Page 8 of Marek

He squeezes tighter, but not once do I drag my eyes from his. I stare him down, my strength unwavering.

“Sell me, kill me, do whatever it is you want but I will not fucking dance for you.”

“We’ll see about that.”

He releases me, and I scurry backward so he can’t reach me again. Pressing my back against the far end of the cage, I glare at him.

“I need you for my show, and I will make sure you give me what I need.”

With that, he pushes to his feet and turns, walking out.

He doesn’t realize it yet, but he just gave me the information I need to ensure I don’t die here. For whatever reason, he wants me to dance, and because of that, he’s not going to hurt me too badly. If he does, he could injure me and he will never get what he wants. He gave me the upper hand, and he doesn’t even know it.

I’m going to make his life a living hell.

HE FEEDS ME AND GIVESme water, which only solidifies my suspicions that he won’t do too much damage to me because he wants me to dance for him. I take all of his offerings and refuse to speak to him otherwise. I know he’s growing frustrated, and I’m concerned he might use my family if he can’t get me to do what he wants. I hope it won’t come to that, but it is a thought that has crossed my mind.

“Get up.”

It’s early morning, what day it is I wouldn’t know.

He hasn’t taken me from this cage, but every day two men come in and clean them out. It’s the most horrifying, degradingexperience I’ve ever encountered in my entire life and I would do anything to make it go away. He’s breaking these women, and he knows exactly how to do it. He hasn’t met a woman like me yet, and I’m not going to make this easy on him. I made a promise to myself, and I plan on sticking with it.

“I was quite comfortable here,” I answer him, crossing my legs.

Everything inside me is screaming at me to stand, to stretch, but I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“I can make you get up, or you can do it yourself. Either way, you will obey me.”

“I see the power in your head is extra strong, today,” I mutter, shifting to my knees and crawling out of the cage.

The moment I stand, I fight the urge to cry with happiness. My body is stiff and sore, and considering I spend most of my days working out and dancing, I know it’s suffering from being cooped up. I stretch as best I can, then stare at the man in front of me in his long black coat. “You say it isn’t a circus, but you dress like a Ringmaster.”

His eyes flash with rage and he reaches for my arm, curling his fingers around it and hauling me out of the tent.

The second the sunlight hits my face, I am forced to close my eyes. They’re not very willing to adjust to the sudden onslaught of light. That means I am walking blindly as Marek pulls me to another tent and shoves me inside. Now that it’s partially dark again, I open my eyes and stare in complete shock at my surroundings.

It’s spectacular here.

A large tent with an impressive set up. There are ropes and all kinds of different structures hanging off the ceiling, enabling the performers to do a range of tricks. There are poles and lights, a stage, and beautiful seating. It’s as if you’ve stepped into a grandtheatre, blended with a slight circus feel. It’s amazing, and I can only imagine the shows he puts on are out of this world.

“This is where you could perform, all over the country. I can make you a star.”

If it were any other situation, I would be completely on board.

But he captured me, and other girls, and is keeping us in cages.

That hardly sounds like a fun time.

“You are keeping me in a cage,” I bite out, shaking my head. “You are treating women like they’re animals, and you want me to jump up and down with excitement over this ‘opportunity’ you are giving me? Did you ever stop and consider coming up to me like a normal person, and asking me if I wanted to be part of your little show?”

“Don’t be foolish, Ellie Mae. You and I both know you have a career and wouldn’t even consider leaving it all.”

“How would you know?” I challenge.

He steps closer to me, causing me to catch my breath and hold it. “You’re engaged, you have a prominent family, and an impressive career.”

He’s right, I do have all of that.