The Beguiler

pte

lo

that be? To have yo

My tied hands reach out to grab me before I hit the gr

hat you are worr

g a skirt that's way too short to stay this way-but if they wanted to do something to me, my guess is they would have b

chest. I glance up to see this man, but then realize there's absolutely no reason at all to do

y're no longer touching the ground, which is a

op the impact of my face meeting the floor. My forehead cracks as it make

. "I don't want to break her..."

my doubled back legs while one hand

oing something, anything to fight this man. Except my body

ld be running, screaming, anything to get yourself free. I didn't believe it was p

ving never done any

dispose of her

." It's croaky, but I mana

breath I can feel and smell through the beani

e knows me. I don't know him-that voice, I would remember it. Trying to analyze him will d

orse because I can be clumsy and forgetful. But for me to have done something to put me in thi

u should

. He holds me in place, the pressure hardening at my movement. "So, yo

. I feel the tears welling in my eyes, which I can't reach to wipe

longer smell his breath near my face, and his hand on my throat loosens until i

smart-ass mouth s

rning, much faste

urround me. Hands reach under my arms and pull me

l where he is now that his hands aren't touching my throat, but my gues

me, Melody . You will help me get that ba

wide in shock

n dollar

o

h

y ques

but most im

I meant to get

companies in the world, but I don't come near to earning that. And

derstand m

money. Selling my house won't even give me half, and Helen has no asset

do I hav

s to my lips and I push it away with my tongue. My eyes are blurry, and I can hardly ma

one month,

I open my eyes, zoni

im walking down the street I would stop to stare. If he were one of my company models, I would h

s an attractive ba

his hair is best described as scorched chestnut in color an

s thi

just had his hands around my neck telling me I had one

into his pocket. He pulls out his cell phone, snap

me as he glances me up and down before

waist either. If you put us side by side, the only part we got from our mother was her

I ask, managing to look st

es, but when I look down, one twitches. I quickl

that would provide freedom. But what's the use when he knows who I am? He takes a few st

zes when a knock on the red door makes him step back just a fraction so he

th," he

kind of money," I r

like to m

o make the money. You should never make a deal with a devi

ould you like to make a deal so you ca

" I s

a glimpse of a tattoo from under his black sleeve. Another peeks

onde hair, and then lets it

her debt is paid. Yo

be what I am good at

Any jobs you do for me will be

round the empty

u go mute. It will do nothing to a

hiccup. "I

s the only thing in the room, and reaches

n the first place?

planning t

sist

tanding in the cold, empty, cement room. He reaches for the red door and pulls it open, letting light in. It's th

that I'm sure will haunt m

Melody Coleo

et address-before he smirks and turns, lettin

cold floor, and the tears I have been

le

ave yo