I was in exile.
A prisoner.
Unfortunately the girl who had been in here- I had later learned her name was Meredith- only came in once every day, and she hadn't really warned me about any of the other foods being drugged. I had spent a lot of the week on drugged hot dogs- knowing only to stay away from the pizza- and god knows what. At one- or two- stages Carter came in to see me, telling me that when I had rested- at the end of the week- he would tell me something. Before then, though, aparently none of his 'men' were allowed to 'claim' me.
Come Friday, I hadn't been eating for 20 hours, and, though starving, I knew this would be my ownly chance to get something out of Carter. He came to see me at his usual time- 3.30- and was apparently pleased to see I was completely sober and awake.
He did the usual-kissed my cheek (something I couldn't stop) brought me non-drugged food (something i didn't want to stop)- before telling me he had another proposition. "How'd you like to get out of here?" He asked, and I nodded carefully. "Of course." Carter grinned. "Well, today's your lucky day, cause I'm about to fill you in on why I'm so wealthy. Do you remember what I told you I did?" I nodded. "You said you were a business man." Carters grin widened. "Right. Do you see my business?" I gasped.
Carter simply nodded. "Grace, I'm inviting you to join me in this business. To become my wife." My jaw didn't falter, it remained open wide. My eyes were two large O's. I was frozen. "N-no," I finally managed to get out, and shook my head. "No. I could never do that, Carter. Marry you. I'm in l-" "love with that moron Antony, or whatever, I know, I know." I glowered. "Anthony." I corrected, but he didn't hear me. "Thats quite obviously the reason I had to take you by force- I knew what was happening. You spent too much time with him, never calling me back. And when he left, I was so, so happy. I have spies, Grace, you have to understand that I don't always like the information that is brought back with them, though. I know the expression 'don't shoot the messenger' and I don't. I have one of my men do it. Anyway, when a certain spy reported back that his car was there, I went ballistic. I had someone scope it out, knowing you had that weird thing about keeping curtains half open. They saw you in bed with him, asleep. And thats when I knew. I had to take you by force. And here we are," He paused to smile at me. "So, you see, I'm giving you the choice." I shook my head again. "I'd rather die!" I spat, and he stood up. "Fine." He said through clenched teeth. "But I won't be here to save you next time one of my men wants to use you, Grace. I'm giving you one. week." He left abruptly, left me crying.
The days passed by sluggishly. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. They were all starting to blur together. When Meredith wasn't in, a woman Carter told me was named Emmeline cared for me. She didn't speak, just brought me food and water and changed the beds. A few other girls were brought in from time to time, but they were almost always immediately moved to a different 'location' while still dazed.
The one that stayed the longest was a girl who looked about fifteen. They called her Emma, and she stayed for two and a half days. While trying to get to sleep oneday, one of Carters men came in, and SPROING, SPROING. I struggled to hide my horror.
Just when I was about to give up all hope, they brought in a new girl. She was pretty- raven black hair and blue eyes, but came in screaming and struggling. They had her drugged asleep soon enough, but she woke up as soon as they were gone, muttering something about a nice try and spitting out the pills they force fed her.
She saw me, and nodded in my direction. "You drugged?" I shook my head, and she nodded to herself. "Good. Because we're busting out of here." "How?" She gave me a look. "I don't know! Have you tried to escape yet?" I nodded. Numerous I had tried to get out of the locks.
"Yes, but the locks and chains are impossible." The girl scowled. "Well, we'll make them possible. I refuse to stay here and get raped."
It was quiet. "Whats your name?" "Raven." Kind of ironic, with her hair. "Grace." She leaned over and shook my hand. "Pleased to meet you, Grace. Now, hows about we get the hell out of here. Any ideas?" Before I could talk, the doors opened, and in came Meredith. She had food, and, while she was making the beds, I told her, "Meredith, I'm going to break out. With Raven." She dropped the tray. "What? You can't do that!" She hissed. "I've tried! They won't let you!"
Raven scoffed. "Why should we trust you, anyway? Why aren't you tied to a bed?" Meredith shot her daggers. "You wanna see what they do to people who try to escape?" She crossed the room, and lifted up her shirt. Raven and I gasped in unison. Her lower left side was scarred brutally, with the word 'OBEY' in jagged, capital letters.
She lowered her shirt, with a bitter smile on her face. "Regardless," I said. "We need to get out of here. We can't let them keep doing this to people." I gasped, a smile rising on my mouth. "And I know just how to do it."
