Page 14 of Echoes From Within
“Good girl, Sophia,” he smiles tenderly. “How long have you been here?”
I think back. It didn’t take long for me to get pregnant when I first arrived. I had a full-term pregnancy, which means it’s been at least nine months. I’m not sure how long it’s been since then though.
“Probably a year,” I admit.
His eyes widen before slowly lowering himself from the squatting position to sitting.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he says. “I bet your family is worried sick.”
“I don’t have any family left,” I whisper. “My parents died shortly before I was taken.”
“Oh, babygirl.”
His eyes scream sympathy. I want to tell him to keep his pity for someone else but the truth is, I need it. I need for someone, apart from Cady and the other women, to at least feel sorry for me.
“Do you know what they want you to do?” I whisper.
His eyes darken, and for a split second, it almost appears as if someone new is watching me. Then his eyes return to the kindness that I’ve seen so far.
“I do, babygirl,” he admits. “Why do you keep whispering?”
“They can hear me,” I tell him. “They hear everything.”
With a nod, he extends his hand and I just watch. What does he want me to do? Hold his hand? He doesn’t move as I sort through my thoughts. If I give him my hand he can force me forward and throw me on the mattress. Although, based on the size of his arms, I don’t think he would need the leverage to put me where he wants me.
Taking a deep breath, I place my small hand in his.
His fingers envelope my hand and he lifts it to his mouth before blowing.
“You’re fucking freezing, babygirl,” he tells me. “You’re wearing next to nothing and it’s an icebox in here.”
“It’s actually much warmer in the breeding room than it is in our cells,” I tell him.
I know the men breeders live in different locations and always look as if they’re living like kings. But, for some reason, the women never get that privilege.
“Breeding room?” he asks.
I nod, roaming my eyes around the cell.
“Why must you never listen, Seven?” my guard's voice echoes around the room. “Seeing as how you’re still dressed after you were ordered to remove your gown you will spend the night in cellblock X. Maybe after not eating tonight or tomorrow, you’ll learn to follow the rules.”
The tears form and fall before I can stop them. They barely give us enough food as it is but I don’t care about that. Cellblock X means I get a visit from the punisher.
“I’ve told her to keep her clothing on,” the man, Travis, calls out. “It’s cold down here.”
“It does not matter what you’ve told her,” the guard says. “Do your task and you can join the others in the male sector. Do not and we will have to take more drastic measures.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Travis shouts.
“Look at that, Seven,” the guard laughs. “You two were meant to meet. You have one hour.”
Two things go through my mind. One, I don’t want to spend more time in cellblock X and around the punisher than necessary. And two, for some crazy reason, I don’t want the punisher to harm this man. Call me insane, but something in my heart tells me that Travis is a kind person.
I pull my hand back, not realizing that Travis was still holding it, before standing and removing my gown. I walk to the mattress and lie down.
“What the fuck are you doing, babygirl,” he says roughly. “It’s too fucking cold and you’re too fucking skinny to be in this room naked.”
“If you don’t do as he asks, he will punish you,” I say, not bothering to lower my voice.