Disclaimer: I don't own FF7 or anything related

Chapter 11

It was a long car ride that consisted of hours upon hours of Don spewing sexual garbage at her. Hours of her pretending to be happy while he grabbed her and kissed all over her. She hated his lips. They weren't dry, they were actually soft and plump. They reminded her of her mother's lips and she didn't want to focus on that, not while he was violating her.

"Aerith? You know, you're a lot more delicate than the other girls." he slipped his hands into her pants, "I guess I need to go easy on you." Aerith remained quiet, her mind drifting to other things. She hadn't gotten to say goodbye to Yuffie or Tifa, she wondered how they were doing. If they were sad that she was gone. She didn't know them well, she realized, they didn't talk much because of work. And when they were together, it was usually them just sitting in her room, trying awkwardly to talk about normal things.

"I'm a little tired, but we can't really nap in this car. Not comfortably anyway." Don sighed, "We should nap when we get there." She nodded, she could let him sleep while she got as far from him as possible. She wasn't going to run away, she would just find a place to try and relax. Maybe a new room would help her sleep, maybe... Or instead of sleeping, she could try to find a way out. She could ask Zack, although he'd probably tell her to stop.

"Do you think we should skip the nap?" he took a breath, "You just... You just smell so good. Strawberry?"

"Yes." she nodded, "The one you got for me." Was it right to run away? Without Yuffie or Tifa? There were so many girls there who wanted to go home as much as she did, why should she get to leave? It wasn't fair but... how many chances like this would she have? Maybe... Maybe she could get home and tell someone... Then they could send someone for the other girls.

"You look deep in thought." his fingers pressed into her and she resisted the urge to stiffen up.

"Just you." she said sweetly. Her voice was dripping with fake love and she hated it. He was 30 years older then her and she never expected to ever do anything like this with anyone so old.

"Really? Because you're dryer than a desert." he said. He wiggled his fingers and she squirmed.

"I wasn't thinking about you that way." she said, "It, uh, it wouldn't do me any good to."

"I see." he nodded, withdrawing his hands from her underwear, "I should stop teasing you, shouldn't I? Every moment of your life isn't about sex, I get it. But i'm glad you're thinking about me." His hand moved up to her hair and began to run his fingers through it. These weren't intimate touches, they had no sexual meanings, her mother used to do the same... That was why it disturbed her so much. "I'm so glad you aren't trying to run off."

"Why would I do that?" she yawned, maybe if she thought she was tired, he would stop talking.

"That little one, Yuffie is it? She's trouble, young girls always are." Don said, ignoring her question, "I'll be getting rid of her soon."

"You can't..." she knew he wasn't going to kill her, he'd get more money if he just sold her. But she needed to know where she was if she was going to send someone back to get her.

"She doesn't bring in as much money as the other girls. Not as much as you." Don said.

"She's my friend." she said.

"You don't need her, you have me." Don said.

"But... I-" he pressed a finger to her lips.

"It's a little later the I thought it would be," he said, "I think we'll just have that servant boy make us a small snack. Eating this late will just make you fat."

"I don't eat much anyway." she mumbled. What right did he have to make comments about her weight? He was fat himself and every time he was on top of her, she felt as if she would be crushed. He was the one who needed to watch his weight, not her.

"According to clients, you don't sleep either." Don said, "I've received one too many complaints about you falling asleep on the job." he continued to run his fingers through her hair, but there was a little more pressure now. His fingers were digging into her scalp, "What's got you so restless? Tell me."

She was angry and she wanted to tell him what was wrong. She worked in a whore house, she was violated by old men daily and she couldn't be happy about that. "I miss my family." she said quietly, "My mom, my brother and my dad..."

"You just need to forget them. Focus on me now, I'm your family." he said, "And i'm more then sure that they've already forgotten you." She knew it wasn't possible, but she was still hurt by it anyway. The thought of them living normally, as if she hadn't mattered at all... "Look, we're here."

She looked out of the window at the mansion, "It's big." she murmured. It looked everything like she thought it would.

