Chapter 5

People in the stands begin to get up and bustle about, off to meander until the next object of interest goes up for bid. The smell of something delicious lingering in the air is probably tempting them to go and spend their money for a taste of it. My stomach growls and I wish I had my father here to buy some food for us to eat together. The gruff man starts cranking a lever and the tension that had been pulling on my wrists lessens. An idea pops into my head and any thought of filling my stomach leaves me.

My arms start to lower and I see my only possible opportunity for escape. If I jump off the stage, I can probably run. There's got to be a way out that's just out of sight to the right or left of the stage. Beyond the stands is an entrance somewhere, otherwise all of these people couldn't have gotten in. As soon as the pulley is low enough, I lower my wrists as low as I can and then, with all my might, I fling my arms up, lifting the chain just high enough to jump off the hook!

'Run!' I tell myself, and then I hear my feet pounding on the wooden stage. The gruff man jumps over to catch me but he misses and dives onto the floor. Before the quick talker can grab me, I leap as far as I can, past the podium, under a string of lights, behind a curtain, and right to the edge of the stage. The only way down that I can see is to jump. Here goes nothing! 

I hit the ground and roll but I'm able to get up fast enough to avoid being snatched up by my pursuers. "Somebody catch her!", the quick talking man shouts, as I see men in black suits running toward me. Sprinting toward the stands, I know that I'm trapped but I won't just give up so easily. I need to at least throw a fit for how unjust this all is! I stop, turn to face the suited men coming at me, and I let out a primal scream like I've never screamed before. This is my only chance to tell them how much I hate them! With all my vocal power, I declare my high pitched vow to seek revenge for this humiliation and injustice in my next life.

As long as I breathe, I'll never forget today. I attempt to drop to my knees in surrender when I feel an arm completely surround me, squeezing me so tight my lungs can barely fill with air. Gasping, tears streaming down my cheeks, I look up, trying to make eye contact with the wall of muscle holding me up me from behind. Glaring down at me is the most attractive face I've ever imagined on a man. Grey eyes pierce my soul and jet black hair frames this face, drawing me into his hypnotizing gaze. As the man begins to speak, my realization of who this is takes my breath away. I freeze in terror.

"My new toy is trying to run from me before I even get a chance to play with it. How infuriating.", says the voice, no, the man who bought me.

The cold, yet beautiful face I'm looking into is now my master. Acknowledging this fact, I squirm in an attempt to get away from him. While his beauty intrigues me, I've never been so frightened. In one swift move, he spins me to face him, slams me onto the ground, and puts his hand on my neck, pinning me down. The wind is completely knocked out of me and all I can do is stare at him, absolutely stunned. He flips the hair out of his face and lowers himself down, straddling me.

Looking straight into my eyes, he says, "You don't seem to know who's boss, do you? Don't worry that pretty little head of yours. I know how to fix that."

This statement, the monotone voice, the hand on my neck just hard enough to cause discomfort but not cut off my ability to breathe, makes me even more scared than I've been since the time this whole thing began. His gentleness even while using force is shocking to me. Maybe it's the adrenaline coursing through my veins but my heart is beating uncontrollably.He nods to one of the black suits.

"Pack her up. I'll take her straight way."

Without another word, he gets up and releases me. The man in the black suit ties my ankles and picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder. My fight is over. I have not emerged victorious and there is nothing left to hope for. Any idea I had of escaping this place amd returning to my quiet life is now gone. I close my eyes and wish I could be anywhere else. No people around, just me and a field of flowers.

"Very nice.", my owner says as he walks over to look me in the face. "Do you understand the situation now?"

My pride won't allow me to answer his question. I don't want to give up even though I know there's nothing I can do. I turn my head and face away from him.

"I guess not", he says, feigning pity for me.

He straightens up, pauses for a moment, and then places his hand on my bottom. Outraged, scared, and humiliated at the thought of so many people watching this scene unfold, I yell out my response to his original question.

"I understand! Please! I understand!"

As I whimper and tremble, he slowly runs his large hand across my rear so softly that it makes me shudder.

"Good!", he says with a rumble like thunder in his voice, before spanking me with a loud 'whack!'

I try to shut out the rest of the world around me as the black suit follows my master to a shiny black car and I focus only on remembering the tune my father used to sing to me as a child. "Be well, be fine, until we meet again. I'm yours, you're mine, our love will never end. You're in my heart, near or far. Be well, be kind, sweet love of mine."

Be well, Father. We'll meet again in another life. I'll try my hardest to survive in this one. As long as you're with me in my heart, I'll be fine.