The Slave and Her Owner

Spongebob

"Hannah! Hannah! Save me!" Van yelled at me while running up the hill and into my arms. The owner's puppy was playfully chasing after her but she still looked terrified of the little, black laborador. Her face was still buried into my neck as she was sitting in my lap while I was placed against the tree. Tears were streaming down her face and the dog had a confused look on his small head. I giggled at the funny predicament Van was in.

"Van, you're okay. He won't hurt you and if any dog planned to harm you, then I'll put it down myself." She removed her head from it's nuzzled position and looked at me with red, puffy eyes extending her pinky to me.

"Promise?" I connected our smallest fingers together and wiped some of her tears.

"I promise with my little enslaved heart that I will." She laughed and kissed my cheek. Her arms went back around me and she closed her eyes.

"Let me help you overcome your fear of dogs since Buddy is a good dog who wouldn't hurt a fly." I felt her nod her head on the side of my neck.

"No, I'm still scared." She said in a quiet voice.

"Then let me help you. Give me your hand." She worriedly placed her arm in my hand and I made a clicking noise with my mouth to call Buddy closer. He obeyed and I slowly set Van's fingers on Buddy's dark head. Her eyes were squinted to refrain from opening but she soon got used to the softness of his fur and her eyes reopened. Van started to giggle and Buddy started to lick her hand and then onto her pretty face that no longer looked like they had tears rolling down them a few seconds ago. She scooched off my lap a little to fully embrace the labrador puppy.

"You did it, Hannah. I'm not scared anymore. I like dogs." She ended with a giggle.

"I didn't do anything. I merely observed. You did it, Van. I'm very proud of you." She turned away from the pup and gave me a smile but soon turned to a slight frown. I was about to ask what was wrong but was stopped when her hands took both sides of my face and smashed it into hers.

In that moment I had no idea what was going on or what I was supposed to be doing. I was just helping Van connect our lips and I knew that it was very enjoyable. That was all that mattered until I heard the most unsettling sound I've heard in my short life. The crack of a whip.

"Dear, Lord! What are you two girls doing?! Your actions are sins. Sins, I say! Come on. You two are getting the whip." He grabbed us both by our little arms and dragged us to the post where he always whips us.

"No, Master! It was an accident. Please." Van cried out with her tears returning and arms flailing to be set free.

"Shut it, you sinner! You must pay for your foolish crimes. Now who wants to go first?" I was released from his clutches and stood in front of the post with my arms near the rope ready to be tied up.

"Me! I'll take her punishment too! Just leave her alone." I said the last part with a whisper. The matser let out a manly laugh and cracked his weapon.

"Fine by me. I'm not very fond of you so I won't mind beating you to death." He came up from behind me and tied my small hands to the rope making it difficult to move my two limbs.

"No, Han. I'll take my punishment. Hit me as well." Van said trying to untie me. The master whipped her hand and pushed her down making her stumble to the dirt.

"You will sit there and watch me beat your little friend, you bitch!" He yelled at her while she clutched her torn hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and prepared for impact. I heard the first swing and the wind cutting from the weapon as it tore into my dress and my back. A grunt and a moan was forced out of me on the second one, and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the sixth, and the seventh until I could no longer keep track of how many times it made contact with my body. My vision was being blurred by black spots and the dizziness of the world while my life was flashing before my eyes. I tried to concentrate on Van's sobs to keep me from blacking out but it was starting to fade. I could no longer hear or feel the whip lashes and everything went dark.