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Chapter Text

She didn't recognise the woman in the mirror anymore, her eyes were sunken in and despite her never really having much in the way of rounded out cheeks she could see the skin pulled tighter to her jaw… she was wasting away under the guise of survival, she glanced to the side where she saw a window overlooking a small well tended garden but knew full well that the window had four layers, one thick to stop her from smashing it through and one mirrored to stop anyone from seeing the situation she was in… some would call it luxury, hell ten years ago she would call it that also but now with the spartan surrounding that she never wanted nor could get rid of she knew it wasn't good enough for a prisoner. And she was one… she had… freedoms, if one would stretch the definition enough to the right between one dress that was chosen for her or the other, which food to eat that night if she was able to keep it down long enough for the drugs to kick in… and of course when she could bathe… freedoms, now days she spat at the thought of the word and hated her little 'freedoms'.

She sighed as she turned back to her almost sterile vanity, its five drawers all locked tonight because everything she needed was specifically chosen to match one of two outfits that she had behind her on the modest… if not disarmingly comfortable bed, one white and covered in deep gold striations that she knew would cover her entire body, highlighting her curves with that gold like she was some sort of marble statue fixed using the time honoured and ancient method of Kintsugi. To the right on her vanity was the golden eyeliner, the white eyeshadow, the pale cream concealer that would hide the majority of her emaciation and any unsightly bruises she had… but over her left shoulder was a pure golden dress that was quite beautiful and expensive however her makeup for that dress wasn't much different, gold and white.

What was she going to tonight? What was she supposed to be doing? Why was everything gold? Before she wouldn't think about questions like that, she'd think about how to tell people what was happening to her, how to inform the world what was happening to her but over time people didn't care about a Chinese woman showing up to events with bruises, or a cut lip… not when the person she was with somehow managed to ensure everything was never his fault and convinced himself that he was saving her life. How was she being saved? From what? A life of freedom? The ability to make her own choices? She let out a long sigh that sounded more like her crying but all her tears were gone years ago, dried up over a life she'd never lived, and with no hope of escape she did the only thing that she could do and survive, plan, hope.

She wasn't naked from the neck down but she was ice cold in this boiling room, unsure how long she had until her isolation and privacy was spoiled so she made the most of it and examined her dresses, without leaving her seat she rolled to the bed behind her and examined the white and gold one first, the trims looked her size, if a bit tight around certain areas where she would usually show off in her photo shoots back in the day. But when she reached out she noticed the nearly transparent nature of the white material, sure she could wear something underneath but knowing her husband the clothes he picked out wouldn't be worth the humiliation of seeing her in the white one… so she moved to the gold.

In another life she'd relish the chance to wear something like this, if even for a moment, solid twenty four karat gold silk, hand crafted, hand stitched, and perfectly designed to her measurements with only a little give around the breast line so she'd be showing off her once confident cleavage… this felt like a test, which one would please him more? Which one would he be enraged to see ruined? She pulled herself off the chair, quite literally, and pulled the tags from the hem of the dresses, Aurum, fashions that she modeled in her short career and knew their value reasonably well from the magazines that were the only form of entertainment she could take around her prison home.

The white and gold one was the cheaper of the two, obviously, its transparent nature and eighteen karat gold lines put the value at only eight grand a dress, have it tailored for her measurements and the price only increases slightly, but the golden one… that was more expensive, for her measurements alone and the time that went into making this piece… twenty grand easily… There was once a time when she'd be given something this expensive and the thought of tearing it to shreds and burning the remains wouldn't occur to her… now that was all she felt as she rotated back onto the chair. All that time, all that effort,all that gold… put to waste on someone whose only wish was to see it evicerated… her hand trailed down the golden silk, knowing full well what her husband wanted her to wear, she knew full well the consequences of such an action and while the temporary release of defiance would light up her brain more than any drug the long term punishments wouldn't make the release viable.

She turned back to the vanity without a hope of being able to do what she knew was the right, the tools were in front of her in one form or another but her arms were weak from fear… that sigh came again and she glanced out the window once more, could she muster enough strength to break through that window? If she chipped away at it long enough maybe she'd be able to make a divot but the likelihood of being able to do that without him noticing was remote, no less than that… she'd have to hope that he wouldn't inspect this room for anything for months before she could crack through the thick inner pane, then hope that she had the strength after that to break the others and escape. She didn't know where she really was, she had been shown the path to the house so many times but the country lanes and presence of a cliff were the only indicator of where she was, if she could count how long it would take by car to get to the nearest neighbours she might be able to count how long it would take for her to get there… wishful thinking, her husband was an athletic man even with his age being double hers… he ran every day while she watched him pass the house in twelve minute intervals.

She tried to escape once, through the front door he haphazardly left unlocked while he ran, but she mistimed her escape so she ran straight into him, literally… it surprised him enough to lock her in her room and build an antechamber to the front door that locked thirty seconds after it closed - he was smart and learned from his mistakes, but complacency meant that the unexpected combined with ego meant she had a few more strings to pull and pray one of them ended up in her freedom… only she was running out of hope that someone - anyone would notice her plight and come running to her rescue. Her knight in shining armour came once before and he ended up locking her in another cage, recently she hoped her knight was war stricken and bloodied from beating her husband to a pulp, only she would just thank him and try to hide her life from everyone - a life in a cottage maybe, somewhere she could work with her hands… somewhere warm "You're not ready"

Her last four years has trained her not to jump at the sudden presence of this shadow that took the form of a man but that didn't stop her from being terrified of him, she didn't look him in the eye when his form appeared in the corner of her vanity, the triple mirror showing his slow approach before he bent over the bed and pulled the golden dress taught, it's silk sliding through his fingers like the thoughts of freedom did from her mind, in his presence she was an open book with no words but pages full of information, her deepest thoughts laid bare whenever he looked at her. He groaned and turned around, his lean athletic torso tightly bound in the gold Aurum shirt but not his front as if he was going to make her close it, his favourite chore aside from her putting his clothes on for him "We have to leave in twelve minutes, and you're here without your make up on… we don't have time so pick a dress" His tone was surprisingly calm but she knew it was a ruse, a ploy to get her to interact with him and invoke his spontaneous eire.

She remained silent as she picked up the gold eyeshadow and began applying it to her upper eyelid, going for a stylised flair on the outside which was the hard edge and working it inward to her inner cornea where it would eventually dry out, a broken motif that he was hoping for and since she was actually moving he clapped his hands together and took himself off the bed, rising in a quick motion as if she was soon to follow… that's when she spotted the white suit trousers, he was telling her what to wear even without saying so and she almost didn't say what she said next "The white dress is too transparent" He was almost out of the door as well when his dominant and wedding hand shot up and half clenched in uncontrollable rage, not completely which is what worried the woman the most, a clenched fist meant he would strike her and she'd be unable to leave for what might be a public affair but a relaxing hand meant that he was needed at this gathering.

He suddenly appeared besides her and twisted her around with the smallest presence so she'd have no choice but to look at him, but she didn't look at him… over the years she would stare through him just behind his eyes, at the grey matter so he would be convinced enough that she was paying attention but clueless enough that she wasn't caring "Then wear the gold" He looked serious behind his well trimmed beard and greying salt and pepper hair, dyed because he wasn't that lucky and neither was she… his blistering blue eyes darted to the side for a brief thankful moment before he looked back at her and started twitching his brow, a sign that he was barely containing his anger. He stormed off behind her for a few steps before reappearing in her vision holding the white and gold dress like it was already ruined "Now I have to change!"

He screamed that out into the open complex of the house which was built to his specifications and made it so his outburst reflected like he was saying over and over again, the hard surfaces acting like the reminder of her failure but she didn't see it that way, every time she had to inconvenience him was a victory, small and fleeting but one she took the utmost pleasure in doing, of course she didn't show this joy when there was a chance he could see her but when she turned around she practice her not so fake smile as she continued to apply her make up. That felt good, to make him choose between showing off her emaciated form or preserving the lie and enjoying a simple dress… as the smile faded she should have chosen the white dress… that would have been more humiliating for him, her slyly mentioning to one of the guests at this party that he picked out such a cheap dress but phrase it differently so that only he would feel the sting… perhaps reasonable would have stung the most.

Either way she knew she had about ten minutes left and he always wanted to be in the car when the timer hit zero so she took her time, making sure that her eyeshadow was perfectly speckled, that her lipstick was glossy and shiny… that the only sign of white on her was along the lower of her brow before she she ran it upwards through the her trimmed hairs, then she pulled the clip out of her hair and let the set curls twirl down until she could take the golden hair clay and set them in place. When she finally stopped she blinked one eye into the mirror then the next, ensuring symmetry as best she could before she finally took a step up and moved over to the dress, her thin frame was worse than her modelling days and that was impressive considering her starving diet but now with food every day it still wasn't enough, she couldn't keep it down to be honest… not because of bulimia but because she knew it was tainted.

Meals doused in weight watching drugs, anti depressants and enough barbiturates to sedate an elephant, she knew what was safe to eat through trial and error, occasionally he'd force a platter of meat onto her and she'd deny it, claiming she couldn't stand the smell, which of course he took as her being pregnant and slipped her some healthy yummy vitamins to help it along… she wasn't pregnant, thank god… although she wondered if he'd allow that to happen and if he did would he dispose of her afterwards and keep the child? She pulled the dress over her head and started fiddling with it to get it to sit right in his favourite way, tight on the hips and waist but loose enough so that his taller height can look down at her and see down her cleavage, easier to do that in this dress but she realised she needed a pair of heels which meant she had to leave the room… time to face him out in the open.

The beautiful open designed home was once a marvel of architecture, customly designed wood and marble walls that were so beautiful that they look like they expanded the interior of the room as the balcony looked down onto the living room, the only form of entertainment was a massive projection wall that would roll up from the empty cupboards, leather couches and chairs that rarely saw anyone else sitting on them except him and plants that were once real before she was blamed for letting them die so they were replaced. He wasn't there, he was audibly in the kitchen directly below her but a quick glance at the large clock near the glass windows told her she had only four minutes left, she quickly but carefully descended the hovering stairs and turned to look at him when her bare feet made contact with the ice cold floor… His comment about changing meant that he was going from a white to a black outfit and using only the gold shirt from his previous outfit.

