Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
‘I understand. If it is okay with you, I will take some blood and figure it out. From the way your hands are trembling, and your body is shaking, I think it would be best to hook you up to an IV drip for the night.”
“Is that necessary?” She asks, looking worried but still twitching.
“I believe so. It will help cleanse some of your body and restore your hydration.” I squeeze her hand and attempt a smile. I look to the doctor.
“What about food?”
“I would suggest you start off with something light and more liquid like chicken broth. “ He begins getting her IV going. The needle prick penetrating her skin makes me queasy, but she doesn’t flinch which further pisses me off. It’s something she is used to, and she shouldn’t be. “If there is nothing else, I will go and get a move on the tests. If you need me don’t hesitate to call.”
Once he is out the door, I breathe a sigh of relief. “I am going to get you some broth like he suggested.” She shakes her head at me.
“All I want to do is sleep, if that is ok.” All I want to do is wrap her in my arms and rock her to sleep.
“Of course, Piccola. Sleep. You are safe here.” If I have it my way you will never leave.
Six
Satine
Iwake up screaming, thrashing about. “No stop. Please don’t. I will do what you ask. You’re hurting me.” I vaguely hear someone shushing me, tightening their hold on me filling me with a sense of safety. I go in and out of nightmares, my mind a constant beating drum of the torture and horror I sustained. I can feel something in mar and for a minute, a sense of relief hits me thinking I am finally getting what I am craving. But then last night hit me. It takes all the memory I have to recall it is not the needle that gave me my dependency.
“Piccola, I am here. I am here and you are safe. Follow my voice. Open your eyes,” the deep soothing voice says. I know I probably should, but I don’t want to open them and find it has all been a dream and I am right back in that dark, dank place. “Come on, baby. Look at me with those beautiful eyes.” Fingers caress my face and I lean into it. I can’t tell you the last time someone touched me with care, even before I was taken. My family are not the people who love you or show you affection. Their sons are bred to take their place when they die, carry their names, and breed more boys. Their daughters, well, I told you this.
Finally my eyes begin to open slightly, and I see that I am in a different room than before. It dawns on me that I don’t know how long I have been asleep. My body is still at war and only one thing will end the feud it is going through. I jump out of bed, panic stricken, and I am sure crazed looking.
“I need a needle. I know you have something, right? Don’t all traffickers carry drugs on them?” I lunge at him trying to rip his pants open. He tries to get me to calm down and I am not sure what happens, but I hear him curse before he wraps his arms around me.
“It’s going to be okay, Satine. Just let it subside. You don’t need that shit, baby. They just trained you into thinking you do.” I hear his words and logically I know he is right, but my body doesn’t care. I need only one thing. “Close your eyes, baby. Stop trying to fight me.” Am I? I don’t know how long it will take, but finally my mind begins to calm down. My body hasn’t but I am controlling that with breathing, listening to his voice. When my heart begins to slow down, he lifts my head and looks at me.
“Ah there she is,” the voice says. He continues to hold me, and I don’t want it to end. If I open my eyes he has no more reason to hold me. “I won’t let go until you tell me you are alright.” Hmm. Maybe I won’t tell him that then. My stomach picks this moment to growl. “You had me worried there for a moment.” I look at him quizzically, because I know he is not referring to my nightmare or my state of being right now. “You have been asleep twelve hours, angel.” Is he serious? That is almost a whole day. My stomach makes itself known at this moment. “I see you are hungry, Piccola. Would you like to try to eat?” I am about to say no when the growling gets louder, and he curses and chuckles at the same time. “It seems your stomach has spoken for you. Inside or on the veranda?”