Finn looked at the test and sighed. He moved his eyes over to Mindy and shook his head in disappointment. Her bright green eyes on the other hand seemed happy. She was clearly not on board her own fate.

"Still not pregnant," he said.

Everyone else in the room shook their heads in disappointment too. She ignored them all and gathered her hot pink dyed hair for a high ponytail and tied an elastic around it. She was a disappointment over all. She was supposed to be a quiet mouse following orders like everyone before her.

"It's month 10," he said.
"So?" She asked.
"If you're not pregnant by month 11, we will make sure it happens," he said.
"That's rape," she said.
"You knew the rules since you were a child. You have one year to get pregnant after you turn 30. You're going to that house just like every woman in your bloodline did before you. You can't escape your destiny. Run away and we will find you. Try killing yourself and we will stop you. We always got eyes on you. You will enter that house the day before you turn 31 as the latest possible date. I don't care if I have to drag you in there kicking and screaming," he said.
"Fuck that house!" She raised her voice.
"Braun!" He snapped his fingers.

Braun stepped forward and rubbed his hands together while giving Mindy a preying look. Her blood ran cold seeing the big man. She knew what he was picturing in his mind, and she did not want that image to become reality.

"If you're not pregnant next month, Braun will take care of you," Finn said.

Mindy knew she couldn't fight it in that moment. She had to come up with a plan fast. She lowered her shoulders and looked defeated.

"Fine," Mindy said. "No more fighting. I'll see what I can do."
"That's what I like to hear," Finn smirked.
"Can I use the bathroom?" She asked.
"Of course," he said. "Meanwhile we'll arrange lunch. You're welcome to join us."
"Thank you," she said.

She nodded and hoped he would buy that as her agreeing to stay for lunch. That way no one would keep their eyes on her. They would all expect her to join them. She walked out of the big room that always gave her the chills. She was sure they did human sacrifices or something just as bad in there.

As soon as she was out of sight, she picked up the pace. There was one room she had never been allowed to enter. The sacred library. Finn said those books were only for men to read. That was an easy lie since she was the only woman coming and going in the mansion. She jogged to the room, opened the door, and stepped inside. There was only one book she was interested in. A book she knew they had many copies of since she often saw more of them carrying it around at the same time. She spotted the logo on the back of 20 books in a row on one of the shelves. She grabbed one and ran out of the mansion as fast as she could. They would eventually realize she was gone but they wouldn't chase her down. They would wait another month and then come find her to force her to the mansion for another pregnancy test. Time was closing in on her and she had to figure out how to escape.

"Fuck!" She yelled. "Seth!"

She picked up her phone, dialed Seth's number, and put the phone on speaker so she could focus on driving. He picked up after three rings.

"Hi, babe," he said.
"I need you," she said.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Of course I'm not okay," she said.
"Fuck," he sighed. "It slipped my mind what day it is. How did it go?"
"Still not pregnant but Braun is willing to change that," she said.
"Is that the monster?" He asked.
"Yeah, the big one," she said. "Seth, I'm scared. They say they got eyes on me. I don't know if they have eyes in my apartment too."
"Drive to my place. I'll tell my boss there's a family emergency and I need to go home," he said.

She looked in the rear view mirrow. No one was following her. Not that she expected them to either but it felt like the walls were closing in on her. Soon she wouldn't be able to breathe.

"Mindy? Are you still there?" He asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she sniffled.
"We're gonna figure out a solution," he said. "I am not letting you go without a fight. You hear me, babe? You are not going into that house. We will figure it out together. I promise."