“What do you plan on doing with Megan?” Ebony asked. “Don’t tell me you don’t love her to pieces. You hide it with all your bravado about protecting her because she’s a kid. It makes me sick she’s even here with us.”
Rebecca reached for Megan’s hair, playing with one of her curls. “I’ll figure it out as we go.”
“What will we do about the others?” she asked.
“We leave no one if the opportunity presents itself,” Rebecca said firmly.
“What about Kendra? She’s the tattle tale,” Ebony said angrily.
“She’s not here by choice. We don’t know her story and I’m not letting her suffer if I can help it,” Rebecca said, tucking the blanket around Megan and checking the chill on her skin.
“You’re a strong woman, Rebecca. I don’t know what you did to piss these people off and end up here, but you don’t belong.”
“No one does,” Rebecca whispered. “Say nothing to the others. We can’t afford for anyone to give us away.”
“How much longer will you wait?” Ebony asked her softly.
“It’s not about waiting,” Rebecca admitted. “If an opportunity presents itself, we take it. I have no doubt people aresearching for me, but I’m far from being the damsel in distress. If I can rescue myself, I’m taking my chances.”
“Then let’s get some rest. They’re moving us tomorrow,” Ebony told her.
“Go to sleep. I’m waiting on Kara,” Rebecca said firmly.
“You’ll make a great mother someday,” Ebony said, lying on the mattress.
“Thanks,” she murmured as she stroked Megan’s hair. Having Ebony as a partner renewed her spirit. The organization liked to make them feel alone, isolated, and distrustful of others. After hearing Ebony’s story, she thought about the others and their stories. Kara acted tough and carried an attitude, but something told her the teen used it to hide her fear.
She picked Megan up, wrapping the blanket around her and setting her down beside her in the corner. At dawn, two men dragged Kara back into the cage and dropped her onto the mattress. She returned with a split lip and black eye.
Rebecca moved to her side as Kara curled up into a ball. When she touched her arm, Kara jerked away, whimpering.
“It’s all right, Kara. I’m checking to see how badly you’re hurt. I’ll demand they take you to Dr. Reese,” she said, attempting to comfort her.
Kara turned on her back, and tears dripped from the edges of her eyes. “We’re moving this morning. Dr. Reese didn’t give me a birth control shot. They sold me to a couple who want to have kids. I resemble the man’s wife. He inspected me last night. Once he pays the fee, they’re selling me to him,” she whispered, terrified.
Rebecca picked her up and held her tightly. “Shhh,” she soothed. “We’ll figure out something.”
“We can’t do anything,” she exclaimed. “They’re selling Ebony, too.”
Rebecca closed her eyes. Things seemed to go from shitty to downright hell in the blink of an eye.
“Did the men touch you?” she asked gently.
Kara shook her head. “They got off on me. Jim showed the man how obedient I am. Do you know how much I wanted to grab one of the guns and end it all? I can’t take any more of this.”
Hillary sat up. “Oh, you’re not so tough anymore. What happened to the attitude?”
“Stop it,” Rebecca commanded. “We all have moments of weakness. Instead of fighting each other, try supporting one another instead.”
“For what?” Hillary laughed. “Take a gander at where you’re at, lady. This ain’t the Ritz. Nobody’s coming to save us. The world has forgotten all about us. We’re nothing more than a statistic on the news.”
“You’re a human being with feelings and people who love you. They haven’t forgotten you. I bet they’re still searching for you and praying you’ll return home,” Rebecca reminded her.
“We’re nothing more than dogs,” Hillary cried out. “I’d rather die than submit to another man.”
Jim’s heavy footsteps sounded in the hall. His eyes zeroed in on the cage searching for the woman, who seemed to have lost all rational thought.
“They check us for diseases, but do you think they check the men? I hope their dicks rot off,” she carried on. “I hate them, I hate them, I hate them,” she screamed.