In one hand he held a glass of whiskey with ice, as cold as his expression as he watched her get close… but his other hand hovered over two heels and a golden clutch which she knew only had six things in it, three personal hygiene products, I.D that she didn't remember posing for, another tube of lipstick in case she needs to 'freshen up' and finally an outfit matching pair of hair pins. He was watching her move slowly, sipping at the drink as she made her way closer for her finishing touches "Last minute changes happen, no one's at fault, sit down" Meaning that she was at fault and she was going to receive a punishment of some sort later tonight so that she'd have time to recover, she shuffled over to the lowered bar stool and pulled her dress around to make sure there was as much material between him and her.

Subconscious or not it was obvious that she didn't want him to stare at her, not that it stopped him from fussing over her outfit with one hand as he stared at his favourite parts… his listing hand gently pulled the strap on her shoulders until his fingers were flush with the inside of her cleavage and pulled the layered material looser and revealed more than she wanted. When he was done with that he put the glass down and pulled the heels off the counter while lowering down, his eyes locked on her exposed legs as he pulled them out and twisted her feet towards him… he had never obsessed about her feet before which was new but his obsessions weren't exactly healthy for her.

He was almost delicate as he twisted her foot between the many straps of golden leathers, binding them up her ankle like a series of chains that connected her life to his wallet, he was slow as he did this, knowing full well that he would break his own rule but if he did it he was fine and when he moved on and finished her other foot he stayed down there, hand curled around her calf as he felt the thin muscles through her skin, smooth like porcelain and carefully maintained for his ultimate satisfaction. And just as soon as the intimate nature of this could convince her that she wasn't hallucinating these last four years he removed his hands and stood up straight enough to make her feel like she was in danger, he didn't say anything as he turned around and went to the door where his security and driver were waiting.

He left behind the clutch and his coat, ensuring that she had the conscious choice to humiliate him, and she'd be lying if she didn't think more than once about the decision, to leave him standing in the freezing wet and cold winter of the south English channel, a barely perceptible smile came to her before she grabbed her clutch in one hand and the shoulders of his coat in the other, clopping her way forwards as she followed his path to the exit. He was just stood there before the antechamber with his back turned to her… if she knew he was pulling this trick she might have been able to pick up a knife and stab him in the back, a life in prison for murder was still freedom from him and maybe she'd be able to plead for one of those fancy low intensity prisons because of the abuse she endured…

Too late to turn around now so she just approached and entered his periphery before raising his coat to him, he looked smug as he put one arm inside the coat before raising the other behind him and letting her finish the look, she could have thrown it over his head and pulled a heel off to use as a weapon but being able to do so wasn't possible regardless due to her lack of strength… Maybe she should have tried harder to build it up? Either way he went forwards after being completely clothed with a slow tightening of his collar and the pulling of his cufflinks to pretend like he was planning for her to do this the entire time, he was because she would do as much as she could to mitigate his wrath, she waited until he was two steps ahead of him because she would put as much distance between them as she could before the invisible leash of his will tugged at her neck.

She clopped along and watched as his hand rose to his face and he counted down to getting into the large car, she quickly braced as his guard opened the door and she felt the ice cold breeze rush in and terrify her, chilling her skin to the point that she felt not only frozen but almost resigned to stay behind and resist the idea of going out but she knew that every act would be watched by his security… she stared at him as she passed as if to plead for his help, just knock him out and she'll do the rest… but he just stared on until she was gone and followed after. She shook as she took the few marble steps down until the soft gravel sunk her heels in, all the while ahead of her her husband watched his watch, when he climbed into the car he waited for her to catch up, ensuring that she was able to see him staring still and tapping the countdown on his thigh… what would the punishment be if she failed to meet his deadline this time?

Last time he refused to feed her for three days, as if she was well fed before that, but the time before that had him nearly break her arm as he tied it to her bed and refused to let her go for days even to the toilet… she got good at skirting the line of obedience and liberties to the point that she was able to ensure that she survived his wrath but this time was closer than ever, maybe she was just slow but he said one as soon as she sat down and drew the dress in closer. She thought his count would continue until the door closed but it was possible that tonight had them on a time crunch so he wanted to get on with it "Let's get going" He responded in a monotone way, his driver and bodyguard were a pair of identical twins but she couldn't tell who was who, or why they watched her get abused like this on a regular basis.

Once the second twin was in the car they took off in expert silence, the two in the back staring out their respective windows and if it wasn't for the fact that the woman grew up in this era she'd feel like a woman out of time, seeing the world wash by in blurs of lights and the occasional home made her question where they were going but there wasn't a reason to ask until hedge brush and the occasional home either dilapidated or built up passed into suburban homes and eventually high priced suburbs, soon enough even that faded into more elaborate homes so she had to ask "Where are we going?" Her accent is still heavily Chinese since she wasn't here long enough to lose it and he liked it… at first at least.

"A party" She gathered that much and wanted to tell him that she figured that bit out from the fact she had to wear a dress and him a suit, but what sort of party? An engagement party? A bereavement party? This better not be a sex party that she was once dragged to but left outside simply to show that he could do what he wanted and no one would care… that was weird standing at the entrance and having everyone ask if she was on offer but her explaining she was with her husband… after a while the silence was broken by him expanding on a question she never thought about "No one you know" As if she doubted that, she didn't know anyone thanks to him and while that was by his design it was only so he could pretend that she was sick or lame.

She wanted to say that she didn't know anyone but all she could muster was a passive silence as she stared out the window, that was at least until she felt his hand on her thigh, gripping it tightly enough that there could be a bruise but not at a point where anyone would see it unless they were pulling her dress up… if there was any confidence in her left she would relish in making him a cuckold, a nice thought that made her smile. But that faded when she saw the silver stone walls of a fancy private drive pass by and the concrete road instantly disappear into custom patterned drive, each brick they drove over must have been custom made for this driveway but she didn't care about it, only the pretense that was behind it, a wall with bushes on top was decorated with golden leaves and warm lights to give the illusion of a theme but as soon the car stopped outside the decorated entrance that illusion broke.

There was no sign of gold other than the leaves on the exterior and what she could see of the interior it was a small closer knit party designed for opulence and braggardry "Han" She turned to her side at the beckoning of her name and waited for his words that would dictate the course of the night only they didn't come, she wasn't still either as she rotated further and saw his face out the corner of her vision, he looked… stern and excited, like he was ready to barge in there and sell something that everyone could want and make a killing. But the hand that gripped her leg just tightened, a warning that came with the bruises of possession, of her life tied to his because he hid the truth for long enough that she was convinced he was a good man "No theatrics tonight" What did he expect her to do? Just go about yelling that he was an abuser? He made it clear that the consequences were worse than any momentary reprieve she might get exposing his true nature.

Both doors opened for them and he sighed, let her go and left the car to sternly trot around the other side and hold out his hand for her, a platitude that he enjoyed while she struggled to hold herself together and his hand, the cod whipped her again as she took the long step out and rose to near full height, hunched over to look more demure and petite which seemed impossible at the time but still achievable for his purposes of seeming like the pinnacle of masculine achievements. She slowly raised her head up as she walked but had to walk up the stairs alone because a shoulder wife was little more than an accessory to a man like him, then she questioned why he would willingly take her to a party that had no one there who knew her? Wait… this was another test wasn't it? He was looking for an excuse to hurt her because he wanted to see how he'd react with these new people if she was abused after meeting them…

Like it mattered… this was the third time he introduced her to a group of people and the third time she'd be ignored… she had to do something, anything to make these people realise she wasn't okay! But what? What could she do that he hadn't heard of before? That he didn't have an excuse for? Her heels suddenly found thick polished wood and she felt a tad warmer thanks to the interior of the house but there was still the chill of proximity to the man who held his arm out for her to play along, she clopped behind him and wrapped her hand around the crook of his arm, barely touching it but still showing that he was her master. God she couldn't think of that sort of thing, she felt like a clutch to him sometimes, something to hold a part of him during these sorts of things… for a while she thought that was his love but this wasn't love, this was possession plain and simple… the first face she saw that wasn't the hired help waiting in the cold and sharing stories, or in the case of the twins staring silently at the guests and Han… was a woman, her hands already reaching for Karl like she had known him for years but given the magnetism he portrays in public she could have met him yesterday.

"Karl! Handsome, beautiful Karl… Come here!" She patted his arms upwards before she got close enough to make him realise that she was going in for a kiss, either traditional on the cheek or on the lips Han honestly didn't care because she was beautiful enough to take Karl's attention, her accent heavily Russian but she spoke english well enough to distract him from Han, she could have walked away at that point and hope Karl somehow latched onto her - or vice versa "Don't tell me you were late to the pre-party party… we had a great time with the performers, such tasty bodies for our night… and it's only getting more delicious it seems" She finally reached up as he bent down and left a kiss a bit too close to his lips than either was expecting, either she was drunk or intentionally playing the blonde airhead that she looked, and she did look good in the full body red dress.

Glancing around however Han didn't see anyone else in red, the closest was a hag of a woman with red earrings so she questioned why her husband set them up with gold… then she spotted the massive art works in the room with punch bowls in front of them, she had been to something like this before, actually this exact setting was how Han was introduced to Karl… an auction party, at the time Han thought the art was more beautiful than anything she had seen before but now the vibrant colours on impossibly large canvases seemed washed to her before she realised they were being projected not displayed. All around the room were light boxes projecting the images onto the walls at just enough light that things didn't matter that they were seen or not, they weren't paying for that they were paying for something illicit "Anya, you're starting to make this a habit, if I had to guess I'd say that you're following me" Karl's charm was pretty on point today, making him one of the most charismatic men either woman had met, if he hasn't such a monster "Allow me to introduce my wife, Ha-"

"Oh don't dawdle Karl, come let me show you the cream of the crop" She completely dismissed Han without so much as a glance at her, such disregardment made her feel invisible which wasn't new or anything but it made her feel more independent… like she could just slip away from him and disappear into the crowd without trying,what was this feeling inside her? What was the bubbling from her stomach doing to her? "Sweet handsome Karl, allow me to introduce some of my favourite people, Fatima El-Amin, Javier Rodriguez, Ingrid Olsen and my second favourite man here tonight, Kenzo Tanaka"

She went round what Han knew as a bidding circle, a small band of people that would trick the system and pool their rewards before selling them on at a profit to those who lost out… Many knew that their game was intentional but what could they do? Not try and get their desired artwork? Han stared at the motley crew of rich and slimy people, many of them young and handsome or beautiful except the man known as Tanaka, his stern gaze towards Han seemed to be the only thing he was focusing on… but that might have been because he was Asian too and was trying to figure out if Han spoke the same language as him… Anya was quick to bridge the gap between him and Karl as if she was trying to make a transcontinental connection between her and her two favourite men at the event, what did Tanaka do to greet Karl and his wife? He nodded, a singular 'welcome to the event' nod.

