The Art of the Corset (2017)

Chapter Nine- No Way Out

It had been nearly three weeks since Evelyn had any good source of anything from nutrition to interaction. She would make her way up and down the cobbles in hopes of finding anyone who would throw her a coin or even a crumb-but most spat in her direction or avoided her entirely. Growing frail and knowing Marth would never accept her for her profession due to his now deceased wife, she placed herself on a nearby wall and rested for a moment. Pulling her stained dress into her body to keep the rats from tramping upon it, she recalled what the girls would always tell her at the brothel; "The only power a woman has is what lies between her legs." Finding any interaction with a male in an intimate setting thus far being either rape or close to it, she was not finding the idea one she could take with excitement. But she knew with her state of being disheveled and without any companions or family, she would have only one choice if she did not wish to die.

Brushing off her dress as she moved to the creek nearby, she hand washed her dress until it appeared as pristine as possible. While allowing it to dry, she had used wax from candles stolen from a tavern and skinned away the unattractive hair upon her body. Using nearby flowers, she then rubbed them upon her skin and then moved back towards the water to cross it before finding her reflection to be someone she could not recognize.

Ignoring the gnawing in her stomach, confusing it for hunger instead of her consciousness, she reentered the town appearing appealing to even the most queer men. Placing her long hair over one shoulder, she allowed her neck to be exposed to tease any prospective buyers and would walk in front of them so they could sense her sweet smell. Enticing several men whom she could not follow through on, one man approached her and was direct and cold; but not cruel. He pulled her into a nearby tunnel that connected the working class from the brothels. Using the thick stone cage around them, he propped her up so her legs then wrapped around his waist and placed himself inside of her. Letting out a shriek as she was still finding penetration to be painful. Gripping her nails on his shoulders, she tried to gain a look at his face, but found only his hand to be in the way. It was obvious the man was disgusted by his own act, but was too attached to his own lust to care for the hurt it would cause his sexual partner.

The moment seemed to have ended as quickly as it began with the man expiring and placing her on her feet. Tossing her a nice set of coins, she slid them in her corset between her breasts before entering the streets once more. Although it was dirty work, it was the only thing she had known. She desired a time where she would be taken care of by a gentleman and be given food by the baskets full and children that would accept all the love she, herself, was neglected. She felt for the first time, she was in control. And with a smirk cementing the thought, she found her other clients.

Having accepted four patrons this day, she found it difficult to feel much of anything aside from greed. She loved the feeling of gaining something on her own, something she would not have to give to anyone. And so, making her way to the market, she collected herself and chose as much food as she could carry. Finding a beautiful spot beside the water, she sat with her feet in the relaxing stream and closed her eyes while her teeth tore at the ham that was wrapped in a piece of cloth. Finishing everything she could, only a few bites remaining, she brought herself to stand until finding a scuffle behind her.

Night had fallen quite dark and it seemed to be vacant aside from her and the people ahead. Using her skill of stealth, she came up quiet and saw how two men of the king dressed in their arrogant red and white uniform stood over a woman with great excitement. The woman was upon the floor, clutching herself together while heavily guarding her own stomach. As she turned to try to move from the blunt trauma, Evelyn could see the poor woman's face as it was black and blue and bloody along with an expression of pure agony. Screaming for help, she was then knocked unconscious before Evelyn realized she could not allow this woman to suffer at the hands of those that do nothing but ask of her kind.