Tears fell from her tired face again as they had the entire night before. The man wrapped his arms around her half lovingly, half hatefully. Finally he spoke, his voice crept out with a tremor, “You’re perfect, exactly what I came here for,” Rosalice shook her head, still sobbing, “I
had no luck in the upper villas, I thought a girl like you may never appear but alas.” He stroked her face with one thin finger, then turned to the photos on the wall, “I intend to make you beautiful. Then I’ll take you back home with me-” “I’ll go nowhere with you!” Rosalice cried. The man was unshaken, unphased by her desperate remark. He walked over to a grand bureau, large and of rich material. Unlocking its golden clasps he revealed what appeared to be a malformed sort of handgun, tipped with dozens of shining needles. “I imagine your pain tolerance is low, but no screaming will be permitted,” he no longer grinned. “Where will you be taking me?! Where will we go, and...and….you will not mark me you can’ t!”
Rosalice began to shout through her tears, “My family must be looking for me and you’ll be found out!” There was a silence, the man stared back at the girl with a face of stone. It seemed he would
23