Chapter Fifteen

Addison woke to a splitting headache. She tried to raise her hand to her head but was stopped short. Her sleep muddled mind filled with panic and her eyes shot open. The memories from the past twenty-four hours came rushing back as she saw the cuffs around her wrists; the chain connecting them to the floor. She was still on her knees. She tried to straighten and nearly screamed from all the pain. Her body felt like it was on fire. She hung her head low in defeat. The sight of her own skin started to make her sick. Her shirt was gone… she recalled the beating she received and how her blouse was ripped to shreds. Her head was pounding. It had been slammed into the ground so many times that she was almost positive she had a skull fracture. She could feel the dried blood on the side of her head and underneath her nose. The metallic aftertaste of her own blood was still in her mouth even though the gag had dried and was plastered to her tongue and the roof of her mouth. She couldn't go down like this. She couldn't give up. She had to fight. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in an effort to clear her mind of the haze and the pain so she could think clearly.

Voices. She could hear voices.

Listening through the pain, she caught bits of the conversation, "We're going to get what's owed to us."

"Then what are we going to do after we get the money? Give her back?"

"So she could snitch? Nah…"

"Keep her?"

"And on the off chance that she escapes? That's completely idiotic."

"So we're going to kill her?"

"Wait, wait, I didn't sign up for killing nobody."

"There's another solution to our dilemma."

Silence filled her ears…

"You know… I know a guy…"

"Yeah? Me too," one chimed in sarcastically.

"Shut up. He deals in white trafficking," he pauses, "She'll have to be broken in though, to get a decent price. That'll be left up to us, so we'll be stuck with her for a few months at least. Buyers don't like wild bitches… they like them docile and obedient."

"Slave trading? I don't know, man. It'll be less risky to kill her."

"Double the money, though."

Addison closed her eyes again. Slave trading? Am―am I a slave now? She wasn't entirely sure what that meant but she knew she was in trouble. They were going to sell her. That was her life now. She was quickly losing all hope of escaping.

She sighed and opened her eyes. Her captors were staring down at her. Three men; large, muscular and not very attractive, staring down at her like a shiny new toy.

"Hey bitch," the tallest one says, "You finally woke up, huh?"

She glares at him.

One of the guys standing behind him laughs, "This one is going to be tough to break."

"We can do it. She'll learn," the smallest one chimes in.

The one upfront smirks, "We've been watching you for weeks now but we don't really know anything about you… So let's start small, what's your name?"

Although she wasn't planning on answering anyway, how could she with the gag in her mouth? She just stares at him. He struck her across the face then rips the gag off making her wince. He smiles evilly, "What's your name?"

She refuses to answer.

He bends down to her eye level, "Answer the question."

"You will answer," she hears coming from behind her followed by a whip to her back. He whips her and whips her and whips her again until she's shaking. She screams as he grabs her by her hair and snatches her head back, "What's your name?"

"Addison," she choked out through sobs, "It's Addison, please stop."

He threw her forward, pain shooting through her wrists as she caught herself. He walks around her and clears his throat, "Where do you work?"

Her silence is met with a kick. She coughs out, "Seattle Grace Hospital."

"So you live here in Seattle?"

"Yes."

"What's your father's real name?"

"Ca― what?" she caught herself.

"Your father… I'm sure you know him. He's the man with all the money."

So it's money they want? But even if they did get the Captain's money, they won't return me. They said only two options: slave or death. I can't let them win. She refuses to give them what they want, "No."

"No?" he asks as he signals the whip.

He beats her until she collapses, "Still no?"

"Dwayne," he called, "bring me the scissors."

"Here you go boss," she heard the smaller one, she now knows is Dwayne, say.

"Now, bitch," the leader starts but is cut off by Dwayne.

"Boss, she said her name was Addison."

"I know!," he shouted, "However, it's time this little bitch learned her place." She watches on as the others nod in agreement. "Bitch, since you have a hard time doing what you're told, you lose your privileges… First one to go was your shirt. Second," he pulls at one of her bra straps and snaps it, "Your bra." He pulls up the other strap and snaps that one too. Fingers dragged across her chest making their way under her bra and snapping the last piece holding it together exposing her breasts. For a moment, the men just stare at them in awe. The boss fondles with them before grabbing her nipples and twisting them tightly, "Name?"

"No."

"Third privilege lost," he says with an evil undertone, "your skirt."