Grass whipped at my bare feet as I ran. Dew soaked my legs all the way up to my flimsy dress. Blades snapped off, sticking as they cut into my skin. The long tangles of stalks threatened to trip me at any second. The leather collar choked at my throat, and the chain hit heavy on my back with every step. I kept on as fast as possible. The tree line was approaching. If I could hide in the woods, I’d have a chance of escape.

My muscles burned with the exertion and my heart thundered in my chest, making my pulse pound in my ears. The cold morning air tightened my lungs, and every breath was painful, like the icy breeze froze my lungs from the inside. I’d been in the cell too long. My body wasn’t used to the effort.

A lightness buzzed in my head and my vision sparkled with static. I couldn’t go on much longer, but I had to get to the trees. Then I could hide. I was good at hiding, they wouldn’t find me.

I didn’t know who they were, but Sir was nervous. He was afraid for me. If they scared him, then I had every reason to be petrified. I heard him fighting before he shouted at me to run. It sounded like there were a lot of men. What did they want? I thought Lawrence was coming. Were they here instead, did they want to hurt me?

The grass became thicker the closer I got to the trees. It was harder to run. I slowed as I jumped between the thick tufts.

Darkness loomed as the canopy cut out the sun. The shadows crept forward like sharp claws guiding me into the depths of the woods. I didn’t like the dark, but it wasn’t half as scary as the men at the farm.

I leapt over a fallen branch. My foot caught within the piercing twigs. I yelped as I stumbled to my knees. As I tried to kick off the branches, I heard the wet thuds of footsteps behind. They were closing in.

Panic surged through my limbs, firing me ahead like I’d been shot with electricity. My hands clawed at the wet earth as I pulled myself forward. The collar tugged at my neck, and the branch came with me as I pushed to my feet. A broken twig pierced the soft skin of my sole and I wailed, but I yanked my other leg free.

“Lucy!”

I shook at the man’s voice. Fresh terror flooded my veins. Scrambling to my feet, I dragged myself to the trees. My left foot was hurting, but I limped through the rough undergrowth. The branch hung from the chain and scratched at my legs.

“Lucy, stop!”

He sounded familiar, but it wasn’t Sir. Was it Lawrence? Had he come with those other men?

I slowed as I approached a large oak, stopping to hide behind it as I fought to release the branch from the chain. I freed myself then turned to see.

He was thirty metres ahead in the long grass. His sharp, tailored suit ruffled as he dodged through the thick, unruly tufts. His grey trousers black and wet up to his thighs. The morning sun caught his dark, slicked hair. It shone almost silver in the light. A few strands broke free and hung displaced over his brow, making his carved face appear softer.

He looked different. More dishevelled and less commanding than yesterday, but it was him. Lawrence. The man who bought me from Sir.

When he saw me peering behind the trunk, he slowed his pace and came to a stop at the edge of the tree line. He watched me while he caught his breath. His cold, blue eyes surveying me as I cowered against the tree. He softened his shoulders and lowered to a squat, his hands resting on his knees.

“It’s okay, Lucy.” His voice was low and calm despite his heavy breath. “It’s me, Law. Do you remember me?”

I nodded. “Yes, Law.”

“Good. Don’t be frightened. I’m not here to hurt you. Do you remember what I said to you yesterday?”

“Yes. You want to help me.”

He smiled and his blue eyes creased with warmth. “That’s right. I want to give you a new life, Lucy. One where you don’t have to be afraid anymore. Do you want that?”

Not being afraid is the only thing I want.

When he told me that in the cells, it sounded genuine. I wanted it then, but I had no other option. If Sir was to sell me, I’d rather it be to Lawrence than some pervert.

Now, I had a choice. As unappealing as it was, I could take my chances back on the streets. At least I knew what to expect, and that’s more than I could say for Lawrence. There was no guarantee he’d help me. “Who are those other men?”

He glanced over his shoulder, then shook his head as he turned back. “They’re not here for you.”

“Are they here for Sir?”

“Yes. He’s a bad man. They’re coming to take him away.”

“Sir never hurt me.”

“He kidnapped you. He’s hurt others. And he’s made someone furious. He had it coming. You don’t need to worry about him anymore. I’ll look after you and take care of you.” He opened his palms towards me. “Do you want that?”

It sounded better than being on the streets. Even the cells in the basement were better than sleeping in squats and doorways. I had food, warmth, safety. Sir scared me, but I still felt safer locked away with him than being alone in the dark where anyone might get me. Could I go back to sleeping rough?

Would Lawrence be anything like Sir? I thought so this morning, but I wasn’t sure. If he helped me, what would he want in return? “Why do you want to help me?”

He gave me that warm smile again. “You’ve been through a lot, Lucy. I’m able to help. I can give you a better life.”

“Why would you want to?”

He sighed and his smile faded ever so slightly. “Can’t I do something nice for someone who obviously needs it?”

I shook my head. “No. Not without getting something in return.”

He chuckled and his smile turned rogue. There was no warmth in it anymore, just a sly, knowing curl that tipped one side higher than the other. I stepped back as he rose to standing. He was tall and a lot more imposing on his feet. His intense, blue eyes studied my face as I watched him carefully. I edged away from the tree. Ready to run at any second.

“You’re smarter than you look, Lucy. I can work with that.”

“Why did you buy me?”

“I have to do that sometimes. Whenever I need a girl for a job. And you’re perfect for this one. Help me complete it, and I’ll set you up afterwards. Money, house, everything you need. What do you say?”

