Buying Beth

There’s a great deal of squealing and grunting as the pigs are abruptly awoken from their slumber.

Johnathan wipes his hands on his pants and walks over to me. Though this whole sick idea was my idea, I don’t think I can actually stomach watching what is about to happen.

I stand about ten feet away from the pigpen, keeping my distance.

“You okay?” Johnathan asks, walking up to me and pulling me into his arms.

He’s been asking that a lot. And during the drive here, I’ve had plenty of time to think about what’s about to happen.

I nod my head and look back up at the sky. The stars twinkle and sparkle, and a part of me hopes that Lindsey is up there, watching what I’m doing for her.

For all of us.

The noise coming from the pigpen increases in volume. The pigs are agitated and loudly grunting their displeasure.

“Shit, I don’t know how long something like this is going to take. You sure you want to stay?” Johnathan asks.

I nod my head again in answer, afraid to speak less I burst into more tears.

“Come here then so I can keep you warm,” Johnathan says pulling me closer.

Muffled cries begin to emanate from within the pen and I can’t help but shiver.

Are they eating him now?

I glance towards the pen but I can’t see anything except for the pigs swarming around something.

Lucifer stands right up next to the fence with Andrew beside him. There’s this strange grin on Lucifer’s face as he watches what’s happening, and I swear, in the moonlight, it almost seems like he’s glowing.

Shaking my head, I turn my head back and bury my face against Johnathan.

Suddenly a piercing scream slices through the quiet and I tremble.

“Shit. The pigs must have gotten the gag off,” Johnathan mutters.

The screaming goes on and on. Sasha cries out, begging for someone to help him.

I burst into tears.

Johnathan’s arms tighten around me. “You sure you’re okay?”

I nod my head up and down and cling to him.

I just can’t stop thinking about how many women begged Sasha and his men to stop.

How many children begged him…

Did they cry out for help? Did they plead for mercy like he is?

Did they hope that someone would magically appear and save them? Someone like Johnathan?

I heard at least one child crying for their mother, but I know there were others. Others like my Charlie.

“Help! Please! Somebody please help me!” he cries out in English before switching to Russian.

How many are still out there? Sold to the highest bidder? Trapped in some hellish nightmare?

“Fuck, this shit’s messed up even for me,” Andrew grumbles. “I’m outta here.”

“Have a good night, Andrew,” Lucifer snickers at him.

I hear a car door opening then slamming shut. The car starts up and then tires are rolling against the dirt.

The screams go on and on, and I cry and cry, but I feel like something is finally being purged from me. Some horrible sick thing I’ve been carrying around inside of me ever since I was taken.

By the time Sasha’s cries begin to weaken, I’m no longer sobbing. My body is filled with this warm, fuzzy numbness.

“It’s almost over, I think,” Johnathan says gently.

I nod my head, wipe some of the tears from my eyes, and look up at him. “But the guy in charge, Alexei, is still out there…”

The man who wasn’t willing to get his own hands dirty, but who is truly responsible for all of this.

Johnathan’s face hardens and his eyes darken. “We’ll get him,” he says with such conviction I instantly believe him. “That fucker is number one on my shit list. It’s just a matter of time before I find him.”

And there he goes again, offering me the things I’ve never had before. Safety and protection and justice. He’s so fucking amazing, I’m not sure I even deserve him, but I’m not giving him up.

No, he’s mine now and I’ll do anything to keep him.

I stare up at him in amazement. I’m pretty sure I love this man. No, I’m fucking sure I love him.

Johnathan starts to frown and shifts uncomfortably. “What? I got something in my beard?”

I shake my head and laugh a little.

His eyes instantly light up. “I do, don’t I?”

I laugh again, and I’m on the verge of telling him what I’m feeling when the headlights of an approaching car draws our attention.

I look over to see a big, black Escalade rolling through the grass. The car stops just before the grass becomes dirt.

The car idles for a couple of minutes before the driver’s side opens and Simon steps out.

“Holy shit,” Johnathan says with awe. “I can’t believe Lucifer got him to a fucking farm.”

Simon scowls down at the dirt like it’s somehow offended him before slamming the door of his car.

“Simon,” Lucifer calls out. “So glad you could join us.”