Chapter 5 Chapter five

“Let me explain something to you, human.” his face was inches from mine as he pressed me into the cushion. His weight trapping me in place. “You don’t have rights anymore.” his chunky fingers slid up my inner thigh, pushing whatever was left of my outfit out of the way. “You’re not a person. You’re property. My property. I paid a fortune for you, and I intend to get my money’s worth. Every last dime.”

“You…you don’t have to do this.” I tried to say, but his free hand clamped down on my mouth to stop me from speaking.

“Shh. I’m still talking.” he snorted. “Do you know what I do with my pets, Crystal? Do you know what happens to the beautiful things I take home?”

I couldn’t answer. I could barely breathe with his palm pressed against my face.

“I break them,” he whispered. “I take away everything that makes them special. Take away their hope. Crush down until there’s nothing left behind those eyes but obedience.” His thumb stroked my cheek almost tenderly. “I wonder how long yours will take. Hopefully, you don’t disappoint like the others.”

A fresh wave of terror flooded through me. I bucked against his weight. Tried to scream for help against his palm but he just pressed harder. I didn’t want to hear his sick plans. Or what he did to those poor women.

“You know, the first one was something else. She cried so beautifully. The second tried to escape, unfortunately, she broke her neck when she jumped out a window.” he sighed.

I was going to die! I didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not by his hands.

“You, you’re going to be my masterpiece, Crystal. And I promise to enjoy every moment of your body as well.”

His hand moved from my mouth to my throat and he choked me. Not hard enough that I passed out, even though I wished I did, but it was firm enough to tell me that if he wanted, he could snap my neck before I could even take a deep breath.

“You…you’re going to burn in hell.” I managed to choke out the words, hating how my voice shook.

“Save your breath.” he leaned forward, his flabby lips grazing my ear. “Hell is only what we make it.”

No. I refused to give up without one last fight. Terror gave me new strength, and I jerked my knee upward, aiming for his groin. But the bastard shifted just enough that I hit his thigh instead. But it was enough to surprise him and he loosened his grip. I twisted free and raked my nails down his ugly face.

Barron let out a pained roar as he jerked back, clutching his face in his hands. When he pulled it away, four red lines were running across his cheeks, dripping blood, and for a moment we both stared at each other.

Me, surprised because I was finally able to hurt him. And him, frozen in disbelief that I had the gall to draw blood. I would do it again.

But his reaction was the exact opposite of what I’d expected. It was something far worse than anger. It was excitement.

“Yes!” he laughed. “Yes, that’s it. Fight me. Make this interesting for me.”

He lunged for me again, grabbing the front of my dress and ripping it up even further, but the carriage suddenly jerked to a violent stop and we both went flying in the seats. I crashed into the opposite wall with a yelp of pain. Barron caught himself on the seat, cursing.

“What the fuck?!” he yelled towards the driver. “What the hell’s happening out there?”

No answer.

Then shouting. Outside, multiple voices raised in alarm, and a loud whooshing above us swooped by, casting dark shadows over the carriage.

Barron’s face darkened as he reached for the door handle. “Stay here,” he commanded, pointing a thick finger at me.

Like hell!

The second he opened the door, the sounds of gunfire and shouting hit me first. Then there was a flash of movement through the window. I couldn’t make out what it was, but now wasn’t the time to think.

Barron stood at the doorway, half-in, half-out, frozen in fear and I peeked over his shoulder to see what was going on out there. The convoy had been travelling through dense forest, and now, it was alive with chaos as more and more screams and gunshots rang through.

“Stay in the fucking carriage!” Barron yelled at me as he pulled out a pistol from his jacket and I gulped. So that was what was pressing against me? He dove into the chaos, and for a moment, I just sat there, my heart beating too loudly. Then survival instincts snapped me out of it as I stared at the open door. But was I brave enough to make a break for it? Right now, the logical thing would be to stay in here, I didn’t know what was out there! Places like these were a sort of no man's land, anything could be out there.

Then again, I would rather take my chances out there, than be in here when Barron returned…if he returned.

“Screw him.” I huffed, wiping my tear-streaked face with the back on my hand. This might be my only chance to escape my fate with Barron.

I scrambled towards the open door, clutching whatever was left of my dress. My hands shook as I gripped the frame and peered out.

Barron was nowhere in sight. But the scene was even worse than I imagined.