As he took a step forward, I took one back. Keeping a firm distance between us. “What’s the job?”

He licked his lips. “You’ll find that out in due course, but I can assure you, it’s well within your abilities. After a certain amount of training.”

Why the hell would he need to train me? What did he want me to do?

“Lawrence!” A man shouted up by the farm. “We’re leaving!”

My heartbeat upped its pounding against my ribs. Annoyance furrowed his brow and his jaw clenched as he glanced over his shoulder. When he turned back, he consciously softened his eyes and gave me a warm smile as he held out his hand, but I saw the frustration behind it.

“Lucy, come with me.” His voice was purposely soft and calm.

This man could put on an act, but there was a hardness beneath his constructed facade. One that was calculating and unforgiving. I couldn’t trust him. Glancing behind, I looked into the dark woods.

“Lucy,” he growled. “Don’t.”

My breath quickened as I edged backwards. The coiled tension wound tight in my limbs as I watched the threat build in front of me. I saw the signs: his fingers twitched into clenched fists, his eyes narrowed and his posture straightened as he held back. An anger simmered beneath his collected demeanour and it was about to erupt.

“Lucy, kneel,” he commanded, his voice firm and even.

My bones rattled inside my skin as I shook. I was compelled to do as I was told. Years of experience screamed at me to do as he said and not piss him off. My knees softened as they willed me to drop, but I knew I couldn’t.

He came forward and my heart leapt into my throat. I spun and bolted into the woods.

“Lucy! Fuck!”

The trees passed quickly as I darted between them. Dodging around bushes and leaping over branches. I heard him behind, his breath heavy as he chased me. The hard, stoney ground hurt my bare feet, and the wound on my sole protested with each step, but I used the pain to drive me forward. Its sharp sting a reminder of what he’d do if he caught me.

I knew now that his intentions weren’t good.

He grunted and cursed as he followed me through the trees. I wanted to look behind to see where he was, but I kept my focus ahead, surveying my path through the undergrowth. Skirting the trees and ducking under the low branches. More nimble than him around the sharp turns, and small enough to get through the tight gaps. I’d keep my lead as long as I didn’t fall.

Sunlight pierced the canopy, sending warm beams shining onto the dark forest floor. The trees were getting thinner, becoming sparse, but the undergrowth was thicker. It was harder to find a clear path.

Brambles clawed at my bare legs like they were on his side, trying to drag me back into the woods. His beating footsteps skipped and pounded behind, telling them he was on his way.

A grass verge appeared through the trees ahead and I could see the black tarmac of a road sitting on top of the slope. He’d catch me if I was in the open, but my only choice was to keep going.

Dense thickets lined the bottom of the verge. Thorny, mean and high. There was no path through. I stalled as I got closer, searching the length left and right for a clearing. Nothing.

I glanced over my shoulder. The blur of his grey suit darted between the trees and he emerged five metres behind like a wolf bounding for its kill. His cold, blue eyes fixed on his prey. On me.

A whimper choked in my throat as I shot forward. Fear electrified my legs, and I headed straight for the thicket. The closer I got, the wider it looked. A giant snake of thorns, snarling and twisting, ready to bite. I wouldn’t make it through.

Gritting my teeth, I collected the last of my reserves and surged the power into my thighs. Sprinting at full speed towards the bulging mass of vines. As the edge threatened my feet, I dived over the top.

Branches caught me and pulled me into its heart. The slender, sharp fingers curled around my body, cutting, stabbing as they drew me in. I wailed as I fought against them. Crying in agony as I clawed myself through the thousands of piercing thorns shredding my skin. My long hair snagged and ripped from my scalp when I moved my head. The chain trailed behind, pinching the collar around my neck. My knees sank further when I pushed into the writhing mass, only my hands dragged me forward as I crawled over the dense sea of spines.

“Lucy.”

The collar jerked at my throat as he pulled on the chain.

“I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go.”

He pulled hard enough to restrict my breath, but it only tugged me further into the thicket. I grasped at the leather and fumbled for the buckle. It was tight. The tension made it too hard to release.

He growled as he yanked on the chain and hauled me backwards. I fell towards him, but was still trapped in the vines. The buckle loosened, and I released it. It ripped from my neck as he pulled it back.

“Fuck!”

I dived forward as the chain dropped to the floor. Not caring about the pain as I crawled into the thickets, using my arms to heave myself from the sinkhole I’d created.

The branches cracked behind me. He was following, or trying to.

My chest levelled on the top, spines pierced and scratched my body. I lifted my legs out and straightened to the side. Spreading my weight and rolling myself over instead of climbing through. My body dropped as it thinned out to the edge, but I was on the other side and the branches were easier to fight off. I scrambled through the last of the vines and almost wept when I got to my feet on the grass verge.

I glanced back. Lawrence cursed and climbed on the opposite edge, but he wasn’t making quick progress. He looked up and the fury in his icy blue eyes chilled a shiver across my skin.

“You won’t get away from me, Lucy,” he snarled. “You’re mine. I own you.”

I took a deep, ragged breath to settle the churning fear and sprinted up the grass verge. There was a car coming. I darted into the middle of the road and waved my hands. I prayed it would be a nice person inside.

The tyres screeched as it came to a stop ahead of me. It was a woman, on her own. Concern riddled her face as she studied me through the windscreen. Thank God.

“Lucy!” He called, as I ran to the passenger side. “You can’t hide, Lucy. I’ll find you wherever you are!”

My stomach sank heavy. There was no doubt in my mind he meant that.