"Yes, I had it built just for me and my girls. But I realized I could make more money if I shared them." Don said, "My brother suggested I move to Germany." Aerith wondered what it would have been like if he stayed here. If she was purchased as some sort of house pet instead of a prostitute. If she was only one of many girls here to just please him. It wouldn't be as bad, but it definitely wasn't something she wanted to do. "What do you think of it?"

"It's nice." she said.

"I designed it myself." he said. Aerith nodded and leaned against the door. She watched Zack carry a few things inside, "Where did you get those clothes?" he asked.

"I went out yesterday." she said before she could stop herself. She wasn't even sure if she was allowed to, "I- Zack said it would be cold so I got some more clothes."

"You went out?" Don frowned at her, "But you came back..."

"Why wouldn't I come back to you?" she asked. A smile grew on his face and he pulled her away from the window.

"A lot of girls wouldn't have, I'm glad you aren't one of them." he said, "But it doesn't make me happy that you left without my permission."

"You told me to prepare... I assumed I could." she said, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, you'll make up for it tonight." he said. The driver had opened the door for them and she got out. Don followed quickly, "Here, come to my room. I think there's something I want to do before our dinner arrives." He took her hand and led her into the mansion. Instantly she realized that it was just like the Honey bee. Neon lights and purple carpeting, it gave her a headache.

"I'm going to make good on my promise. No sex until after dinner." he said, "But you can jerk me off." He led her into a room and pushed her onto the bed. "Take off your clothes." he ordered. She nodded and began to strip while her pulled off his shirt. She sat naked on the bed while she waited for him to get out of his pants.

"Are you having trouble?" she asked.

"The pants are a little tight, give me a hand." he snapped. She came over and tried to pull the pants down, but they wouldn't budge. He put his hands on her shoulders and she felt his nails digging into her shoulders. He was getting impatient. "Hurry up!"

"They're stuck." she said, "I think we need to cut them."

"We can't cut these. They were a gift, and they're worth more than you." he said, "I'm sure you have no problem getting the clothes off of your clients." He was angry now, and she hadn't even done anything wrong, "Or maybe you do. Maybe that's why no one pays full price anymore."

"I'm sorry... I'm trying." she said. She yanked at the pants, but they wouldn't move.

"Not hard enough obviously." he sighed, "You can't just keep saying sorry. You need to get punished for your failures." He pushed her onto the bed and crawled on top of her. He held his face inches from hers and put all of his weight on her, "I forgot my tools, so you'll have to wait."

He continued to struggle with his pants and she struggled to get some air into her lungs, "Please, I can't-" she gasped, "Please, I can't breath." He rolled off of her and growled.

"Go."

"What?" she was a little surprised now.

"Get out of my sight!" he pushed her out of the bed and she grabbed her clothes, "Sleep with the servants tonight." She quickly dressed and left the room. That had gone horribly. He'd gone from normal to angry in seconds and all because his pants were too tight.

She scrambled down the stairs and into the basement, "Zack?" she called. There were a few beds and they were all empty. The entire place looked filthy and she felt bad that Zack had to sleep there. "Zack?" she called again. When she couldn't find him, she went back upstairs and saw Don at the front door.

"There you are." he sighed, "I'm sorry I shouted at you. This is supposed to be our vacation." He put a hand on her cheek, "I need to go out for a moment. Keep my bed warm for me."

"Yes, sir." she nodded.

"I'm sorry I can't have dinner with you, but have that boy prepare something for you, okay?" he gave her a kiss before leaving. Aerith watched the door for a moment before rushing off to find Zack.

"Zack?" she called again, louder this time.

"Kitchen." he called back. She walked in and found him scrubbing the floors. "He hasn't cleaned this place since he moved to Germany. They just packed up and left. Half of these rooms are still full of clothes and stuff."

"Really?" she said.

"Yeah, where is he?"

"He left..." she said, "I don't know when he'll be coming back." Zack stood up and dropped the sponge.

"Are you okay?" he asked, "Are you hurt?"