Anya was pulling the two of them closer together as if to claim them but as soon she started doing that Ingrid, the more older woman in a no muss black dress with very little adorning her other than a single gold necklace and earrings "Hands off Anya, you're making them uncomfortable" Her accent spoke more of the cold northern woman in both region of origin but also her personality, she simply stood there with her arms held in a cross in front of her, hands closed around a phone with nothing else "It's good to finally meet you in person Karl, Anya's been chomping at the bit to introduce you to us… now it's clear why by your wife's beautiful dress" She glanced to Han who was shocked that she became the focus, she stared at the woman with fear in her eyes and if the middle aged woman even glanced at her for longer than a few seconds she'd see the desperation in her.

"I know… I know… I shouldn't have spent so much but I mean, look at her" Karl turned to address her only slightly before covering as much over their vision of her by pulling her closer into his chest, he always did this, as soon as someone showed an interest in Han he put himself in between them, obscuring her and making him the target of their attention "Never a more beautiful thing in all existence and she's all mine" For some reason they all ignored the possessive nature because he was - in their eyes at least, being sweet to her by pulling her closer and cradling her cheek in a possessive and yet caring way, almost endearing if it wasn't for the fact she almost shuddered at his touch "More beautiful with every passing day we're together" More beautiful? More docile was more like it… if only he knew the lengths she went to try and distance herself from him.

"Lucky man you are" The smooth and suave voice of Javier came over the giggles and praise the others were giving Karl and not Han, she was the one wearing the twenty grand dress, she was the one who used to be a model and she was the one who needed the attention so she could tell them all what a horrible man Karl was! But with him next to her her prospects of getting help fell to near nothing… she could occasionally find someone that would give her a moment of their time but before the fear of him finding her talking to someone openly faded he would put himself between her and a potential saviour… she remembered the last time she did that, the elderly woman cleaning their home once because Han was too sick to do it… she wondered at times what became of her and almost as soon as that query became real it faded as she realised a possible and horrible truth, Karl had her killed… or a much less likely outcome was he paid for her retirement.

She wished she could say that about anything in her life, that the darkest path was only a possible outcome for her life but that was a fantasy she couldn't maintain or indulge, every time she asked why someone not two feet from her turned around and asked why are you talking… so she kept quiet, so quiet that everyone around her ignored her, so quiet that she found the isolation in her head more enjoyable than being in her cell of a room "Why so quiet my dear?" Who was saying that? Surely it wasn't directed to Han? "Does she not speak? Would Kenzo need to translate?" Han finally looked at the oldest of the people here though you wouldn't be able to tell from her chemically smooth and ^ smothered pale skin, Ingrid this one was, a motherly figure in an unflattering but understated black dress… she seemed to favoured Han for a moment but as soon as Han went to open her mouth to respond she felt the distant warmth of Karl's hands on her backless dress, rising to claim and quieten her as it gripped the base of her neck possessively.

"Han's Chinese not Japanese… I understand that most are indistinguishable but it pays to be attentive" His snapping tone was almost a warning to Ingrid who immediately turned and apologised to Karl rather than Han, the golden woman was the one she insulted so why didn't she get an apology? Han shook her head mentally and cursed at her in her native tongue but the only external thing she did was stare at the woman with a pleading look… help me, she cried with her eyes, desperate to get someone to see her but like all the other times she was over looked, ignored and left to rot under his manipulations "So what's on offer today? Anything from Abrigani I hope?" Without saying, asking or hoping for her cooperation Karl pulled - or more accurately pushed - Han towards the brightly lit plinth which held the book that displayed the items on offer, but in the few moments alone before Anya came to his side he was able to pull Han closer and whisper into her ear under the pretense that it was a loving gesture "What did I say?! No theatrics!"

The pressure on her neck increased to the point that he could easily make her cry out in pain if it continued for any longer but she was thankfully saved by Anya jumping to the side of Karl and making him lighten up before the Russian woman got more intrigued in what was happening "Nothing by Abrigani this time sweet Karl, but there is a Chin… is it Chinese? Oh I can't remember with all the excitement" She picked through the book and pressed herself between it and Karl who was staring at her for a moment before she twisted slightly and leant forwards… His grip on Han faded slightly and in that freedom she took a step to the side, her excuse later if he asked why she moved away was that she didn't want to distract him "Ah, here it is…" She murmured as she twisted even further and almost touched Karl with her rear, she was laying it on thick enough that Han turned to the side and stared off into oblivion "There we go, Kenji Okanada… oh that's Japanese, well we'll have to let Kenzo have that one then won't we"

She straightened out and leant backwards enough that a half step would put her in physical contact with Karl again, this time however Karl noticed that from this angle she was a young and endowed woman that desired his attention more than the auction or the profits from it… she only wanted the thrill of sleeping with a married man… well she could have him, in fact she can have every aspect of Han's life with a cheery good luck for her, and if Han had to die to be free of Karl then she was happy to let it happen "Perhaps the two of us could outbid him and sell it back to him?" Karl whispered into her ear, his grip on Han faded completely as he noticed his libido rising in response to Anya's simple yet effective manipulations, her giggle softly and seductively crawling out of her throat as he leant forwards with one hand and pressed a claiming hand to her outside hip "But there must be something else worth our time tonight, no?" She turned to face him and noticed Han staring away from him with a locked gaze… a reminder perhaps that he was with his wife but there was no love there, Han was being oblivious to the whole thing because Anya thought she liked it when he slept around… she didn't.

Whenever Karl would return from an affair in nought but name he would do unspeakable things to his wife… if she put a name on it it would be retaliatory abuse, he would obsess over another woman and when that doesn't end the way he wanted he'd return home and be jealous of his own infidelity and enraged that Han let him sleep around and in his own words, didn't fight to keep him in their bed… as if she wanted him near her when she was that vulnerable, as if she could fight him when he was making her so weak "Karl… would you like a drink?" Han whispered as she navigated closer to him, knowing full well that he was nose deep in a book and unable to care about her long enough to give her an answer that was anything but a gesture.

So with his dismissive hand she turned away and breathed a slow sigh of relief as she walked away… straight to the pop up bar that somehow looked more in place than anything else in this room despite it's old and gilded styled marble esque top, her hands rose to it as she waited silently like she was taught and stared at the display of bottles next to the mirrored wall but she wasn't truly staring at the bottles, she was watching Karl twist and pivot around the Russian woman as her other 'friends' joined them and they could all peruse the catalogue as they chose their prey by their… Well, Han didn't know how they chose their prey but they were chosen all the same. As the bartender crossed her vision to continue their job she realised that she hadn't blinked in a while, when she did she realised where she was and realised what freedom she had… Karl was distracted by a whore of a woman and the prospect of earning a lot of money from desperate antiquarians, and the lack of the ever present hand on her back or closing around her neck made her feel… free.

She knew it wasn't true, she knew that she didn't have freedom… and she didn't care, she was alone from him for a while longer and that was enough for tonight, possibly for a lifetime but either way she was alone and that was enough… until the bartender finally got around to her and asked in a calm and polite voice what it was she wanted, What she wanted? The servant couldn't provide, she yearned to say police, to tell this young and stylish diligent thing that she wanted her husband shot, burned and pissed on by every person here… but when she went to say that she felt the crack of the whip as Karl's eyes were locked onto her, even behind her and across the room he felt the dissident thoughts against his dictatorship "A glass of Macallan red and a glass of Moёt & Chandon" Why did she say that? Her back was to Karl and he didn't have perfect vision at his age, so why didn't she just say Help me? The server glanced over her shoulder at the nearly penetrative way Karl was staring at her and realised something that many didn't, she was stiff and under someone else's control, a feature that occasionally was overlooked for the assumed nervousness or anxiety of being in public.

But as soon as Han thought she had gotten an ally or someone else's attention for longer than a thought it was gone, her potential saviour gone and no one to take their place she felt her stomach drop… her hand clutching the clutch burned white as she tried to hold back the urge to call the person back and when she looked back into the mirror Karl was nowhere to be seen, her eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she scanned the mirror for him but couldn't find him, a glance to either side and she still couldn't see him… was she free? Did Anya steal him away from her and inadvertently save her for a while longer? Or had he finally taken the advantage and began spying on the competition? Either way she felt fear like she had never felt before, like hope had trickled in and shoved itself in the guillotine's path… waiting for that fateful and unwelcome blade of reality to cut it off…

She shuddered as she wandered left and right down the bar edge, eyes scanning the mirror to see if he was paying attention to her, where ever he was… and when she had finally scoured the furthest part of it she felt the sting of the guillotine as a cold hand pressed against her back, her eye passed over the mirror and spotted him, anger building in his brow as he asked silently what was taking so long, his lips tightened into a scowl as he understood why she had taken the initiative… she wanted to get away from him "You're angry at me…" He prodded incorrectly, informing her that he was probing for a response from her, anything would be wrong but anything was what he was looking for "I swear I had no idea that Ingrid was going to say that, correcting her was an… honour" Honour? What did he know of Honour? He had violated any semblance of honour a Human could violate short of actually abusing or violating her in public, the only reason he didn't do that was because his reputation was at risk and a man's reputation is his livelihood in this day and age.

