“You’re too easy, aren’t you?” he says to me, standing with his hands on his hips.
“Please, just don’t hurt my friend,” I implore. Maggie is weeping inconsolably on the floor behind me, totally dissociated from the world around her.
Flameface cackles. “You know, I’m pretty hungry. I think I’m in the mood for something a little bigger than you. Your sestra here looks to be a little taller, isn’t she?”
“No! Leave her alone!” I shout, shielding Maggie with my body as Flameface strides over to us. “Take me! Don’t touch her!”
The scarred man gives me an almost pitying look. “Don’t worry, malyshka. I’ll save plenty of room for you next. There’s enough of me to go around. Besides, I think your friend needs a little loosening up, don’t you agree?”
“No, please!” I cry out, but Flameface shoves right past me, flinging me out of the way so that I slam into the chain-link fence, hard. I slump to the concrete floor in a sickening daze, unable to get up in time to stop Flameface from yanking Maggie up by her arm. She screams in fear and hangs almost limply from his grasp, tears coursing down her splotchy cheeks.
“Da, this is what I was looking for,” Flameface croons.
Suddenly, there are footsteps approaching, not as heavy as the first set, but faster. A slightly shorter and much more slender frame appears in the doorway, and Will steps through into the dank room. “Drop her, Boris!” he commands.
Flameface spins around and glares at Will, then gives him a plaintive expression. “I wasn’t going to damage the merchandise, nachalnik. Just having a little fun.”
“Back off,” Will says, emphasizing each word intensely. With a sigh, Flameface lets go of Maggie’s arm and swivels around to await his next order. Maggie collapses to the floor in a sobbing heap. I want to run to Will and scratch his eyes out, pummel him until he’s black and blue, funnel my rage and betrayal into a savage attack against the evil, handsome man who trapped us here.
“Bonjour, Olivia,” Will greets me, mockingly. “Good to see you. You overslept a little, though. Looks like you’re going to miss your first lesson.”
Flameface chuckles grimly, folding his arms over his chest.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I demand, my voice catching ever so slightly. Will notices the weakness.
“Oh, what a pity. You trusted me, didn’t you? You know, I thought I’d lost you forever when you denied me that kiss. But then, lo and behold, you gave me another chance. Everybody deserves a second chance, don’t they? Even me,” he says, beaming at me.
“What did I do to you?” I ask shrilly, getting back to my feet. “Why me?”
“Well, there are a lot of reasons for that! First of all, you’re very cute. And bendy. A gymnast? My clients will love that. Deuxièmement, you were very convenient, weren’t you? Just sat down right next to me on that plane! Why, fate nearly landed you right in my lap. I couldn’t have asked for an easier catch,” he concludes with a shrug.
“What do you want with Maggie, then? Let her go. You can take me instead,” I bargain.
Will and Boris both laugh. “That’s very noble of you,” Will begins, “but I wouldn’t dare turn down a two-for-one deal. Not when I’ve already got a prospective buyer for your friend here. Innocent little rich girl? She was a fast sell, bien sûr.”
“A… a buyer?” I repeat, feeling my veins run cold. What kind of business is this?
“Oh, yes. But don’t feel left out. I’m sure we’ll have a client interested in you before long. Especially once we, ah, tone you down a little bit. You’ve got just enough fire in you to make for a lousy product,” he explains matter-of-factly.
“I am not a product, and neither is Maggie. We’re human beings. Let us go!” I protest.
Will just rolls his beautiful blue eyes. “You can drop the martyr act anytime now, Olivia. If you haven’t caught on yet, I’ll assure you there’s no escape. You belong to me now, until we find a suitable match for you.”
He looks at Boris and gives him a quick nod. “Take the bigger one.”
“No!” I shout, flinging myself in front of Maggie. But Boris easily peels me off of her and tosses me aside again, my knees skidding painfully across the rough floor as I fall. “Maggie! Maggie! It’s okay, be strong! I won’t give up on you! I promise everything will be okay!” I call out after her as Boris throws her over his shoulder and carries her off. She’s weeping and reaching for me in vain, too frightened and in shock to even utter a word. The pair of them disappear through the doorway as Boris carries her up the stairs and away from me.