"No, he got angry with me and sent me away." she said, "He... He couldn't get his pants off." Zack nodded and bent back down to the floor, "I think he's a little angry that I went outside too."

"I knew you'd get in trouble..." he sighed, "I shouldn't have taken you out."

"No, I really wanted to go." she said, "And i'm not in trouble." Not for going outside, at least. She knew that Don was angry about the fact that she was performing poorly at work.

"Let me call someone... I have an idea." Zack said suddenly. He stood and thrust the sponge into her hands, "Make sure Don doesn't come back. Talk really loud if he does."

"What are you doing?" she asked. Zack didn't say anything as he walked over to the phone, "You... Are you calling someone?"

"Do you think he has these bugged?" he asked.

"You can't use the phone! You'll be in so much trouble when he finds out!" she said.

"If he finds out." he corrected, "This is really important, just keep watch." Aerith nodded and turned around. She knew she shouldn't be so worried about him, he knew the rules better than she did. It was just a phone call right? "This'll help us both," he dialed the number, "If I do get caught, i'll handle it."

She watched the front door and tried to listen to his conversation. "Been a while... I tried, I couldn't. One girl... Yeah, I guess...Italy, is that okay? You too! Awesome! Just her, I guess... Yeah, bye then..." He hung up the phone and walked over to her, "I'm going to finish the floors now." he said. He reached for te sponge and she stepped back, holding it away from him.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"No one, I mean, a friend." Zack said, "He's going to help us."

"What did you do?" she asked nervously.

"Hey! Calm down, I haven't done anything!" he smiled, "Really, I just called someone and he's going to do something."

"The police?" she hadn't really thought about it, but would anyone believe her if she did? There hadn't been a phone she could use back in the Honey Bee.

"Hmm? Uh, no." Zack said, "Because then they'd want to talk to Don and he'd find some way to get them to go away."

"Right." she said, "Who was it?" he reached for the sponge again she pulled it away.

"He's someone I met a while back. He was traveling and he came to Germany." Zack said, "He told me to call him if I needed anything."

"What did you ask him to do?" she was worried but maybe this would work.

"I asked him to come and get you." Zack said, "And he will! Give it a few weeks and he'll bust you out of here!"

"What about you?" she asked.

"Well, I think I need to go back." he said, "I figure I can help the others there too."

"Don't you want to see your family?" she asked.

"No." he sighed, "I guess... But it's been too long."

"But your mother, she'd want to see you right?" Aerith asked. She couldn't believe that he would stay with Don instead of return home. "Your dad would want to see you too."

"It's been too long! I wasn't even their favorite, they're probably glad i'm gone." he said.

"Zack, come on. Parents aren't like that. It doesn't matter if you're her favorite or not." she said.

"I'm sure things like that don't matter if you have a perfect family. Parents aren't even supposed to pick favorites, but my parents did." he snatched the sponge and dropped to his knees, "All I ever did was bother them."

"Zack..." she bent down next to him, "No one has a perfect family. I know I didn't. My mom and my step brother hardly get along, they used to fight all the time. She likes me more, I know that much."

"Is this going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yes." she rolled her eyes, "Even though he isn't her favorite, she still worries her when he stays out all night. Even though she doesn't act like she cares, she does."

"And you think my mom is the same?" he looked at her.

"Well, yeah..." she said.

"But I could do so much more here..." he began to scrub the floor, "But maybe I should go and see them." She stood there and watched him for a moment, feeling proud of herself. She didn't really know how his family was, maybe his mother wouldn't want to see him, but she couldn't let him stay here. Don would tear him apart once he realized that he'd helped her escape. "You can go and rest, I'm going to finish the floors."

"Can I help?" she asked, "I don't think I can sleep."

"I guess." Zack said, "There's a sponge over there on the counter." She got the sponge and together they scrubbed the floors. "I convinced him not to bring anymore servants. I told him I could clean everything by myself."

"Why?" It would have made his job so much easier if he had help.

"I didn't want them here. He's going to be looking for someone to take his anger out on, I'd rather it be me instead of one of the kids." he explained. She understood, but at the same time, she was angry. If Don was angry, he'd be taking it out on her, because she'd be the closest and easiest target.

