Cold Splash

“Do you have like a death wish or something?”

Eve stared at her as if she had completely lost her mind.

As if Emily had just announced she wanted to jump off a cliff for fun.

Emily didn't answer.

She simply sat there against the cold wall, her knees drawn to her chest.

Because honestly...

Maybe she did….

The old Emily certainly did.

The girl who spent ten years begging monsters to love her.

The girl who accepted every beating.

Every insult.

Every punishment.

The girl who died alone on a road.

That Emily was gone.

The new Emily wasn't interested in dying quietly.

Eve sighed heavily.

"Look, you look too young to die. My advice to you, if you want to live longer in this place, remove that thought of Ghost from your mind."

Emily remained silent.

"Focus on whatever job you're assigned."

Eve leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes.

"Work out your debt and leave."

Emily frowned.

"Do people actually get to leave?"

That made Eve open her eyes again.

For a second, she looked thoughtful.

Then she laughed.

"I heard they do. Never seen one."

That wasn't comforting.

"I calculated my debt though."

Eve grinned.

"I should finish paying by the time I'm thirty-nine."

She laughed again.

Emily simply stared at her.

This girl somehow managed to turn every depressing thing into a joke.

"So calculate how much your family owes. Subtract it from your monthly salary working for Ghost. Then boom. You've got your answer."

Emily blinked.

So they get paid.

That surprised her.

The stories she had heard made it sound like everyone here was chained to walls and whipped all day.

The reality was far from that.

Slowly she rested her head against the iron bars.

The metal felt cold against her skin.

She wondered what the Collins family was doing right now.

A bitter smile touched her lips.

They were probably celebrating.

Laughing, eating…..making jokes.

Thinking she was already dead.

Maybe they were even placing new bets.

Thankfully the mansion wasn't what the rumors described…

It's not what they thought, it's not what she thought too.

She really thought the moment she arrived here she would be dragged directly into his bedroom.

She thought she would be thrown at him.

And if she wasn't able to satisfy him….

He would kill her.

That was what everyone said.

She honestly believed she had been sold as a sex slave.

A small chuckle escaped her lips.

She shook her head.

Life really was ridiculous.

She thought Ghost would be some disgusting old man.

A fat criminal with stained teeth and cruel eyes.

Instead...

He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

The memory of him flashed through her mind.

She quickly pressed her lips together.

No.

She can't afford to think like that.

Attraction was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Especially when it involved a man like Ghost.

But regardless of what she feels…

She needed him.

Not his body but his heart.

His attention.

His power.

His protection.

His trust.

It wouldn't be easy.

Nothing about Ghost seemed easy.

But she would do whatever she has to do.

She folds her legs tighter against her chest.

She placed her bag on top of her knees and hugged it.

She has slept in worse places.

The Collins family had made sure of that.

Sometimes they locked her in storage rooms.

Sometimes they left her outside.

Sometimes they simply forgot to feed her.

Compared to that, this cell wasn't even close to the worst thing she had experienced.

She glanced at Eve and it looked like she was sleeping already.

She needs to get some sleep too, tomorrow might be worse than today

Eve had told her earlier that the women here will bully her.

Emily wasn't worried.

She had spent ten years being bullied, beaten and humiliated.

What could these women possibly do to her?

Kill her?

A dry laugh escaped her lips.

She has gone through that too.

The only thing she knows for certain is that she will not just stay silent and take it

___

The loud bang against the cell bars made Emily jump.

Her eyes snapped open.

She blinked rapidly.

For a second she forgot where she was.

Then reality returned.

The mansion…..The cell.

Dora stood outside glaring at her.

Looking as angry as ever.

Emily glanced toward Eve.

She was already staring at her.

"Good morning sunshine." Eve singsong winking at her

Morning?

Emily blinked.

"Get up!"

Dora slammed the bars again.

The noise echoed through the basement.

God.

Can't this woman talk like a normal person?

"She's not deaf, Dora," Eve said.

"Get up too, bitch!"

Dora pointed at Eve.

Emily frowned.

Eve was getting out too?

She had completely forgotten to ask what Eve had done to end up down here.

"Outside both of you. Now!”

Dora unlocked the cell walking away.

The gate swung open.

Eve casually walked out first.

Emily grabbed her bag and quickly followed.

