we going to do if fighting doesn’t work?”
“I don’t know right now, but I’ll think of something.”
12 YEARS AGO
My hair is pushed to the side, exposing my neck to his lips. I stare into the mirror and wonder who this person is staring back at me. Is it me? I’m older than the last time I saw myself in a mirror, but my eyes are lifeless and dim. He’s held me captive for two years now, yet this is the first time I’m seeing myself since that fateful day I left for school with my sister. My gaze widens, thinking of her. We’re held in the same cell, but I’ve been away from her for the last few hours. “Where is Chapel?” I ask, my voice so low it’s barely a whisper.
“She’s coming, too. Don’t worry your pretty little head about that.” His dark eyes in the mirror and his vile tone send chills running up my spine. His revolting lips touch the shell of my ear lightly. I want so badly to jerk away, but I know no good would come of that. “She’s in another room getting ready.” He’s dolled me up in this pretty lavender dress with a slit all the way up my thigh and nothing covering my shoulders except thin spaghetti straps.
A woman I have never seen before washed my hair and put it in big flowing curls. She did my makeup and painted my nails. I don’t look like a sixteen-year-old girl. I look like a grown woman.
I should be happy and excited about being pampered for the day, but my stomach tightens because of the unknown. Why? Why do I look like this? Why do I have this dress on? Why were we taken out of our cells? We only get to leave when we are called to his bed since he prefers us, Chapel and I.
“You and Chapel are my favorite girls, you know that? That’s why I’ve kept you two for so long, unlike the others. Be good tonight, Haven, and you get to stay. Bad girls are sent away. Do you want to be sent away?”
I shake my head frantically. Where is he taking us, though? Does Chapel look like this, too?
“It’s time to go,” he announces as he stands me up. He takes my hand in his, and we begin to walk. I’m having a hard time trying to move in the high heel shoes. I stumble a few times as we step outside and over to the luxurious black car waiting for us. He ushers me inside, and I find Chapel already there. She is beautiful but doesn’t look like the fourteen-year-old girl she should be. Instead, she looks much older, same as me. Her dress is baby blue and shiny with sequin. She takes my hand in hers when our eyes meet, and I see hers are glossy with unshed tears. I’m holding back my own, which are threatening to fall because I have to be strong for both of us. I’m older, and therefore, need to take care of her.
“Where are we going?” she whispers, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know.”
We stay silent the rest of the way as the car ride continues on and on for what seems like hours, but it finally comes to an end beside a hotel. As we’re escorted into the tall building, I’m enamored by the glamorous feel of this place with all of the marble and stone and statues. We’re ushered through the hotel until we’re put on an elevator that goes all the way up to the top floor.
It’s a penthouse with lots of people dressed in their best attire. Men and women parade around with flutes of champagne in their hands. They smile at Chapel and me while their eyes roam up and down our bodies.
“Be good, both of you,” he orders through his gritted teeth, warning us and grabbing a few flutes off of a tray a topless waitress is sashaying around with. Why is she topless? He hands me one and gives the other to Chapel before reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. One pill is dropped into each of our drinks. “Drink. It’ll help you relax.”
We do as we’re told, and soon after, I begin to feel different. It feels as if my heart is going to beat out of my chest, yet I am relaxed.
A woman, well into her thirties, stands before me. My lids flutter as I fight to keep focus.