Free Number Thirteen by Jewel Bella

person.
    We are all in the same boat.
    We’re set to work with the washing first, and between thirteen girls, guards and a master, that washing isn’t a small amount. We set out with a task each—one washes, one dries, one irons, and one folds. It takes a bit of time between each, so we sweep floors and tidy up as we wait. By the time lunch rolls around, my back is throbbing to the point where I feel ill. I know I can’t stop, though, so I push myself to continue.
    In the kitchen, I can only see one camera, which is good to know. There’s also a massive walk-in pantry, so every now and then we slip in there and whisper to each other. It’s mostly the other girls checking to see if I’m okay, but at least we can talk without being seen. Obviously we are figured out, though, because a guar d comes into the room instead of waiting outside, and he stands watching us for the rest of the day.
There’s just nowhere to escape.

~*~*~*~
     

WILLIAM
     
    “G irls, kneel, please,” I order.
    Nine girls go to their knees slowly, their heads bowed. I stare down at them, and I know they’re frightened. I understand that. I respect that. The only way for them to understand what I’m doing here is to learn to trust that I know best. I do not want them to fear me; fear is a weak man’s way of getting what he wants. I don’t use fear as a tactic to gain. Instead, I am trying to teach them that I f`ɽing isnhave their best interests at heart.
    “It’s been a few days now, and you’re all doing very well. I know you understand where you came from, and you understand your lives before this were less than desirable.”
    They don’t move. They don’t need to. They understand what I’m telling them. This group of girls knows about their lives. I’ve allowed that. The group I have selected for myself don’t. They’re far more damaged; it’s up to me to keep those memories from them until I feel they’re ready to accept them fully without breaking down. This is one of the few chances I have to speak to the other nine girls while my group are handling all the chores.
    “I’m allowing you to ask me one question each. It’s the only chance you will have. One at a time, you can ask me a question, and I will answer it.”
    George walks over, and he taps Number One on the head. She lifts her eyes, staring at me with a look of confusion. I’m in the shadows, so they’re only able to see a very small amount of me.
    “Ask your question, Number One. It will be your only chance.”
    “W...w...what do you want with me?”
    “That answer is simple; I want to give you a better life. But to achieve that, you need to learn your place.”
    “Number Two,” George says.
    “Are you going to...r...r...r...rape me?”
    That word makes me sick. I would never, ever inflict that kind of pain on another person.
    “No, I am not,” I grind out, trying to keep my voice steady.
    “Number Four.”
    “I w...w...want to know about my younger sister. Is she...d...d...d...dead?”
    My chest clenches. I promised I’d answer any of their questions, but not all of them have good results.
    “Are you sure you want the answer to that, Number Four?”
    “Yes,” she whispers.
    “Then I’m sorry, but yes. Your younger sister is gone.”
    She makes a pained sound. I take a deep breath, and move on.
    “Number Five?”
    “Are you going to kill us?” she asks, her voice stronger than the rest.
    “Of course not.”
    It’s going to take longer for them to understand this than I’d anticipated.
    “Number Six?”
    “Will we be hurt?”
    “That depends,” I say quietly. “If you misbehave, then yes, you will be punished. Sometimes that punishment will hurt. As I’m sure you know, Group Four was punished yesterday. One of the girls received twenty lashes to her back for trying to escape. If you don’t wish this to happen, then you need to follow all my rules.”
    She makes a whimpering sound, but nods her head and lowers it.
    “Number