Page 3 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye before it could trickle down my cheek. Clearly I let my guard down again, somehow. I let my sister and her allies do this to me. If my father knew and approved, there was a chance no one was coming to stop any of this. That if I got away, I'd get no support from anyone.

I was completely, utterly alone.

The other women exchanged teary-eyed glances, but none moved. They were too terrified. Frozen to the pungent spot with fear.

I curled up in a smaller ball of misery. Even the dark, enclosed space that stank of sweat, urine and hours of fear, felt safer than stepping off the back of the truck. Here, it was harder for anyone to see me. To potentially recognise me. In the shadows, I was anonymous. I was no one. Just another piece of meat for the auction block.

If I wanted to move, my body wouldn't comply. I was paralysed in what little of the golden sunlight penetrated the back of the truck. Twilight was settling in. Soon night would fall. With night came more darkness. More terror, or perhaps a chance to escape this place.

As I finished that thought, one of the women jumped up. She leapt out of the truck, past Hades, and started to run.

Either he nor Brutus gave chase. Brutus looked dumbstruck, but Hades crossed his arms and looked amused.

"Looks like we get to have some fun after all," Hades remarked.

The woman reached the gate. She gripped the bottom of it and started to climb.

A moment later, she screamed and was thrown backwards. She landed on the gravel with a thud and a cry of pain.

"That's going to leave marks," Brutus remarked. "Stupid bitch."

"Mm-hmmm," Hades agreed. Over his shoulder, he addressed the rest of us. "You will have noticed the fence is electrified. It's currently on a lower setting. At night, it will be in a higher setting. We'd prefer you didn't damage your skin."

He turned around to face us. "There's worse if you don't cooperate."

Several of the women sobbed harder.

One by one, they started to climb out of the back of the truck, keeping close together. Several put their arms around each other, as though somehow that would keep them safe.

I was one of the last to slip down, trying to keep the trembling in my hands at bay. I didn't want to show fear, but suppressing it was difficult.

Brutus looked me up and down, but Hades only gave me a disinterested glance. He strode over to the woman who tried to escape, as she struggled to her feet. He stepped around her, appraising the grazes on her back.

He clicked his tongue. "They'll heal. You better hope they don't leave scars. You don't want to be bought by the kind of client who likes scars on his women."

He grabbed her hair and pulled over to a dam a few metres from the truck. She struggled against him, sobbing. His expression unchanged, he forced her to her knees and shoved her face into the water.

"In case anyone was wondering what happens if you disobey." He held her down for about ten seconds before yanking her back up again. She gasped for breath. Water poured down her face and dripped off her chin. She tried to jerk away from him again, but he shoved her head back under the water.

Her arms flailed, legs kicked out behind her. He held her down for another ten to fifteen seconds, before pulling her back out.

Once again, she gasped and sobbed, but she didn't fight him. She sat back on her knees and cried while the water trickled down her bare body.

"Are you going to fight me anymore, sweetheart?" Hades asked. When she didn't respond, he lowered her face back towards the pond.

"I'll behave," she squealed. "Please—" Her eyes were huge with absolute terror, and the certainty that, if her face went under again, he'd hold her there until she was dead.

He'd be in trouble with his employer if one of us died, but if we all obeyed after this, he'd probably think it was worth the risk.

If anything, Hades looked slightly disappointed she wasn't giving him the chance to kill her. He wouldn't be the first person to get pleasure out of killing people. Hunter, Parker and Slade all seemed to get enjoyment from it. Right now, I'd take some enjoyment from killing Hades and Brutus.

This woman, she was innocent as far as I knew. Her only crime might be the same as mine—letting her guard down. Trusting the wrong person.

Hades shoved her away from him. "See you keep behaving. That goes for the rest of you too. You'll only be here for a few days before you're moved on to the auction house. From there—that's up to your buyer to decide." He grinned as if that wasn't completely fucked up.

"Brutus, get them inside. They all need a wash and something to eat. Our gentlemen clients don't want them to be skin and bones, do they?"

Brutus chuckled. "No, they don't. And neither do I." He turned his face and his gaze settled on me.

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