She didn't say anything but her face told him more about what she was thinking than she expected, her gaze locked front as she straightened further still told him she still found him repulsive after all this time together, the way her hands turned white around her clutch told him that she was only interested in the things he could give her than the oppasite… and the way he spied a bottle of Macallan being poured into a glass and slid over to her told him that she thought he was cheap… cheap… who was the cheap one here? The man who bought his wife two twenty grand dresses for a single event, bought her heels, makeup and accessories that almost matched the price of one of those dresses and planned an entire night of fun and potential profit for them by outbidding and reselling valuable artwork and craftsmanship… he wasn't cheap and he was tired of proving it to her… that's when she turned around with a fake placid smile on her lips, hand clutching his drink and offering it to him like a peasant offered a meager crop for their tithe "You should enjoy yourself, you've been working a lot lately"

She didn't need to know his mind anymore than that, she didn't want to peer into its twisted depths and wake the leviathans of abhorrent values that he could bring onto her, she just needed him distracted, a moment alone but in sight of him was enough for him to remain calm and enjoy himself… When he took the drink she took a step closer and managed to watch his head twist in the mirror, like she could see his eyeline trail from her and towards the Russian woman standing against a false pillar and twirling the ice around with a seductive finger before bringing it to her lips and teasing the man of her desire for tonight. Han felt him shift between her and the bar, a sensation that was beyond description as his hand brought the glass to his lips and he locked onto the target of his desire… yes, she thought, go to her and leave me alone, go to her and realise that I've disappeared, go to her and distract yourself from my isolation.

His other hand curled around her waist and she froze, eyes trapped on the mirror self as she recognised the expression she had, fear… if it was so clear to her then why did no one come save her? Something wet rolled down her cheek and she wasn't sure if it was sweat or a tear, she didn't move to check either and stiffened even more - which was surprising considering her near constant rigid state - and watched as he desired that she was right, it would mean that he'd be abusing her later, but a moment away from him was worth the pain, worth the isolation and dread she would feel rush through her. Had she been anyone else she might have tried fighting back long ago but the way he controls her life was insidious, despicable and in a strange twisted way, admirable… if he could convince a woman that he was a kind man only to turn around and spend the next four years torturing her for his sick pleasure then what was he like at work? What was he like with his negotiations? What was he like without her around?

Those sort of thoughts made Han yearn for the truth and some sort of freedom to find that out, a phone so she could talk to someone and possibly get ideas on how to get out of this horrible relationship… hell even file for divorce and promise him that she won't take any of his money if he just lets her go, she'll even go back to her old name… she wondered if her family ever found themselves curious about their daughter or if like most families who had daughters they abandoned and forgot about her, why didn't they try? Over the trauma of her life, what was she really? A failed whore? No, she was quite successful at that and managed to get out of it by working off her debt in three years, A failure of a model? No, on that front she was equally successful and posed for the latest and greatest fashions all around the world including Aurum which was by far the most expensive brand she worked for, so that only left a failed wife? No… she was failed as a wife, her husband abused her, her husband raped her, her husband turned her life into nothing more than a prized beast in a gilded cage… so what did Han actually have in her life?

Well… not much, when she boiled down her life it was a matter of survival now,just a little longer, just a little more bolder, screw the repercussions and just legit happen because some how,some time,someone would notice her plight and be there to support her, the only question was how long would it take for her to find that? How long would it take for her to get free? She felt someone bump into her and realised then that she had been standing at the bar for… well,long enough for Karl to abandon her and her drink to lose a lot of the bubbles from standing still in her hand… who was it that bumped her? No one that cared for her,in fact as she took a step in the opposite direction they decided that they would too and bump into her again, she snapped to them to notice that they were both quite drunk and the realisation of the stupidity of getting drunk before bidding hit her and she glanced around for Karl, he had Anya on his arm and was cheering along with the others in the enterouage… he was having fun… good for him… and better for Han.

With Anya taking on the physical demands tonight, or hopefully every night after, Han had her freedom tonight and yet she couldn't think about what she was supposed to do… What do normal people do when they can do whatever they want? Her hand pressed against the steel topped bar as her gaze turned vacant and crossed over the many glasses and drinks available, her understanding of the world before Karl was work and celebration, work and celebration… after it was regret and isolation… She had no idea what to do now that she was alone and not worried about making a noise. The cold steel of the bar top shook her, the sensation of freedom was new to her and although the bar was keeping her grounded she felt like she could float away, she knew she couldn't of course… making a scene would just draw her husband's eire but what if she had an hour, two… maybe even three to herself and this was how it started… with a glass to celebrate.

She never liked champagne, it felt like it was too hyped up considering the fact it felt like empty bubbles and tasted like stale chemicals, but today this glass felt, smelt and tasted sweeter… it could have been the fact it was so expensive or the fact she was alone to enjoy it or any number of things to be honest, but the point was that she had a drink that she could have without fear of it having anything inside it that shouldn't be there… and when she realised that she noticed how parched she actually was and ordered another more cheaper glass of champagne without finishing that one. Her tolerance must have changed a long time ago because her head felt fuzzy over this single glass, either that or the floaty sensation in her stomach was her excitement and she forgot what that word meant to her… it used to mean she could relax and have a good time but now it meant that she had a chance to sleep in her own bed without being abused, it was strange how much things had changed for her and even more strange was how she fit in with them being so altered… but her mind shouldn't dwell on this of thing tonight, no tonight she was free for a while.

She felt that rush of indecision, the pulse of uncertainty in her legs that made her move to see something, anything new… always aware of the lion in the room but now sure that he'd play with his dinner for as long as he could, it was nice having someone else take his attention… It let her wander unchecked, unmolested if you would, and the first thing she did was wander to the paintings that were on display from her homeland, things she never could have seen in her short life back there. She had no eye for art but the beautifully designed thin white sheets that let light and colour pass through them made her sigh, it was a romanticised impression of some Chinese valley scene that utilised some rather vibrant colours but it was nice to stare, then complete anacranistically she took a step to the side and found an old greek vase depicting a hero of old fighting off a monster of nondescript means.

It was a shame she didn't care about art in the same way her husband did, she appreciated some art of course but the focus of these old pieces never appealed to her… what the hell was she supposed to do with an eight hundred year old relic from the crusades? Or a thousand year old painting from some dynasty that treated people like her as objects and possessions? She couldn't display it without her husband's approval and he wouldn't approve anything that he couldn't show off himself… not even his wife. So what did that leave her to do? Well… drinking for starters… it might have been the only thing she thought of at the time but it had been so long since she was able to drink without consequence, without knowing that it was spiked with some form of medication to make her weak and frail… at the least docile… so she turned to the glass in her hand and sipped it generously for a while, draining it in three sips before she turned to a server and plucking one from their offered platter without so much as a thank you.

She tiptoed around the room, watching the people converse, flirt and argue about the nature of things on display before an expert came along and set them right… most of the time that was someone paid to correct someone's misinformation and blatant incorrectness, a couple of times someone spotted Han alone and assumed she was perusing their favoured art piece or intentionally checking it out to make sure that the competition was steering clear, sometimes they would step closer and try to engage her in conversation but all that did was make them realise she wasn't caring about what was going on, in this society there were always people there for the company and those there for profit… she was the third hidden one, those there because they had no choice or they were paid to be there.

She wished she had a more commanding presence, a commendable presence that can tell people that she wasn't the type of woman to pay attention to the rumours, the boring and the less wealthy than her… but she didn't have the strength to pretend to concoct a lie that would end as soon as her husband was within touching distance, if he was even around… she hadn't seen him in a little while but she heard the sound of laughter coming from elsewhere in the room, he was likely there. Wait… why should she give a shit about where he was? He wasn't here! That was the whole point of pointing his lust towards… the russian lady, whatever her name was… she can leave it all behind… but as she passed by another server she noticed the way she was staring at the wine and champagne and thought about what she wanted to do again…

She shuffled away from the party, exploring the house through a side door that was conveniently unlocked, the world suddenly growing dim as old and soft lights lit the walls and only barely allowed her to see the architecture never mind the paintings of the landscape in various eras and seasons long past… as she trotted through this place of surprising solitude she realised that this was the first time in a long time that she was out of the house unsupervised, the illusion of being under control lost as soon as the door closed behind her… she was free! It rushed through her as she tried to figure out the layout of this place, all it would take is a single side door, a propped open fire escape that had someone on the other side taking a well deserved smoke break and then… poof, she was gone…

But where? She didn't know where she was let alone where the nearest sanctuary was, she tapped the glass with her nails a couple of times to think… She knew people were more generous if she was honest with them but in this neighbourhood, who would open their door to a frantic Chinese woman freezing in the middle of the night? Would they call the police for her? Were phone booths a thing behind gated communities? She turned the corner of this hall and found a small din coming from what she assumed was a small private gathering but her attention to the words and what was uttered escaped her.

It wasn't her place to investigate but curiosity brought her closer to the room either way and found herself watching an event she had never thought she'd see… a crack in the door was all that allowed her to watch a bundle of folk she spotted outside at the auction holding their own private auction facilitated by a single auctioneer and an assistant that walked between the mask wearing people in suits and dresses not as fine as the golden one Han wore but likely still expensive all the same… the items they were bidding on were… esoteric to say the least, eclectic to add another verb and if she was reaching for another she'd say… eldritch.

From the objects on display, hanging mostly on a rack filled with strange curved designed blades, wreaths of smoking herbs and what looked like… a heart? Still beating of course and when she considered the reason she accepted that and said of course she questioned why was there a heart there anyway? Were these things just from a special effects department and they were buying movie props from famous movies or something? This close to the door she could hear what was being sold, descriptions of artifacts that made no sense to her… The current one was a small black dais sculpture containing a curved blistering white horn, the announcer claimed it was a certified angel horn which was both intriguing and confusing… angels? Having horns?

