Big Top

Chapter 19

Fear spread throughout my entire body when he growled the cruel words in my face. I inwardly gasped but my only action visible to others were my widened eyes and quickening breath. I felt two men grab me by the arms and yank me backwards so that they were dragging me. I watched everyone's expressions as we passed them, but none were shock, they all gave me a look of sympathy. They had all been here much longer than I, and I know they had seen what Richard did to people who messed up. But, I think the looks of sympathy scared me more than what was coming. It scared me that no one was going to help me, but I understood why they didn't and I don't blame them. Surely, if they did try to help they would suffer the same fate. I pleaded over and over again, "Richard, please! I won't do it again! Please! I'm sorry!" He just walked silently behind us, staring at me while I squirmed for dear life, my heels making rows in the dirt.

"Stop." He commanded, making them stop. "Strip his shirt." They yanked my shirt open, making a few buttons fly off, and yanked it off my arms then threw it to the ground. "Tie him to that tree, men." My mind raced as they shoved me against the tree and roughly tied my hands so that I was hugging the tree. I winced as the rough bark dug into my whole front and wrists.

"Richard, please! I promise I won't do it again!" I hadn't even noticed I was crying until I heard my own voice quiver.

"I know you won't. You shouldn't do anything wrong after I'm done with you." He snarled. I cried harder, so afraid of the pain I knew I would be in soon. "You get ten lashes, every time you scream I add two more." What pained me the most was how calm he was about it, like this was something normal for him. It shouldn't be normal for anyone, this was abuse. He treated people worse than animals, and I've seen how he treats animals.

"HARRY! NO!" Louis's voice suddenly screamed out of nowhere. I couldn't see him but I suddenly felt his soft hands press to my back. "DAD, NO!"

"Move, son." He said, still calm but his voice on the brink of agitation.

"NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" I could tell he was crying. No, no, Louis, you'll get yourself in trouble too.

"Louis, please, just go." I managed to whisper through my tears, "It's ok."

"No, I'm not leaving!" He said softer to me but his voice still contained the commanding tone.

"Move him." I heard Richard say then Louis was screaming again and I felt the presence of his hands that were on my back gone. I knew what was coming now and I braced myself as best I could. But nothing could have prepared me for what I felt. I released an ear piercing scream as I felt the whip crack against my back. "That's twelve." He informed, yanking the whip back to strike me again. This time I sealed my mouth shut so tight with my teeth that I tasted a hint of blood in my mouth. Louis continued to scream and thrash in the mens grip and I felt worse for his sake than mine, he shouldn't have to see this at all. The tears ran down my cheeks continuously through every strike. I could feel it breaking the skin on my back and I felt the blood seep down. My hands had nothing to clutch but themselves and I was pressed to the tree so tight I felt the bark scraping my skin. Eighth strike, my body was exhausted and limply jerked against the tree. My mind was so hazy I could barely hear Louis still screaming but I heard what Richard said loud and clear, "WOULD YOU SHUT HIM UP!" I heard a clump, then a groan, then a this to the ground, then silence. I knew what they had done and I cried even harder and whimpered against the tree. But my body had gone limp and I just hung by my arms, my legs had given out. By the ninth strike I wanted to pass out from the pain, but I knew it was almost over so I forced myself to endure it.

Ten

Eleven

Finally, twelve.

I thought as soon as he was finished he would have someone untie me, but I was wrong. I heard him tell everyone to go about their business and they all left. I should have known he would leave me to suffer in my own drying blood and misery. In a way though, I felt like I deserved it. I did mess up, yes, I have been living in sin, yes. But I wouldn't trade my Louis for anything. My love for him is stronger than my desire for a normal life.