“RUN AVA!” An adrenaline rush through me as I took to my heels. Dashing through the bush barefooted.
“ No! This way!” Jennifer screamed and I ran after her in the direction she pointed.
I groan as I stumble over. I got up and kept running, following Jennifer’s lead.
I panted heavily and kept running. My legs wobbled but I kept going. I have to escape. I have to survive. Not just for me but for my freedom, for Leah, and Jennifer.
“ come on, Ava. There is an express-way ahead of us!” Jennifer's voice fell on my ear and energy from nowhere entered my body. I can't give up now. Not now that I am close to escaping this hell. Even if my body is ready to give up, I am not.
I join Jennifer at the express-way and I place my hands on my knees while trying to catch my breath. My legs sting so bad but they are the last thing I care about right now. The sting won't kill me except the bleeding increases.
“ What now, Jennifer? There is no car on this road. Fuck!” I lamented but she gripped my hand and started pulling.
“ come on, this is not the time to lament.”
“ Look, a car!” I exclaimed in excitement, my eyes filled with hope as Jennifer stepped into the center of the road and started waving her hands.
Luckily, the car slowed down and pulled up next to us and I've never felt so happy and relieved in my entire existence.
“ Get inside, Ava!” Jennifer yelled at me from inside the car and my senses returned from wherever they went. I entered the car and shut the door.
“Please take us to the nearest police station, sir,” I and Jennifer said in unison and the car began to accelerate.
I remain silent in the car, praying silently for us to arrive at the police station safely. I look at the rear mirror and my eyes meet the most golden eyes I've ever seen. Chiseled jaw, thick brows, and thin pink lips. My heart pound on my chest and I gulp slowly.
I look away forcefully and see Jennifer crying for the first time. Guess this is how it feels to be free from hell. She once lent me a shoulder to cry on. This is the perfect time to return that favor.
I move closer to her and pull her closer before wrapping my right arm around her.
After about 15 minutes of silence driving, the car pulled up in front of a blue metal gate. I've never seen such a gate before but I am relieved to know that we've escaped.
“ Jen, we've arrived.” I tap her shoulder gently and she lifts her head to look outside the car window.
She grips my hands agitatedly as her body trembles. My heart raced frantically in my chest as I wondered what could warrant this reaction from her.
“ Oh no, Ava. We're back to the slave house.” she whimpered and I looked outside only to see Madam Terrific discussing with the man who had just helped us back to hell.
I remain mute, bereft of words. My mind is blank. Not even a drop of tears leave my eyes. What worse could happen than death?
I feel sorry for Jennifer. She's invested so much effort in this escape plan and I hate to admit that it ended this way.
“ They are going to kill us, Ava.” Jennifer sobbed and seeing her cry made me want to cry.
“ I want to go home, Ava. I want my fucking freedom back. I want to live like a normal human. Eat what I want and do whatever I like.”
“It's so sad that it all ended this way. I wish something could be done. I wish I had teleportation power but the reality is cruel. Isn't it?”
I fight back the tears in my eyes and wipe away the watery mucus in my nose with the back of my hand.
‘Reality is cruel indeed’ I thought to myself as I watched Terrific's masculine women approach the car. We could have escaped but our helper turned out to be our destroyer. The devil! Who would thought a demigod would have such evil intentions with no ounce of humanity?
Fuck him and whatever he thinks of himself. MAY HE ROT IN HELL WITH THE DEVIL.
“ Get down, Now.” One of Terrific's minions commanded and Jennifer clinged to me for protection.
I force a lump down my throat. I knew better not to provoke them than they already were.
“ Do not worry, Jennifer. We are not going to die. They won't kill us.” I said to her but deep down within me, I doubted my own words. They sound so fake to me and I won't blame Jennifer if she doesn't have faith in the words I uttered because I don't have faith in them either.