The thought of it was ridiculous but she had to admit there was an ethereal beauty to the horn, like the shine of the low yellow lights were reflecting a blistering glow from within… but that was impossible right? She shook her head as she passed by, thinking the whole thing humorous rather than factual, she couldn't deny the fact that she wanted to stay and hear more but her curiosity only went so far and her drink was being drained… as she approached the next door she saw that it was closed and she idly went for the handle… fingers almost touching it when "Not a good idea ma'am" Her hand retracted and she snapped around stiffly to the sight of a young security guard wearing a fine suit "Door has an alarm, anyone touches the handle without the appropriate device and the entire room gets locked down fast enough to take that pretty hand off… respectfully"

Han nodded and backed away, not wanting to lose a hand as she apologised to the man without really saying sorry but having him there was like having someone who noticed her there… she had someone who… didn't know her or her worries, so she straightened out and stood up towards him like an equal, matching his eye like also "I'm sorry… I didn't know I wasn't allowed to come down here… I was just… looking for somewhere quiet" A partial lie, she was hoping for somewhere away from her husband and if he was somewhere else then it would be rowdy, either way the security guard nodded his head as he slowly approached with his hands visible at all times, he was kinda… handsome, in a british chinese sort of way and she was shocked at his kind smile… it had been so long since someone smiled at her like that.

"That's alright, no harm done, are you okay? Do you still need somewhere quiet?" He was being quite sweet to her and she nodded in response, probably because she still needed to stay away from her husband but because she was curious as to how much she can reveal to him about what was going on with her… "Very well, would you like something secure or something away from the auction?" She froze at that… unsure what she should answer while subtly asking for his opinion "How about I just give you the tour?" That sounded like the best alternative and she smiled at him to continue…

The sensation was strange, for the last four years she's had a bane in her gut that told her not to do something drastic, not to stand out too much or risk the eire of her husband, not to talk to anyone just in case they returned to him and informed him of her betrayal… but this man was being kind to her, overtly showing him that she could trust him but her mind was telling her to be careful regardless of what level of safety this man might provide "Banathy manor was built initially built in the thirteen hundreds, boasting a whopping thirteen square acres dedicated to a lovely and well tailored garden, before the fifteen hundreds sundered the lavish estate for more houses in the developing areas… by then the estate had already been in decline but was bought out in the eighteen hundreds by the Vathory family, who over the years living in the UK have lost their Arabian roots in favour of a more British sounding name"

He opened the door at the end of the hall and gestured her through with a smile that she returned albeit in a less friendly sort of way, completely unintentionally from Hans' side "When the Vathory family joined the political landscape, which they're a major part of to this day, they renovated their family home and started building it to the once lavish glory with the modern twist, lights inside the manor are often turned off in favour of the old fashioned but electrically activated gas lamps, in fact the corridor you passed through was one of the few with that feature, often unaware of it in the moment but the lights did adapt to the point that you didn't need to reach for the light switch" Han glanced behind her at the door and realised that he was right, the corridor was perfectly well lit but she didn't see or hear the hum of overhead lights.

She hummed in fascination of it before the security guard opened another door and the two were met with the open foyer of the manor, instantly her spine straightened out and she glanced to the side to see the entourage of staff and bodyguards for the clientele in the auction all turn to look at her, two in particular were under the employ of her husband and both turned at the same time to watch Han as she froze, she knew they wouldn't disobey orders and follow her but they would at least try and keep an eye on her as discreetly as possible "So when they expanded on the architecture- are you alright?" He noticed Han's absence which was more than any man had in a long time but her lack of a response made his eyeline follow hers and match the two bald men who weren't paying him any mind.

When he glanced back he realised sooner than anyone else why she was so stiff, fear… fear of the men, of who the men worked for, of what the men might do to her if she was a step out of line… so the security guard simply opened the door he was heading to and coughed to get her attention, failing that and reaching out with a hand while he positioned himself facing away from the men "Ma'am… there's a lot to see" He said kindly and quietly which caused her to nod, eyes still locked on those men but her feet moving slowly towards the kind guard who covered her form with his as she passed through the door and into a darkened hall that was slowly brightening up "Bathory manor has many hidden and secret passages, some lost to the ages but others… still accessible and lead to the bowels of the manor" He closed the door behind them and managed to glance in the gap to see one of them slowly approach them "Come, let me show you one"

He took a couple of steps past her and grabbed her hand quite forcefully but not enough to make her feel any pain, in fact the only thing she did feel was guilt for putting this kind man in danger, her husband has had people disappear for less offensive acts than touching his wife… but here he was,pulling her along the passage until they got to the end which curved up a long windowless stair well, but he didn't take her up it, in fact he turned sharply at the last half panel and pushed it open,rolling it to the side before grabbing her gently by the shoulder and pushing her in "In… if you don't want him to find you" She didn't question it, she just did her best to bend without the strength to safely do so and found herself able to stretch out as soon as she did… a second later he was in the not as cramped hidden passage closing the behind them and sliding open an almost imperceptible eye slit in the panel above it.

Sure enough, while they waited with bated breath and shaking hands the twin charged past them silently, like a spectre of death that was chasing a soul long over due for reaping he trailed after the now lost couple as they stayed in their hidey hole, waiting for something to happen that made the twin whip around and somehow spot them through the thick wood that was pressed gently back into place… when that happened the guard took a huge sigh of relief that buffeted the cobwebs of the passage like a storm for the spiders that spun them "There we go… unless he's fond of pre Tudor architecture then he's not going to figure out where you are for a while… which means you don't have to hold your breath" She didn't but her form didn't look like it had changed in the slightest, even now - being as respectful as he was with his gaze - he noticed that her dress didn't leave anything to the imagination nor did it hide her form.

Every gradient divot that denoted muscle was flat, every golden curve that denoted fat was also flat… and while she seemed healthy enough at first glance it was clear that she was malnourished to the point that even models would be concerned… he pulled his phone from his pocket and set the torch on so they could see around them and was blinded by the flash of gold that lit everything up, he actually winced with a little chuckle that made her apologise but all that did was make his chuckle grow louder "Don't apologise for blinding someone with your radiance… normally that line doesn't come with actual blindness for me, ma'am" She felt her body betray her, she smiled at him… she smiled at someone she didn't know for the first time in a long time and it felt like a betrayal of her inner self.

"Thank you for… saving me from him… I don't know if you'll get into trouble because of me" She said quietly, ensuring that he understood her words but quickly shaking her head when he mentioned that anyone would have done the same "No they wouldn't!" Her voice had suddenly become venomous in the years of torture and oppression she was under, knowing full well that the wrong word would somehow make it back to her husband and that would somehow entice him to bring some sort of terrible vengeance for telling someone that she was hating her life "I'm… I'm sorry for snapping, I've just… been ignored for so long that I'm not used to someone being nice to me"

"That's impossible to believe… I'm sure they're just flustered when you look their way" He nodded with a smile towards her and started crossing his way through the passage that seemed larger than it actually was with the dancing of shadows and light, a strange narrative for her current situation but in the back of her heart she felt the apprehension of talking to him, while also feeling the crushing weight of finding the situation shockingly romantic… like she was suddenly in a romance novel that might save her from the life she had at home, from the husband that abused her. He glanced back every few steps, smiling at her and cheerful that she was following "So… if I can ask, why were you so scared of that man finding you? And please tell me it's for something clandestine that would make a good book some day"

Han didn't say anything for a moment as the twisting turns dipped downwards and she felt a chill of untouched stale air, disturbed by both their presence and the gust of their entrance… her spine straightened out as much as she could in this cramped hollow of freedom but she still felt like she was compressed, all the years hiding her inner self and yet… she wanted to tell him everything, to confide in a stranger what she confessed in solitude "H-he…" she started, pausing as she watched him glance back again, eyes filled with curiosity that slowly faded into concern - at her silence or the growing look of dread on her face, he couldn't say - "Works for my husband… and he doesn't… like me exploring"

She felt the knot in her stomach pull her to silence but when he was about to say something she exploded as softly as she could in this cramped walkway "I don't like being bound to him… my marriage to him… it doesn't feel the same as it once was" They stopped, the young handsome man turning to listen to her, brow bending as his concern won out the battle he had and he softly stepped closer to her while still ensuring there was plenty of space between them "I feel like I have this noose around my neck and every day… It tightens…" Words like that are what a caring person looks out for, words like that are what separates the dispassionate and the empathic "And I don't know how much longer I can keep my breath"

He said something, something she didn't hear because all she could hear was the whine of her mind telling her that she did something stupid, that she was going to be beaten for talking to this man that was clearly paid to keep an eye on her while he was off having fun… but in the quasi silence of the moment and him asking her something that was still screaming from miles away she felt the thrum of her heart, it got faster the longer she remained quiet, beating like a drum marching soldiers to war… or as a signal to her husband to find her… but in the quiet she heard four words that struck her like a lightning bolt, words that shook her very core "Are you… being abused?"

No… no abused was too civil a word to describe what was happening to her… but she couldn't say the word torture, she couldn't say that he raped her, drugged her, beat her to the point of grevious bodily harm… she couldn't say any of that because her face was doing that for her... Micro expressions that told him she had endured more than words could convey, the way her nose twitched near her brow as the latter pulled itself together in a twitching manner, trying not to let her eyes swell up with tears as they strained against their nature, holding themselves open at her failing will… and her lips, cinching together as she fought the urge to speak the truth, to hide from his influence a little bit more even though this man didn't know the man who hurt her… but he would… if she said anything he would know the terrible wrath of Karl Munsand.

