Mary

by Kelvin V.A. Allison

Mary knew that she was going to die.

The smell of death hung in the air and lingered in the structure of the building that held them prisoner, a smell that all the water in the world could not cleanse.

the smell of blood and death stronger on them each time they returned.

The door ahead of them opened with a clang and two of the men walked in, each holding a large length of wood.

Lily began to scream, drawing a laugh from the older of the two men and he stepped forwards, cracking his stick hard against her head several times in quick succession.

The most terrifying thing was that the men didn’t even seem to hate them, they just didn’t seem to care about the hurt they caused them.

Sold into slavery at an early age after being abducted from her mother, and then violated her entire life. Perhaps death would be a blessing when it came. Freedom from the pain and the abuse. But no, death was still death. Didn’t she and her friends have a right to live? A right to breathe and love and enjoy the world?

Mind numb with pain, eyes streaming with tears, Mary was dragged from the room, unable to fight any more.