The night was dreadful; thunder and rain slugged the ground right outside. The shelter was a rather small cave, big enough for the four of us barely. It took nearly an hour for my three assailants to get a fire going. When they finally did, the cold became bearable as long as the winds were working in our favor.

I sat by the flame, curled up and hunched over, trying to hold on to as much of my body heat as I could. From time to time, I would peek up to see Roof staring at me in a daze. I would quickly put my head down and act as if I didn’t see anything, but I felt his gaze as the moments turned to hours. I wasn’t going to go to bed—at least not until this monster did first.

“Roof! Get some sleep—I’ll take first watch,” Ruby said as he shook his shoulder, jolting him out of his trance.

They attempted to pull straws earlier, but I came up with the idea that my lord father would most likely pay double if my chastity was maintained. Lucky for me, their greed outweighed their lust. Russ truly didn’t like that suggestion; he nearly dented his discolored (and frankly completely disgusting) cooking pot hanging off his belt.

“The warmth of a woman would be good for tonight,” he said as Roof started his incessant staring.

In the end, the three wouldn’t fully fall asleep until the middle of the night. I did too, soon after…

A few hours passed, and I felt a tugging on my dress. I suddenly shot up, trying to get away, as it must be—

I opened my eyes and turned my head to see Roof, half on top of me, pulling up my dress. I quickly tried to move away, but he grabbed my ankles and pulled me closer.

Just when I was about to let off a bone-chilling scream, he covered my mouth and nose, then placed his entire weight on me. I couldn’t breathe…

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And there I was, right beneath this monster, bellowing out repulsive exhales. It smelled like Roof was chewing on a rotting carcass. He began pulling up my dress and licking my neck.

“Just a quick one-on-one—no one will know,” he said, whispering in my ear. He was so compelled by this gruesome act that he didn’t notice me reaching for my hairpin—a sharp, pretty little thing that acted just like a dagger. It was one of the only gifts my mother gave me before she died three years ago.

I quickly poked Roof’s neck once. The pin was long and sharp enough to get his attention. He stopped what he was doing and pulled back in a panic, getting to his feet. (Short pause…)

“Whore!” he screamed out, the wound in his neck bleeding profusely as he muttered curses in an angry stupor.

Then he started laughing. “Stick me while I’m trying to stick you,” he said, holding the wound. “Come here, you—I’ll get you back, you hear? You fucking whore!” He took a step toward me as I hoped he’d pass out from the blood loss before… Suddenly.

Roof made a terrible, bubbling screech—like he wanted to scream, but a dagger protruding from his chest made it impossibly difficult. He fell to his knees and fell over as Ruby stood behind him, dagger in hand. Russ saw the whole thing and did nothing. He looked more petrified than I did, and I’d just helped kill a man.

“No one will get in the way of my reward,” Ruby said, wiping my husband’s dagger on his thigh. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”

“No!” I said, flustered.

“Good. Apologies for my ex-partner, my lady,” he said mockingly. “He didn’t understand what good business is. I do.” He reached out for me to grab his arm, and I did. “You will not be harmed—not unless I don’t get my reward, of course. Business is business,” he said surprisingly aristocratically.

In one motion, I was on my feet. Ruby was an interesting man, capable of putting aside his lust for a greater prize. He was a mysterious fellow, always covering his face and talking with an Asiatic accent—which gave the inclination English wasn’t his first language—but he was quite proficient in it.

I nodded in agreement. I looked down at Roof lying there, not quite dead, drowning in his own blood. I hoped he’d rot in hell.

“Russ, make some food, and you’re in charge of the bags. We’ll break camp at dawn…”