"Right…" He muttered, understanding that the silence meant more than the definition of the word, knowing that the intensity of her reaction being suppressed by her will to stave off pain meant so much more than what she was trying not to say "Have… you spoken to anyone about it?" Again her face twisted,slightly as she told him that she hadn't, that she was too scared to say anything to anyone and was letting him make the correct deductions so she can claim plausible deniability the entire time when asked about her whereabouts later "I need some sign that you are… if your abuser is here we can get you away from him, wait somewhere safe while the police come and-"

"No!" She yelled at him, instantly realising her mistake and backing away, shaking her head as her hands reached up to her lips to cup them and hopefully take her expulsion of air back… but that only made him realise the hold her husband had on her, not the true extent or the minutiae of his control and punishments but like she said… there was a noose around her neck and he held the other side of it tightly "You can't say anything… you can't call anyone… I don't know if you're safe to talk and he has eyes everywhere, ears everywhere else… and what he can't find out for himself he'll just assume and make me his excuse…" She stepped closer, reaching out for him as he tried his best to not burst out of their cubby and chase the man down, he was shaking in rage and that's the only reason she felt like she could trust him "He… will kill you if he thinks you're trying to take me from him"

"But he's hurting you… I can understand that you wouldn't want to leave for fear of what he'd do to you, but you should tell someone at the very least… What if he doesn't stop one day? What if you suddenly go missing? What if I'm watching the news months from now knowing that we talked and did nothing then suddenly your face is there…missing persons, contact with some information but because you haven't said who he was I can't tell them that he was abusing you?" She felt the concern, the worry for her safety… but she didn't say anything more than that, she wanted to… but what if she woke up tomorrow with armed forces breaking down his heavily reinforced door? What if he knew she was the reason and even from the pit of prison he was in he reached out and squeezed the noose without letting go this time? "Can you honestly say you wouldn't want to know if you were in my position?"

"I-I… can't say anything… I shouldn't have said anything… please just… don't ask about him" The man squinted at her before realising that she wouldn't say anything… straightening out and running his hand down his face as he tried to hide his feelings about what she was doing… he wanted to help her but his mother always said you can't help someone who doesn't want it. He nodded and looked across from her, feeling the desire to say something about her situation slowly fade but he needed to be sure so he asked if she was "No… but I don't get a say anymore… please just… promise me that if I do go missing… that you'll tell people about me? That I wasn't a face in a crowd?" He sighed at her request, he wanted to say that it felt like the final request of a dead woman walking but with a smile he leant against the wall and nodded.

"I'll have to get to know you for me to do that… Why don't we start with your name? Not his surname… yours" There was a softness to his voice that made her feel safe, swaddled in confidence and concern she nodded at him… answering quietly with her name, hidden through years of marriage and abuse that she barely remembered it herself… Han Ying… that made him smile at her as he reached out with a hand "It's a pleasure to meet you Han Ying… I'm Liam Chen" She reached out with her own hand to let him take it, hands trembling as she felt his fingers touch hers but she wasn't sure if it was because she was being treated so well or if it was because she felt this familiar and ancient pull towards him, she expected him to bring it up to his lips and kiss it for some reason but when he simply shook it gently she felt a swell of tears in her eyes… she wasn't being treated like an object to be won… but as an equal.

"It's… nice to finally have a friend… Liam" She whispered as he let her go, taking a couple steps back as he watched her follow him… she was still muted, likely from her conditioning to fear every raised voice or expression that she made and the consequences of it but as the corridor pivoted downwards the air grew even more cold and she felt the shiver of ice frost on her "Where are you taking me?" She asked before he smiled backwards at her and gave the answer, the green house… furthest building from the estate with the greatest view… she smiled as she felt the rush of romance press into her again, like a date that he had planned and was going to reach its climactic romantic meal surrounded by beautiful flowers and pleasant sights "I haven't been to a greenhouse in a long time… I don't get out of the house much these days"

"A crime in of itself… especially if this is something you wear to an auction event" Han watched as he gestured to the dress for a second before she said that her husband picked it out, making him turn and apologise for pointing it out "I'm sorry… I should have figured that'd be the case… if you were going to choose your outfit…. what would you pick?" She hadn't thought about what she'd wear in a long time, she knew what she used to wear was always what she had gotten from her modelling career, big names wanting to promote their clothes on her body…but when she said she wanted something normal he had to pry "What's normal to you? Personally I think normal is a nice warm long sleeved jumper and a pair of jeans, but a mate of mine thinks normal is a face of goth make up and a long black dress filled with lace and layers… so what's yours?"

She gave it some more thought and actually used her imagination to think about something other than her fear or impending dread… what was her normal now? She looked down at her golden dress and raised her arms as if to imagine what she could wear if she was free and the thought of living somewhere warm with no neighbours around to tell on her or scare her filled her head again… "Something… bland, comfortable… and warm… I want to be able to sit in front of a fire fully clothed and let the heat rush over me, to pull a blanket around me as I drift off to sleep… alone" She wrapped her arms around herself to feel some warmth but her exposed flesh and the tight skin made it clear that she doesn't feel warmth anymore… her entire life was cold.

But with him, this new compassionate man… she felt… companionship again, in the moments where she breathed in she felt the swell of warmth inside her, when she would catch him turning back to see if she was still there he would smile and she would forget the fact that he was leading her through a passage so old that it was getting cobwebs on it's cobwebs… he was being so kind and she wasn't sure how to feel about it. She wanted to save him the horror of finding out her husbands wrath but at the same time… she didn't want to stop talking to him, selfish certainly but when you make a friend and for the first time ever are free from the husband that abused you then you let yourself be a little selfish don't you?

The passage was silent other than their steps, the few times they talked were short and he asked questions that were answered with more and more enthusiasm… she shared that she used to be a model, that she was really popular and was featured on magazines for some of the biggest brands, she once loved to dance into the wee hours of morning but long lost the love of it when she met her husband, and a long time ago she used to spend nights looking out at the city she lived in… wondering about the stories associated with every light there. When the passage suddenly tilted upwards she felt both relief and fear, wondering if the darkness and winding passage was all in her mind, if it secretly looped back on itself.

But Liam raised a hatch to darkness and while she expected more of it she spotted the slight light of the stars above her, twinkling through the nothingness of glass that made up the greenhouse she was promised… Her eyes went wide as he helped her up, gently taking her hand and pulling with enough strength that she felt her entire body being lifted up towards him, out of the darkness and into the beautiful night. She stayed still there for a moment, seeing the sky for possibly the first time in a long time, lights like the shine of lamps in the windows and street lights dotting the veins of life, of civilization… it made her smile, meekly at first but enough to make her feel free again… and when she was about to turn around she felt the soft warm padding of Liam's coat.

"I uh… thought you could do with this more" He smiled at her as she looked at him, gesturing to the plants behind her and pointing more or less to a wooden bench that was shrouded in some of the most beautiful vine flowers she'd ever seen… not that she had seen many, but being in a place with silence and beauty was enough right now, more so now that she had a friend to share it with… so she wrapped the offered coat around herself and smiled, feeling the warmth of it spread through her as she trotted from slab to slab and finally stop under the arch of the bench "The garden might not be as lavish as it once was, but it's still beautiful, more so in the dark I think"

He was right, there was beauty in this darkness and she had nothing in her life that could ruin it no matter how close the monster she had married was… She sat down on the bench with her eyes closed, unsure what was happening in her life but knowing that this was the one time she could have anything she wanted… and she just wanted to sit there and smile with her friends coat around her and enjoying the warmth in her cold life "Are… you alright?" Liam asked, breaking the silence and bliss she was in to see if she was okay, she agreed silently that she was indeed alright but when she opened her eyes she saw him there, arms crossed but only because he was cold, not enraged like she had normally seen and she just smiled at him widely… asking him if he would like to sit down "Uh… the obvious answer is yes, who wouldn't when offered to sit with someone as beautiful as you, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable"

He would let her choose? She was finally able to make a choice and she didn't know what to say, she could feel the power of being in charge and talk to him while he stood there but in the antithesis she did want to sit with someone as an equal… the latter felt less of a jump in her social standing, from the wife ignored and abused to the friend listened to and comforted "Please… I haven't sat next to someone in a while…" Liam nodded and slowly stepped closer, ensuring that she could change her mind at the last second if she wanted to but then she chuckled, actually had the sensation of laughter fill her when she shuffled over a little bit more "What man wouldn't accept the offer?" He began chuckling himself, twisting around as he joined her and patted his thighs as he nodded along, he set her up for that one and he knew it.

There was a moment of silence which she smiled at while he thought of a witty joke but his glance towards her as she looked up made him realise how isolated she actually was… so he had to ask, did she enjoy being outside? Alone like she is? "I'm not alone…" She whispered back, unsure of how to answer him because she was both right and not, right now she wasn't alone but she had never felt more alone in her life, seen but ignored… It made her feel alone but right now she had him… she turned to look at him, shivering there to ensure that she was comfortable even though he didn't owe her anything "Not anymore" She grew quiet again and let the two of them exist for a moment more…

"What should I do?" She asked after about a minute of silence, ensuring her breath grew cold as she tried to find the right words to express what was happening to her but ultimately failing, he turned to look at her and saw the glint of a perfect tear slowly freeze down her cheek, almost like she was crying a diamond "How do you fight against someone that controls everything you do?" She asked while staring out towards the big house, past her companion as she spotted the movement of servants and party goers enjoying themselves, she could almost see him there in the golden light, laughing at her pathetic attempt to find companionship… Liam lowered his head as he asked what it was he did to her and he watched his coat fill as she took a deep breath.

