No, I didn’t remember shit about this part in the contract but honestly, I didn’t think anything in that damn document made any fucking sense aside from the money that was supposed to land in my account. Speaking of, “When do I get paid?” I asked as Olivia headed for the door.
“All in due time,” she answered without looking at me. “Goodnight.”
The door closed and, as always, locked from the outside. “Fuck,” I muttered, rising as I went to survey the food situation. Chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. Not the most inventive of meals but it smelled edible. Now that Henri wasn’t here to chastise my table manners, I shoved the food in my mouth with the ravenous force worthy of my grumbling stomach.
Finished, I let out a loud belch in defiance of Olivia’s prissy, practiced civility and crawled back into the bed with a full belly. I didn’t think I would fall asleep again so quickly but exhaustion had a way of sapping your energy before you realized you were spent.
But something was scratching at the back of my brain.
Paranoia had its place. My gut was telling me that something was off. Something that Olivia wasn’t sharing. What the hell did “elevate” mean? Why was she so sketchy about explaining? And why the fuck was I locked in the room like an animal? I felt like a prisoner, which had only marginally made sense before the auction — maybe Madame Moirai wanted to make sure no one reneged on their contract — but now that it was all done, what was the point of locking us in?
And why did a physician need to see us? I didn’t want another fucking shot. And if anyone comes near me with another enema I’d start swinging fists.
That was a promise.
It’s almost over, I told myself as I drifted to sleep.
Almost.
My last thoughts were of Tana. I didn’t care what Oliva said, I wouldn’t rest easy until I saw Tana with my own two eyes.
13
As Olivia said, bright and early, I was brought from my room and taken to another room that was outfitted like an exam room in a doctor’s office. Everything was cut and dry, the doctor barely made eye contact, just treated me like a prized heifer who was getting a final check before the sale was finalized.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked.
“Do you have any sharp pains in your stomach or pelvic region?” he asked, ignoring my question.
“Yeah, I feel like I’ve been beaten and fucked up the ass, which I was. You mean, pain like that?” I shot back, watching for his reaction but there was none. Jesus, had the man no heart? “Do you even care?”
“I’m going to do a pelvic exam. Scoot down, please.”
I stared in disbelief. “I just want to go home. I’m being held like a fucking prisoner. Whatever happened to your doctor oath? Harm none, or something like that? Can you honestly say I haven’t been harmed? What you’re doing is disgusting, helping these people hurt girls. Have you no shame?”
“Scoot down, please.” The hard edge to his tone made me shiver. I realized no help would come from him. Just like everyone else in this God-forsaken place, he had no empathy because we weren’t looked at as people. I slowly inched my way down, my legs opening for the intrusive exam. The doctor made quick work of swabbing my insides and doing a cursory check, then pulling his gloves with a snap, he announced, “All good. You may sit up now.”
I guess I passed the test. No lasting damage to my body, just my mind but who cared about that, right?
“Have you examined the other girls, yet?” I asked. Again, silence. I tried again. “Are you not allowed to talk or something? Like, does Madame Moirai have you by the short hairs or something? Is she blackmailing you to be her private doctor? You know what’s happening isn’t right but you’re doing it anyway. Either you’re a piece of shit or you’re being pressed into service, just like the rest of us. So…which is it?”
The doctor regarded me with irritation, stating, “You talk entirely too much.”
“Consequence of not being dumb as fuck, I guess.”
“You would do well to watch what you say.”
Was that advice or a threat? Maybe it was both. “Why are we locked in our rooms? The auction is over. Our part is done. We should be free to leave. What’s happening to us now?”
“Once you’re determined to be in good health, you’re free to go,” he answered with a bland smile that I didn’t trust at all. I read once that dogs were a good judge of character. I didn’t need a dog to sniff out that this guy was rotten.
“Yeah? I think you’re lying,” I called him out. “I think we’re never leaving this awful place, which is why we’re locked in our rooms.” He pulled a large syringe and I immediately shrank away. “What the fuck is that for?”
“Precautionary measure. Turn on your side, please.”
“Precautionary measure against what?”
He met my gaze without blinking, answering flatly, “STDs.”
“But I was checked before the auction and I was clean.”
The heavy silence told me that I may have been clean but that’s not to say all the buyers were. I wanted to scream at him but rolled to my side so he could jab that horse needle in my butt cheek. Tears sprang to my eyes as the pain of whatever was in that fucking needle made me want to cry out but I bit back the urge.
“All done,” he announced. “You may get dressed. The site will be sore for a few days but you should be clear of anything going forward. Someone will bring you back to your room in a few moments.”
And then he left. I tore the paper gown from my body and quickly dressed, wincing as the pain from the shot radiated through my muscles.
I guess I should be thankful for the after-care? Maybe. I still didn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. Something felt off.
I tried the door but like the rest, it was locked from the outside.
I jumped back as the door opened and a guard grabbed me by the arm to drag me back to my room. I didn’t see a gun but I sensed that he was packing. The cruel bite of his fingers into my arm told me everything I needed to know.
Madame Moirai filled her payroll with people who were monsters.
“How do you sleep at night?” I muttered to the guard.
“Like a baby,” he surprised me with an answer. “You signed up for this. Stop bitching.”
My cheeks flared with heat as shame rolled over me. “You have no idea what I was trying to escape so don’t fucking judge me.”
“I could give two shits about your life, you stupid little cunt. You’re getting paid so shut the fuck up and do as you’re told.”
“I haven’t been paid yet,” I shot back, yanking on my arm but his grip was like iron. Did Madame Moirai hire disgraced Marines to patrol her property? Fuck it, I probably wasn’t getting out alive so might as well push my luck a little further. I added with a glare, “And I have a feeling I’m not ever going to get paid so fuck you with your judgment because if I’m a piece of shit, so are you!”
He jerked me around and shoved me against the wall, my head hitting with a hard thump. His fingers curled around my throat, anchoring me painfully as I tried to push him away. He leaned in, his breath smelling like curly fries and cigarette smoke. “You should watch your mouth, whore,” he said. “You think you’re hot shit because some asshole paid to fuck you? Well, you’re not. You’re nothing. So be thankful that you’re getting a nice bed, decent food, and medical care because a girl like you ain’t worth shit. Get that through your thick skull and stop making trouble or else you’re going to wish you’d taken my advice when you’re gagging on a dirty cock in a back alley somewhere for a twenty-dollar bill. You hear me?”