Page 7 of The Hunted

5

Prey

Ican’t believe he asked me that. I want to say no, but I know what can happen if I don’t comply with a Hunter’s wishes. I’ve lived it before. It was a lesson I won’t soon forget.

That confusing, terror-filled night floods my mind. I had barely been at the manor more than a week when I was chosen for The Hunt. The chase alone was intense and horrifying because I didn’t understand any of it. The aftermath is an entirely different story.

Everything at the manor was a mystery to me, and most of it still is. I had often heard the rumors floating around our small town about Hale Manor. The mammoth stone structure, the oldest residence in Silver Lake. Murder. Devil worship. Sexual deviance. You tend to blow off such talk in a small town since everyone loves to gossip.

But the manor practically begs for speculation. You can’t even see it from the road because it sits so far beyond the massive gates and stone walls. If you search, you’ll find some dated photos of the property. Nothing relevant to the current owners or anything that could point to what transpires beyond the gates.

When I entered those gates, I signed the same contract as the rest of the women here. That day, Ace laid the contract out on the desk and smiled while he handed me a pen. It wasn’t even a decision for me. My mind, however unwilling my heart may be, was made up. I voluntarily agreed to be a prostitute. That contract indentures you to Hale Manor for one year—mind, body, and soul. We have no contact with the outside world. Our phones are taken away. Our very existence after signing that contract is practically eliminated.

The Manoras the staff call it, provides each girl with a cover story, and once every few weeks, we’re allowed to send our family a staff supervised postcard or letter. How they post mark those letters with the location of our fake destinations for hundreds of girls, I still don’t understand. There’s still so much about this place I haven’t been able to grasp in my weeks spent here.

The staff told us we’re allowed to refuse advances if we choose. Some of those advances, I have learned, are disgusting, and the members I have turned down didn’t seem very pleased by it. Hale Manor caters to the richest of the rich. The type of people used to getting whatever their money can buy. Here, their options are of the sexual nature and seem to be limitless.

Every member enjoys different scenes, and the majority of those scenes are catered to their tastes. Some are rough, some gentle, but I’m still finding it hard to participate. Ultimately, we are here to please the members. So far none of the staff have approached me about not engaging.

Well, the other women are here for that. I’m here for Scarlett.

If my sister is here, I haven't found any evidence thus far, but I'm hoping to change that soon. I know I need to participate, work my way to the inside, make contacts so I can gain better access to this place. I’m just still struggling to move beyond the shocking scenes that unfold before me nightly.

I knew I’d be at a loss when I arrived at Hale Manor, but if there was a remote possibility my sister was here, I had to take the chance.

Scarlett had been missing several months when I stumbled upon two young women in the local bakery. I’d stopped in to distribute a missing person flier when something one of them said caught my attention. She was just back from a year at Hale Manor.

She told her friend about the lavish parties and kinky debauchery that happened at The Manor, as well as the money she made working there, all without her family or friends ever knowing. The Manor provided the girls cover stories, and as far as anyone was concerned, she was working overseas. She had essentially disappeared for the year she was under contract with The Manor.

I wondered if she disappeared…like Scarlett.

Would Scarlett go there?I tried to imagine a scenario where my sister would willingly bind herself to something like that. She was in college, and although she’d lived with me rent free, school was costly and her hours at the local diner were cut dramatically. Wouldn’t I know if she had grown this desperate financially? Why wouldn’t she come to me? Surely, she wouldn’t leave Ethan in the dark. He was her fiancé, for Christ’s sake.

That conversation led me here, to Hale Manor.

To find my sister.

I’ll do anything I have to for her.

* * *

I shakethe memory from my mind as my eyes track over the Hunter’s face. This must be part of his game. He wants my consent to relieve his guilt, if he has any. Bastard. I’m not sure who he is, but he must be important to have a wing, or hell, an entire floor in the manor instead of being in one of the cottages. Saying no to him will likely be far worse than the last Hunter I refused.

I can’t force myself to push the words out to verbally agree to this, so instead, I nod my head once for acceptance. I know I can’t keep saying no. At some point, the staff will catch on and wonder why the hell I’m even here. Then what will happen to me? I’m under no delusions this place is run by some sort of serious criminal element. They have gambling, prostitutes, and orgies for crying out loud. I’ve seen Senators, governors, and foreign dignitaries as well as known crime bosses in my time here. I just don’t know what or who is at the helm of this dirty empire. This place definitely has deep pockets. The luxury I’m surrounded by only emphasizes that.

I resign myself to my fate. I need answers, and this is the only way I can stay here and get them. I need to do this for Scarlett. But it’s hard for me to remember I’m supposed to be here voluntarily, a willing participant in this madhouse.

At my nod of agreement, both of his hands move up to gently cradle my face as he steps closer to me. My hands shake with nerves at my sides as his warm, broad thumbs stroke slowly against my cheeks. His mouth hovers just a breath from mine. I gaze into his hooded amber eyes as they lock onto me, searching my face for answers. It’s an uncomfortable sensation, almost scary, to be locked in this man’s gaze. I realize just how small in stature I am as he towers over me, seeming to dissect my thoughts. It’s as if he can see right into the deepest parts of me. Like he wants to drag out the darkest pieces hidden within, tear them to shreds, and examine them.

I shake those thoughts and doubts from my mind as he presses his lips to mine. No, I can’t forget why he’s truly here. He’s no different from the rest. Even if he is handsome and touching me kindly right now, he’s just some rich asshole who can buy himself into any illegal action he deems fit. This mock concern means nothing.

His kiss is softer this time. It isn’t as intense or consuming, not as invasive. The gentleness he’s currently showing me is a complete contradiction to the confidence and raw power he naturally seems to exude. He seems like the type of man to just take what he wants in this life and kill anyone who would dare stand in his way. That thought causes another small fissure of fear to niggle in the back of my mind. I have no doubt that, whatever career path this man has chosen, he is top in his field. You can sense his determination, his strength.

Who is he beyond these walls? If I met him outside of Hale Manor, would I still feel bad for being attracted to this man? Or am I just disgusted that I’m basically prostituting myself and trying to feel a bit better about it? If this were happening any place else, I might want it, enjoy it even.

No, honestly, I know I’d enjoy it. He’s a very attractive man. He is undoubtedly more experienced than I am, and I have no doubt about his prowess in a bedroom.

His lips are warm as they move over mine. His breath soft as it hits my lips. I find myself opening up to him while I try to let go of this soured knot clenching in my stomach. His tongue comes into my mouth slowly, twining along mine. His hands tilt my face, controlling our kiss. He sucks firmly on my tongue, the action causing fire to ignite in my limbs while I cling to his biceps to steady myself. His scent overwhelms my senses. It’s earthy, musk and smoke. He takes my clutching his arms as a signal of pleasure and cups my chin between his thumb and forefinger. His other hand slips around my waist, to draw me near. His massive erection stabs at me from behind his dark jeans, straining to be freed. Barely peeling his mouth from mine, he speaks his command across my lips.

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