Disappearance: A broken Wing

Punishment

As Leo was about to take me to the barn, Lucas stormed into the house, dragging Sally with him. He threw her onto the hard floor like she was nothing. Her face was busted up, her lips split, and her tiny clothes were filthy and torn.

"What is this nonsense?" Hito demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

"This pig managed to pick up a pair of scissors and stab Micka," Lucas sneered.

"Did she now?" Hito's eyes narrowed. "I want her beaten to a pulp."

"Yes, sir." Lucas grabbed a whip, but before he could strike Sally, I jumped forward, shoving him out of the way. I planted myself in front of her, shielding her with my body.

"Who do you think you are?" Lucas hissed, clearly annoyed.

"Whatever punishment you want to give her, give it to me," I said firmly. "Let me take full responsibility for her actions."

"Kara, don't," Sally whispered, her small voice trembling.

"Fine," Hito said after a moment, a cruel smirk twisting his face. "But your punishment will be twice as hard. Take her down to the stables. Keep the kid here as leverage."

Lucas and Leo grabbed me by the arms and dragged me out of the house. My bare feet scraped against the dirt road as we made our way toward a run-down stable. The closer we got, the worse the scene became—bodies hanging by chains, women barely alive, others bleeding out on the ground. This place was hell.

Lucas tied my hands high on a hook in the ceiling, pulling it until I was stretched painfully on my toes. Then, without hesitation, he ripped off my robe, leaving me completely exposed in front of everyone.

Leo grabbed a cow whip. The first strike burned across my skin like fire. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, but I didn't cry. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. By the time he reached the eighteenth lash, my back felt like it was being ripped apart.

"You're to hang here for twenty-four hours until someone unhooks you," Leo said coldly.

"Leo, you know what you should do?" I forced the words out, even though the pain.

"What?" he asked, his tone mocking.

"Make a deep hole and die in it," I spat.

His eyes narrowed. "Twenty-five hours. Let's go, Lucas."

Night came. I was still tied up, the ropes cutting into my raw wrists. The blood dripping from my back attracted bugs that bit at my skin. I was too weak to swat them away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow moving toward me. My heart jumped—if it was another guard, I couldn't take more pain.

But as the figure stepped closer, I recognized him.

"Baxton," I whispered.

He had a bucket and a rag with him.

"How are you feeling?" Baxton asked, his voice soft.

"Sally... the little girl I took a beating for. Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Baxton said reassuringly. "She's sleeping peacefully in the barn."

Relief washed over me. "I'm okay," I lied.

Baxton crouched down, dipping the rag into the bucket, then began gently cleaning the blood from my back.

"Baxton, stop. I don't want you to get in trouble," I said weakly.

"Don't worry. It's my job to clean up the wounded," he replied. "So, is Sally your sister?"

"No. She's just a kid. Part of me feels like I need to protect her from everything... and the other part of me resents her."

"Why?"

"I would never have been in this position if I hadn't tried to save her in my neighborhood," I admitted, my voice breaking.

"You can't blame her for this," Baxton said firmly.

"I know." My voice was barely a whisper now. "It's just... funny, isn't it? I got trapped in human trafficking because I wanted to save a child."

For the first time in so long, I felt tears sting my eyes. My head dropped, and I let myself cry in front of him.

Baxton dropped the rag back into the bucket and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"Kara, you're an amazing person for protecting Sally," he said. "It's awful that you're in this situation, but you will escape."

"You can't promise that."

"Yeah, I can," he said with quiet confidence. "Because I'll help you and Sally get out of here. You just have to give it time."

"Why is it so easy to trust you?"

"Because I refuse to hurt you."

A weak smile tugged at my lips. "You're too good for this place."

"And you're too precious for any of the pain you've been given," he said softly.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"No problem. I have to go, but tomorrow, when they let you down, I'll be there for you."

"I appreciate that," I said sincerely.

"Before I go," he added, "I need to apologize. I never meant to slap your butt earlier, but I had to make it look like I used you."

"Baxton, I forgave you already," I said.

"Alright. See you tomorrow." He gave me a small nod before slipping back into the shadows.