Title - A new leash.
Summary - Bella was her Master's greatest achievement. Earning her a luxurious life at his feet. That is until she's sorely beaten, and he needs a replacement. One who isn't a disappointment, She's discarded like nothing, but luckily it's not long before she stumbles into Alice. A caring medical student, who wants to bring her back from the brink.
He gripped her face hard, a snarl ripping from his lips as he stared at her once-beautiful features. His fingers pinch her skin, his callouses scrape against her bruises and cuts. She holds back her winces and melts under scrutiny. She accepts his disappointment as he tilts her head left and right, left and right, and left and right. He huffs, drops her face, and begins to pace through the tunnel, pulling something from his pocket that she is unable to see. He doesn't glance any further in her direction. Too ashamed.
It creates an odd feeling in her chest, and she backs into the brick wall of the tunnel. The world around fading, the shouts and screams from above turning blurry.
She had disappointed him, humiliated him.
She was supposed to be his work of art, his masterpiece, and she had failed tremendously. but what could she have done? Taken even more of a beating, when she was already so broken. Her eyes ached and swelled, her knuckles bloody and bruised, and pain throbbed from her right ankle which was starting to swell.
Her opponent had come out of nowhere, raging, lethal, and she had been underprepared. After many years under his care, she had been the best, and that's why her Master had only her whereas other Masters had multiple pets earning them money in the rings. She was good, better than that even, she had worked her way up the ranks under his guide, to become the best. She earned him a hefty living and had a luxurious life compared to other mutts. She couldn't ask for me. He gives the commands, she obeys. Always. No questioning or second guessing. He says bite, she bites, he tells her to scratch and dig her claws in, and she does. So now that she had been beaten, He'd lose a huge sum of money, she had become worthless to him, in under an hour.
He was snarling toward the end and had kicked her down the steep stone steps under the ring to the caged tunnels.
"Come." His voice rings loud in her ears, and she moves, albeit slowly towards him. Something she'd done thousands of times, like clockwork, and heels by his side. He strokes his hand over her damp, bloody hair. Though says nothing else as he grabs the back of her neck and hauls her to her feet, ankle snapping, and she yells. Trying to clutch but he hisses, teeth baring as he backs her into a wall. "Stupid, worthless dog. Do you have any fucking idea what you've cost me?"
She only whines in response, tears threatening to fall.
He shoves her away, but she crawls slowly, forehead nearly to the ground.
He laughs. "Pathetic bitch." His voice is harsh as he kicks her side. His steel toed shoes digging into her supple flesh.
Pain radiates and she rolls over, clutching her ribs. He spits down at his feet as she trembles.
"M-Mas-" He uses his boot to kick her harshly again. She grunts in pain, trembling. He had never done this to her, he'd always taken such care of her. Had nurses care for her bruises, giving her the comfiest bed in the biggest cage in his suite. He'd pet her, dress her, give her everything she'd want within reason. The best food was always prepared, the best trainers.
Suddenly the black collar around her neck felt too heavy. She couldn't bear it. It used to feel like home as if his arms were curled around her. But now, it felt like an anchor screwing her to the floor.
With a glance on either side, he crouches down to her and pulls the brunette's hair up so she can look at him. Her eyes shine silver as he stares at her with nothing but annoyance and contempt.
"You are nothing to me. You hear me? Huh?" She blinks. "Nothing."
With a clink she has a leash attached to her collar and she's being pulled by his side. He walks with his head held high, his hair slicked back, though now unkempt. WIth many shouts and hollers around them they ascend the tunnel. It's packed, there's barking and growling from the pit and many shouts of bets and wagers. He holds back his disapproval as they make their way outside. Bella closes behind. His usual car is waiting for them. He kicks her in, she yelps and sits at the back, next to him.
Her head rest on the windowsill, she watches the streets blur around them, but her eyes go wide when they turn down a different road. IT's dark now, quiet. The driver suddenly stops. With a click her leash is undone and before she can register what's happening she's thrown out of the car into the dirt. The alley way towering above her, the rain starting to seep through her clothes.
She struggles to her feet, her hair matting to her face as she watches the headlights pull away. An ache appears in her chest and she can't help but back into the crevice of the alleyway, looking in every direction and trying to get comfortable. Unable to stop the tears, she whimpers. Abandoned.