"He hurts me… locks me away in our bedroom when he entertains guests… I've cried and screamed for people to hear me and he's laughed it off like I'm just the wind lashing against the window… he… puts things in my food to make me fall asleep, to keep me thin, to make me forget what he does…" Liam just listened and watched her expression remain stoic, as stoic as she could while letting all the tears she thought she lost in her years of marriage pretending that there wasn't a way out… he could feel the defiance in her slowly build as she said more but equally her fear grew too "I've been pregnant seven times in my marriage… he's taken them all from me and blamed me for losing them… when he's not off parading his dick for a temporary fix he puts it in me and says I don't pay him enough attention-"

"Stop" Liam asked, more like pleading as he reached out and laid a soft and supporting hand on her thigh, only a few fingers touching near her knee but even that was enough to make her snap at him and pull away "Please stop… saying such horrible things…" He withdrew his hand with a clench and she almost felt like she had made a mistake, that she shouldn't have said all that because Liam was yet another spy or friend of her husband sent to test her loyalty "How… have you survived all this time?" He asked, unsure and unneeding an answer since he moved on quickly "I've known people that see their relationship as toxic when they've caught their partner talking with another woman but I've never heard of a marriage - and I vehemently refuse to call it that - like yours"

His eyes dipped away from her for a moment before he started clenching like he was about to run towards the house and kill her husband for her… a romantic thought that was suddenly gone as she remembered that she didn't know this man, not properly anyway, so why would he want to do that for her "There's only so long that you can treat a human like that before they snap and hurt themselves… or better yet the person that hurts them" He glanced back at her and twisted his jaw as he came up with a fragment of hope for her… unsure how to express it or convince her it was right now that he thought of it "What you should do? You should fight… small victories here and there are good enough for time but eventually the fight will be beaten out of you… take something bigger, something bolder… make a statement"

"Not today, not tomorrow… doesn't matter when, just make it big and loud enough to draw attention… let them see you, let them see what he's done to you… and make sure he knows it was you who made it loud" Han's eyes were trained on Liams, he was was telling her to fight but when she did that in the past she was beaten, she had nothing left… she mentioned that to Liam, in fewer words than she wanted to but that only made him twist to look at her and reach out to her hand, gently touching it with his palm but letting her have enough room to remove it if she needed to "You have nothing left… except your voice, he's taken everything else at his whim… use what you have… and know that people will listen" He withdrew his hand as he realised she probably didn't like anyone touching her thanks to her husband "All it takes is a single person to doubt… when that happens everyone starts to question themselves and soon enough the questions need answers"

Han nodded with him… already her mind was questioning whether or not it was possible to actually do what he was suggesting, to survive in this world and escape her husband by voicing her pain, her torture… she could do it but another path might be available to her if she took her time, if she considered how best to approach it… but she remained quiet after she did so, he respected the quiet and didn't ask anything of her or try to talk to her because she enjoyed the sight of the stars, the din in the distance and the isolation with someone who doesn't want anything else but to make her feel okay… she hadn't felt companionship in a long time but she knew it would come to an end eventually… even though she didn't want it to.

After a few moments she rose, taking the heavy jacket off and passing it back to Liam who was curious as what was happening, since she was up he rose too and suddenly found her looking right at him, a smile on her thin lips but a twinkle in her eyes from tears that she couldn't keep back… she looked at his lips for a moment before glancing up at his eyes and nodding "I've enjoyed our time together Liam… thank you" She reached up to his chest to hold him still - not that he wouldn't go anywhere - and she levered herself upwards to plant a single kiss on his cheek… soft enough to ensure her lipstick wouldn't leave a mark but forceful enough that he'd feel her long after today, her hope was that every time he reached for that cheek he would remember the night he had with a victim and wonder what happened to her… she wanted to say more, she wanted to ask him to call the police on her behalf… she wanted him to be his night in shining armour…

But that will never be his fate… just as she would never be free of her husband…

She left him there, pondering if he should follow or try to argue with her suddenly morbidly silent attitude… but he didn't do anything, the look of stillness on her face was all he needed to know that she had made her decision, that she had given up on trying to survive and when those golden heels squished into the dirt of the pristine garden he knew she was done with pretending… "Han… wait" He took a few steps to follow her but stopped at the proper entrance to the greenhouse, the cold snapping at him and seemingly ignoring her - or more accurately she ignored it - but while he wanted to stop her he was under orders not to track any mud around so he just followed along the errant path "What are you planning? I know that look, I've seen it too many times to ignore it… There's other ways to fight him!"

"No there isn't" She whispered back, squelching along with every quick step as she darted towards the stairs up to the hall that grew louder and louder, probably because they were getting closer but probably because the night was fueled with more alcohol than before and things were getting boisterous… it's probably why any art was being projected on the walls rather than in the actual room… she slowly took her time when her muddied heels finally reached the ancient stones and the first person she spotted stepped aside in disgust at her flaunting dirt and lack of decorum, a lack that she brought into the hall of the auction to find her husband… with the block that was the guests making room for her or her darting between them like liquid gold, Liam lost her somehow in the crowd… regretting not disobeying orders and running to her, picking her up and hiding her away and calling the police…

Han couldn't find her husband or his russian mistress but she did find Kenzo, standing with his back to the auction as he savoured the sight of an Asian designed painting, she couldn't figure out what but felt like it was quite stereotypical that the only asian man of the group was spending more time with the asian artwork than anything else - but then again she didn't know what she was looking at art wise so she couldn't judge -  when she approached him she did so with a cough to get his attention, which was easily enough to do since he turned around and instantly glanced down at her heels "Mrs. Munsand… what has happened to you?" She stood straight and said she enjoyed a tour of the gardens which made him nod slowly "I hope it was educational… your absence has been felt by our group" She blinked a couple of times at his answer before he glanced back to the painting, she gulped before taking a deep breath in and finding her literal voice.

"I doubt my absence was missed by Karl… seeing as he plans on fucking Anya" Kenzo's eyes stiffened up when she said that but his body twisted in agreement with her, not saying what he wanted to because she was accurate and gossip was always entertaining… Instead he twisted and asked her why she would let him "I don't… he just does as he wishes… May I confide something in you? With hopes that it never reaches my husband?" Her serious tone made him question why she would choose him as confidant, a question that made her question if she actually could "Because you hate him as much as I do… I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice" Kenzo was silent then but he nodded in agreement… she actually didn't know if Kenzo hated him, she just needed to do what Liam suggested, make someone doubt… and of all of those there it seemed that Kenzo was the only one who didn't flock to his whims "My husband has… many faults… chief amongst them is how he treats his wife… are you married Kenzo?"

He nodded, stated that his wife if a saint for putting up with him but he'd give her the world "That's nice to hear… Karl does not follow that philosophy… I wouldn't dare mention the horrors he imparts on me… but know that tonight I will be treated like a disobedient bitch… all because Anya gave him attention" There was a twitch in Kenzo's eyes, he became more serious for a second as he tried to figure out what she meant but all that did was make him grow closer, asking her to be honest with him which made her smile… someone heard her, that one person that Liam said to make them doubt Karl "I mean what I say… and I cannot hide it any longer… just know that everything Karl says about me, think the oppasite… unless he tells you I am sick, instead think he is the cause" Han turned to walk away but sudden found him stopping her by pressing the back on his fingers on her forearm, making his presence known while also ensuring that she didn't perceive his action as a threat.

"Ms. Ying… please know that if you should need me… you may call upon me at any time… my wife works with people hounded by abuse, you will be more than welcome at her sanctuary as you mount a case against Karl" He knew that saying her birth name instead of Karl's name it would sway her to him a little more, it worked but once again this wasn't about him soothing his conscience about her existance… this was about making him doubt Karl's intentions with his own wife, like Liam said… poor Liam… to hear all her problems and to not be able to help anymore than what he had done, but he was kind enough to help her when she needed it and that was all he could do… anything else and he'd be in danger, possibly killed because he knew too much "Ms.Ying… do you need my help now?"

"There is nothing you could do that would ensure my safety… but you are kind to offer…thank you for listening to me Kenzo… and thank you for your confidence" She nodded to him politely and left him alone, turning to find one of Karl's security standing near a private door that lead to what she assumed was an empty room, instead of shivering in fear she strutted up to the door and tried to pass, finding the mans arm stopping her with silence as both expression and voice, theydidn't say much which was probably for the best but it made this next part easier "I know he's fucking her in there… I don't care… either you have your brother take me home and explain to him why you both left me unsupervised at home alone, or… I go in there and tell him I want to leave" There was a moment of blessed silence while he considered the lesser of two evils in this moment, she had never told him that she wanted something before so it would be better for him to step aside instead of facing Karl's wrath if he listened to his disobedient wife.

The guards arm slowly lowered and she lowered her head, taking the handle and opening the well oiled door to the semi dark room that was clearly an office of sorts, elaborate chairs and a desk covered one side and while the door opened to a wall of classical literature she heard the unmistakable panting of an aging man trying to keep up with a woman who was clearly surpassing him in terms of their lust… she was thankful… if she was able to leave her home or handle a phone she could call a solicitor and say she wanted a divorce… or at the least call the police to help her… but she didn't so the reason she was thankful was that it would be easy to present Karl as the fool right now.

She slowly closed the door behind her as she snuck her way into the room, years of being beaten for making noise made her deft at walking with heels on, she could effortlessly sneak up behind them and tap his shoulder but all she did was take a seat on the nearest chair and watch them, letting them get their joy out of it, gasping and groping as Karl thrust himself into her… she remembered a time when she would feel joy at hearing those grunts, that she made him happy as he lavished her with love and attention… now she felt nothing as he violated another woman and the bonds of marriage he promised to maintain "Karl" She muttered, in between his gasps of exertion and Anya's groans of satisfaction both manufactured and not, Han knew that you had to gasp when Karl was fucking you because it was the only way he'd enjoy himself "Karl!" Yelling this time in hopes to get his attention but it was Anya who heard her.

As soon as she did she started pushing him off her as she scooted backwards on the desk, shuffling herself into her black dress again to maintain modesty, Karl turned to follow her eye line to find Han sitting there "Fuck!" He exclaimed as he shoved himself backinto his pants, pretending to be flustered but in reality he knew there was a thrill in doing this, claiming without words that he could fuck whomever he wanted and she'd just sit there… she believed the definition of that was cucking but whether it applied to a woman she had no idea "How… when did… I can explain!" Han shook her head, muttered that she didn't care anymore… her face said as much but he had no idea how deep her melancholia went "You… what? I… what do you mean you don't care?"

"I mean just that… I don't care… I don't care that you take my words and twist them, when I get to speak on my own… I don't care that I have no say in my life beyond what you decide for me… I don't care that you've slept with her but I just hope you don't marry her because soon she'll feel like I do" Anya made her way to leave while Han said that but slowed when she mentioned marriage, turning to the chinese woman and staring at her dead eyes while saying that she already had a husband "Good… I hope he treats you better than mine" The rage in Karl's eyes burst at that point and while he stepped forwards to discipline her like he always did for speaking out of turn - or at all - he spotted Anya's face… cold and distant despite the fact they were just heating up a moment ago… but as soon as Anya said she should go "You can stay… I want you to know what he's like… when he gets angry with me-"

"You need to shut up right now!" Karl spurted, hand pointing to Han as he shouted at her, stepping closer and ensuring that his presence and her fear of him was enough to shut her up, this time she didn't look away from him, she didn't try to hide her face from him because she didn't care anymore… the seeds had been sown with his compatriot and his lover to be, the doubt would fester and their lack of any contact with her would present another foundation of their doubt, they could try and contact her only to get blocked by Karl at every turn "I didn't buy you that dress for you to make me look like a fool! I didn't drag you out of that house for you to embarrass me! And I sure as shit didn't leave you spotless to save you from punishment!" He seemed to have forgotten Anya's presence in his rage… feeling that it justified his anger when she disobeyed he reached out and grabbed her, pulled her to her feet and pushed his way past his temporary lover while dragging his wife to the door.

