Disclaimer: Characters, (except the ones I create) belong to Stephenie Meyers. Lucky lady.

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Trafficking

Chapter 4

I sat on my bunk swinging my legs, counting the seams in the old, degraded yellowing wallpaper. The flowers must have been pretty at one point, but now they just looked sad; a reminder of the miserable situation we were in. I mulled over what had happened in the grocery store nearly a week ago. Greek god, Edward. I had just met him, I didn't even know him and yet I was infatuated. I thought about him constantly. I wanted to know everything about him, his favorite color, his favorite food, what he did in his free time. God, I feel like a schoolgirl with her first crush. I wonder how he felt the same way about me. He was so nice to me when we collided, not a jerk like a lot of guys would be. He truly seemed concerned. And he perused me, then again my good guy bad guy radar has been off lately, current situation being perfect proof of that fact.

Today was already Friday, that means I get to go see him tomorrow. I wonder why he was so intent on meeting up again. The past few days have been relatively okay. I managed to not do anything that would upset Misha, we okay. I managed not to get caught doing things that would upset Misha. I obeyed Stan, George and Madam. I did my chores, I didn't argue with anyone. Though I knew, and not just from her previous outburst, that Greta did not like me whatsoever. She kept a very wary eye on me, she was like Misha's personal spy. Kind of fitting, she kind of looked like a rat with her dark beady eyes and black hair. Pointy crooked nose, large front tee-I should really stop. Being cruel to her in my head really won't do anything, except make me hate her even more.

While we were at the grocery store, Annie and I had managed to steal a chocolate bar each. We figured if we didn't get caught then we had candy and if we did we could try and escape, maybe the store would call the police and have the arrest us. Anything was better than being here. That chocolate was a life saver, literally. We were fed here, but not much. Definitely not enough for a healthy lifestyle. We only got meat once a week, most of what we bought going to Misha and his two sidekicks. The other days we subsisted off of soup and oatmeal. Once in the morning and once at night with a piece of fruit around lunch. And depending on how quickly we went through it, we usually had bread every day. I had managed not to finish the chocolate all at once. I would take a square, maybe a square and a half a day letting the smooth creamy milk chocolate melt in my mouth. Mmm, my mouth was watering just thinking about it. My stomach grumbled, but then again when wasn't it grumbling. I've been here a week and already I think I've lost weight. I wasn't big before, but now I'm definitely slim. I guess Misha does that on purpose though. From what I've observed the pass few nights, many of the customers, at least the regulars, prefer their girls slim, tiny, petite. Small. I had been pretty lucky with my assignment. I was on entertainment duty. Not as good as the bar, but much much better than upstairs.

I stayed in the corner, rotating around mainly one pole for most of the night my first night out. I was so uncomfortable in just a bra and panties and dangerously high heels. That of course earned a few smacks from Misha. The next night he made sure I actually interacted with the men, well more like the customers got a chance to interact with me. I would call it unwanted groping either way. I shivered just thinking about it. The men could tell I was uncomfortable, new, not used to dancing or being feminine in my movements. That made them want me even more. When the night ended I gave God my thanks for helping me get out of there unscathed. When I went to bed that night I still cried, but this time I cried less.

I reached my hand in through my pillowcase to pull out the last of my chocolate. I sneaked a quick peek around, no one was looking. I pulled it out and quietly unwrapped the foil wrapper. Yes! Two whole pieces left. I could already taste the chocolate in my mouth, the small square slowly melting, becoming more and more smoothed, shaped to my mouth before disappearing completely.

"MADAM! MADAM!"

I whipped my head to where the screeching was coming from. Greta was banging on the door calling for Madam. Within seconds the door opened hurridly and Madam wobbled in on her pin legs. "What is it girl? Why are you screaming?"

Greta smirked and crossed her arms. "I think Isabella has something she's not supposed to." Her sing song voice made me want to take her scrawny little neck in my hands and squeeze until she couldn't utter another sound. That little bitch. I can't believe she was ratting me out! Of course, she would tell Misha anything to get bar duty, which she had hogged for the entire week, but this was wrong. I guess she didn't believe in "we all stick together."

Madam trotted over to me and saw the "contraband" in my hands. She smacked me across the face. Well, that was unexpected. I didn't even know she could muster that much force from her frail body. The slap stung, but not as much as Misha's. Maybe my cheek would form a callous from the continual slapping…was that even possible?

"You know better. You know you are only allowed what we give you. How did you get this?" I hung my head. I couldn't tell her the truth, I would be in even more trouble. "Well…" she sneered.

"I…I found it." That was all I could come up with? Smooth Bella.

"Well, Misha will be finding out about this. Expect to be meeting with him soon." She grabbed the rest of my precious chocolate from my hand and left, probably already on her way to find Misha. I gulped. What would my punishment be? Would he beat me? Would he feed me even less? Would he…he was going to send me upstairs. Oh god. It had finally happened. My stomach lurched. I could already feel hands touching me.

