As Marcel drew close to me I felt so small and weak in his presence and I didn't know when I started begging for my life like a little puppy.
"Please don't hurt me.."
"You can't escape your punishment. Your pleas are pointless," he said, his voice carrying a sense of hatred as he approached me.
His intimidating frame towered over me like a mountain, casting a powerful and dangerous shadow on me.
I would lie if I said I wasn't terrified at this point. I could literally hear my heart beat but as strangely as it will seem for some very odd reason I was also excited.
Like how? Why will I be excited about getting punished by this intimating, dangerous man??!
Maybe it's because his sweet scent has started intoxicating me and clouding my mind or maybe some part of me is craving for his touch even if it's aggressive and violent.
I really don't know why a part of me was excited about it but all I know is that there is no escaping this man and the things he had in-store for me which I feared would be very cruel and evil.
"Please.." I found myself begging again then I shut my eyes tight as I saw him raise his hands up to my face like he wanted to hit me...
I could feel my heart pumping blood at an extremely fast pace. I feared it was going to give way as I was literally anticipating that painful moment when Marcel's hand would come in contact with the skin of my face but then.
"Take," he said and I slowly opened my eyes and saw that he was holding onto a rake he took from beside me.
What? Is this the torture device he wants to use to torture me? But why is he handing it over to me? Hot sweat started forming on my forehead.
"W..Why?" I stuttered.
"Take it," he repeated impatiently and I slowly took it from his hands, wondering what evil plans he intends to use this for.
And seriously I could think of a few already. The rake has many pointy ends. He could drive them into my stomach or he could use it to scrape my face. He could even do far more evil than I can imagine.
Oh my God!
"Get to work," he said and I became confused.
Get to work? What work? What is he saying?
"I..I don't understand," I said.
"What is there not to understand? Look around," he said and I obeyed, taking a look around.
"What do you see?" He asked.
"Horses," I answered, not sure if that is what he wanted to hear.
"Yes horses, horses that need grooming and their surroundings tidying. And that's why you are here so get on with your work" he said and it made sense now. His words plus the rake finally made sense to me.
He brought me here to take care of the horses. Is that the punishment? Immediately my heart beat started reducing and my anxiety came down.
"Is this my punishment?" I still had to ask.
"Yes or do you want something else?" He asked, taking a close to me and I swallowed.
"No," I muttered.
"Then get to work," he said and honestly I wasn't viewing this as a punishment at all, not until..
"You might want to put on some boots as you will find horse dung is 10 times nastier than that of dog. I wouldn't want to step on one if I were you," he said with a somewhat faint wicked smile causing me to squeeze my face in disgust.
Now it's looking more like a punishment.
"Please where are the boots?" I asked and he just pointed to the direction where 3 pairs of large rubber boots were resting alongside other cleaning gears.
I went and picked the black pair and wore it. I also took thick, large blue hand gloves and covered my hands plus a nose mask as I do not want to smell any unpleasant scent.
Fully dressed I entered into one of the stalls but the horse, a beautiful white stallion, didn't seem to like me as it was snorting, blowing hot air from his nostrils at me. It even almost galloped at the spot like it wanted to headbutt me.
What the fuck? I don't want to be killed by a damn horse.no matter how beautiful it is.
"I don't think your horse wants me to clean after him," I said to Marcel, retreating back.
"You don't know much about horses do you?" He said in a mocking manner and he walked towards me.
"Yes I don't," I replied.
He gently placed his hand on the horse's long nose giving it a gentle, calm smile before turning to face me.
"This isn't hostility, rather it's excitement," he said.
Huh?
"Excitement?"
"Yes. He likes you and that's quite strange," he said and I frowned.
"Because it's me, right?"
"No. Because he doesn't like anyone, especially strangers," he said, gently stroking the horse's nose.
"Oh."I was short of words. Like I have no idea why a horse will be fond of me. I never really owned or rode a horse before.
"Can I pet him?" I asked softly and he stared at me intently before stepping away from the horse.
