Struggle for Liberty, Marline [top young adult novels txt] 📗

Lissa, he would take my virginity in the evening.
“Now clear the table or you won’t get any sleep at all tonight.” He warned, and then walked off towards the TV. I stood up slowly and put the dishes in the dishwasher with trembling hands. This could not be happening. When the dishes were all in the dishwasher I was stalling, thinking of what I could do to preserve my innocence. Locking myself up in the bathroom probably wasn’t the best idea, he most likely had a key and even if he didn’t, how long could I stay in there before starving of hunger? The bedroom wouldn’t work either, for the same reason and escape was impossible. Then I suddenly remembered a knife that I had put away in the dishwasher. I could use this to make him stay away from me! I opened the dishwasher and was about to reach for the knife when I felt arms wrap around me.
“Ready?” Jason said seductively in my ear. I shivered and tried prying his arms off but his grip on me was tight. So instead I tried to hit his arms but all that resulted in was that he let go of my waist and grabbed my arms instead. Then he turned me around to face him and backed me against the wall, with his body. I couldn’t lift my legs nor could I pry my arms loose so there was no way of escaping.
“Don’t touch me.” I growled, trying to keep my voice even though I was close to hysterics.
“You will learn just how severe the punishment is if you disobey me.” Jason said, before slamming his lips onto mine. I couldn’t think for a second, surprised again by how soft his lips felt. He seemed so strong and heartless but his lips told a whole other story. Then realizing who was kissing me and what his intentions were, I used my only means of defense. I bit his lip. Hard. I tasted his blood in my mouth and hoped that he didn’t have aids or some other sickness in his blood that I could catch. Then it struck me. I could claim I had aids. Why not? It was the perfect excuse! There was no way of testing it and there were no visible signs so I didn’t have to give him any proof.
Jason pulled away and looked at me angrily. This was my chance, I realized.
“I have aids.” I blurted out before he could kiss me again.
“Oh, that’s fine, so do I.” Jason said breezily. My eyes widened in shock at the realization that my plan failed but also because it was possible that I had aids now too.
“You do?” I squeaked.
“I knew you didn’t have aids.” Jason stated. Apparently the shock that registered on my face was a dead giveaway that I was as healthy as could be. A second later Jason’s lips were on mine again. Though I was incredibly tempted to, I refused to kiss him back. If he wanted to rape me, then he would certainly not get my help. He pried my lips apart with his tongue and explored my mouth. I used my only defense once more and bit his tongue. Jason pulled away instantly.
“If you bite me one more time there will be a whole line of guys waiting to get in your bed tomorrow.” He said angrily.
“Let me go and I won’t bite you.” I answered.
“You don’t learn, do you?” He asked. “I am the one in control. I decide what to do with you and, and you better listen up because this is the last time I’ll tell you, if you don’t listen to what I say, you pay the consequences. You can make this training as easy or as hard as you want to.”
“What does the rest of the training consist of?” I asked, hoping to waste time.
He wasn’t fooled. “Well, one part consists of me having sex with you so we might as well get that part over now.” In one swift movement, he let go of my arms and pulled my shirt over my head. I stared at him in shock, my shirt was off before I even registered what he was doing. He threw my shirt on the floor carelessly and immediately took hold of my hands again. And though I was now standing in front of him only wearing a bra, his eyes never left my face. He moved me slightly so that both my hands were in one of his and then with his other hand he slowly moved up my side towards my bra. Fear, shock and anger were raging through my body and I tried my hardest to get out of his hold. I wanted to scream but I knew nobody would hear me. This whole apartment building belonged to this supposed ‘school.’ Jason pulled me away from the wall a little bit and then put his hand behind my back. In one swift movement he unclasped my bra. The only thing still holding it in place was his body. He slowly trailed his fingers over my back, past the side and then towards my breasts.
“Please.” I suddenly begged, when I realized that he was about to touch a part of me that was only reserved for one person: my husband.
“Please don’t do this.” I raised my eyes to meet his and realized that his eyes had never once left my face. He stared at me intensely for a few moments and I instinctively tried backing away from him but was met by the cold, hard wall. Jason raised his hand to touch my cheek and I flinched. He rubbed his thumb over my cheek and then whispered: “Kiss me back.”
“Will you let me go?” I asked softly, terrified of his answer.
“We’ll see.” Jason said, before he leaned forwards and kissed me. For some strange and unexplainable reason, I was happy that I now had a good reason to kiss him back. Because all the while he was kissing me before, that was what I was longing to do. Jason ran his tongue over my lower lip and I opened my mouth for him. I met his tongue halfway. Jason let go of my hands and placed his hand on my other cheek. Then, he deepened the kiss. I forced down a moan that was threatening to escape my lips. I would not give Jason the pleasure of knowing how much I enjoyed this. When I felt his hands leave my face and take place on my waist, I pulled back. This was too dangerous. We stared at each other for a few long seconds and I nearly got lost in his stormy sapphire blue eyes. Then he took a step away from me I instinctively reached up to keep my bra in place.
“Go.” He said, not meeting my eyes. “But next time,” he warned, and when his eyes snapped to mine I saw that the hardness that was in them before had returned, “I won’t be so nice.” I fled out of the kitchen, not bothering to pick up my shirt, and ran to the bedroom. Without turning on the light, I reached for a lock on the door but couldn’t find one and so instead I walked over to the cupboard, pulled out a shirt and stood behind the door. I re-clasped my bra and then quickly slid on the shirt. I felt tears burning behind my eyes but did not let them brim over. I had once promised myself that I would not cry ever again. That was right after my parents died. I had cried for two days straight, until I had no tears left and then I said to myself that I would never cry again. When I had my shirt on, I walked towards the bed, pulled back the covers and lay down. I tossed and turned for almost two hours, replaying all the events of the day. Then, I decided that I would put all my worries in the hands of someone else, someone who would be able to take care of them and who would be able to take care of Lissa and all the other girls. “God,” I prayed, “Please save me. I know you have plans with our lives but please deliver us from this evil. Please take care of Lissa. Please.” I repeated ‘please’ over and over again until I felt my eyes slowly close and I drifted off to sleep.

