Page 22 of Empowered

I spoke before she could cry for help. “Don’t scream.”

She pressed her lips together in agreement. She understood English.

“You remember me?”

She nodded, terror keeping her eyelids from blinking.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said shakily.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly upon my admission.

“I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t help me inside.”

She nodded again.

“Help me inside—please.” I was on a mission, but I wasn’t planning on being a jerk about it.

She remained immobile, as if considering my request. She noticed me grip the gun tighter and extended her hand out the window.

I grabbed on, still clutching the gun in my other hand. I kicked my foot off the wall to give myself extra momentum before stumbling inside.

I stood up quickly, with my gun still at attention. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied, to my surprise.

“Where is Salena?” I asked.

Still eyeing the gun, she said, “The dungeon.”

“Then, the wedding hasn’t begun?”

“It has. Master must perform his ceremonies first, before his bride joins him to complete the marriage.” Her voice was so robotic when she spoke of Tarun. The poor girl had probably been brainwashed by him.

“Please don’t scream or run for help. I just want to save Salena.” Maybe she knew what a monster her boss was and would sympathize with my cause.

“I want to leave too,” she said in a small voice.

“You want to be free?” I had to make sure I understood what she meant.

She nodded. “Yes.”

I paused for a moment. I knew what it was like to be here against your own will. I wanted to help anyone who wished to be free from this hell hole.

I would probably regret it, but I pushed the gun toward her. She back away, the fear returning to her face.

“Take it,” I said.

She looked even more confused.

“Take the gun and use it to get away.”

“I cannot. They will find me.” Her brown eyes shone with disappointment. She had pretty features and long, dark hair. She had to have been around my age. The men here probably used her for more than just doing their laundry and serving their food.

“We don’t have time for this,” I said quickly. “Take it and use it if you need to. Everyone is distracted with the wedding, so you need to leave now if you’re ever going to get out of here.”

She stared at the gun as if trying to decide. Then she opened her hand so I could place it into her palm.

“The safety is off, so be careful. All you need to do is pull the trigger,” I said, pointing to it with my finger.

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