Abigail’s Second Life

Screams echoed through the basement.

Zeke's fingers bled profusely. His whole body trembled as the stream of curses he spewed earlier vanished.

Kevin leaned against the car, staring at him coldly.

Saltwater splashed onto Zeke's wounds, making his face contort in agony. His fingers quivered violently until he couldn't take it any longer. In the end, he cried out, "Alright, alright! I'll talk!"

Irene lay weakly on the cold, hard bed, her neck chained to a stake in the ground.

Outside, rain pattered softly.

Wrapped in a thin blanket and suffering from blood loss, she teetered on the edge of death.

"This girl's got a fiery temper and nearly lost her life. Noah says we need to patch her up, or she'll die. We spent too much on her. She still needs to give birth to more sons for Walter's family. Otherwise, it's not much of an investment."

"What a waste of money! We even have to foot her medical bills..."

The voices of a man and a woman could be heard outside the door. Irene couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

Will I never find peace, not even in death?

"They say she's a university student from Capitalis, an artist with good genes. If she gives birth to a son who makes it to Capitalis, Walter's family will be known far and wide."

The man's voice was full of anticipation.

a short, chubby woman

and handed her a bowl of

her teeth,

if you die, they'll find a way to

go!" Irene

the woman pried open her mouth, forcing the medicine down her throat. "You're so naive, coming here from the big city, believing what anyone

leaned over and

rain hadn't let up in

infection from the old man's abuse had left Irene's wrists

clean the

the local

to a hospital. This infection won't heal without proper

spent thousands on her, and now we have to spend

grabbed a broom, and swung

quickly passing out from the

a feverish haze, Irene felt

she was on her way to be buried in

eyes, Kevin carried her out of the dark room without a word,

Irene's battered face and knew they had no time to waste. "We need

muttered as he placed Irene

and bruised from the beatings, and he could only imagine

rescue you. You'll be alright,"