15 Implan (1/2)
I try to compose my features. I don't want to give anything away. I am going to get revenge on the men who bought me. Those who buy flesh should be sent to hell. Those who use women to spawn new life, only to use it for their own ends should be sent there too.
”When are they going to come for me? The men who bought me, I mean?”
Mattias gives me a keen look. He is intelligent, I can sense that about him. And not just in a way that might make him good at reading books, or adding numbers together. He's intelligent in the way he sees through a person.
”They will come soon,” he says. ”They are all going to meet you later tonight. You will be provided a dress for the occasion. They will not touch you tonight,” he reassures me. ”They wish to make your acquaintance.”
”Everyone touches me,” I say. ”Since I was caught, I have been nothing but touched.”
”Tonight is a more elegant affair,” he says. ”You will meet the men who own you. It will be an opportunity for them to get to know you, and to decide among themselves what the order of taking shall be.”
”The order of taking, you mean, who is going to breed me like an old house cow?”
”You're a long way from a cow, young lady.”
Not that far. I am going to be used and fucked like an animal. I know it. They know it. No matter how they dress me up, it's the same thing.
”I don't want this.”
He gives me a look that might be sympathetic. ”We are all prisoners in this world. But some prisoners have it better than others. You will be well cared for. The sheriff did not hurt you, did he? You seemed to enjoy his touch?”
Is that what I did? Enjoyed it? That doesn't seem to be the right word. I came, yes, but enjoy...
”It felt good, but...”
”Let it feel good, Trissa. Don't fight your instincts. This might not be fair, or what you wanted, but it is what life has in store for you. And it's what you're needed to do. There's more to this than payment and men taking you. These men are the best of the best. You will bear strong, smart offspring with them. Your genes will help rebuild the world.”
”But seven... I mean... nine or more... with the sheriff and you and...”
”Not I,” Mattias corrects me.
”Not you?”
”Not I, and not Elias. Not ever.”
”Why not you?”
He gives me a look, one of those ones he gives me when I am saying something silly, but there is more to it. There is a sadness as well. His expression, usually so carefully managed, gives a hint of a pain I do not understand.
”Why are you and Elias allowed to be with me, when no other men are? Aren't they worried you'll take me too?”
”That can't happen.”
”Why not?”
”That function was taken from us when we were chosen to serve in this capacity.”