The moment she stepped outside the basement, early morning sunlight hit her face.

She squinted immediately.

God.

She must look horrible still wearing this horrible dress

Her hair and face will definitely look like a mess.

She probably looked like she had crawled out of a ditch.

Dora started walking.

They follow behind her.

Everything looked different in daylight.

Last night she had barely seen anything.

Now she could finally take in the size of the compound.

The place was enormous.

High walls surrounded everything.

Armed guards stood everywhere.

Men carrying rifles patrolled the grounds.

Some stood on rooftops.

This place was practically a fortress.

Emily kept her gaze lowered.

She carefully avoided looking toward Ghost's mansion.

Dora's warning from yesterday was still fresh in her mind.

They crossed the open courtyard.

Eventually they reached the second mansion.

The moment they reached the entrance, Dora stopped.

"You."

She pointed at Eve.

"Get lost."

Eve stared at her.

Emily immediately knew something was coming.

Eve simply rolled her eyes and walked inside.

Dora watched her leave.

Then she smirked.

A second later Dora pushed open the door and entered.

Emily took a deep breath.

Then followed.

The moment she stepped inside, she froze.

Dozens of eyes immediately landed on her.

And unlike yesterday….

Today they looked very interested in her presence.

Emily felt the hostility instantly.

Last night nobody cared when she walked in….

Now they were staring at her like wolves.

Nobody smiled.

Nobody looked welcoming.

Is she supposed to say something?

Suddenly freezing cold water crashed over her.

She gasped.

Her entire body jerked.

Cold spread through her body instantly.

The room exploded with laughter.

Emily stood completely still.

Water dripped from her hair down to her face then to the floor.

She slowly lifted her gaze.

A girl holding an empty bucket stood in front smiling.

Emily stared at her.

The girl walked closer slowly.

A smug smile never leaving her face.

Emily pressed her lips together.

The girl leaned closer.

"Pick up the bucket and mop the floor fish."

She pointed toward a mop lying nearby.

Emily stared at her.

For a second all she saw was red.

Why?

That was the question.

Why?

Every woman here had suffered.

Every woman here had been sold.

Every woman here had been abandoned.

So why were they doing this?

Why make an already horrible life worse?

Why become the same kind of monsters that hurt them?

Her grip tightened around her bag.

Then she dropped it.

The loud thud echoed through the room.

The girl visibly flinched.

Emily bent down.

Picked up the mop.

Several women smiled.

Probably expecting her to obey.

Instead Emily lifted the mop stick and pointed it directly at the girl's face.

The reaction was immediate.

The girl jumped backward.

Several women behind her stepped back too.

Their smug expressions disappeared.

Emily noticed movement from the corner of her eye.

Dora had pulled out her baton.

Waiting and watching.

Emily let out a small laugh.

Then looked directly at the girl.

"Look, I'm going to let this slide today."

She said calmly, even though her lips were about shaking from how cold she was.

"The next time you try this again I won't let it slide"

The room went silent.

A voice suddenly came from behind.

"Shut your mouth, bitch. What the fuck do you think you can do?"

She looks past the girl that threw water on her.

A blonde woman was glaring at her

Hatred practically radiated from her.

She met her gaze without hesitation.

"How about throw water on me again and let's find out."

No stuttering.

No fear.

At this point in her life, she was ready for anything.

"Alright. Enough."

A woman in uniform stepped forward.

"Take fish to her room."

She pointed toward the girl holding the bucket.

"And Vera, clean the damn floor up."

A young woman immediately motioned for Emily to follow.

Emily picked up her wet bag.

Then followed the girl.

She had barely taken a few steps when something slammed into her.

Pain exploded through her body.

She lost her balance completely.

Her face hit the floor first….the impact left her dazed.

For a second she simply lay there.

Laughter erupted around her.

She slowly pushed herself up.

Her lip throbbed.

She touched it and then looked at it……blood

The laughter grew louder.

Emily turned her head.

The blonde woman was smiling.

A wide satisfied smile.

"Sorry."

The girl laughed.

"My foot stretched out by mistake."

Emily watches her calmly….Her hand twitched as she planned her next move…..

She rushed her with a punch so fast the girl was completely unprepared.

A scream tore from the blonde's mouth as she crashed to the floor.

Emily jumps on her.