Jon Reskind - The abducted bride

"How-how could he do it? I thought he loved me," Jean's body broke into tortured sobs again. She couldn't believe it. The note was in Kevin's handwriting but someone must have forged it. He wouldn't desert her. He just wouldn't!

"Dear, remember, he doesn't know we are in this trouble," Monique said as though anticipating her thoughts. "He's probably met some pretty French girl in Paris and has decided to teach you a lesson. I'm sure he would have come if he had known we needed him so desperately."

"Then untie me, please, before that man comes back. We must get out of here," Jean pleaded to Monique.

"Dear, I can't. They are holding us both prisoner," she said in a whisper, holding a finger over her lips for quiet. "They're white-slavers who followed us to the hotel from the restaurant last night. They saw we were alone and decided to kidnap us. They've hired this desk-clerk to watch you."

"But what about you? He can't watch us both, can't you get away and call the police?"

"No, they are watching me closely with another man. I told them if they would give us our freedom, I would give them ten thousand dollars but it's only to stall for time. I don't have that much money."

"Kevin could help, my father would gladly pay it."

"I hope so, dear. I have cabled him this morning when he was not at the train station and told him it was urgent for him to come here. He is to contact me the moment he arrives. Until then, we must do everything they demand of us or they will kill us. You will never see Kevin again."

"Oh Monique, there are some things I just can't do, even if they do kill me. I had rather die than to have another man touch me," the poor girl whimpered.

"It may not come to that. I'll tell that desk-clerk to keep away from you, but it might raise suspicions if I untie you. You must have faith in me, Jean, it's our only chance."

"I'll try, but please hurry. Please," she moaned, "I can't stand it much longer."

"I promise I'll have us out of here tonight, my dear," Monique smiled confidently. "Now you just be brave. I must go and see if I can't really do something about that money in case Kevin doesn't arrive before tonight."

"Oh, no!" Jean cried, "please don't leave me alone. Something awful will happen if you do. I just know it will. I can feel it."

"Nonsense, my dear, you must not get hysterical and show your weakness. I told you I would talk to that Arab and tell him if he touches you, no money. He won't dare risk offending his superiors."

To Jean's horror, Monique rose and went to the door. She was going to leave her alone.

"Remember now, chins up," she smiled confidently as she closed the door behind her.

Jean had never felt so alone in her life. Monique was her only chance to ever see Kevin again and make up for all the awful things that had happened to her. It would never be the same, she knew that. He was probably with some French girl in bed now as he had threatened to do when he left her that morning. But she had made a mistake too and now all she had to depend on was Monique. She would forgive Kevin when she was with him again, he had no way of knowing what she was going through. It was all her fault now, and all she had to depend on was Monique – she had to get them out of this.

The Arab had no intention of letting this chance of making fast money escape him. He had the girl completely under his control and he could turn that into quite a sum in a matter of hours if he kept the customers turning over fast enough. By tonight when he had to deliver her to the address the French woman had given him, he could have amassed a small fortune. He smiled to himself when he thought of the French woman's warnings to him about not hurting the American girl.

Great ghost of Allah, didn't she know it was impossible to wear it out!

She could perform just as well tonight after a hundred fucks as she could after one. Perhaps even better. She would be more experienced. He, Shalla, would see that her education was carried out properly.

He had planned it well. As soon as the Madame had left, he called his cousin. Mufta, and promised him one dollar for each customer he brought in. He warned him to be careful in those he chose and make certain they were foreign sailors and would keep quiet as it might be dangerous with the police if one of them talked about it afterwards.

Shalla was happy and pleased with himself for his cleverness. At least, he would have the days profit if anything went wrong with the rest of the plan tonight. He did not like to place all his eggs in one basket. Besides, he would not have to share this with the French lady. All of it would be his, except of course, the commission to his cousin. He might even take part of that back at the end of the day by selling him a turn.

Mufta should be coming back with the first customer soon, he thought happily, he had better go up and prepare the girl. There were not many hours for this little side business and he couldn't afford to lose time by any of her childish objections.

Jean's body jerked to life as she heard the rattle of the key in the door. This was the moment she had been dreading. The moment she would have to face the Arab again. She was totally helpless like this and she knew from the cruel eyes that no words Monique might say to him would stop him if he really wanted her. She had remembered his reference to her and his friends this morning. It had almost been forgotten but during the period in which she was alone she had time to ponder their entire conversation. He had spoken of her performing well. What did he mean by those things? She didn't like the tone of them and she hoped Monique would be back before the afternoon. Perhaps she could hold him off for that length of time. Well, she would fight as she had never fought before if he did try anything. She still had her feet to kick with and she vowed to herself she would use them with all her strength.

The door opened and the Arab entered, locking it behind him. His eyes flickered over Jean's form stretched down the length of the bed. Her body was tense and some of the bravado she had seen building up deserted her as she saw the cold business-like look on his face. He walked to the foot of the bed and looked down at her.

"Well my pigeon, we must open shop. Our first customers will be coming soon and we want to be ready for them."

"What-what do you mean?" Jean whispered in a low unbelieving voice. "You-you mean someone else is coming here?"

"Why, of course. I told you we would make much money together today," he answered walking around the bed. "But we must hurry. Mufta, my cousin, will bring our clients in a few minutes."

Shalla reached down, lifting her dress and began pulling it up her full thighs. Jean had lain motionless in a momentary state of shock from the horrible things he had just said, but as he reached down, her body reacted. She lifted one leg back suddenly and kicked up, catching him full under the chin. Shalla, caught by surprise, let out a sick gasp and tumbled backwards against the wall. He slid slowly to the floor, dazed and with a slight trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. He sat still for a moment, his mouth hanging open as though not comprehending what had happened to him.

Jean watched him, her heart in her throat. Then she saw his eyes flicker slowly up to meet hers. She had never seen such cruel hatred registered in a human face before. She knew by his expression that any compassion he may have had for her as a human being was now totally destroyed. Deep fear gripped her body as she watched him bring his hand slowly to his mouth and wipe the blood away. His gaze dropped to the smeared streak on the back of his hand and then quickly back to her.

He stood up slowly, not taking his eyes from her. His hands went under his robe and withdrew a long black belt from his pants. Without a word, he advanced on the bed eyeing her like an animal trainer advancing on his prey. Jean huddled frozen in fear, her legs drawn up in a tight ball in the center of the bed, her arms held tightly by the ropes above her head. She stared in wide-eyed terror as he raised his arm and cracked the belt through the air, the tip biting into her left breast with a sickening slap. She groaned from the sudden excruciating pain, kicking her legs out in automatic reaction. The belt sang through the air again, this time catching her full between the open thighs. She groaned again, this time deeper as the cruel leather cut its way into her flesh again and again, leaving tiny red welts rising on her skin behind its cruel path.