Page 28 of The Caged Girl

“Why is everything dark? They even turned the small lights off.” I hated this feeling of terror while everyone else was blissful.

“Shh…” Marcie elbowed me.

“You see, here at La Gabbia, we believe that the bond between a husband and wife remains sacred and holy at home; but while here, we can explore and experience things that may be causing rifts. When your husbands were invited to attend our Euphoria program, we didn’t force them to bring you, their doting wives—they chose to.”

There was joyful chatter in the darkness as the women must have been so thrilled that their husbands wanted them to join them.

I rolled my eyes as I pressed my back against the wall. “I know many of you are here hoping you can go to our Life Center and meet your newest family member. Others are here to remember why you’re worthy of love.

“But ultimately, we are here to celebrate it all, and tonight, before we begin our ball to celebrate each of you, we have our very own special vow renewal between one of our couples that leaves in the morning after they have completed our sacred program.

“Of course, none of this is possible without the dedication of our team members, who we lovingly call our nightingales and our doves.” My eyes slammed shut as lights flashed above our heads.

The women all clapped for us, and Marcie whispered, “Curtsy!”

The lights cut off and a screen flashed behind Bradley, who I could now see clearly. He was wearing a fitted, three-piece cream tuxedo, and he smiled straight at me, although I knew there was no way he could see me.

“Now for our nightingales.” There were black-and-white images flashing behind him on the projector of young women wearing black tulle dresses, their long legs dipped into black heels. Their faces were void of any emotion and their hair was neatly pinned back.

“These ladies have been serving your husbands and are fully trained in working through the stresses a man can endure.”

There was light chatter amongst the wives, but nothing rage filled.

“You were told to sign an NDA to protect this safe haven we have established, and in exchange, you go home with a husband who is happy to be yours. Some of you will go home with a new family member, while others will join the waitlist. I hope each of you has been enjoying the full pampering and service you deserve.”

There was a spotlight on stage and the screen shifted to an image of a young couple. “This is Kim and Todd. They were married for eight years before Todd began showing signs of interest in his secretary. An emotional affair is far more daunting than a physical one, as many of you know.” Bradley paused and brushed his hand across his clean-shaven face.

“They’ve always wanted a child together, but Kim didn’t want to sacrifice her beautiful body, especially after Todd’s indiscretion. On the verge of divorce, Todd was informed about La Gabbia and had selected to attend our Euphoria program with a special invite to visit the Life Center with his wife. Today, they’ve completed their stay with us, and I’m so thrilled to help them renew their vows before they go to the Life Center.” Bradley took a step back as more lights flicked on.

A man and woman made their way to the stage wearing wedding attire. Kim was clutching a bouquet made of peonies, causing an innate response of anxiety to course through my body. But that wasn’t what had my heart pounding. It was Todd. His eyes were desolate as he walked across the stage to meet his wife in the middle. Kim was clearly giddy with excitement as she saw her husband and looked into his eyes while opening her free hand to him.

He looked down at it before glancing at Bradley. His eyes were tinged red, and I could see a bruise across his neck. Bradley’s jaw ticked as he shook his head slightly at Todd, who immediately straightened his shoulders and dropped his hand to Kim’s. I knew he had done something, just as Declan did and was doing. I knew he probably raped a corpse or innocent young woman. He probably made her do all the sick things he dreamt about doing to his wife.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the vision of God to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Marriage had been protected through the ages for the stability, trust, and holiness it brings to an individual, a family, and our world as one community. Once we join them in marriage, they are becoming a new family, and raising a life after is of utmost importance. We know we cannot simply gain a life without sacrifice, right, Todd?” Bradley paused and smiled at the tense groom.

Nodding too many times, Todd immediately looked at his wife’s hand—though he hadn’t once looked into her eyes.

I didn’t listen to the rest of the absolute trash Bradley was spewing. “You may kiss your bride.” Bradley was beaming as Kim leaned in, but Todd stood there, staring at her hand.

“They made me chop it off,” he whispered, but they were wearing microphones for all of us to hear their vows.

Kim squinted and leaned forward. “What did you say, honey?” She glanced at Bradley.

“They made me chop her hand off. She bled out slowly, Kim. So slowly and painfully. Then they said she’d be used for men who preferred an imperfect body. The room… They make you…” He started to weep, and Bradley immediately snapped his fingers. Two men dressed in all white suits raced up the stage to drag him away.

“Wait! Where are you taking him?” Kim shouted as she chased after her husband. There were gasps and gossip coursing through the other women, but every single one of us doves stayed quiet, as if we all knew what was coming. But just like the crowd, all of us were left in nothing more than the dark.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

“Let’s go, Demilion,”Bradley mocked as he aggressively tugged me down an elevator. He wrapped a blindfold over my eyes as he clutched my hand.

“Bradley, please just stop.” The air around me was frigid, as if we’d gone even lower into the ground.

We were wearing the assigned white platform shoes now, where no sound echoed in what I was certain were stark hallways.

“Please, Bradley!”

He shoved me against the wall, causing me to cry out in pain from the brick wall against my back.

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