The Don And His Flower

14

Three months.

Imani felt the small flutter for the second time.

Her hand touched right below her belly, waiting and waiting.

Another flutter.

The another.

Three months pregnant.

Imani felt the tears out her eye, ankle itching once again as she slowly sat up. The barely noticed pudge of her lower belly slowly, ever so slowly grew. She couldn't flex her cheeks strong enough to lift the corner of her lips. She looked at the thick metal cuff that chained her to the bottom bed post.

Faint chatter and laughter erupted from the world outside of the cage she remained in. Getting off the bare mattress, she slowly got to her knees on the floor. The pain increased but only slightly.

They've done it all.

The beatings never ended.

The assaults never simmered.

All these men did was take turns on her.

How she was alive made her question everything. They barely kept her fed, but they were sure to make sure she ate.

Imani whimpered, the tape on her wrists pricking her skin as the man fisted the top of the mattress. Tears fell as she cried through the thick ropes that burned the corners of her mouth.

He grunted, thrusting once more as she felt his release inside of her. "One more..one more and you can eat. Look at all that food, good right? Yeah..that's it, slut. Put that dick back in your pussy."

The dark brown leaves fell from the nearby trees. She assumed it might've been early fall. It looked warm out still, but few leaves fell. Imani ignored the flutter in her belly, crawling away from the window and over to the crust infested plate. Shooing away a gnat, she took the remainder of the broccoli, eating it fast.

The evening approached while she sat against the old bed. She wondered if her mother died peacefully. w
Wondered if she died knowing that her daughter loved her. That she tried her best, given the situations they've been thrown in.

She let her mind wander to Hannah and Theo Marley. Two people she dearly missed, God she missed Hannah. Is she even alive? Is Theo alive?

Is Valis alive?

Did Valis die thinking about her? Does he know what his father has done to her?

She palmed the small of her stomach, feeling the flutter once more as the tears just danced away from her eyes. The outside got darker from the night sky that approached.

Imani sighed and turned again, crawling on top of the mattress. She thought about Valis. As she grabbed the edge of the stained material, she thought about Valis.

She thought about him as she laid her head on the side, her body arched with legs spread. The door opened, footsteps rushing in greedily. Imani thought about Valis as the door closed, only sounds were drunk heavy breathing.

The woman closed her eyes, thought about the willow tree. The sounds of the men arguing were mute to her ears.

All she could hear was Valis calling her name, laughing and kissing her under the willow tree.

"Come here."

Imani giggle, the fourteen year old held his hand, feet picking up as they neared the beautiful tree in the distance. "Is this it?" She gasped, observing such greenery on the large branches.

"The only weeping willow left in Russia. It's here, in Sontarc, Imani. Right in our home." He hid them behind the thick trunk. With her back to the bark, she looked up at him. Beautiful dark brown eyes looking at hers as she nodded slightly. The young fifteen year old licked his lips, connecting his to hers as a slow breeze went by.

The innocence they shared was immense, making her moan softly in his mouth. "Valis." She gasped, fingertips to her tingling lips as he slowly pulled away.

Her first kiss.

"Valis." Imani whispered. The numbness took over. Brain shutting off as she maintained her arch, feeling the release be forced into her.

The man grunted with another slur coming from his lips before pulling out like she was a disease. All through the night, she was in that position, turned into another position. Kept her head bowed and hands by her side when they beat and kicked her.

Imani looked at the ceiling. Legs pushed up, to the mattress by two of the men while one was on top of her.

"Virgo? I see fourteen stars." Valis groaned. Imani shook her head, hand leaving his chest as she pointed at the sky. "Look up just a little bit more. Do you see it? It's the second dim one. They aren't all bright but I swear that's one of them."

Valis stared and stared before turning his eyes at Imani Milton. "I see something better."

The young sixteen year old looked at her boyfriend, smiling as he went pulled her leg over his stomach. She snuggled back into him, the promise ring glistening on her finger as it competed against the millions of stars in the night sky.

"You think our children will like the stars like us?"

Valis looked back at the sky. Such brightness twinkled in his view, but none of it was compared to the light that danced in Imani Milton soul. "I think they will."

The two layed there for hours. Talking and kissing and talking about their future together.

"I love you."

Imani gasped, frozen as Valis kept his eyes on the stars. She sat up, straddling him. Her eyes twinkled with emotion as she bent down, kissing him over and over at his confession. "Valis.."

Her words felt muted as she repeated the three words. He couldn't hear her. Not when he was looking at the brightest star he's ever seen.

"I love you, Imani Milton."

Imani hugged her knees to her chest, crying as she felt another kick to her back. The night continued, dragging out ever single hour, every minute. Every single second.

All she thought about was Valis and the stars.

"Valis."