Page 48 of Scrimmage

I shrug. “Everything is about money.”

It's the most common currency. Rich men and poor men will do anything for more of it. They'll sell people for it. They'll even sell their sister.

“Do you know how much you’d cost, Ashland?” He stalks around me, surveying me.

“I don’t give a damn. Money is useless." I spit in his direction.

“Everything is about money,” he snorts. “That’s why it’s even possible that you’re here.”

It’s hot and humid in here, almost unbearably so. Probably by design. In the corner there’s a fire, and water drips from a pipe in the ceiling, hissing every time it hits the coals that burn in the corner. This place is basically a fucking sauna, and this is not how I wanted to try one.

The chains around my raw wrists clank against the metal floor. It fucking hurts. I’m trying to pretend it doesn’t, but holy shit it does. The collar around my neck is lined with spikes that pierce my skin when I pull too hard on the stupid leash it’s connected to. My feet have been numb for days but every now and then they’ll tingle, so they may not be a total loss.

The nausea is unbearable. The stench of this place is a mixture of blood, mold, and piss. I threw up twice before getting used to it. Now there’s nothing left in my stomach to keep doing it. I’m fucking weak. My momma always said so. My daddy did, too. I’m sure my brothers think the same, but they didn’t have the heart to tell me.

It’s been dark most of the time, so the light filtering in from the hallway is blinding. I can barely make out his face, except for his amber eyes. They glow like he’s been a part of some sci-fi movie experiment. He visits me sometimes, but he’s usually asking me questions about myself that I refuse to answer. I honestly don’t even know what the hell he wants. I thought I’d be on a boat to wherever they sell girls by now, but no, I’m here.

He approaches me, making a face at the smell in this room. He pulls a little bottle out of his pocket. My eyes widen. I don’t know what the fuck that is and I don’t want it, but the chains keep me in place. He holds it up and sprays. I can feel the little droplets coat my skin and then I smell it. Perfume?

He shoves his nose into my hair with a deep inhale. “It’s not that blackberry honey, but it’ll have to do for now.”

“You’re a fuckin' psycho,” I growl.

He grins, crouching in front of me. “I’d prefer you to call me Damien."

“No, psycho.”

“You’ll learn to love it. It’s my best quality.” When he smiles, I swear he has sharp teeth like a shark. If this is Damien’s best, what the hell is his worst?

“Memphis said you were a brat. I love brats. It’s so beautiful when they break.” His fingers trail down my jaw and I yank my chin away, despite the pain that erupts around my neck. I spit directly in his face. He wipes it off, inspects it, then sucks it off of his fingers. I wanna fuckin' gag.

Damien tsks. “Oh, Ashland. Can’t you see? We’re meant to be together. You just need to realize it, is all.”

“You know what I realize, you sick perv? When I’m outta these fuckin' chains, I'll kill you. I’m gonna fuckin' stab you to death and bathe in your blood andlaugh. That’s if my brother doesn’t come for you first.”

“Funny. 'Cause Memphis is the reason you’re here.”

“What?” This is new information. “Are you his dealer?”

“You think I’m a dealer?” Damien doubles over laughing and spreads himself out onto the floor far enough away that I can’t get to him. There’s a knife on his hip glittering in the fluorescent light. “Oh no, baby girl. We’re far from bookies and drug dealers.”

He sits up and takes my cheeks between his palms, squeezing them together. “Isavedyou from that life. I was hopin' I didn’t have to be the one to tell you. I made a deal with your big brother. I paid off your daddy’s debt and made his problems disappear. Memphis was overjoyed. Grateful. Somethin' you could learn to be. Somethin' I’ll teach you.”

He paid off all of the debt? The memories of Memphis laying on the floor and the gun in the bookie's hands haunt me. He had smiled, hadn't he? Memphis knew what was comin'. He must've sold me to fix his fuckin' problems. This wasn’t some sort of kidnapping, this was the kind of taking where you don’t ever go back. Where no one is lookin'. I’ve disappeared into an abyss and everyone is gonna step over it like I never existed at all.

I start to cry. It’s the first time I have since I’ve gotten here. I’m surprised I even can with how little water I’ve been given.

“Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh." Damien wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Don’t be upset, baby girl. I’ll make sure Memphis gets what he deserves for makin' you sad. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, but you’re not listenin'. I’ll do anything for you, even the things you hate, because I know what’s best for you.” He looks into my eyes as if he’s connecting to my dying soul. “Fuck, you’re so beautiful when you cry.”

“I hate you,” I sob.

“No, you don’t." He rolls his eyes. “You’re just in love with me. I know your silly little life probably hasn’t taught you much, but what you’re feeling is love, not hate. Thank goodness I love you so much or my patience would already be wearin' thin.”

“Love me? What the fuck? Are you fuckin' delusional? Let me out of here. Now.”

He gives me a lazy smile before standing up over me. “You’re mine. You were made for me, baby girl. I’ll show you. Don’t worry."

I laugh through my tears. Is this really happening? What did I do to anyone to deserve this? I’ve barely had time to exist on this stupid bullshit planet. I remember in school one time they talked about past lives. Is that what this is? Fuckin' karma?

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