Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“Be careful how far you push me, girl. I’m not a nice man.”
“Oh,” I say, acting shocked, “I didn’t guess that while I was here, sitting in a cage like an animal.”
I’m making him angry, and it only pushes me to do more.
I want to drive him mad.
I want to make him wish he never took me.
“I have ways of taking the sass right out of you,” he threatens.
“Oh, I’m sure you do.”
“You will dance for me, because your talent will be the new face of my show.”
He thinks I’m that good?
I’m a little flattered by that. Coming from anyone else, it would make my day.
“I’m a dancer, not a circus freak.”
His hand shoots out, going straight between the bars of the cage and curling around my throat. It happens so quickly I’m caught off guard. Hauling me forward, I stumble as I frantically try to get my hands to land on the grass in front of me so I don’t completely fall. He pulls me until my face is pressing against the cage, and there, he leans down until our eyes meet. Heart racing, I try to breathe through his tight grip.
“I can crush you like a fucking bug if you cross me, Ellie Mae. You will do what I’m asking of you, or I will make you wish you weren’t born.”
I don’t want to know how he learned my full name.
“I won’t do a single fucking thing for you.”
He squeezes tighter, but not once do I drag my eyes from his. I stare him down, my strength unwavering.
“Sell me, kill me, do whatever it is you want but I will not fucking dance for you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He releases me, and I scurry backward so he can’t reach me again. Pressing my back against the far end of the cage, I glare at him.
“I need you for my show, and I will make sure you give me what I need.”
With that, he pushes to his feet and turns, walking out.
He doesn’t realize it yet, but he just gave me the information I need to ensure I don’t die here. For whatever reason, he wants me to dance, and because of that, he’s not going to hurt me too badly. If he does, he could injure me and he will never get what he wants. He gave me the upper hand, and he doesn’t even know it.
I’m going to make his life a living hell.
HE FEEDS ME AND GIVES me water, which only solidifies my suspicions that he won’t do too much damage to me because he wants me to dance for him. I take all of his offerings and refuse to speak to him otherwise. I know he’s growing frustrated, and I’m concerned he might use my family if he can’t get me to do what he wants. I hope it won’t come to that, but it is a thought that has crossed my mind.
“Get up.”
It’s early morning, what day it is I wouldn’t know.
He hasn’t taken me from this cage, but every day two men come in and clean them out. It’s the most horrifying, degrading experience I’ve ever encountered in my entire life and I would do anything to make it go away. He’s breaking these women, and he knows exactly how to do it. He hasn’t met a woman like me yet, and I’m not going to make this easy on him. I made a promise to myself, and I plan on sticking with it.
“I was quite comfortable here,” I answer him, crossing my legs.
Everything inside me is screaming at me to stand, to stretch, but I won’t give him the satisfaction.
“I can make you get up, or you can do it yourself. Either way, you will obey me.”
“I see the power in your head is extra strong, today,” I mutter, shifting to my knees and crawling out of the cage.
The moment I stand, I fight the urge to cry with happiness. My body is stiff and sore, and considering I spend most of my days working out and dancing, I know it’s suffering from being cooped up. I stretch as best I can, then stare at the man in front of me in his long black coat. “You say it isn’t a circus, but you dress like a Ringmaster.”
His eyes flash with rage and he reaches for my arm, curling his fingers around it and hauling me out of the tent.
The second the sunlight hits my face, I am forced to close my eyes. They’re not very willing to adjust to the sudden onslaught of light. That means I am walking blindly as Marek pulls me to another tent and shoves me inside. Now that it’s partially dark again, I open my eyes and stare in complete shock at my surroundings.
It’s spectacular here.
A large tent with an impressive set up. There are ropes and all kinds of different structures hanging off the ceiling, enabling the performers to do a range of tricks. There are poles and lights, a stage, and beautiful seating. It’s as if you’ve stepped into a grand theatre, blended with a slight circus feel. It’s amazing, and I can only imagine the shows he puts on are out of this world.