"Isabella." A harsh voice barked my name and drew me from my thoughts. Misha stood in the doorway. He was livid. "Let's go." His voice was cold and shook with anger. Why would something as little as a chocolate bar make him so angry? I followed Misha down the hallway to a room I had never seen before. It was empty, no furniture, no carpet. Just plain beige paint on the walls.

"So, I've been informed that you somehow came into the possession of a chocolate bar and kept it, even though you know very clearly that that is against the rules. I don't know what to do with you Isabella." He shook his head as though disappointed in a small child. I didn't understand where he was coming from. I admit I had been difficult all week when performing my assignments, but I did them and the customers seemed pleased. Where the hell was this coming from? I didn't have time to ponder, because Misha pushed me against the painted concrete wall hard enough to give my head a decent bump. My adrenaline was pumping. So he was going to beat me. I could live with that, as long as this meant I wouldn't have to go upstairs. Holding me against the wall he kicked my left ankle with his boot and I bit my lip to avoid crying out. That would surly be reason for another blow.

Misha smiled. "I see you've already learned one lesson." He stroked my hair, but his somewhat more pleasant demeanor didn't last long. "I do not tolerate disobedience. You will never break one of my rules again. Want to know why?"

Not really.

Misha forcefully thrust his fingers inside of me pushing deep enough to hurt. "That's why. Because you are a whore. You are my bitch. I own you." He pulled his fingers out of me and released me from the wall. I dropped to my knees and sobbed.

"George," Misha called out. George appeared in the room, holding something small and glowing an orange-red. My heart started to pound and my breathing grew erratic. What the hell was that? George handed the mysterious object to Misha and grabbed hold of both my arms, pulling the painfully behind my back and pinning me with his legs against the wall. Misha stepped closer and I was able to comprehend what the object was. It was a crude piece of iron, shaped into a circle at one end and a handle was shaped at the other. The handle was cool enough for Misha to grip while the circle end appeared to have been heated in a fire making it hot enough to glow. I gulped. Where was that going? As Misha continued to move closer I began to struggle against George. Of course I couldn't even move against the giant but I had to try. A crazy man was coming toward me with hot iron.

"Hold her still." I felt George's grip on me tighten. Misha grabbed my sweats and pulled them down on my right side, exposing my hip. Before I even had a chance to react he held the scalding iron to my skin and held it there. Immediately the room smelt of burning flesh and I gagged. Oh God, I'm going to pass out. The pain was mounting and I thought my skin would melt down to my bone. My eyes rolled back into my head and I let out an ear-piercing scream. I'm sure the girls in the next room could hear it clearly. Finally after what seemed like a full day Misha removed the iron from my skin. He looked down at my hip and admired his handiwork brushing the scorched and raw skin with his thumb causing me to whimper in intense pain.

"You see, once I've decided to keep a girl I mark her with my mark to make sure everyone knows she belongs to me. And while you cause me great trouble with your acting out and refusals, you are too beautiful to pass up on. My clients tell me you look so pure, innocent even. Like an angel. They all ask for you, yet I've been lenient with you and not assigned you to taking care of the client upstairs." He grabbed me by the chin and forced me to look him straight in the eyes.

"Expect that to change." Misha nodded to George who released my body from the wall and pulled me down the hallway towards the "cell." "Oh Isabella," Misha stuck his head out of the room I had just come from. "I may not like you, but you're good for business." With that I was shoved back into the girls' room.

Annie ran over to me and pulled me into her arms. "Oh Bella! Are you alright? We all heard a scream. He branded you didn't he? I knew that was coming. I should have warned you. I'm so sorry that happened." I grasped onto her tightly, she was the only thing keeping me sane in this hellhole.

"Come on, let's go get dressed. I'll do your hair and make up again." I allowed Annie to pull me to my bunk and choose my outfit for me. A dark red lace corset. Great, not only would I be uncomfortable, I also wouldn't be able to breathe. Thigh highs were also pulled out to complete the ensemble. At least they would hide the bruise already forming on my ankle. Misha had strategically kicked me in a spot not often visible to the clients. Smart.

Misha had made a new rule that once our little clock on the wall hit seven pm we were to start readying ourselves, no more back and forth to tell us to dress, give us assignments and escort us out. He would come to collect us at half past and we were to be ready for any assignment.

"All done Bella." Annie's sweet voice rang in my ears and I just hugged here, a lone tear escaping my eye. Of all the people here, she really didn't deserve this. "Thanks Annie." I sniffed and we all turned as we heard our door open.

"Alright girls, listen up. Greta, you're at the bar tonight. Annie, I want you Sara, Dalia, Lucy, and Olga to take entertainment. Bella, Mary, Paula and Carmine are taking upstairs. Let's go."

