Page 38 of Arseni

MARGOT

The garden is bigger than I thought it would be.

When I bolted from Arseni, I beelined toward it, thinking I could bob and weave so he wouldn’t see which direction I exited, but the place is such a jungle-in-process, it doesn’t belong in Las Vegas.

I hurdle bushes that are half-grown and sidestep hundreds of lilies, their purple hue giving the dark garden color.When I finally make it to the end, the grounds feel so open, I almost stop and hide.But I don’t hear Arseni, and if I let him catch up, I don’t know what that’ll mean for me.

The pit bull who met us outside barks at my feet as I break through the garden as if he’s been waiting for me.I trip on him before collecting myself and sprinting toward a tall fence that looks like it was made for a prison, which … fitting.It looks so far off in the distance with the pit bull at my side, my muscles permanently tense bracing for him to attack.Right now, the dog just chases, barking at my shins.

“Margot!”Arseni calls, his voice sounding far away.Instead of a feeling of security, it only makes me run faster, my bound arms jolting in front of me while my legs soar over the too-green lawn.

When I’m ten feet within the fence, I can hear Arseni approaching.

“Margot, stop!”

I crash onto the fence, my bound hands slowing me down but not stopping me.My feet do most of the work while my hands cling to cold chains to keep me from falling.

I look up at the top of the gate as I approach it, but when I’m just about to reach the thick wire at the crown, Arseni grabs me around my waist.

“No!”I reach for the stars while he yanks us to the ground, my back crashing on top of him.I try to get away, but he takes my waist and pulls me back.

“Let go of me!”

He yanks and flips me to my back before pinning me with his body.Loud breaths pelt my chin as I arch my neck to look at the free land behind me.

So close.I was so fucking close.

“The fence is electric,” Arseni says through heavy breaths.“Look up at the wire you were about to touch.”

A sad, desperate, bitter laugh pops from my mouth as I bring my eyes to Arseni’s.I don’t need to look.I saw it.“So?”

His brow furrows as he watches me.He doesn’t respond.

“Why wouldn’t you just let it shock me?Wouldn’t it behilarious?”

“It’s not for cattle, Margot.It could’ve killed you.”

“Isn’t that what you want?”I yell in his face, anger prickling my ears.“Or are you not finished torturing me?”

He looks around my face but says nothing.

“We both know what this is coming to.”I sniff in air that feels even colder than before, like it absorbed the chill from my oncoming fear.“You’re not letting me go, and I’m not going to be your boss’s whore.I’d rather you just killed me.”

“You would?”

My heart pauses at the lack of emotion in his tone.He sounds so matter of fact, so ambivalent, that it breaks through my anger and seizes my throat.

I just stare at him, trying to work up the courage to nod.I don’t want him to think I’m more afraid of death than I am of being someone’s whore.I won’t prostitute myself for anyone or anything, and I want him to know it.But I don’t want to die.

I want to escape.I want to find a way, because theremustbe a way.

I turn my head so I don’t have to look at him and avoid answering.Part of me wonders what it would be like if he killed me.It’s a strange thing to wonder, but as his lips press to my neck, I can’t picture it.

Would he be cruel?Would he make it hurt?

He turns my head so he can kiss my lips, his warm, urgent tongue entering my mouth.If he cares that I don’t kiss him back, I wouldn’t know it.He doesn’t slow down.If he’s angry about me stubbing a cigarette out on his hand, he doesn’t show that either.He brings the wounded hand down my body to cup between my legs.

He kisses his way across my cheek to my ear, curling his fingers into my skirt.“Things got too personal earlier,” he whispers.“I don’t wanna fight with you.Or hurt you.Orkillyou.”

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