Chapter 3: Escape

“Goodness, Ava, you are alive!”

I turned my head and saw Jennifer’s eyes glowing, she had a smile on her face and I immediately sat up. I looked around and noticed I was back in our room. I turn to Jennifer, seeking answers but she only tosses a dress at me. I wore it and followed her out of the room.

“ why am I not dead yet?” My voice cracked as we walked down the hallway that consisted of different rooms. There is sunlight at the end of the hallway, signifying an exit. I can still feel the burning sensation between my thighs. A hiss leaves my mouth and my eyes gleamed with tears.

“ Because it’s not yet time.” She answered with a straight face.

“ why did you do that?” I halted in my steps and that feeling of betrayal washed over me.

“ I didn’t do it. The blonde did.” She answered and kept walking. I spread my thighs and continued walking, trying to catch up with her pace.

“ She once hid Terrific’s handset under my mat. I went through the same hell you went through. She is fond of implicating others and breaking people's plates.” Jennifer narrated and I am left in a tight spot. She was the one who brought me food yesterday and that makes her the primary suspect.

“Talk about a second Terrific in the making” she hissed and we stepped inside the sun.

“ why didn’t you report her?” I ask and she turns to face me.

“ I did but no one believed me. She has minions.” She answered with a sigh and something flicked through her eyes. Something that I can’t decipher.

She stretches her hands forward and places them on my shoulder, her blue eyes boring into mine.

“ I know you think I am the one who did it and I am not going to force you to believe that I didn’t do it.” Her hands dropped from my shoulder and a sense of guilt filled my heart.

She fed me last night when no one came to my aid. Am I that ungrateful to think that she will implicate me?

“ come with me. I have something to tell you.” She says and my feet obeyed.

I follow her to the laundry where some of the girls are doing their dirty laundry. I wonder why she chose this place of all places.

All eyes turn to me and whispers fill the air. I look down and follow Jennifer’s lead.

We stand by the window, a few feet away from the judging eyes and whispers.

“ what do you want to talk about?” I asked her and she hushed me.

“ lower your voice,” she whispered while glancing at the girls.

“ I need you to talk in a low tone and smile occasionally or even cry. Okay?” She said and I nodded without understanding why.

“ How are you feeling?” She asked, a wry smile on her face.

“ Better,” I shrug, forcing a smile back and she gave me a thumb up.

“ I want to let you know what will happen to you in the next couple of days,” she began and my heart skipped a beat in my chest. I stare blankly at her, waiting for her to spill it.

“ This place is what I call Slave Dungeon.” She paused and read my expression before continuing.

“Like I told you last night, none of us here were abducted. We were all sold to these people.” She sighed heavily and bile rose to my throat.

“ You were right. My fiancé sold me.” I said with difficulty as I fought back the tears welling in my eyes.

Jennifer “How did..”

“ Terrific told me at the torture room.” I interrupted and let the tears slip down my cheeks.

She pulls me into her chest and wraps her arms around me. My heart contracts and I let go of all my restrictions, letting my tears wet her dress and emptying the pains and betrayal.

“ My sister sold me. The pain never goes away.” She stroke my hair and I sense the pain in her voice.

After some minutes of bawling, she places her hands on my shoulders and pushes me backward slowly before looking intensely into my eyes.

“ The pain never goes away. This bawling can wait till tonight but for now, I need to tell you something very important. This is the only safe place where I can tell you without nobody hearing or suspecting.”

“What is that?” I sniffed, my gaze fixed on her blue eyes.

“ eighty percent of the girls here have had hysterectomy,” she said and a gasp left my lips.

“ why?” I asked, my voice sounding like a whisper.

“ To prevent them from ever getting pregnant for their masters,” Jennifer answered and my jaw dropped. I glare at her in disbelief.

“ Yes. I am one of the girls who had it done,” she answered my silent questions, and the glitter in her eyes didn't go unnoticed.

“ I'm sorry,” I don't know when I whispered that but she just smiled at me.

“ I have been to the auction before but luckily, I wasn't auctioned as only a few buyers came.” she continued and at this juncture, I already have an idea of where this is heading.

“ Tomorrow night, you will be on the cue for the girls who will be having a hysterectomy, and 5 days after, you will be auctioned along with me.” she gripped my arms and kept me steady on my feet before I could melt to the ground.

“ look at me, Ava. You are a very young girl with dreams. I don't want what happened to me to happen to you.” she paused and drew in a sharp deep breath while my heart pounded so hard against my chest that it was the only thing I could hear.

“Let's escape.” Jennifer blurted and my heart leaped into my mouth. A feeling of joy and fear washed over me.