"He is all yours."
"Thanks," I said, then gently placed my hand on the horse's face and he seemed calm as he allowed me to pet him.
A happy smile formed on my face as I pet it. It feels so good!
"Such a beautiful boy," I said, rubbing it on its neck.
"What is his name?" I asked.
"Speedy," he replied.
"He must be really fast then," I said.
"Like the wind," he replied and I smiled.
For a minute there I had forgotten I was here to serve a punishment and I was actually enjoying my time in Marcel's company until.
"I will leave you now to get on with your work," he said and the smile on my face faded away.
"Alright."
"Dinner would be served by 8, you should be done by then and be sure to know I will come to inspect," he said with a serious tone before he started walking away....
*
Elijah was busy smoking while relaxing shirtless in his crib when he had an unannounced, anxious visitor.
"What is it? Why are you acting as if you are being chased by a mad dog? And where are your men?" Elijah said to the man.
The man actually happens to be Pedro, a gang leader of another group known as the Vipers and a good friend of Elijah.
"Have you heard?" Pedro asked, his face reflecting his distress and fear.
"Heard what?"
"Kingpin is dead," Pedro said, but Elijah didn't look bothered about the news.
"About time I know that fat fool can't possibly live long. So what took the fat fudk's life, a heart attack?" He asked, puffing a smoke.
"His zone was raided," Pedro responded.
"Raided? And who was brave and powerful enough to pull off that operation t?"
"Blue-death," Pedro replied and Elijah's eyes dilated.
"What? That can't be true. It's not his style," Elijah said.
"I know it's not his style but he knows. He knows about Operation Armageddon," Pedro said and the pipe in Elijah's hand fell from his fingers out of shock.
"He knows?"
"Yes and do you know what that means for us?" Pedro asked.
"He will come for us too," Elijah replied and all of a sudden his throat felt dry.
*
I am so fucking exhausted but honestly it's quite fun doing this. All the horses seemed to like me, especially Speedy and I can't remember how many times I have pet him. Such a beautiful creature. And oh their dungs ain't as bad as Marcel made it to be. They ain't as stinky as those of dogs and cats but damn they are big. Like very massive and thick!!
After I was done with the cleaning and grooming I decided to rest my head on a wooden chair in the stable but before I knew it I slept off due to exhaustion..
I was sleeping but not in a deep sleep so I was aware when someone entered into the stable and when the person came close to where I was resting my head without opening my eyes I knew it was Marcel from his scent. So sweet!
True to his words he has come to inspect if I did my work thoroughly so I pretended to be fast asleep so he doesn't ask me to do anything else if it's not up to his liking.
"She didn't do anything." I heard him say.
Like what the fuck?!
I have practically worked my ass to exhaustion and he is saying I haven't done anything? This is more reason for me to pretend that I am fast asleep.
"Hey, get up," he said in an authoritative manner and I almost gave up the act but I chose to stick to the act at the end.
Well I might not be fast asleep but I am genuinely exhausted and I needed to rest. I can't fucking serve any more punishment.
"Didn't you hear me? I said, get up now!" His words were truly frightening and I didn't know how I continued in the act cause I was scared and I am sure he could see my closed eyes shaking like a leaf in the river.
I could hear his approaching footsteps then everywhere went silent when he stood in front of me.
Oh God, I could feel my heart beat increasing as I feared he was about to hit me… I should open my eyes now when I have the chance.
Suddenly I felt his hands on my body but they were gentle as he carried me up and positioned me on his back and I stylishly wrapped my arms around his neck and shoulders.
"Goodnighty Speedy," he bid his horse farewell before he started walking away.
I really couldn't believe he was carrying me on his back. I must be dreaming this. So I slowly opened my eyes and saw for a fact it was real.
I was indeed riding his back like a horse and his steps were gentle and steady like he was considerate of me. I didn't realize when I started smiling and blushing like a fool as I began smelling the sweet scent of his hair that fell gracefully down his shoulders and back.