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

and

gritted her teeth, refusing to

glanced at Irene's pale face and sighed before commenting, "You can't escape from this valley. Even if you die, they'll find a way to bring you back. Drink this medicine to stay alive. Staying alive is

me go!"

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

that, Irene leaned over and

let up in

room and the infection from the old man's abuse had left

trying to clean the wounds,

the local

and shook his head. "She needs to go to a hospital. This infection won't heal without proper treatment. If we don't get he there soon,

her, and now we have to spend more on a

broom, and swung it

quickly passing out

haze, Irene felt herself

way to be buried

dark room without a word, wanting nothing more than to burn the entire village to

no time to waste. "We need to get her to the

rest. The whole region's neck-deep in bride-buying. Clean it up!" Kevin muttered as he placed Irene on the helicopter. Onboard, he removed

from the beatings, and he could

to rescue you. You'll be alright," he whispered