Chapter 3: Gold Tooth & Scarred Face

Elodie's POV

I started gently, rubbing my palms over my face, stomach, and hips. I shouldn't be here. I should have never agreed to this trip.

I increased the pace, scrubbing my skin, my nails leaving red lines on my body. But that didn't stop me, I went crazy. I started screaming, working faster, blood dripping from the wounds.

I don't know why I and the other girls were kidnapped, but they're certainly after our bodies. I will make sure that whoever bought me, will be disgusted by me that he wouldn't even dream of touching me.

"¡Oye! ¿Qué haces?!" 'Hey! What are you doing?!' I heard one of the men shout, but I didn't care. I had my eyes shut tight, I was boiling with anger, hyperventilating and then I went for my face.

Before I could do more damage, they caught up to me. One of them grabbed my hands while another yanked my hair so hard I screamed.

“AHHHHH! Let me go, you bastard!” I shouted, kicking and twisting. His heavy body pressed against my bare skin, and I froze. I couldn’t open my eyes, I felt filthy, sick, and ashamed.

Whoever was holding me didn’t care. He dragged me by the hair across the floor until my scalp burned. I cried out in pain, but I never once begged him. He forced my arms apart and chained my wrists to the wall, one on each side, so I couldn’t move.

“You think you’re funny, you stupid slut?!” he barked, his breath hot and sour.

He yanked his belt free and before I could say a word, it landed across my back. The sting tore through my skin, and I screamed.

I cried out loud, but he didn’t stop. He hit me again, harder this time. The sound of leather striking on my bare skin echoed in the cold, empty room.

I bit my lip to stop myself from sobbing out loud. Tears rolled down my face anyway. My body shook, not from the cold, but from fear and shame.

Finally, he dropped the belt and stepped back, laughing under his breath. “You’ll learn to behave,” he muttered, spitting near my feet before walking away.

When he was gone, I sank to my knees, my chained arms still pulled wide. My body burned, and my throat hurt from screaming. I wished I could disappear. But I was still there, still breathing. And as much as it hurt, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let them break me.

They continued hosing me with water, my face, chest, stomach, and butt till they felt it was enough and stopped. I was weak and cold, even with all that water, I felt dirtier than ever.

I was unchained and dragged back to the room I woke up in.

I slowly put on the thin cream nightgown that they must have put in the room when I was in the washroom. I looked at the wounds on my hands caused by my scratching.

It wasn't as deep as I had wanted and it wouldn't leave any permanent scars.

I broke down in another round of tears, coughing and gasping for breath. I still couldn't believe this was all real. I couldn't believe Colin left me on my own in a city I knew nowhere around. I cursed him so bad.

How could he have just left me there without looking back?

I sat up on the hard mattress, pulling my knees to my chest and taking slow breaths in and out, trying to stop myself from being miserable. It has been done, no need for 'had I known', it was time for me to strategize and think of how I'll escape this hellhole.

I counted four men in total I've seen so far. The one who took me from this room, the one who whipped me with his belt, and the other two were hosing us to wash up.

Yes, they were huge and strong but I'm sure there has to be an escape route from here, and I must find it.

My heart beat faster and louder as I thought of how I would escape here. I chewed on my nails, trying to calm myself, till I drifted to sleep.

***

I jerked awake to the loud rattling sound outside the iron door. My heart jumped into my throat. I sat up quickly, clutching my chest, my breath coming out rough and shaky.

The door creaked open, and the man with the gold tooth and scarred face stepped in—the same one who’d whipped me. His grin made my stomach twist. He looked at me like I was something he already owned.

I shuddered and shifted on the thin mattress, trying to cover myself with the blanket that barely reached my knees.

He licked his lips slowly, running a hand over his thick beard as his eyes trailed down my body. Then he said, his voice low and heavy with an accent, “Well, look who’s awake. Didn’t think you’d last the night.”

He chuckled, stepping closer. “You’ll learn to listen next time. Maybe then, you won’t have to scream.”

I pressed my back against the wall, shaking my head. “Stay the fuck away from me.”

I tried to sound tough but my voice came out low and cracked.

He tilted his head, amused. “Still got some fight, huh?” he said, his smile widening. “The boss hates them wild. Says they are a hassle to break, but I can take up the challenge… and I'll make sure to break you.”

My stomach turned cold. I didn’t know who 'the boss' they were referring to. Even the first man said he was taking me to someone, but I didn't make it there because I passed out.

My whole body went stiff when his hands grazed my legs over the blanket. I didn't know when he had reached me.

He roughly yanked the blanket off my body and smirked wider. I knew what he was about to do, and a low sob escaped my mouth. I was too weak to push or fight him. I haven't had anything to eat since the breakfast I had back at the hotel.

I wasn't even sure how long that had been. How many hours have I been here? Has it been days?

I whimpered when he spoke so close to my ear.

"If you cooperate, it'll be less painful and I'll be done before you know it."

His hand moved to my thighs, I shut my eyes and tried not to cry. Maybe it'll all be a dream when I open my eyes.

Before he could move any further, the door burst open with a loud bang.

“¡¿Qué demonios haces?!” 'What the hell are you doing?!' a deep voice barked from the doorway.

My eyes flew open. The gold-tooth man froze, his hand stopped midair, and his head snapping toward the sound. I gasped and quickly pulled the blanket back over myself, shaking so hard my teeth clattered.

A tall man stood at the door, broad shoulders filling the frame. His sharp, cold eyes cut through the room like a blade. Even from where I sat, I could feel the authority in his voice. He looked furious.

I hadn't seen him before.

The gold-tooth man tried to speak, stammering, “I— I was just—”

The newcomer crossed the room in a few strides and struck him across the face so hard that blood splattered on the wall.

I shuddered, scooting away in the bed. The newcomer took out a white napkin from his pocket and wiped his knuckles.

He scanned me for two seconds and turned his gaze to the gold-tooth man.

“You touch what’s not yours again,” he hissed, “and I’ll feed you to the dogs.”

The gold-tooth man stumbled back, clutching his jaw. He didn’t say another word. He just ran out of the room like a scared cat, slamming into the wall on his way.