Descent

Chapter 13

A few hours later.

While Mai awaited her supposed rescue - she had been chatting with the other entertainers. For all she knew, Dove had already double-crossed them and turned Thomas in. She had to have faith however, that the woman that was her enemy would come through on her promise. For now, she heard the stories of her cohorts, also dressed in scantily clad outfits and outrageous makeup. A lot of them were either her age or young which made her stomach twist and turn. Whatever the obsession was using other people's bodies as a commodity was sickening. This wasn't her first time in such a position after all. Before she was fighting to the death for both entertainment and training - now she was sitting around presumably waiting for someone to come pay for her services. That being said, the first person to lay a hand on her was going to get a broken wrist. A lot of the others here were mere traders who had gotten on the wrong side of The Raven, some of them were scooped up off the road while in transit to elsewhere, then there was the handful who willingly offered themselves because it meant having a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. According to a few of them, The Raven even offered up Dove occasionally for a very small pool of clientele. To hear what Dove was subjugated to made her stomach toss and turn, overwhelmed with guilt that had not previously been there before. To imagine your own mother selling you out in exchange for resources was heartbreaking and disgusting.

Mai was grateful her own mother was a decent human being. A kind, loving person who was probably worried out of her mind looking for her two lost children. The moment Mai returned to Hope County she knew she was in for it, but all she could think about right now was just holding her precious, aging mother in her arms, apologizing for the heartbreak she had caused her, especially so soon after losing the man who meant the most to the both of them. She wondered what her father would have done upon hearing his daughter and son were MIA. There was no doubt in her mind he'd venture out just as he had done before, searching the country non-stop. Part of her was glad he was not here though to see the failure his daughter had become.

The others around her were carrying on with their own conversations in the midst of her inner dilemma.

"I heard Buck is coming today with a huge shipment of goods. Poor Dayana. He's always got his eye on her when he comes.." one person said.

Another person responded, "Ramona has her working on something though, I thought."

"Buck gets what Buck wants." a third responded, "Ramona wouldn't risk upsetting him."

The way they spoke of this character made Mai's skin crawl. Despite their differences, perhaps there would be a way to bring Dayana with them when they finally escaped. A fresh start for her. Perhaps the residents of Prosperity would even be kind enough as to forgive her and allow her a spot to stay. There was a lot of what if's to consider, included amongst them what was Thomas going to do. Would he return back to his daughter or continue his crusade to helping settlements. After they left here would she ever see him again?

She was so concerned about future events she didn't realize that the room began to come to life once more. Everyone began to shuffle about, faint hints of worry. One of the girls brushed a hand gently against Mai, grabbing her attention.

"The Raven is coming." She spoke as though it were a caution.

The girl was out of sight moments later, melding into a single file line facing forward. Mai had no clue what the hell was going on but she took her place among the others not wanting to be the one to stand out. But stand out she did, nearly towering over the others with her amazon like stature. Before she knew it, the room began to fill with Highwaymen goons proceeding the entrance of Raven herself. She was wearing an extravagant dress adorned with feathers coming out of every direction. Mines positive she was dressed to impress but to the Montana Native, she just looked like an overgrown turkey.