Chapter Four: Ownership

I awoke in the morning extremely sore from the beds we were left to sleep on. I thought a walk might make it feel better so I went outside from the hut, the air was crisp and the ground was damp, it seemed as though it had rain, now the sun was shinning, I looked around and began to walk, the grounds looked different, I had only seen them in rushed situations, it was dull and depressing. There were people moving bodies out of the way, and children crying, people searching for food, and guards everywhere you looked. I turned a corner, "Hello Missy", It was that lieutenant Barnes fellow, "where are you going?" a few guards came up behind him and stop beside him "I was taking a walk, I was asked to have a word with Major Eckhart about something" I lied they didn't need to know and I'm sure he would have agreed that I was "He's at lunch you'd have to come back later… You can keep us entertained it you'd like" Lieutenant Barnes jumped forward and grabbed me by both arms and shoved me against the wall the others cheered on "do it", "make her bleed" and other comments such as that. I began to cry, and scream, he then pulled me to the ground and through his leg over me, so that he was on top pinning me to the ground, he then began to pull and tear at the cloths I was wearing, he began biting my neck and squeezing my breast, hurting and bruising me with his strength, he then began to tear my bottoms, and then he said " someone shut this girl up" one of the soldiers came up and covered my mouth, I tried to scream it was muffled, I didn't want to give up. I kept screaming.

A shot, silenced me, " What the bloody hell is going on here, get the fuck off her" Lieutenant Barnes stood up and fell back with the other soldiers who had got in formation, I turned onto my left side and curled up, I suddenly felt safer on this ground than I had been in a while. I then look up at the person that fired the shot and it was Derek, he had a darkened look to his face, "Lieutenant what the HELL where you doing? Your not to touch her, she was granted mine, Uncle said no one is to touch her or anyone in fact" " Well you s-see sir, at least I w-was going to do something about it and get some use of her" Derek looked at the lieutenant again with a stern look, " No, you can't touch her, she has rights…" "She has no rights she's a Jew" Lieutenant was silences "AND your violating them, I have been extremely busy, I haven't had time and I haven't been in lets just say the mood. My uncle gave me his word, you don't want to defy him now do you because he won't tolerate that and you know it. I will eventually get around to her, but you can have some one else just not her" Lieutenant thought for a second and said, "anyone?" "Of course" Lieutenant smiled and grabbed Derek's hand "I agree and I will take your offer sir" then he turned and left and the others went with him.

Derek came up to me and crouched down beside me, "Abegayle…Are you alright?" I did not answer him, I slowly got up, he helped me, I then realized that my cloth had been torn badly so I tried to cover up as best I could, I was embarrassed after all, Derek took off his cape he had on and put it over my shoulders. " Follow me" I followed him to his hut when I got there I hesitated I did not want to go in, he turned and looked at me, " trust me" he took my hand and lead me in to the hut. "Sit Down" he said, so I sat down on the nearest thing, his cot, he came and sat down beside me, "Are you alright?" he said softly, " Y-Yes, I'm just a little shaken up, and sore too, my back is aching and I have a couple of bruises and cuts too" he stood up and went to a cabinet he had and pulled out a first aid kit, he then sat beside me again and rummaged through it finding some rubbing alcohol and a plaster or two and a piece of cotton. "I'm sorry that happened to you, I didn't think he would have done that to you or anyone in fact" Derek looked up and stared at me for a moment, we got caught up in each others eyes, "Ouch" we both looked away "I'm sorry did I sting you", "Just a little", Derek took my hand and kissed the cut, he then looked at me "I'm sorry"

After I was all fixed up, I asked," what did you mean earlier when you told Lieutenant Barnes that you owned me" Derek looked away kind of embarrassed " Well, I asked" "Why would you ask?" "Because I found the answer to the problem, in order to keep you safe, and alive you spend all my free time here, so your safe, I get loads of free time so you don't have to spend it out there. I know I am sounding strange but do you see where I'm coming from, all you have to do is convince them, that I'm getting something from you every once in a while" Derek after saying that gave a look, that he was begging " Are you asking me to…" "I'll stop you there, I am not referring to partaking in them just leading people to think that, it helps my reputation and keeps you safe, because every soldier has heard of you and wants you" " Really Why?" "Because your pretty, and they find you quite handsome, I consider you a great friend and it would be nice to have the company" "Alright, If it's for safety reason I will" Derek smiled surprised by the fact that I agreed "O, Don't worry I assure you it is"