Chapter Nineteen

Elise

I am roused awake when a jolt of electricity surges through my body, forcing a shrill scream from my throat. “There she is,” Jake laughs. I look over to see that the fucker has a cattle prod. “Let’s get started.”

I watch as someone sets up a hot plate in front of me with a brand on it. More tears fall when I realize that he is going to burn me. He picks up what looks to be a whip before turning to the group of people in black hooded cloaks and solid white masks. “I bring to you an offering and a reward for loyalty. The new whore will be available for free use without limitations until it is time for the hunt. If she survives the hunt, she will be given her freedom. If she is captured, she will become my slave and wife. First, the whore will be initiated into our community with twenty-five lashings.”

I close my eyes and try to force myself into a place of meditation. I control my breathing like Lucian taught me and keep his face at the forefront of my mind. When Jake cracks the whip across my back for the first time, I only whimper. After each one, he hits harder and harder. My body is on fire, but I keep myself calm. This only seems to piss him off more, so when he reaches twenty-five, he doesn’t stop. No one says anything, and they keep counting. My body is numb by the time he reaches fifty and stops. Keeping myself calm is enraging him, but I won’t let him break me. No one gets to break me but Lucian. No one will force me to submit but Lucian. He is my one true leader, my husband, and the only one I owe any respect to. I will reach my destiny. I will be happy again. This is not my fate.

Jake kneels behind me and grips my waist before slamming himself deep inside me. I grunt when he starts pounding against my cervix. His thrusts are vicious and punishing, but I do my best to keep relaxed. Someone comes over and clips something to my clit and it’s starts vibrating, forcing a moan out of me.

“That’s it. Squeeze my cock, whore,” Jake growls. “You’re mine now. I own you.”

“You own nothing,” I snarl. His response is to start pounding me harder and harder. My body gives in and an orgasm rips through me, making my body shudder. He doesn’t stop and the vibrations intensify.

“More, bitch. Give me more,” he says with a sickly sweet voice. Just as another painful orgasm rips through me, a searing pain burns through my back, and I scream until my voice breaks. Jake moans loudly as he rapidly fucks me through his release. When he pulls away, the brand is pulled off of my back. It was placed between my shoulder blades, and it feels like they poured molten lava on my back. “You have twenty-five hours. She may be removed from the bench, but she is to stay in this room. Restroom breaks are permitted at your discretion. Have fun and keep her alive.”

I am suddenly swarmed as I am unrestrained and yanked off the bench. I am too weak from the pain to fight, so I am easily guided onto someone’s lap. Another person steps behind me and they both slam into my body, aggressively fucking me. Someone else comes up and forces their dick into my mouth. They all thrust in at the same time, as if it’s some sick ritual they’re carrying out. When they all come and I am forced to swallow, the process is repeated over and over again. I am delirious from the pain and black out seven times as I am cycled through the group of forty plus people.

I don’t know how much time has passed or how long I go unconscious for but every time I come to, someone is brutalizing me. I am always in various spots in the room, until the next time I wake up, I’m alone. Not only am I alone, but I am covered in my own waste and a sickening amount of come. My body is in near excruciating pain and the brand on my back is the center of all of it.

I sit myself up on the floor some and see there is a bucket. I groan as I pull myself over to it. Inside is soapy water and a washcloth. Understanding what’s being asked of me, I obey. I feel disgusting anyway, so I pull myself up to sit and start cleaning my body. It is a slow and painful process, but eventually I am as clean as I can get. I grab the folded towel and wrap myself up before crawling to the far corner of the room to sit with my knees pulled to my chest. I lay my head on my knees and focus on my breathing.

I am still so confused, and I feel like I may never get the answers I want. In hindsight, I was so desperate to not be alone that I tried to accept anyone and everyone, ignoring every bad feeling. All of those icky feelings were my brain's way of telling me something was off, but I ignored it. I ignored Lucian, and now I may never see him again.

I stiffen when the door opens, but I don’t look up. I hear several people walking in and dread sweeps over me. “Stand, whore,” Jake demands.

I can choose to be a bitch or do as I am told to avoid getting hurt any more than I already have been. I decide that I am in enough pain and slowly pull myself up from the ground to stand. Jake is in a black cloak, and the rest are in the same, but they have the white masks on.

“It is time for the hunt,” Jake says with a smile. “The rules are simple. You run… You hide… You pray. If I catch you, I keep you forever. If you manage to escape or hide until dawn, you are free.”

“What about the others?” I ask.

“They will be my eyes, but they may not touch you. You know the rules and will abide by them. If they don’t… they die,” he says. “Unlike Carol, I will give you a two-minute head start.”

“Uh… thank you,” I mutter. I don’t know why I just said that.

Jake steps closer and whispers in my ear,” Run, little whore.”

I immediately turn and run to the door. I don’t care if I am in pain. I can rest when I’m free. I throw the door open and sprint away from the building. I follow the road until I am out of sight, but it is long and there are wide open fields to either side. I will be caught easily going this way and he easily would run me down with a vehicle. I take a hard left turn and dart for the woods.

I have to hide. It’s my only choice. I might freeze to death out here, but it’s better than losing myself to him. I’ll die before I am owned by him.