After a while, Jennifer agreed to come out of the car. We stepped out and I couldn't take my eyes off the face of the man who had ruined our lives even more. He is different compared to how he looks. I will never forget this face and if someday I gain my freedom back, I'll make him suffer!
I watch as he enters his car and drives away as if nothing happened. He is not different from Zane. Handsome but devilish.
We are made to stand face to face with Madam Terrific who still has the same wicked look on her face. If I had a gun, I wouldn’t hesitate to load bullets into her skull.
“ Do not hurt them. Take them back and feed them properly. Treat their wounds and give them a warm bath. They will be auctioned tomorrow along with the other girls.”
My eyes widen, almost popping out of their sockets. I doubt what she said to be true but if it is true then being auctioned is better than a death sentence. My heart warmed. I turn to face Jennifer and she has the same look on her face that says “We live to fight another day.”
******* AUCTION DAY******
Standing behind Jennifer in the auction rows amongst many other girls who don't know what the future holds for them. We are made to dress in explicit uniforms that reveal our tilts and a bunch of our back skin and asses. Our hair was clipped into ponytails, revealing our necks.
Being second in the row increases my anxiety as I pray silently for us to be bought by caring gentlemen who will give us our freedom back.
I quickly give Jennifer one last hug. Yeah, it might be the last one as the possibility of seeing her again is slim.
“ I will never forget you, Jen.” my arms around her tightened as I hated to let her go. My heart ache. My eyes sting from the burning sensation of my tears from trying to hold them back.
“ You must live, Ava.” This is her last word before she is pulled away by Terrific and my tears flow freely down my cheeks as I watch her back disappear through the curtains.
I restrain myself from screaming. Why does it hurt so much?
“ Get rid of that mess. You are next.” One of Terrific's minions said and I immediately wiped my face with the hem of my dress.
I have to live. Not only for me but for Jennifer and Leah. This is the beginning of my survival journey.
Madam Terrific walked in a few minutes after without Jennifer and that is when I realized she had been sold and for some reason, I felt happy for her and wished her well. Besides, she won't have to deal with Terrific and the slave house anymore.
“ Now, Ava. Don't keep our buyers waiting.” Madam Terrific grumbled and I followed her obediently to the stage.
I glance at the sea of men in the hall and my eyes fall on golden eyes. His eyes are fixed on me. Despite sitting at the far end of the hall, you can tell him from others. How can I forget the face of the man who returned us to the dungeon we escaped?
“ And the highest bid goes to JACOB STEELE” I hear Terrific announce and I watch as the golden-eyed man gets up from his seat and starts walking devilishly towards the stage while my heart beats rapidly in my chest.
Before I can decipher what is going on, he is standing before me, looking down at me with his intimidating gaze. His expensive cologne filling my senses.
“ What am I to you?” his barrel voice echoes in my head and my lips part slowly and blurted “ Master.”
