The Agent's Temptation

5. The Wives

When you awake, your head is throbbing and you can feel swelling around your left cheek and eye.
You feel the dried up blood from the corner of your mouth and it hurts to move your jaw.

But slowly you sit up and lean against the wall.
Across from you is a glass cup and slices of bread.
Whoever had brought it had also replaced the zip tie with a new one; and a much looser one at that.
It had probably been Ginny.

Adam, or whoever that man truly was, had been planning this for a month. He had followed you since that day at the zoo; he probably knew where you lived , where you worked, your schedule and so much more. It only made sense that he would have known where you were going to be and at what time. It was sickening that he really believed that you'd fall into his trap of being in his "family".

The basement door opened and new footsteps followed. They weren't light as Ginny's but not heavy like Adam's. And after a couple of seconds, two other set of footsteps followed.

Then, before you stood three new women; all older than you but not by much.
One was a tall and strong looking woman with golden hair that was in a very neat bun.
The other was a tall, thin but curvy woman with hazel eyes, dark skin and long black and blonde braids in a ponytail.
And finally, a shorter and fuller woman with red hair in a top bun and freckles all over her face.

Then it made sense.
Sunshine, Bee and Cherry.
The other three wives.
But unlike Ginny, their faces were even more stoic. Sunshine wore a yellow dress, Bee a purple one and Cherry a green one. All in pastel colors; simple and plain but with numerous pockets, just like Ginny's . They still looked fragile and weak but they were looking at you angrily. Then you saw that in their hands they each carried something.

Sunshine had a pale blue dress in her hands that matched theirs, Bee a pair of white tennis shoes and Cherry a hairbrush and hair ties. They all stood in a straight line in silence; and you knew what they were here to do.

"If that monster thinks I'm going to let you guys turn me into a pastel brainwashed freak tell him he can go f*ck himself!" You snarled at them.

They all flinched at your profanity but Sunshine was the only one to speak up. "How dare you speak of your husband like that?"

"HE IS NOT MY HUSBAND HE NEVER WILL BE!"

"You were chosen," Bee says with an astonished voice. "You should be grateful that he chose you."

You glare at them. "Yes, I should be grateful that a man has me tied up in his basement and has slapped me multiple times."

The three women looked at your eye and cheek and looked away swiftly but Cherry spoke up.
"Husband would only do so if you were a threat. If he needed to punish you to make you better."

You couldn't help but be mad at these women while also sad. Somehow Adam had brainwashed three beautiful women to follow him and believe that he was kind and good.
You had watched documentaries about cults like these but being among it was a different experience.
It was terrifying.
"I will NOT let that asshole convert me. And if you even try to understand that he's hurt me then you'll see how he's hurt you too!"

Bee looked shocked at your words. "Husband has NEVER hurt us. In fact he's shown us the way."
"The way?" You say rolling your eyes. "He's brainwashed you!"
"No! He's given us everything we needed; everything we require to survive!" Sunshine adds.
Cherry's eyes fill with tears. "He's given us love, protection and warmth. He believes in us and treats us like we're queens. There is no better man out there!"
You scoff. "If he's so great then why do you all share him? Wouldn't you want him to yourself?"

Sunshine grits her teeth. "We cannot be selfish. His love is life changing; I'd never deny my sisters that happiness."
You can't help but laugh at your situation. How could you ever convince these women that they were being used? Abused? That the man they called Husband was nothing but a psychopath?

"You don't deserve him," Sunshine said through her teeth. "You can't even appreciate that he chose you."
You were about to argue with her; reminding her that you were kidnapped but decided to play along.

"You're right. I don't deserve him. I'll never ever be thankful to him and I will make sure I make his life miserable," you say confidently. "So if you care about him at all, if you want to make sure your Husband is happy then you should let me go."

You see the three women hesitate for a moment. They knew they couldn't help you but they also wanted to make sure Adam was happy at all times.

"I will never stop fighting him. I will hurt him every chance I get and I'll make your life miserable too." You say smiling, feeling just as insane as them.

"You are cruel," Bee said, her voice hurt and face sad.
Cherry next to her had tears falling down her face.

You didn't want to hurt these women; they were victims just like you. Adam had done something to them to break their will and take away any power they had. But you couldn't spare their feelings now. Your life was on the line.

"Sisters, we must leave." Sunshine said. "We will tell husband that she's not ready to become a part of this family. Perhaps she needs more time here to reflect."
You glare at her, knowing she was going to be the most stubborn of them.

Bee put her head down and clutched the shoes in her arms like they were a life raft. Sunshine led them away but Cherry just looked at you with saddened eyes. There was hesitancy there, fear.

And as terrible as it sounded; you planned on using it to set you free.