It is a cold day… Strangely cold for the time of year. It hasn't rained so, no real reason for a cold front. What's the cause?
I wrapped my shawl tightly around myself as the wind whipped up again, blowing my fiery red coily hair around my head and directly into my face. The hem of my dress also blowing wildly in the breeze. Of all things exposing my spats.
"The Scandal." I thought to myself in a sarcastic tone. Does anyone else do this? Speak to themselves? Just me? Okay. I kept walking at my clipped pace. "Why the hell is it so bloody cold?" I ask the wind, eyes scanning the gray cloud-streaked sky. The clouds flew overhead like they were gonna catch fire. "Hhmm. There's gonna be a storm tonight." I turned my eyes back to the dusty road. Just a bit further, then I'd be at the dress shop. My place of work. My one anchor in a town that never quite stops shifting beneath one's boots.
It's strange to have a dedicated dress shop in a dusty old town like ours. But then, nothing really surprises me anymore. Things are progressing faster and faster everyday it seems. That was when it happened… Despite knowing better, I allowed myself to become completely distracted.
A large hand suddenly clamped itself over my mouth, another grabbed me tightly around my waist, dragging me off down a side street and into the desert, just far enough from town that there wasn't going to be anyone to hear me if I screamed. There, in the middle of the emptiness stood a crusty old shack, barely hanging on for dear life.
Before I could piece together what was happening, I was being gagged and tied to a wooden chair in the middle of the moldy smelling shack.
My assailant stood before me revealing his identity. As soon as my eyes fell on him, there was a metallic taste in my mouth. I am told he has this effect on everyone that he ever had any dealings with. My eyes narrowed with mistrust. Silas "Silver Grip" Crowe…. I regret ever getting caught up with the likes of him. If it hadn't been so important, I swear I never would have.
It's for my Sammy. That's why I reached out to Crowe, in fact Sammy is the ONLY reason I would ever reach out to someone like him… Not even for my own self would I. Yet and still, here we are. I would do anything for my Sammy. He is my little brother, and all I have left in this God forsaken world.
"What do you want Crowe?" I asked as though I don't know. Maybe feigning ignorance will ignorance will spare me in some way. Unlikely, and I know it.
"You know what I am here for Anna. Where is it?" His words came out like sandpaper scraping wood, course and dry.
"Where is what?" I ask, doing my best to give him an innocent doe-eyed look. This was a mistake, but not one I didn't see coming.
Like being struck by lightning, his hand struck my face. Blood, metallic iron. Confirmed only by the shooting pain inside of my right cheek. It was flowing fast. "Don't play stupid girl! Where's my money?! It's a month past due! I have been MORE than patient with you. It's time to pay up!"
Seeing as how I don't particularly enjoy the taste of blood, I turned my face away from him and spit out the glob that had been forming. My best guess is that I have a huge gash on the inside of my cheek. "I almost have it all. I just need a little more time." I say to him acting as though I were struggling to fight back some real tears. Girls like me? We don't cry, and certainly not at the hands of any man.
"You ALMOST HAVE IT ALL." He said in a mocking tone. As though I were just sitting around twiddling my fingers, or spending every night at the dance hall, more worried about finding a man than paying him back. If only that were my reality…
"I have been working as many hours as I can. There isn't much call for these fancy dresses round these parts, but I promise, another week or so, and I'll have it all for you. I promise. Just let me get back to work and I''ll have it."
He brought his hand to his chin thoughtfully for a moment. Had I actually gotten through to him?
"No, I suppose there isn't much use for those things… But… There are some other things this town does need… Tell you what? You say you need a week? You have it. Exactly one week. If you have the cash? Our business is concluded. If not?… Well. I have other ways for you to pay off your debt. Do we have a deal?"
On one hand, something inside me was telling me this was a deal that I couldn't refuse. On the other... There was a nagging feeling that I should run for my life. But what choice do I have? I am his prisoner at this exact moment in time. Even if I wasn't tied to a chair, He wasn't just going to let me leave without paying him. I sighed.
"I have the majority of it now. Can I give that to you now? And give you the rest at the end of the week?"
He smiled a sick sadistic smile. He is a snake in boots. "Now… My dear sweet innocent Anna… If I were to make an exception for you, I would have to make one for everyone else too wouldn't I?"
My eyes shifted to the floor in disappointment. Sure, I was upset but not surprised. "I suppose so…" I said in a whisper.
"That's right…" He said as he moved closer to me then. "So again I ask…" Mouth right next to my ear, he whispered. "Do we have a deal?"
My skin crawled, as everything within me is screaming for me to run… But… I couldn't… Helpless, I sat there and backed away as much as I could. "We have a deal Crowe…"
As soon as I said this, he somehow moved even closer to me and began to sniff my neck. In this moment, he reached for his jack knife… And insheathed it… OH GOD! HE IS GOING TO KILL ME ANYWAY! I thought to myself, my heart racing, breath quickening. The sick bastard probably liked it. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the pain to come… But… It didn't… No… In fact, once my heart slowed down some, I realized the rope had fallen away from my wrists and waist. I was… Free… Not dead… But… Alive… and Free…
Crowe took a few steps back and…He was laughing… "That's a good girl…" He scratched the side of his face using his knife, before sheathing it again. "You know… You're lucky I'm so sweet on you…" He licked his lips… and my heart sank.
Lucky… God help me… "Yeah." I muttered rising slowly from the chair. "I know…"
He opened the door for me, and I slipped past him... A chill Running down my spine. I was free.