Page 33 of The Caged Girl

“Caged girl number three,” she answered, and I could hear her moving around.

It was too dark and cold.

“Do they ever turn a light on?” I asked as I took a few steps backward, beginning to feel claustrophobic and anxious.

“I haven’t seen lights in months. I can’t wait to be a nightingale. I’ve heard there’s light when you serve the gentlemen.”

“I’m going to help you get out. Just tell me what your name is?” I asked again as my heart began to race. I needed to get out.

“Caged girl number three.” She laughed quietly. “Demi, I don’t want to get out. I want to stay here and serve. For the first time ever, I’m feeling peace. I used to jam needles into my arm, Demi…Demi…Demi.” Fear started to pool in my stomach as I pressed the keycard against the wall, but it wouldn’t open. Her footsteps grew closer as I panicked.

“Heroin?” I asked as I turned and ran my fingers against the wall in a panic.

“Mmm…yes.” She sighed and her cold fingers wrapped around my shoulders.

“I’ll be back.”

“Don’t leave me, Demi…Demi…” She pretended that her voice was echoing as she changed the tone. She began smelling my hair, inhaling loudly.

“Please stop.” I slammed my palms against the door until finally, the door slid open.

Stumbling out, I fell to the ground as the door quickly shut behind me. The small lantern that was lit was completely out, and I couldn’t see anything.

I pushed myself off the ground and leaned against the wall and began walking. Alister had brainwashed these girls the same way Ian had.

But the difference was, in some sick and twisted way, Ian Ivory created submissive brides. Alister Ivory was creating submissive sex workers, who were ultimately killed.

I think that was what scared me the most, knowing what I could see on the surface was so little compared to all the layers underneath.

CHAPTERTWENTY

I couldn’t tellwhich way I was going when the only lantern had blown out, so I hoped for the best as I made my way down the narrow, cold hallway. Patting my hands against the wall, I wondered where the damn elevator had gone. Once I felt the end of the hall, I waved my card wildly and a door slid open.

“Help me,” I whispered. It was another room. I wasn’t prepared to interact with another destroyed woman who was convinced she was living a wonderful life.

I stepped into the empty space as the door shut behind me and then a second door opened. A small amount of light poured in as I covered my eyes. Suddenly, it was too bright, even though the light was mostly dim. Slowly opening my eye, I saw it. A giant golden cage. It was life-sized, and a bed was in the middle.

“Oh my God.” I breathed out as I could see a man’s bare back. Looking up behind the cage, I froze, my eyes wide. There were women hanging upside down, blood draining from their bodies as their hair straggled, and their eyes were taped closed. I couldn’t see it on the black floor, but the dripping echoed as the life drained out of them. There were moans that shook me out of my trance, and I looked back at the bed. She sat up with her arms wrapped around the pale back, and her deep brown eyes met mine.

I gasped before slapping a hand over my mouth and stumbling back.

It was my sister.

It was Layla.

Her eyes grew large as she pushed the man off her. He turned and looked at me.

Bradley.

Bradley and my sister were in bed together. In a cage.

“Demi?” Bradley jumped out of the bed and grabbed his pants, but just as he came closer and I stared at the girl I thought I’d let die, everything went black and my body crashed to the cold, hard, marble floor.

* * *

“Demi…” His voice was gentle. “Demi, please open your eyes.” I didn’t want to open them. How could you want to live so badly, but at the same time, want to end it all?

“Demi…”

---