Page 48 of Sanctuary

“You’re acting strange,” Sarah said, giving her a quizzical look.

“I know, but when it comes to these men, they’re like the ones on the street. Smile and be nice, and they’ll give you anything you ask.”

“They want more than nice and a smile,” Misty said stubbornly.

Paige squinted her eyes, and her fingers curled into fists. “Look, Miss Prissy Pants, if it gets us off the island, I’ll do it.”

Misty gasped. “How could you?”

“How do you think girls survive on the street? Did you think we would sell flowers on some corner? What about your pastor who wants you as his wife? You don’t think it’s for companionship, do you? He wants the same thing they all want, and it’s the last thing I want to give them, but we may have no other choice.”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about,” Sarah said with a confused shake of her head.

“Do you know where babies come from?” Paige asked with exasperation.

Sarah’s eyes grew large, and her mouth formed the same sound she made, “Oh.”

Paige looked back at Misty. “I’m not returning to the school.”

Misty knew she couldn’t do what Paige was saying, but she also knew she couldn’t fault Paige’s thinking. She didn’t want to go back either.

“Look,” said Paige. “If I put out and make him happy, you may not need to. I can do this.”

Misty took her fingers and squeezed them in solidarity. Paige’s eyes welled before she turned away. It would hurt Paige if she had to take this step, and Misty didn’t know what she could do to stop it.

“If the two of you aren’t going to use the hot shower, I am,” said Sarah. She shucked her clothes and climbed in, not caring about the mold. A minute later, she gave a loud moan, and Misty almost decided to risk the fungus, but the sour smell hit again.

Jerry knocked. “You’re taking too long. Hurry.”

Paige got to work on her new shorts, and all Misty could do was watch as she cut an indecent length off. “I dress like this on the street all the time. People actually wear clothes like this to go to a mall. There’s nothing wrong with it and there is no reason to be ashamed of our bodies. It’s another lie they tell us,” Paige insisted.

Misty had never been to a mall, but she’d heard her mother and father complain about the clothes teenagers wore. The indecent show of arms and legs was something her father ranted about all the time. These girls were trying to tempt good God-fearing men, and he would go on and on. Misty never understood why a God-fearing man would be tempted, and one day, when she had some crazy braveness take over, she asked him. The imprint of his hand on her face remained throughout the day, and the bruise lasted several.

Sarah climbed out of the shower and put the dry clothes on while Misty and Paige washed up in the small sink. Out of the corner of her eye, Misty saw Paige slip the pocketknife Simon gave her into the pocket of her new shorts. She felt better that Paige had a weapon if she needed to defend herself.

Being dry made all the difference, and Misty felt so much better, though tired. She didn’t think she would ever sleep in a warm bed again. Sleep in general wasn’t on their calendar.

They stared at their reflection in the mirror once they were dressed in the new clothes. Bedraggled and exhausted, they’d come a long way since leaving the school. Sarah’s cheeks were bright pink and chaffed. Her hair stuck up in odd places, and she used her fingers to get out the tangles and tame it a bit. Paige smoothed hers down using a few sprinkles of water to help with the drying kinks. The shorts held Misty’s attention and she wondered if she would ever be brave enough to wear something like that. She really wasn’t sure if they would survive. If they did, she accepted that they would be returned to the school. Simon and his cats were the important ones. They couldn’t let the bad things happen.

Paige smiled saucily into the mirror and pursed her lips, making kissing noises. “I’m ready,” she declared before opening the door, releasing a cloud of steam. They walked straight to the heater.

“You said you might have something warm to drink?” Paige asked, her sultry tone in place.

“It’s cider, and it’s heating on the stove. I’ll make you each a cup.” Jerry’s eyes traveled over Paige, and his Adam’s apple bobbed before he looked away.

Misty hoped Paige truly knew what she was doing. Jerry was keeping them happy for the hunter, even Misty could figure that out. He’d taken money so Dale could hurt them, and that was just as bad as doing it himself. Simon also said Jerry abused the cats. That made him almost worse in her head.

The cider was hot, and they had to let it cool a bit, but the cup in each of their hands was warm, and that was what mattered most. Her mind jumped from scenario to scenario as she drank. It didn’t matter what she planned, it quickly dissolved into nothing once she thought it through.

The door to the apartment opened suddenly, slamming against the wall with a crack. Dale stood in the doorway.

“Has that idiot come here?” he demanded, his words clipped and his expression said he wanted to hurt someone. Thunder sounded behind him in the open door.

Simon was in the storm, but that meant he was okay after being kicked in the head. Misty hated the thought of him being alone with the thunder, but she knew he had Indra. Silently, she blew out a relieved breath.

“I haven’t seen him,” Jerry said. “If you can’t find him, check the cages or maybe the lighthouse. And for God’s sake, close that door.”

Dale slammed it. “What do you think I’ve been doing?” he snapped. His eyes landed on Paige, and they grew larger as he ran his tongue over his lips. “You clean up real nice,” he said gruffly, his eyes taking another sweep of her body, though slower this time.

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