A man entered our simple cottage and in the moonlight I could see that he was holding a knife. I was still awake because I needed to go to the bathroom but didn’t want to wake up my parents and sister, who were asleep in the same room. I stared at the man, too afraid to make a sound as he roamed through our cottage, looking for anything of value. I knew that he would not find much. Then I saw him walking over to my mother and horror struck me when I saw her pick up my sleeping mother’s hand. He tried pulling off the ring but just when it was nearly off, my mother woke up. She screamed and within seconds my father stood up from his mat on the floor.
“Liberty, Lissa, run!” My mother screamed, before the man raised his knife and slit her throat. Without letting the truth sink in, I grabbed Lissa and we ran out the door. We ran and ran and ran but soon I heard footsteps behind me.
“Lissa, faster!” I panted. The footsteps were approaching and I knew that we would not be able to outrun them. I felt the knife plunge into my back and screamed.

Chapter 2

“Liberty, what’s wrong?” Someone was shaking me and I pried my eyes open. I was breathing heavily and my back was throbbing in the place where the scar was. Jason turned on his bedside lamp and looked over at me, with just a hint of concern in his eyes. I looked around bewildered and then the truth of where I was sunk in.
“Lissa, where is Lissa?” I asked Jason. He merely looked at me and did not answer my question. “Bring me to her!” I demanded.
“No.” He said calmly.
“Yes.” I insisted. “I want to see her!” I was close to hysterics. I had to know if my little sister was all right. That was another promise I made to myself after my parents died, that I would take care of Lissa.
“You cannot see her.” Jason said. “But she is fine. Go back to sleep.” Instead of doing what I was told, I stubbornly stepped out of bed and made my way to the bedroom door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jason suddenly blocked my path. How did he move so fast?
“To see Lissa.”
“The apartment is locked.” Jason said and I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. Anger coursed through me and I raised my hand to hit him. He was faster though and caught my arm in mid-air.
“You will not hit me. If you do, Lissa will go a day without food.” Jason said evenly, while still holding my arm.
“But that’s blackmail!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, indeed it is. Now go back to sleep.” I reluctantly turned back around and headed for the bed, though I really did not want to sleep for fear that I would dream that horrid dream again. I dreamt it several times a week and it never ceased to scare me. I lay back down in the soft bed and pulled the