"He told me I have to sleep down there with you... But tonight he wants me to be waiting when he gets back." she said.

"Do you think you'll be okay?"

"Is there anything you can do if I won't?" she asked. She didn't mean to sound so bitter, but she did and Zack flinched.

"Um... dinner!" he changed the subject, "There isn't much here, I have to go shopping tomorrow, but I can make you pasta."

"With what?" she asked.

"I can make it from scratch, he's got eggs and flour... but there won't be any sauce... Unless you want to use the can of tomato sauce he has, but I don't trust it." Zack said. She didn't say anything and he began to make the pasta. She watched him mix the ingredients and found herself falling asleep as he rolled out the pasta. "I can make little bow ties." he said.

She sat down at the kitchen island and watched him roll the pasta into different shapes. "Where are you from?" she asked.

"Some tourist trap in Michigan." he said, "And you?"

"The exact opposite. A tiny town surrounded by farms." she said, "They grow a lot of soy beans and corn."

"Boring." he said.

"I liked it." she shrugged, "The people were nice and they always held little town festivals."

"Sounds nice, I kind of want to see it." he said.

"Maybe you can convince your parents to bring you." she said. She wasn't even sure how well his plan would work, but if she kept thinking it would, she'd be able to get through the few weeks quickly.

"Here, open this can." Zack handed her a can opener and the can of tomato sauce.

"I thought you didn't trust it." she said.

"I'll test it myself." he said, "Just open it." She opened the can and peered inside of it.

"I don't think canned foods ever expire." she said. Zack took the can and sniffed it, "Just use it."

"And if you get sick?" he tasted the sauce, "Then what?" She didn't know. Sure, she'd been feeling sick recently, but that was different. What if she was feverish? If she needed bed rest, and there was no one to make sure she got it.

"You'd make me soup." she said. Zack would feel guilty, and he would try his hardest to take care her, she knew that much.

"I would have too." Zack nodded, "But Don, i'm more then sure he wouldn't leave you alone long enough for you to get better. That man is about pleasing himself and no one else." The front door opened and she jumped, "He's back already?"

"He's barely been gone an hour!" she stood up, "It can't be him."

"Get out of here." Zack said, "I'll keep your dinner warm, just don't make him mad." Aerith nodded, she was supposed to be in his bed the moment he returned. She rushed out of the kitchen just as Don walked by.

"There you are!" he said, "How was your meal?"

"I haven't eaten yet..." her eyes traveled to his bag and she stiffened. He had a whip and few other things.

"Then what were you doing in there?" he asked, "You should have been waiting in bed if your dinner wasn't ready."

"I...uh, I got impatient." she said, "I just wanted to see what was taking so long."

"Really? Because your knees tell a different story." Don said angrily. She looked down and noticed they were slightly red. She'd been on her knees when she helped Zack scrub the floors.

"It's not what you think, I-"

"You and that boy, what were you doing." he asked.

"We were just talking!" she swallowed. He was angry now, how did she keep messing up like this? He reached into the bag and pulled out the whip.

"Do you see this? I didn't want to use this on you." he said, "I wanted today to be special for us."

"It... It can still be special." she said, "I can make it special!" Maybe Zack would come from the kitchen and clear things up for her. Surely he was hearing this.

"No! The magic is gone." Don grabbed her, "You've ruined the entire day! First, you pretend to have a problem with my pants! Then my meeting gets canceled after I drove all the way there! Now I find out you were in the kitchen with that servant boy?"

"We weren't doing anything." she whispered. He wasn't going to see reason now, he was too angry.

"Don't lie to me!" he pulled her roughly towards the stairs and she looked back at the kitchen. Zack wasn't going to help her. He couldn't... not right now at least.

0.o.0.o.0

A/N: I took out the other servants for a reason. They were just kind of there and they disappeared soon after anyway. It makes more sense to just have Zack and Aerith at the house. This chapter was split because it was long, and because it would make it easier to add things if it wasn't one big chapter.