When I awoke Tom was still laying with me on the hard ground. He was petting my hair and sounded as if he was crying. I looked up to find his face right above mine, buried in my hair.
"Babe, what's wrong?" I asked groggily.
"A dream I had. No, it wasn't a dream, a nightmare. A night mare that felt like living hell!" He sobbed into my hair.
"What happened?"
"You were just sitting on the bed at home, laughing. Then these ass holes barged in from everywhere and tied you to the bed. And they- they- I can't- and you were- Veronica, I love you; you know that, right?"
"Of course, Tom."
"I swear on my life, I did not arrange for this to happen. I'm sorry you were forced into this, I should've-"
I cut him off by covering his mouth with my hand.
"Tom, what are you talking about?"
"I don't even know; but Veronica, just in case we don't both make it out of here, I love you more than life itself and I honestly want to spend the rest of my life with you," it all came out in a rush, but his message was very clear.
"Tomi, I love you too, and I've wanted nothing more than to spend my life with you since the day we met. But don't talk like that! We will both get out of here, all five of us, and we will go on with our lives when this is over."
"Don't be so sure you're all getting out of here," The Ringleader said from behind us.
His guards were suddenly hoisting us to our feet and forcing us in line with the rest of the guys. Our hands were immediately tied behind us when we stood up. They then lined us up along the wall, facing the center of the room. The Ringleader stood there, pacing in front of us, hands behind his back.
"Welcome to yet another group meeting. For some of you, it may be your last night we ever see you here," My fists squeezed tighter behind me, "because for some of you, you might be leaving here tonight."
What? He was letting us go? After only after a few days?
"But I am not the one who decides who lives or dies tonight."
Dies?
"The fate of the five of you rest on your little girlfriend there," he finished, pointing at me. Fear pounded through my veins as every eye came to rest on me. "She has a choice to make. Either she chooses one person that's not herself to be killed while the others go free, or, you all stay here and watch me have a little fun with her."
The tears were already welling up in my eyes. I looked at the ground, unable to stand the pressure. I would've given my life right then and there if it meant the guys would go free. But that wasn't an option here; it was one of them or my body for his enjoyment. Although the thought of what he would do made me want to hurl, I knew I had only one option.
"I could never sentence anyone to die," I said clearly with tears running down my face.
A wicked grin covered his face as he signaled to his followers behind him. They hauled an old mattress on floor in front of us. I started shaking as I realized what he was about to do to me. In front of the guys, who were grunting in protest beside and around me. I felt the cloth gag being placed around my mouth as silent sobs escape my lips. Someone behind me forced me forward. Grunts of protest turned to muffled screams of plea behind me as I was half pushed half dragged to the Ringleader. I was physically trembling at this point, terror vibrating off me in waves. He stepped aside and shoved me down on the mattress face first. I didn't move from where I landed, hoping he would leave me facing away from him. I felt him reach around my waist, unbuckling my belt and removing it. I closed my eyes, just as I felt the sting of it hit my back. A soft squeak of pain escaped my mouth as he flipped me on my back with his foot. He pointed my folded belt at my face.
"Not one sound from you or I'll kill them one by one," he said, gesturing to the guys along the wall. They had been forced to their knees and were still screaming for this to end before it began. "The same goes for all of you. One sound and someone's blood will be on your hands."
They all hushed and stared at him with hatred, fear, and pleading in their eyes. He was suddenly kneeling over me, the wicked grin still on his face.
"Ready for some fun?"
Without waiting for me to respond, my jeans were pulled off, my underwear soon following. I turned my head to the ceiling and close my eyes, trying not to think of the jabbing pain in my abdomen. I lay there for what felt like a life time, as he thrust in and out of me, silently sobbing as I was violated in the worst way possible. He was taking away the one thing that can never be restored, the thing I had been saving for Tom, and now it was gone.
'Please stop' I thought over and over again. After a while, he finally did.
"Aw, look at that; your friends feel sorry for you. Look at them, tell them how much fun we're having," he said in my ear. I didn't move. A fist suddenly made contact with my face, forcing me to look back in their direction. I didn't look at them though, I was too ashamed. Instead I looked at the floor at the edge of the mattress. My face was forced back up and hit again, but I still looked at the same spot on the floor.
"Look at them!" he commanded.
Slowly, I averted my eyes to the first pair of eyes. Gustav; his bloody and bruised face twisted into a literal example of agony. Georg; green eyes full of rage and pity. Bill; bottom lip quivering and shoulders trembling. Then the one pair of eyes I did but didn't want to look into right then: Tom; his eyes were red, both with tears and bloodlust. I could tell by the look on his face he wanted to look away, comfort me, and tear the Ringleader limb from limb all at the same time.
They all had tears dripping from their faces, all twitching like they wanted to get up and charge at him for what he was doing; Tom especially. Oh god, I wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and just have him hold me for the rest of eternity. I felt small, defeated, and weak. I needed him to make those feelings go away. But at that moment, I was still pressed between the mattress and the Ringleader, held down by his weight and a feeling of helplessness.
He was suddenly out and off of me, my jeans being pulled back up, my belt slowly being replaced. I was then hoisted over someone's shoulder and carried out of the room. The person placed me on the floor of the room I was being held in, and then left me in pure darkness. I lay on the floor, tears still silently running down my face. Hours seemed to pass by; no sound at all pierced the silence except for my ragged breathing.
