"He offered me five crowns." The man walked closer. She felt like someone kicked her in the gut, stopping her breath. Damn! That cruel bastard. It was like offering meat to a wolf. Mark was more clever than she had thought. He had baited her father to sell her. Though, she was not sure if he did not entertain this idea himself. The way he looked at her often, it felt like he was looking at a piece of meat for sale.
"I am your daughter." she whispered with lost hopes when he sneered. The hatred in his eyes had always been evident but then he laughed as if he had remembered an old joke.
"Yes, you are my daughter. You are at my disposal. you are going to follow me. And it is not like you are the first." she looked away. They live in Grothem town. The edge of the red night area. Where many women had earned a great amount by lifting their skirts against the wall. What made her think that she was different?
From the other room came the sound of a strangled cough and her thoughts broken.
"I will earn the same amount in a week by working hard. I do not need to.." he laughed, full of pity as if he was looking at someone naive.
"You can earn more than that every single night. You do not need to be with only him. There are many who want to see the flesh beneath your skirt. Maybe someday, I want to try it too." he licked his lips when her rage rose higher. Too high for her to control
Before she realized, her hands were already on the cheeks of her father.
"Slap!" The strong sound resonated in the air. Perhaps it was the surprise that made it possible. They both were struck dumb by it for a second. And when the spell broke, he was the first to react. He held her wrist tightly and yanked her on the wall.
Her head hit the wall and spinned. She winced with pain.
"Bitch! You think you are too special? Is it because of your fair skin or those bruning golden eyes? You are nothing but a seductress that flirts with every single man in the alley. Tease them with your swaying hips and then act innocent. Do not act in front of me like a respectable noble woman. I would never let that happen." he threw her on the table with force. She stumbled and her stomach hit the corners of the table. An excruciating pain hurt her and she closed her eyes with a gasp.
"Either you will sell yourself today or I will kill both of you. The seed of the evil and the evil woman myself." he kicked her on her back and she winched again. Her hands clenched into a tight fist as she wanted to return the beating to him. But with her thin figure and frail hands, it was just a dream.
When was the last time she had filled her belly completely. When was the last time she had drank milk? Perhaps never. From the time she had remembered, she was living in poverty. With a fearful mother and a beast of a father.
She tried to stand up but another blow came out of the darkness. Agony like lightning knifed through her jaw. The floorboards slammed into her.
And before she could move, a strong grip held her throat and strangled her.
"Or you would die right here with your fucking mother. Do you think she had not fucked other when i wanted money! You are not even my daughter. Why should I pity you?" he sneered and threw her away as if he had touched something filthy.
Abi gasped for air. No matter how much she takes, it feels less in her body. She carved for more making her father scoff again.
"Cover those bloody wounds and put up your best dress. We are leaving in half an hour." he warned her and when she glared at him, he laughed. "If not, i will change my target this time." he looked at the door of the single bedroom in the house where her mother was coughing hard. Her voice was coming hard.
A shiver ran down her spine. If he gave a single beating to her mother, she would die. The hope of leaving felt like a fading candle in the corner of the room. As it left the room in the darkness, so as her life felt after the announcement of her father.
Anger swamped the pain. This stupid, useless fork she still clenched in her hand. She should have stuck him when she'd had the chance. If she killed him, they would be free. But then she would be a wanted criminal. No one would ask a question if he killed her since she was his daughter, his property to keep. But if she killed him, she was an unfilial daughter, a murdered who killed her own father.
She wanted to laugh and scream at the irony. "I could have chosen to kill you too. But you still need to earn me money to have my drinks."
"Abi.. Abigail.." she pushed away the thoughts and stood up. But the man was still blocking her path.
"I will come with you. But let me talk to my mother first." the man flashed a grin as if he had known from the start that she would give up. She would break.
"I know you are not a fool." he patted her back and then stood aside to give her way. "Wear your best dress and wash your face. I have brought a few things you will need." he offered her a small box and left the room. Abi felt like her shoulders were made of steel. She could not drag them to the other room. She could not walk. Yet, she had to because that was her life.
"Abigail. Are you there?"