With her arm tucked tightly in Shep’s elbow, he walked Samantha around the grounds. She was smiling. It was the first time they’d seen that since she arrived. Ruby chuckled, nodding at the young couple.
“Yes. That’s definitely beautiful.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Esther Moses was praying. Praying that she was dead and wouldn’t have to return to the hell that had become her life. The only thing that told her she wasn’t dead was the incredible, unending fire burning all over body.
“It’s alright, Esther. Don’t try to move too much,” said Kennedy.
The woman’s eyes fluttered open. She looked up to see the beautiful young woman wearing the white coat and frowned. She was in a public place. A medical place.
“N-no,” she cried.
“Shhh,” whispered Kennedy. “He’s not here. He can’t get to you. He’ll never touch you again.”
“Y-you don’t understand. They’ll come for me. They’ll find me and I’ll die.”
“No. You won’t,” said Ham standing in the doorway. “We won’t allow it.”
“Hamish McDonald what part of wait outside didn’t you understand?” asked Kennedy.
“Sorry, Kennedy. I need to ask Esther some questions.” Kennedy frowned at him, turning back to her patient.
“Esther, this is Hamish. We call him Ham. He and some other men were able to rescue you from that man who was whipping you.”
“M-my husband,” she whispered.
Kennedy frowned, turning to look at Ham. Except it wasn’t just him any longer. Patrick, Gator, Ethan, Irish, Major, Brix, Jak, Rush, Kev, and Cowboy were crowded into the room.
“He won’t harm you again,” said Major. “We’ve taken care of that.”
“It’s-it’s law. I will be passed to someone else,” she said staring at them with fear and uncertainty.
“Listen to me,” said Ethan. “No one will take you from this place. No one knows where you are. You are free of that life. Forever.”
There was a deathly silence is the room. They could see Esther’s mind trying to process a life without beatings and schedules and pain. She was uncertain. Unsure.
“Esther, I know that you’re confused and hurting but we need your help,” said Ham. “We believe that your son, Tyler, has kidnapped a young woman and may harm her. He’s already killed one young woman.”
Tears rose to her eyes and she shook her head back and forth.
“Dozens. Dozens of women. He’s been killing them since he was sixteen,” she muttered.
The dark expressions on the faces of the men in the room made her cringe, sinking further into the pillow.
“Since he was sixteen?” frowned Kennedy.
“He was taught. By-by my late husband and others. You must make a woman obedient at all costs. We are trained. Beaten and trained like dogs,” she said with a shuddering breath. “That’s not true. The dogs are treated better. This, this time was because I didn’t rush to service my husband after breakfast. He demands it six times a day.”
“Six times a day?” frowned Kennedy. “He must be taking stimulants.”
“They take many things. Drugs to increase aggression. Drugs to help their sex drive and much more. Women must do whatever the men say. They eat before we do and if there is no food left, we don’t eat. The animals must be fed first. We must clean, cook, fix things, do the laundry, everything. Everything!” she yelled.
Even the men jumped back at the sudden outburst, knowing it had caused her great pain.
“Why did you stay?” asked Kennedy in a soft, calm voice. “Surely there was opportunity to escape.”
“Do you know what they do to you if you attempt to escape? The torture, the torture goes on for days. They’ve studied torture extensively. The Japanese during WWII. The Germans with the Jews. They are masters at causing pain until you are a breath away from death, and then allowing you to suffer one more day, one more night.”
