The Mistress

Chapter 10. The Kid

10

1492, Italy

My ankle felt like it was burning, the rest of my body was frozen but my ankle felt as if it sat in the fire pits of hell. The blood soaked my foot and shoe. The big one that I hit with a rock was the one carrying me. He had me flung over his shoulder like a sack of flour. I can imagine that he wants to throw me to the ground now. His grip was tight on me because I imagine that he got an ear full from the drunk for letting me get away and he doesn't want it to happen again. The kid followed him from behind and the drunk was leading the way. My long blonde hair fell over my face and when I would move to push it from my face the man would shake me to get me to stop. The sharp pain from my ankle left my face in a tight wince. I knew that the only way I could be able to get away from them is by killing them or getting some help. My only option is to get help because I could never kill anyone even people as horrible as they are. I look through the strands of my blond hair that fell in front of my face to see the kid who followed behind me. I could tell he was not as angry vial ad the drunk and as strong as the big one, he was different and also my only way out of here. I might be able to convince him to let me go. He wasn't like the other two, the drunk was angry and would hurt a small child if he wanted to, and the big one has a head full of rocks to even understand what is going on. He was different than the other two and he was my only hope of getting out of this. I see him looking at me through the strands of me hair and he looks away when he sees that I notice him.

When we get back to the camp they throw me down on the ground and tie me to the same tree I was bound to before. They tied me up tighter this time, so tight that it was getting hard to breath. They don't even bother to cover my mouth, but there is no point in that, no one is around to hear me. "The stupid whore won't get away again" The drunk says. "Make sure of it." He says to the kid. "Watch her."
"Why me!" The kid complains.
"Because the last time this idiot did it and she got away."
"Why can't you do it?" He continues to complain. The drunk steps closer to the kid and puts a dagger to his throat.
"Because I have more important things to do than watch the stupid whore. If you can't do it you may leave and you can tell the boss that the reason you are back is because you couldn't watch a tiny girl." The kid backs away from him scared.
"Alright fine" he answered. The drunk pushed him over to me and the kid fell down onto his knees.
"Don't let the stupid bitch get away." The drunk ordered. He stumbles away back to the camp with the big one and he leaves the kid here with me. The kid gets up and brushes off his knees. He starts mumbling to himself in French. He is probably cursing him or something, I would. He sits down on a almost hallow log a keeps mumbling to himself. This kid is my only hope to get out of here.
"Why do you put up with him?" I finally ask. I figure that if I soften him up he will be willing to help me. It seems that he has not been shown any kindness lately and he deserves some since he has to deal with that drunk.
"What?" He questions me.
"You put up with his abuse, why? So you can get a small amount of gold for kidnapping a young girl?" He looks down at his feet in shame. "Why are you doing this to me? I have done nothing wrong." He doesn't say anything. "Answer me!" I cry.
"Because I was told to." He finally answers me. "He is my father, I have to listen to him." he points to the drunk.
"But I have a family! A daughter." I lie. "And when that drunk is done with me I know he is going to kill me. My children will grow up without a mother. Is the little bit of gold you are getting worth that?"
"No." he said quietly.
"Then please let me go." I beg. "We can wait until the middle of the night so no one will know."
"I can't"
"Yes you can. I am of no value to them because I don't have what they want. " He doesn't say anything. I am trying to get sympathy and I believe it is starting to work. Before he kept looking at me but now he doesn't want to make eye contact. "What is you name?"
"François"
"I'm Lena. But you probably already knew that didn't you?" he nods to me. It stays quiet for a few moments but I continue to try and win him over. I lean my head back onto the tree and let out a deep sigh. "Rosalie." I say.
"Huh?" François finally looks up at me.
"Rosalie. That's my daughters name." That was my mother name. I remember my father telling me that. "Every night I would sing her to sleep, it is the only way she can fall asleep because the dark scares her. If I do not sing to her she is up the whole night crying in fear. I have not been home for a while, she is probably scared and lost without me?"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want you to know that you're hurting more than one person by taking me." I let a tear roll down my cheek. It was sort of real, that tear. I know what it's like to have someone you love disappear and not know what has happened.
"I think it's time for you to rest." he turns around on the log and faces the other direction. Part of that worked, I could tell. How long will I have to wait for him to let me go. I look forward at the drunk and the big one dancing around the fire. Of course the drunk had a bottle in his hand. It scares me, they are laughing and smiling like normal people. I never expected monsters like them to act normal. I always picture people like this always doing horrible things. They are human and it makes me realize how sick humans can be.