Rage

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Rue Bennett

I t’s at night that I wonder if this will ever end, because I don’t have time to during the day. When the sun is up, all we’re forced to do is obey.

Don’t move...don’t look at any of the men.

And god forbid...don’t ever have an opinion.

But the one thing they don’t know is who I am. It doesn’t matter that I come from a wealthy family, or have people who will hunt for me because that’s what they are counting on. They feed off it, like fucking vultures, pressing and prodding their beaks into every single nook and cranny of your body just for a slice of fresh meat.

In their case, it's for a dime.

Tomorrow is another day in this filth and I must be prepared. Not just for my sake but for the others. Every day there are newcomers, some as young as thirteen.

Never been touched and never been kissed.

I close my eyes and focus on the sound of my heart beneath my chest, pumping angrily, not just at my situation but at myself.

How could I let them do this to me?

How could I sit there and take it?

I take a breath, expelling the last thoughts as I blow out the air through my lips and retrain my focus.

This isn’t just about you, Rue.

This is about every woman that's stepped through those doors.

The voice in my head echoes, and almost as if she’s heard my thoughts, Hope meets my gaze from her cell. Funny, her personality nary matches her name one bit.

“I don’t know why you bother, Rue,” she whispers through her matted brunette hair, now knotted beside her face as she leans on the bars separating us. “We’re going to die in here.”

I admit, I did think like her at one stage when they first took me, but I refuse to sit here and take it any longer. I know she prefers not to risk her life, but I’d rather die with my hand in a fist, drawing blood.

“I’m going to get us out,” I say with conviction, and she pauses fidgeting with her torn nightgown.

“All three of us?” she questions with undeniable doubt in her tone.

“Make that my first promise.” I grip the bars, formulating the plan further in my head, calculating all the right steps we need to take to ensure our freedom. “My next one...”

I peer over my shoulder at the large steel door before whispering in her ear, “...I promise you revenge .”

The clock ticks on the far-right wall, each chime louder than the last as Hope stands beside me, both our heads bowed, eyes to the floor. Heavy footsteps vibrate through the floorboards as two men stomp into the room.

“Don’t you think it’s about time we recycle and get something fresh in?” one of them snorts as he brushes up against my back, the stench of his cavity filled mouth pouring out onto my cheek. “Or we could sell them...I reckon this one could buy us a Rolls-Royce.”

It takes everything in me not to bite back because I know better now. My bruises are a testament to the fight I put up when I first got here but as they’ve healed and faded, the rest of me withers away at their every touch.

“Liam will want them in good condition. Get them cleaned up before the opening ceremony and for fucks sake...cut that one's hair.”

I don’t have to look at him to know he’s talking about Hope.

The man behind me grunts as his hand circles around my upper arm, he violently shoves me forward and my hands come out to stop my fall but before I can hit the ground, his knee drives into my stomach. Blinding pain travels through to my core but I don’t make a sound. I refuse to give them the satisfaction of my pain and discomfort. Instead, I get back onto my feet.

“I think this one might be broken.” He laughs as he shoves me toward the open showers. The cool air slaps against my skin as he tears the little clothing I had on, leaving me naked and barefoot on the frozen tiles. I don’t make eye contact and stare directly ahead to the shower head, wishing the water would pour into a heavy river and drown me in it.

“Go. Under the water,” he speaks as he turns the rusted knob, the water bubbling as it makes its way through the pipes. I brace myself before it hits my skin, steeling my jaw shut to stop the shivering as I stand, curling my toes to avoid showing any emotion on my face. “You know, the entire time you’ve been here, I have not once seen you smile.”

Fuck you!

“You think you can muster one up for me, pretty lady?” I stare at my feet, his large black boots now filling my vision as he steps closer to me, the water dripping onto his clothes. I shudder with disgust internally as he grips my chin, forcing my head up. “Look at me.”

I’m going to kill you first.

I raise my gaze slowly, meeting his brown eyes.

“Smile,” he draws out the word in a sinister tone, but my face remains still, then a sting erupts on the side of my face and I come down hard onto the tiled floor. He picks me up and forces me against the wall. “You think you’re tough don’t you...” he grunts, sliding my legs open with his boot as his zipper sounds and I shut my eyes because I know what’s coming. “...How tough are you now?” I will the tears not to come as they sting my eyes and I draw my focus to the painted tiles, scratching it off bit by bit, the remnants wedged beneath my nails as he has his way with me.

I disassociate because it’s all I can do for now, until I have everything in place to make them pay for everything they have done, for who they are and what they believe. I won’t rest until their bones have been crumbled into dust and I have taken every ounce of joy they have stolen from me and other women.

I won’t rest until they've all had a taste of my venom .