Fever blurred my vision. Hunger gnawed at my stomach. I stumbled towards a nearby refuse heap. After searching through the reeking trash for a long time, I unearthed an unopened sandwich. Suddenly, a stray dog lunged, biting fiercely into my arm. I cried out in pain, but dared not raise my voice, fearing attention. When the dog released me, I looked at the wound on my arm–it was deep, showing bone.
Just then, three unfamiliar men approached.
“You’re Clara Hawthorne?” The leader pulled out a phone, flashing it at me. On the screen was Alistair’s stern face, his voice clear. “Do as I say, and the money will be wired to your account when it’s done.”
“Mr. Valerius said to have some fun with you, and he’d pay us. Fair deal, right?” Another man yanked my hair. “Mr. Valerius said you‘ re quite durable. Don’t disappoint us.”
I struggled desperately. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” But I was too weak. My resistance only enraged them. The first punch landed in my abdomen, knocking the breath from my lungs. The second struck my face, filling my mouth with the taste of blood. I instinct- ively curled up, trying to protect the back that had once been flayed. Blows rained down on me, and I distinctly heard the crack of breaking ribs.
As I teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, a siren wailed in the distance. The thugs scattered in a panic, not forgetting to deli ver a final kick before they fled. I lay in the mud and water, feeling the stinging cold of the rain washing over my wounds
At dawn, a sanitation worker found me, muttering, “Another wretched woman found after being left for dead”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind me. “Yes, Mr. Valerius, we found her.” It was Alistair’s assistant. I heard Alistair’s voice from the phone “Alive”
Still thinking I’d bend to his will,
and enjoy this glorious quest to win him over?
In his dreams.