Ava’s eyes widened. She gulped slowly and quickly retracted her fist which was now stained with blood.“ I am sorry,” She panicked as Jacob wiped the blood off his nose with the back of his hand. He stared at the blood, his eyes cold and distant. He doesn’t remember the last time he saw his own blood.He raised his head up and gave her a look that sent shivers down her spine. She looked at him with trembling lips, her eyes telling him how she didn’t mean it and how sorry she was but he grabbed her by the neck instead and pulled her towards him before crashing his lips against hers. He kissed her hard, making sure she could taste the blood in his mouth. He kissed her until she was out of breath before letting go of his grip on her neck. Ava staggered back, gasping for air, her palm placed on her chest, a metallic taste lingering on her tongue. Her eyes were moistened. She raised her head up and saw him wiping the corner of his lips so gracefully. She gulped and looked away from his in
Ava sat in the garden, staring at the rising sun as she hugged her knees to herself, her head resting on a vase, a blanket covering her barely. She couldn't sleep on her bed the previous night. Somehow, she ended up spending the night in the garden and thinking about Jacob's plan for her.She'd sobbed, wept, and screamed into her palms but still, nothing made sense, and that included Jacob sending her on a suicide mission.“ You have my protection.” That was what he said. Does he really think that would comfort her and make her accept such a stupid decision?She wiped another tear from her swollen heavy eyes. She gazed at the sunrise and let her eyes close slowly. With the plans Jacob harbors for her, she is not sure she will see another sunrise again.Jacob watched from the side, standing behind a pillar. He'd been standing there watching her all night at intervals. He told the guards to let her be and as it seemed, from the way her head slouched forward, she had fallen asleep.He s
It tastes good and strong. It was exactly what he needed. She gulped the remaining content in the glass and politely placed it on the desk, a polite smile on her face when her eyes landed on the shotgun. She quickly pulled her hand back, her heart quickening in her chest.Why does he have a gun on the desk? Is he planning to kill her? As she battled with her thoughts, Jacob reached for the gun, making her flinch back in fright.This is it. He is going to kill her. He is going to kill her for attempting to run away.He stood up from the chair, picking up the gun and her heartbeat tripled. Her chest rose and fell and he could hear her heavy breath and the thumping of her heart.Look at her, so innocent and scared like a mouse. She is exactly what he needed.His lips curled in a sinister smile. He never realizes he enjoys the look of fright on her until this day. He stopped before her, leaving her no space to breathe as he covered the only space between them.Ava’s skin burnt under his
Ava slept off on Jacob’s bed and didn’t know how she got to her room. She woke up for the second time and rolled over on the bed. The swell on her cheeks has reduced. She could barely feel any pain in them but it didn’t change the fact that she has two missing teeth in her mouth.Facing the ceiling and staring blankly at it, she pondered about what Jacob had told her the evening before. Did he mean it? He’d told her he would let her go. She didn’t hear that wrong, did she?She threw her legs on the floor, still in her pajamas, she left her room, in search of her master. She stopped by his study door and hesitated before knocking on it. No response came and she raised her hand to knock again when the door opened Just for her to meet Gary towering over her.“ Jacob is busy.” He told her flat off and Ava tried to look behind him for Jacob.“ Leave.” He told her off and Ava glanced at him in displeasure. Why is he so rude?She cursed and in her mind turned to leave. Instead of returning b
“ You ruined my life. I ran away because I couldn't kill you, Jacob!” Another clamp at the base of her clitoris made her seeth in pain.Tears welled in her eyes but she held them back, not wanting them to escape.“ Your life was ruined already before I met you.” Jacob husked, his eyes turning deep at the moisture in her entrance. Her arousal filled the air and his fist clenched by his side, his penis throbbing under his pants.His hands uncurled and he found himself reaching for her fold, earning a moan from her and he immediately pulled away.Ava seethed with anger when he pulled away. Can he just get it done already? Damn him. Damn, his existence.“ Your life was already ruined when you got together with him.” He added, his words slicing the air she breathed and the tears escaped, mixing with her sweat and flowing down into her mouth. Did he have to bring that up? How can he be so heartless?“ Let me go please, I beg of you,” she pleaded, sobbing and Jacob scoffed, cocking his head
Ava didn't bulge. She didn't fight as Jacob carried her inside the den she’d escaped for barely a day. Earlier, when he took her from Adam's boat, the police siren had wailed. She'd panicked and prayed they would find her and rescue but Jacob, as meticulous always, avoided the cops and left underwater. Ava tried to understand how but she had other things on her mind. Why did Jacob agree to take Lorenzo with him? The man hates him. Did he know that? When did she start caring about who hates him and who does not?She shook her head to get the thoughts off her mind but Jacob paused and shook her violently on his shoulder. She stilled and he continued walking, climbing the stairs.She looked to her side and saw Melanie glaring dagger at her as if she had done something to her. Feeling uneasy by the tense atmosphere, she fixed her gaze on the floor and didn't know when they arrived in Jacob's room.Her back hit the soft mattress and her heart almost left her chest. Did he just throw her on