I almost broke down in sobs right there. I knew it, the bastard! I knew he was going to send me upstairs. I stood rooted to the spot. I was petrified. Misha was the only person I'd ever been with. And damn Greta! It's all her fault I was being punished; she couldn't resist sucking up to Misha. "He said let's go."

A gravely voice whispered in my ear and course hands grabbed my now permanently bruised but expertly covered up upper arms. Stan took me and the three other girls and herded us up three flights of stairs. We were standing in a long hallway with four doors. I peeked in each one. Three were tacky and cheap looking bedrooms; the fourth was a small bathroom. A metal chair sat against the wall in the hallway by the stairs. That was Stan's spot. He made sure we didn't go anywhere. He also made sure we were "safe" with these men and that they didn't go over the amount of time they paid for. "Against the wall."

The other three moved, the steps and actions robotic and memorized. I followed their motions trying not to draw attention to myself. We stood silently against the wall until we heard footsteps ascending the stairs. My heart thudded in my chest; I thought it would pop through my skin. As soon as the man's shadow entered the hallway I lowered my head. Don't make eye contact. That might help. Maybe he'll just look over me. There are three other attractive girls to choose from.

"Welcome James." Stan's voice shook. He knew James was a VIP and he needed to be treated well. I snuck a quick glance up and caught a brief picture of this mysterious person. He had longish blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail. He kept it neat and slicked back. He was dressed casually wearing jeans and plain black t-shirt covered with a classic brown leather jacket. "We didn't know you were coming tonight, or we would have Annie up here. I can go ge-".

James silenced Stan. "That won't be necessary. Mary will do tonight." I watched out of the corner of my eye as he inspected tonight's pickings. I held my breath as I felt his gave hover over me a moment longer than the others. "A new girl? Who is she?"

Stan cackled a throaty phlegm lined cough. "That's Isabella. She's nothing but trouble. You wanna make sure you get your money's worth, I wouldn't go pickin her. She isn't quite broken in yet." Ugh, Stan just winked. That was so sleazy. James seemed to agree with Stan's opinion because he passed me over and went with Mary. I watched in horror as he led the poor girl into the furthest room and the door shut behind them. Poor Mary.

It was only another five minutes before the next two customers came up. Stan greeted them as well. "Welcome gentlemen."

The first client chose Carmine, and thank god it wasn't me. He was disgusting. I could smell him as he came up the stairs and it unfortunately lingered in the hallway after he passed by us, Carmine in hand. The third man came up to Paula and I and considered his choices for a moment. I took the chance to eye him up myself. At least he was clean, maybe 5"11 and brunette. He definitely looked like a businessman and mumbled to himself in some sort of a foreign accent.

His finger traced my left shoulder. "What a beauty. She looks so innocent, like an angel." I grimaced. "I think I'll take her." He grabbed my hand and I stumbled behind him. He pulled me inside the room and shut the door. The black room, how appropriate.

"So, what's your name? I like the bitches I fuck to have a name." So much for a nice businessman. Again, with the radar. It must be broken. I wonder if there's any way to have it fixed.

"Is…Isabella." I whispered, my throat dry from nerves.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Has anyone ever told you look like an angel? You're probably the most innocent piece of ass I've ever seen, especially being a prostitute and all." Of course, being the "gentlemen" he was, he had already removed his clothing. My knees trembled and I tried so hard to keep them still. The last thing he needed to know was my inexperience, though I was sure he would find out in the next few minutes.

"Take off your tights and panties and get on the bed. Lie on your back." I did as I was told as slowly as possible. Then again, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. I was actually going to be committing my first real act as a prostitute. Had I not known I would be horribly punished, I would be sobbing right now. Inside I was. It took all my control for that not to show on the outside. It was bad enough I was quivering on the bed, clenching my jaw to keep my sobs inside.

I felt the bed dip down by my knees and before I even had time to prepare myself he thrust into me. I held back a cry of pain and gripped the blankets underneath me. Do not cry. It'll be over soon Bella. His hands gripped my hips, I nearly passed out when his finger dug into my fresh burn. My eyes filled with tears, yet I was strong and didn't allow one to pass the threshold of my eye.

Before I knew it, my client had collapsed on top of me, forcing out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding. I mentally cheered my self on. I had survived. I made it. Thank god he didn't take long. Within minutes my client was redressed and left the room leaving me to pick up my discarded clothing and go back in the hall. Stan smirked as I limped over and rejoined the girls against the wall. I couldn't tell if it was because he knew what had happened in the room or if it was because he knew my night wasn't over yet. I looked over to the stairs and saw a line that went so far, I couldn't even see where it ended. My eyes widened. If I didn't die tonight, or pass out it would be a miracle. I knew I would be in some serious pain tomorrow morning. Form the looks of the other girls these men were all but gentle.

I finally let a tear escape.

I can't believe how easy it is to just write and write and write for this story. It's so hard to find a place to stop. Like before, provide me with a decent amount of reviews and you'll get another chapter very very soon!

-lmbrtvll