Anya didn't see it that way, she saw the way he twisted her arm to bring her closer to him and control her by squeezing the back of her neck, using his impressive but aging strength to drag her like a doll that he was pissed off with, it made the Russian stiff, unsure if Karl was the man she saw behind closed doors… sure she was going to have an affair with him as long as she could but if this was how he treated his wife - contorting her as a means of control - then how much of his personality was he hiding? Surprisingly Han managed to look back when he let her go to open the door and plead silently with her expression, one of fear that she was trying to suppress but being unable to hide it… not really… when she was brought to the front she gasped as she was suddenly jerked towards the exit, spotting Kenzo as Karl dragged her through the crowd as a blur… Kenzo and Anya locked eyes long after Han and Karl disappeared… taken to the car and dragged home against her will.

They were silent, like all rides were… Han watching the exterior world pass her by as she breathed in slowly, Liam's smile in her mind as she felt like she had made him proud, even if she couldn't touch the skin on her wrist thanks to the shocking pain that ran through her entire arm… she wasn't sure if it was broken but she knew that he wouldn't care if it was… she questioned how many broken bones she actually had in her marriage and couldn't keep track, how do you know if they were broken when you've become numb to the pain? She heard Karl shift next to her as he considered his options, torturing his wife seemed pleasant as recompense for turning tonight from an action and auction into embarrassment and ejaculate failure… but Han had something for him before they got home because their doors were unlocked "You can let me go" She said, quiet so that the twins couldn't hear them through the glass ahead "I've thought about it… I can disappear from your life… call it a divorce on paper if you want but I don't want anything from you… you've already given me too much"

"And what have you given me?" He snarled at her, turning to look at her with a sour expression on his face that told her not to fuck with him right now but she responded by staring straight into his eyes, into his very black soul "Don't look at me" He whispered but Han just looked at him harder… if such a thing was possible, her brow cinching a little disapprovingly at him since she was tired of putting up with it, tired of being his scape goat and his excuse at the same time "You don't give me anything but strife… you constantly disobey me, you constantly overstep your bounds… you never give me a child!" Han's face scrunched up he knew full well why she didn't do that… the times he punched her in her stomach, the pills he put in her food that made her sick, the times he starved her for disobeying a simple command that anyone else could have done but it had to be her.

"How can I have a child when there's no love between us? You rape me, you beat me, you drug me, you starve me… you treat me like trash so throw me aside and forget about me… I won't tell anyone what you did but we'll both be free to live our lives" She was trying to appeal to his lack of care for her… which might have worked if he had a heart but the vacuous pit where it would be was just that, filled maybe by his rage for her actions. He turned to the window and said nothing about that but that only meant that Han could plead more, reaching him might just take dedication or an ultimatum "You can keep your fortune, you can keep your dress… just park near a house away from your home and leave me there… I'll be okay… they'll think I'm just an illegal that broke free… you can be free of me" Karl's face turned to stone, staring ahead at the passenger seat as he had made his mind… Han had only seen this side of him once before and it was when she had her first miscarriage.

Tingles of dread pulsed through her, unsure if she'd be able to survive this night or any night afterwards now that he knew the truth of her woes, she could feel him planning something… what that was it didn't matter, she felt at the gallows regardless and it was only a matter of time before her feet gave out and she dropped to her death… she had no idea how accurate that would be… the car suddenly came to a stop and Han turned to look out the window, recognising the location as their home and she knew her pleas of letting her go wouldn't matter now, she was doomed to live in this limbo like existence a while longer… not tonight, tonight she'd be free of it…

Before she could truly have her freedom more pain awaited her, her once dashing husband wrenched open his door and reached over to his unbuckled and vulnerable wife - if they crashed she'd be the worst off with no one to question her carelessness or hold him accountable - his grip tightened around her bun hair, ignoring the sharp pins she put in there earlier for his benefit, a benefit that sickened her that he could so effortlessly use it to his advantage… her desperate attempt to kick and claw at the seats proving futile as she was dragged backwards.

Every scream she gave echoed into the distance, a house in the middle of gale force cliffs with a screaming woman meant little these days, no one could hear her even if they wanted to pay attention, her cries were left to hang in the air as she reached the door, fingers sliding along the hard wood and cracking her well done nails, stretching and cracking her fingers as they caught the handle - grip failing her immediately since his strength dwarfed hers despite his age… her knees cracked against the loose stone drive as the biting chill of the world came to her again, this time more bone reaching than before, like an omen of her impending doom.

Her kicks of frustration became mute against his wrath, her eyes tearing and freezing over with every blink of agonising pain, she was no match for his brutal strength that he worked very hard for… taking her to her inevitable destination of both prison and tortured home… The well maintained hair tearing from her scalp was agony, her knees catching on sharp slate rocks before was twisted backwards and her heels scraped instead… she couldn't resist.

That's when she spotted her prison home, through clenched and tear froze eyes, the familiar bone while and sun bleached modern architectural home passing her by as the slate path transitioned to smooth grass, and on she went, hearing her husband mutter silently between gasps of exertion… grass passed by to sharp rocks as she felt one heel catch and roll away, an object of her existence on slanted slopes that proved she was there… would her husband even find it?

She was surprised at the distance she was going, surprised further still when the slope of her torture was still rising and Karl was getting more and more exhausted, could she wait this out? Could she plead some more? Did she even understand how it came to this? Did she even have to strength to fight back against him? she couldn't answer those questions, she wasn't even sure why she asked them… but she knew that her pain would end soon and that somber solace filled her with a calming dread. Between bouts of cries for him to stop, promises that were half uttered for fear of antagonising him more, she felt the gale force of the cliff edge whip her dress up as she herself was flipped around to face the cliff, her vision dominated by the inky blackness of the southern channel…waters she'd never had the time to admire and a world she'd never witness again.

"You want me to let you go?!" Karl's harsh voice came over the wind, pushing her closer to the edge until she had to bend her body backwards to keep her feet on solid ground… even then, only her tiptoes touched the surface, her entire strength focused on pushing through the pain of this act and keeping her still… and that was quickly failing her "You have no idea how much of my life I've sacrificed for you! No idea!" He continued, gesturing with his off hand before realising that he could get more of a response by using her to gesture "Months spent fixing things with your pimp, who still owned you by the way, thousands of pounds spent installing the best security to keep you safe, millions in fashion just to see you in the best clothes available!"

"And for what?!" He yelled louder than before, pushing her head forwards and making her face the ground before her body adjusted, her knees buckling at the angle as her toes tipped just over the precipice to assure her doom if she slipped, a fate that inched closer and closer to her every second she remained "Nothing!" He shook her from side to side, not enough to bring her end faster but enough to make her cries return at a higher pitch and much louder than before "Shut up!" She stifled her noise at his command but it still came out in shaking gasps with her rough treatment "You do nothing but judge, complain and doubt! I give you nothing but gifts, and this is the way you thank me?!"

She felt the cliff drift, her toes getting closer and closer to the edge as he revealed his sickening ultimatum "I give you everything, safety, jewelry, dresses that cost more than a house, and every time you ignore me, antagonise me… make me seem like the bad guy!" His grip might have tightened, drawing screams out of her whimpering as her hair pulled even further from her scalp, gasps of pain that he didn't care about and tears that were buffeted off her face as the wind picked up, chilling her to the core… she felt her strength fail, close to tipping over the edge as her heel slipped with the rocks under her, closer and closer to joining the wave crashed shore below her "You want me to let you go? For you to be free of me?!"

"Then say it!" He yelled, pulling her further and further down as her hand scrambled at his arm, gripping without the strength she hoped for, a weakness that she was clearly displaying to his enjoyment "Tell me to let you go!" She couldn't… even though she wanted to, an afterlife seemed better than this limbo, to be subjected to his dictatorship for a day more was punishment enough to consider the end… but the primordial instinct to survive stayed her tongue, to her husbands sick pleasure of course… but he wasn't so deranged that he wasn't going to gloat "You should be grateful… I've taken you from being a whore, for money and publicity, I've ensured you have a life of wealth and riches, I've lavished you at every turn… and all this time you've hated me?!"

He pulled her back slightly, or more accurately twisted his hand down so her spine was even more twisted and her heel slipping finally on the edge… this was it… she was done for… her silence and indecision, her insistence to live and the consequences of him interpreting her silence meant that she couldn't stand on the edge any more… all it would take was one little twist and she was gone "You're ungrateful… an ungrateful little whor-" He twisted her to the side and she felt nothing below her, his hand slipping from her bob as her entire weight slipped down, rocks cracking into the silent abyss as she did so…

Her face contorted into a silent scream, her breath pushed out as gravity did what gravity did… it pulled her down as the world slowed - adrenaline or fear… she couldn't tell and never would - her gaze flipped to the cliff that made the decision for her, to the man who made her life a living hell, to the abuser that took her right to happiness and longevity… to the monster wearing a human skin suit… he… was shocked, surprised at this outcome as she instinctively reached for him, hoping that some common decency would save her life or at the least allow her to pull him down with her…

Was that her last thought? Hatred? Anger?! No… her last thought was much more purer than that, it was a blissful content, a warm feeling in the pits of her stomach as she tilted towards her demise… she couldn't place it, she wanted to know what it was but it wasn't going to happen, it was a simple word for a complicated answer and in the few microseconds of time she settled on the that word that caused so many conflicts, so many laws and nations built on that word…

Freedom…