His Broken Princess

Past

Past

This place was dark. And the dark here was not black walls. The dark here was in the men I heard talking. The dark here was the evil that lurked in the air. The dark here was the crying and screams and pain I could hear through the walls. The dark here was in the white sparkling lights and the money that surrounded us.

They transported us into trucks. Our hands and feet were bound and our mouths were covered with duct tapes. But it wasn’t enough for these monsters. No, it was never enough. They closed us inside brown sacks like we were goods to be traded, which we were for these monsters. The only concession we got were the two tiny holes for us to breathe.

When we reached our destination, they shoved us into a mansion. We were instructed to be in a line. We were instructed to be quiet. And we were instructed to look down and not say a word. N.ked as ever we were marched inside and then through a wide wooden door we entered a big room that had many people. People with masks on their faces. People who wanted to hide their monstrous faces.

Shiny black shoes would come and go from my sight as I stared down at my toes. My big toe was still swollen from last time they hurt me. The Big monster with the cruel blue eyes told me if I didn’t do as I was told then next time he would pluck my nails from my fingers. The thought still made me shake in fear. I curled my fingers in fear as I heard the cruel monster. “You can take your pick. We have them freshly trained.”

He wasn’t lying.

It still hurts.

The monster with the bald head had been cruel when he had come to me. He had pinched my nose and hurt my mouth. It had hurt so much. I had cried and begged for him to stop. I had promised to do anything but he hadn’t stopped. Instead he had punished me more. He had taken me out with him and bent me in front of the other men. And then he did what I hated the most. And he let the men do it too.

“Why is this one crying?” A soft voice said and a pair of beautiful feet came into view. Her toenails were red and her dress was red too.

“She still thinks crying would help.” The Big monster replied to the woman.

“Oh, is that so?” The woman laughed. “I guess I could make her understand.” Her long fingers, with red nail paint on them, came up to my chin. “Look up, darling.”

I looked up at her demand. Always follow the orders. “Are these men making you cry?” My eyes darted toward the big monster and I shook my head. “Answer me, girl.”

I replied, “No.”

Out of nowhere, she slapped me hard, making my face turn to the side. “Now, don't ever lie.” More tears trailed down my face as pain blossomed on my cheek where she slapped. She tsked, her voice turning soft as she said, “It’s okay...” She wiped my tears and then straightened, making me realize she was a monster too, a beautiful monster with beautiful clothes. And pretty nails.

She turned to the big monster and said, “I will take this one with me.”

The big monster replied, “Of course, Skull would join you as he had a few things he wanted to teach her.”

“About, what?”

“That no one will hear her crying or screaming, so she better stop.”

I did stop.

A.Gupta