Page 271 of Hate to Love You

“Trust me, do not fight this, Abigail,” Leigh says quietly as she scratches at her neck.

“Trust you?” I laugh. “Fuck off!”

“I know how this works,” she says softly. “I’ve seen it hundreds of times, with hundreds of girls. The more you resist, the worst things will be for you.”

“I’m sorry, do you expect me to just accept this?!” I spit, “to just lie back and let some psychopathic bitch rip my baby from my womb, and sell me off to the highest bidder?!”

My anger reaches a boiling point, and I clench my shaking fists.

“She wants to take my child!” I hiss, a mirthless laugh escaping me as I glare at her. “My child!”

Leigh’s mouth opens and closes before her lips press together in a slight grimace.

“I’m a fucking human being! You cannot keep me here like a breeding mare and try to take my baby!”

“Keep your voice down,” Leigh suddenly whispers loudly, glancing around. “I cannot help you if they hear you!”

Her words stun me.

“Help me?” I ask, that small flicker of hope reigniting in my chest. “Great! Then how do we get out of here?”

She sighs, shaking her head.

“There is no getting out of here,” she says quietly. “Once Polina has made up her mind, there’s no changing it. I did the best I could do with making sure they didn’t touch you.”

“Do you want me to thank you?!” I snap sarcastically.

“Abigail,” she sighs, crossing her arms tightly across her chest. “I know it’s hard. But things will be easier for you if you just accept this fate.”

“Never!”

“Look, no one will touch you until the child is born. And if you’re lucky, you might even be sold to a nice man who just wants a wife.”

“A nice man who wants a wife?!” I shout at her throwing my hands in the air. “Are you fucking kidding me? How is that lucky?!”

“You have a fire in you,” Leigh shrugs. “I get it. But I’ve been around a long time, and I’m telling you, things will go easier for you if you just…don’t fight back. Because if you do, that fire will get you killed.”

“I can’t believe this…” I whisper to myself, scoffing quietly.

She sighs.

“Do you want anything?”

“Yes, actually,” I snap. “To leave, with my child!”

“Anything I can actually do, Abigail?”

I snort, clicking my tongue inside my mouth and shaking my head.

This is a nightmare. I am living in a fucking nightmare.

Suddenly I remember what hangs around my neck, and an idea comes to me. It’s a horrible idea, but it appears to be my only way out of this living hell I have so quickly found myself in.

Leigh turns and steps for the door.

“Wait,” I call after her. “I do need something.”

“Which is?”