The Beta Series: The Redeemed Beta

Chapter 7

~Unknown~

I have no idea how long it’s been, how long I’ve been in this tent. I lost count as my hunger took over. I’ve barely been given anything to eat or drink. Brackston says that it needs to be believable.

I can’t say that I have any idea what he’s talking about. I don’t even know what the supposed plan is supposed to be. I just know that I’m here, suffering, and I’m missing my brother like crazy.

I’ve been begging to see him, begging for any updates. I get nothing. Sometimes, depending on who’s in here with me, I’ll get a kick or a slap for my trouble. I don’t even have anything to threaten anyone with. I’m already being denied food and water, for the most part. I’m already being held against my will. There’s nothing I can leverage. Then there is Brackston.

Brackston comes in here from time to time, and it’s getting harder to stay away from him. He keeps asking me if I’ve thought about his proposal. What the hell does he expect me to say? Does he really think that I’m going to jump up one day and beg him to take me? I would rather die than be tied to someone like him for life.

If I’m being completely honest, that isn’t the only thing that bothers me. I’m afraid he will let the other men here use me for their own needs. He’s the type that doesn’t care about right and wrong. He doesn’t care about hurting someone. He only cares about what he wants and when he wants it.

I remember there was a woman here once. She was all over Brackston, and he gave her adequate attention. I know something happened, but I still don’t know exactly what that was. All I know is that he threw her to the rest of the men. They took her separately and in groups. It was horrifying to hear. Her screams and pleas echoed throughout the camp. Some of these sick individuals laughed at what was happening to her, and others just pretended that they didn’t hear it.

I fully believe that being tied to that man would leave the door open for that to happen to me as well. I won’t allow myself to go through that. I won’t be some breeder for this camp. I want more in my life, and I want to give Khalid more as well.

The tent flap opens, and his presence fills the small area. I shut my eyes, not interested in this back-and-forth he likes to go through. A part of me wishes he would just kill me, but then who’d take care of Khalid? I can’t leave him with these monsters. If they don’t kill him, they will definitely raise him to be as horrible as they all are already.

His footsteps echo in the space. He’s a big man, and everything he does carries weight. I feel his hand on my arm, and I wish I could push him off. “I hate to see you like this. I wish you’d just take my offer and be with me. I’ve been watching you since we found you. You’d make the perfect mate and the perfect mother to my children. Imagine the life you and your brother would lead if you’d just agree to my terms.” I say nothing. What I want to say, I can’t. If I were to do so, I’d be hurting my brother, and I can’t let that happen.

The sleeping bag rustles and moves against my skin. I feel heat along my backside as he slides under the cover with me. His arm lands across my body, and he pulls me closer to him. My skin is crawling, and my stomach is revolting. That’s funny because I swear there’s nothing in there. His hand strokes my thigh, and I feel a hot tear fall down the side of my face.

“Don’t fight me. Just join me. Things would be so much better than you think. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I will make sure that you have anything and everything you could possibly want or need.” His nose brushes along the back of my neck, and I can’t stop the flinch that happens. “Why do you do that? Why do you flinch at my touch?” There’s anger in his words, and his aura is changing. “I’ve been good to you, haven’t I? I haven’t touched you or hurt you. Why do you act like this with me?” My heart hurts, and I just want to get out of here.

I press my lips tighter together. One thing I notice is that he hates it when I ignore him. I can’t do much, but I can definitely do that. I can pretend that he doesn’t exist because in my made-up world, he doesn’t. It’s the world I let myself live in so I can survive this life that I was thrown into. Khalid and I are happy. He’s in school while I work. We have a roof over our head that is safe and clean. We never have to run, fight, or starve. I swear, when I get out of this, I will give him all that and more. I will make sure this ugly world is more meaningful for him than it was for me.

His hand on my thigh tightens to the point of pain. I bite my bottom lip and keep my whimper in. I refuse to let him think that he’s affecting me, even though he is. “At some point, you won’t have a choice. You won’t be able to tell me no. It would be better to give in because if I have to force your hand, you won’t like me very much.” That’s laughable because I don’t like him now. I didn’t like him before, and that won’t change in the future.

Brackston’s hand is removed from my thigh. He throws the cover back and moves away from my body. As sickening as it was to have him touching me, the heat that his body let out was comforting. It’s cold in here even with the bag. The sleeping bag is old, and there isn’t much in the way of warmth or even softness. I hear the flap of the tent again, and I slowly let out a breath. He’s gone, well, until the next time.