Dark Desires

Clouds formed into the cold night air from his breath. He hated waiting for these shipments in the winter. He pulled his black coat closer to his body and rubbed his gloved hands together in a vain attempt to warm up. A few more minutes, a glance at his watch showed that the shipment was running late. He turned to head inside to grab a coffee to help keep him warm. He had just opened the door when a scream tore into the night. Screams were common around here and it tended to be best to mind your own business. A brief pause of his body showed that he had heard the scream before continuing to his coffee.

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Her mother was dead. The life from her body departing, as her final scream rang out. Her cheeks were stained with tears, not understanding the cruelty of people. She and her mother had arrived in this country a few years ago, when she was only five years old. Immediately, the people who had helped them arrive here had turned on them. They forced her mother into their labor camps during the day.

In the labor camps, everyone was assigned a duty, whether it was to making some sort of good, such as making handbag knock-offs of established brands to doing the men's laundry. The women worked sixteen hour days with very little time to eat, not that they were given much to eat, mainly stale bread, old lunchmeat the men didn't want, and water. After their shifts, the women had to take a hot, nearly scalding bath, before being chosen for bedding. She had heard other women talk of the men and how brutal they often were in the act.

She gave a shudder at the thought. She was now twelve years old. Normally, the men waited until the females were fourteen to bed them, but she had been told by the leader that she would be an exception. He had told her that he was going to have her soon, that she was to pretty to let wait. He had already kissed and fondled her several times, but had yet to commit the act. During one of these sessions, her mother had seen them. She had not said anything at the time, but she had begun planning a means of escape. She couldn't allow her daughter to be used the same way she had been. She had begun to sneak change and small bills from their rooms at night. Unfortunately, this was the cause of her death.

One of the men had woken up and had seen her taking his money. An offense that was not tolerated. He told their leader and the men had gathered. They beat and raped her endlessly until nothing was left, and she had watched. They had made all the women and soon to be women watch, to see what would happen if you stole from them.

Now, she lay on her mat. Tonight would be her escape. It didn't matter anymore if there was enough money. It was just her now and she had to leave before something happened to her. She listened carefully for the sounds of footsteps. Her meager bag was packed with some of her rags of clothing and the money and was stuffed into the one drawer she had shared with her mother. Most of the women were in the men's beds, so that all that was left in the room with her were the children or the elderly women.

She was about to get off her mat and grab her bag to leave when the sounds of heavy footsteps were heard. She stilled, hoping they would pass, but they didn't. The door flew open. She pretended to be asleep. They punished you if you didn't sleep when you were supposed to.

"Caden!"

She turned. There stood the leader's top man, marching over to her. He scooped down and grabbed her arm.

"The leader wants you," he stated, dragging her to her feet. "Follow me."

They went up a flight of narrow stairs to the main floor, which was vastly different from the areas she was used to. The main floor was elaborately decorated with Oriental rugs and chandaliers. Statues stood everywhere.

"Stop gawking!"

She continued following him up a massive stairway with a plush red carpet that her feet sunk into. The banister was made of a granite marble. At the top, the stairs split into two directions, each leading to a different wing of the house. They went to the one on the right and up another flight of stairs and down a hallway. At the end of the hallway was an iron door at which they stopped.

"Go in."

Her body shook in fear, as she turned the knob and walked through the door. She gave a sigh of relief. The room did not appear to be a bedroom. It held several overstuffed sofas in various locations. Some were centered around a plasma television. Others appeared to be huddled into groups for socializing.

"I've been expecting you," he whispered, as he closed the door with a finalizing click of the lock.