Chapter One
Caroline
"Don't you dare screw this up, understand?" Devon growled, clutching my frail wrist with his large fists. I yelped out in pain, knowing that the first bruises of the night would appear soon, blotchy and dark. And a reminder: I was a low-class prostitute; I didn't deserve anything but hate. Imagine, thirteen and I've already had sex every way possible. I didn't even remember a day since Devon had married my mother, and destroyed her soul, I wasn't constantly beaten, raped, and belittled.
"If you don't come back with a good amount of money, I'll kill you."
"Y-y-yes, s-s-sir," I whimpered. Devon had all his whores live in the small apartment in West Lane, a rough part of Blackroot filled with strip clubs, drugs, and rapists. People were killed daily and the city police stopped trying to stop the killings. And Devon was serious; three strikes--you're dead. I gulped.
"Now, follow me," he ordered, shoving me into the wall, walking away as I struggled to get up. I crawled behind him. He shoved me into the dingy room. My captor was already smelling of marijuana and tequila; juiced up. He looked at me with empty eyes. I kneeled immediantly on the floor. Muttering was exchanged. I was threatened and Devon left.
"Your name?" my captor slurred.
"My name is Virginia, sir."
"How old are you?"
"I just turned thirteen, sir."
"Come here."
I crawled on my knees and was in front of him. His fist slammed into jaw, sending me sprawled on the floor. I had to get up. I coughed up blood. I went back to my position. He had good coordination; hitting me in all the most painful spots: stomach, sides, spinal area. I was bleeding and bruised before he started the penetration. I forced myself not to cry. "How can people enjoy this?" I wondered.
"You're just like my own bitch: a slut," he grunted.
I choked as I realized his drunken words. I was wasn't I?
He finished and dropped my limp body onto the floor. He threw a packet with '$450' scribbled on the front. I would be alive, for now. I had to be alive...for Penelope. I waited until Devon came back in. He slapped me across the face. "Good work, bitch. Clean your dirty self up, you whore; you have eleven more clients to go tonight."
