Behind Closed Doors

Untitled Part 7

I felt numb. I watched the door for what felt like an eternity. I watched the little red headed girl cry for some time, then just pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I must've fallen asleep like that, because the next thing I remember was watching Star being pushed into the door, and her small frame jumping a mile when the door slammed shut behind her.

I gasped, and ran to her just in time to catch her before her knees hit the concrete. Her face was purple and her lip was swollen and bleeding. Blood dripped down her legs and neck. I felt her body shudder uncontrollably, and it took everything in me not to cry. Running my hand across her forehead, I brushed her hair away from her face, revealing a nasty cut above her eyebrow. Her raggedy dress was torn and even more blood stained. I couldnt stand to see her like this. I forced myself to look back into her blue eyes instead.

Her poor little body seemed exhausted. I could tell that she was struggling to breathe, and it frightened me to know why, or if there was any way I could help. If something were wrong, I knew they would do nothing to help her. I half carried, half dragged her to the wall, holding her in my lap and telling her it would be ok. I dont know if i believed it myself though. I could see in her eyes that she understood me, and that she knew better. Whatever that man had done to her was killing her. I felt, more than I saw, the light and electricity leaving her eyes. She looked like a wilting flower, something so beautiful just casting itself away from the world.

"I love you," I whispered fiercely. "You're going to be ok, you know. I won't let anything happen to you. It's gonna be alright."

I spoke to her with such urgency, I couldn't help but wonder myself if it wasn't true. Maybe I would wake up, and this would all be a dream. If nothing else, perhaps I wouldn't wake up at all. Without her, I didn't think I could last another day. She is the reason I fought every night with the men in the other rooms. The one man that ordered me specifically at least twice a week. I had a reason to fight. Her, and without her, what did I have?

I looked up, tears stinging my eyes again, as the door pushed itself open. My heart dropped, because I knew without even a word that it was my turn again. It had been a few days, and I wasn't bleeding anymore from the last time. The look on his face, and the way he swiveled his head across the throng of young girls in the room confirmed exactly what I feared to be true.

Gently lowering Stars delicate head to the floor and kissing her forehead again, I stood. His eyes locked onto mine and I began walking his way, barely hearing his call me a slut and tell me to move faster. Id become used to it. Every day was the same, a neverending Hell.

His big hands grabbed my neck and pushed me from the room, shoving me almost face first into another door. Leaning down to whisper in my ear, I heard him say "She deserved what she got. Be that an example. Next time you step outta line, I might do the same to you." And he laughed as he pushed me through the door.

I was seething. I saw red and balled up my fists. I knew I couldn't do anything, but I wanted to kill him so bad. He didn't deserve to live, none of these men did. What kind of person could do that to a little girl and not care? Who could do that to anyone? She didn't do anything but stand up for the younger girl.

All of that went through my mind in an instant, and a tear slipped down my cheek as the man from my nightmares slipped out of the shadows.