fainter as they returned upstairs.
Rebecca closed her eyes and sighed. Did Julio forget her? Tears pricked the edges, threatening to spill over. She thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together, but the nightmare never ended.
She leaned against the wall and dozed, occasionally jumping awake and searching the cell for Megan or Kara. Neither one of them returned, sending Rebecca’s nerves into overdrive. Did someone buy them?
An hour later, she heard little Megan’s sniffle as Jim’s footsteps grew louder. He opened the door and shoved the little girl, sending her flying to the floor. Megan cried out, unable tosee in the dark. Wisely, Rebecca waited until Jim locked up and walked away before she reached for her.
“Megan, baby, come here,” she soothed.
Megan practically clawed her way up to Rebecca’s neck and clung to her as she cried her eyes out.
“It’s all right,” she said softly. “I have you now.”
“They took me from the kitchen. Jim said you were bad,” she hiccuped. “They hurt me.”
Rebecca’s hands gently floated over the child, searching for injuries and praying they didn’t touch her. She felt the welts across her back, bottom, and legs.
“What did they do?” she asked gently, stroking Megan’s hair.
“They spanked me with a belt,” Megan said, describing what Jim did to her. “It burns.”
“Come here,” Rebecca said, gently pulling the nightgown up and setting her against the cold floor. “How does this feel?”
“Better,” Megan confessed, still clinging to her hand. “Why were you bad? Jim said he hurt me because you didn’t listen.”
Rage filled her. Jim tried to blame his actions on Rebecca, hoping the little girl would turn away from her. Fortunately, he didn’t quite grasp the extent of her feelings for the child. He thought she protected her because of her age. “Remember how I explained how Jim and the others lie? They try to pit us against one another. We won’t let them. They hurt all of us, and one day, they’ll pay for it.”
“Because Mr. Julio will come?” she asked, sleepily.
“Yep. And he won’t allow them to hurt any of us again,” she assured her as Megan drifted off to sleep. After months of telling her Julio would save them, she didn’t have the heart to confess her own doubts.
Ebony raised and sat against the wall, tossing her blanket to Rebecca to cover Megan. “I overheard them talking. They have a shipment of kids coming. Those auctions last a long time. Theymake us serve the guests while they hurt those poor kids. It’s sickening. You say this wise, strong man will come to rescue you. What will happen when he doesn’t show and they take her away? Coddling her won’t be in her best interests. She needs to learn survival skills.”
“What do you want me to teach her?” Rebecca hissed, covering Megan’s ears. “How to lie on the bed obediently?”
“No. I’ve seen how you taught her to lurk in the shadows and how to stay close to us as we leave. Maybe you know more skills to help her and us.”
Rebecca turned toward Ebony, unable to see her face. “Why? So, you can go to Jim and use it as leverage?”
“No,” Ebony denied quietly. “I have two kids at home with my mom, Chad and Thomas. If you’re telling the truth, I’ll help us get out of here. I want to see my babies again. Mom’s too old to care for them.”
“Where’s their dad?” Rebecca asked.
“He’s dead,” Ebony informed her. “We went out for our anniversary. Dennis took me to this new restaurant in our neighborhood. We ate good food and the waiter came to our table and delivered two drinks. He said they were compliments of the restaurant for our big day. We thanked him, and he walked away. A few minutes later, I felt sick. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, and when I finally came out of the stall, a lady stood there, waiting for me. She claimed my husband sent her. We walked out, and instead of heading toward the dining area, she steered me toward the back door. It’s like I didn’t have control over my body. My husband must’ve come searching for me, because I heard him call my name as they lifted me into a van. Another man shot him and I watched him die.”
Rebecca reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, Ebony.”
“I don’t want your pity. Tell me the truth. Do you think this man of yours will actually come?” Ebony asked with a hint of hope in her voice.
“He’ll come,” Rebecca assured her.
“Then, teach me how to defend myself. I’m tired of these assholes using me like I’m nothing. My boys need me,” Ebony said, her voice sounding stronger.
“We’ll have to do it at night,” she whispered cautiously. “Listen to all the conversations and gaps in the guard stations. They eventually will make a mistake or leave an area. We can’t pass up any opportunities.”
