When he turned her around to face the wall, all the women covered their faces as he opened his fly and shoved his cock into Hana. She screamed and he began fucking her harder, not caring that her tiny body slammed against the wall with his maddening thrusts. I glanced around. Women still covered their faces as though this was the norm. His grunts filled the bathroom and I stepped away from the shower.
His head swung around. The blackest eyes I’d ever seen clashed with mine. He released Hana and moved toward me, zipping up. Panic clawed its way up my legs to settle in the pit of my stomach. He circled me twice before stopping in front of me. The faint smell of something distinctly putrid surrounded him as he leaned forward, and I barely kept from gagging.
“Another pretty girl,” he smacked his lips. He touched a lock of my wet hair and I flinched. His lips widened in a slow smile, and I was suddenly reminded of the Joker. Only, the Joker was not bad looking even with his make-up, this man was hideous, the gluttony in his eyes even more so. “I will touch, and you will like,” he warned, his accent different from the others although his English wasn’t as perfect as the captain's. He ran a finger down my arm, and I dug my toes into the cold floor to keep from moving. Dropping his hand, he said something to Rabbit Teeth in his language, turned, and walked out.
Clutching my stomach, I inhaled deeply, then close my eyes to ward off the panic and the sudden dizziness. I jumped when Rabbit Teeth shoved my towel in my chest and grabbed my arm.
“Come.”
“Hey, my clothes,” I squealed. Shaking her head, she dragged me while I struggled to get the towel around my body. Given the size, I could only cover my breasts and privates, leaving my back open.
I followed her down another long passage until she stopped in front of a door and knocked. An icy breeze floated past me and I shivered. Someone probably said come in because a voice sounded from the other side before ‘Rabbit Teeth’ opened the door and motioned for me to enter.
Inside, another woman in a white coat stood next to the table reading something. Rabbit Teeth walked over to talk to her, leaving me at the door. Unlike everywhere else in this place, this room was illuminated by light from a long globe screwed to the wall and warmer. Courtesy of a burning fireplace on one side of the room. Without drawing too much attention to myself, I inched closer to the fire trying to get as much heat into my wet body. My gaze fell to the machines with small and large screens standing next to a single bed you would find in hospital rooms. I figured these were the doctor’s room.
The woman in the white coat looked at me, her gaze just as inquisitive while Rabbit Teeth walked out. I had a feeling not many American women passed through these prison walls. Either that or they saw something they wanted.
“What is your name, girl?” She neared me, her English just as perfectly accented as the captain yet her expression bore the beginnings of a smile I hadn’t seen in the other woman.
“Gianna,” I whispered.
“I’m doctor Rose, Gianna and I need to examine you. In a place like this, disease and illnesses spread quickly. Come.” She placed a small cup in my hand and pointed to a toilet and basin in another corner of the room. “Pee in that then get on here.” She tapped the bed.
Calmed by the gentleness in her voice, I did as she asked and handed over the cup. Shuddering uncontrollably, I moved to stand in front of the fire. When I turned back to the doctor, her eyes were roaming over my naked body. I climbed up onto the bed and watched as she conducted several tests until the last one.
“Bend your knees and spread your thighs,” she said while pulling on a new pair of latex gloves. I frowned. “It’s for a vaginal check.”
I went cold on the inside. After sleeping with Zayne, I’d been to a gynecologist for a regular check-up, this examination, though, seemed intrusive.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Gianna this will be for your own good, you’ll see.” Her words had my brow creasing once more. “If you prefer restraints.” She pointed to the handcuffs lying on a table. I met her questioning gaze and shook my head. “Good girl.” She moved to the end of the table, positioning herself between my legs.
As she began, I shut my eyes tight, clenched my fingers, and curled my toes inward. My bottom lip stuck between my teeth my tears fell, my mind wishing to be somewhere else right now. Even if it were at the mercy of my father or Salvatore, I’d take it but instead, her probing fingers anchored me to reality. I couldn’t physically escape, what chance did I have at a mental block, unless I drifted into a sleep so deep I wouldn’t want to wake.
The sluice of something cold hitting my stomach jolted me out of my thoughts. My eyes flew open. I watched her spread a clear liquid over my stomach. Goosebumps broke over my skin and my teeth chattered from the cold. Crossing my hands over my chest, I hugged my body, searching for warmth. She rolled something a device over my stomach while her eyes stayed glued to a screen on her right. I had no idea what she was looking for and I was too tired to bother paying attention.
Done, she pulled off her gloves and stepped away from me to go write something in a file. I slid off the bed and unsure what to do, waited in front of the fire with my hands banded around my stomach and my shoulders hunched to stay warm.
The doctor looked up then pointed with the tip of her pen to a double-door closet behind me. “Take out a red set and put it on.”
I opened the doors and stared at the rows of neatly stowed clothes. The bottom two shelves were all red and the top two piled high with orange sets. Taking a red set, I moved in front of the fire to dress in the drawstring pants and a mid-thigh, long-sleeved tunic. The clothes weren’t thick but far warmer than my wet skin and the gray set.
“What is your favorite flower, Gianna?”
Surprised, I looked at the doctor. “Um...white lily.”
“Good. That will be your name from today.” At my frown, she added, “in this place, all the girls are named after a flower, a bird, or an animal, depending on which block you are in. Gianna won’t exist anymore.” Her words sounded like I was here for life. Surely, someone would come for me. “Once you’re in here the world forgets about you, Lily. You cease to exist outside these walls,” she said as if reading my mind.
“But...but I have family,” I mumbled, not knowing if I did have a family.
“Not in this place. Trust me. No one knows you’re here.” She sighed, taking a step closer. Only, then did I notice the crow feet at the corners of her eyes and mouth. Light make-up hid them, the darkness in this place, even more so. “I was like you once. Sweet, innocent, and thinking the world loved me then I trusted the wrong man and I ended up here.”
My eyes widened. “But you’re a doctor.”
She nodded. “Only, because I didn’t give up hope and did what they asked. In return, they allowed me to study. I wasn’t allowed to leave this place, though. Now, it's my home, my family.”
“Your accent...” I trailed off, unsure if I should be asking personal questions.
She gave me the first real smile I received from anyone since landing. “I’m British. Like you, I got caught with my panty around my ankles and nowhere to go.” I frowned but she didn’t elaborate and instead said, “if you want to live unharmed in here, do as they say and life can be, I wouldn’t say pleasant, but uneventful. If you fight, you’ll get hurt badly or worse, killed.” I gulped hard, trying to keep my eyes dry. “In your condition, you will have to take extra care.”
