Wilted Flowers

By Chris Bathory

A young girl dreams of escaping a life of hardship and poverty. Lindy, a teen whose young life has been marred by tragedy, receives an unexpected offer that appears to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Travel and adventure beckon promising happiness and riches to come. But after an astonishing betrayal, her excitement quickly turns to terror, and Lindy finds herself in a fight for her life and for the lives of everyone she loves. A young man dreams of a normal life after returning home from the war in Afghanistan. A chance encounter brings Lindy and Jesse together, and they soon realize they can be of help to one another. They team up to overcome impossible odds, battling a criminal empire that threatens to destroy them both.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jan 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483462615

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Wilted Flowers

CHRIS BATHORY

Copyright © 2016 Chris Bathory.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6262-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6261-5 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 12/27/2016

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty–One

Twenty–Two

Twenty–Three

Twenty–Four

Twenty–Five

Twenty–Six

Twenty–Seven

Twenty–Eight

Twenty–Nine

Thirty

Thirty–One

Thirty–Two

Thirty–Three

Thirty–Four

Thirty–Five

Thirty–Six

Thirty–Seven

One

Eighteen-year-old Lindy Pauling was applying a final touch of mascara when the knock came at the door. Even though she was expecting it, the staccato tapping startled her, and she almost smeared the makeup she had just applied. Lindy blinked once and glanced up at the clock on the wall: nine o’clock. Damnit, she was late.

Jumping up, Lindy grabbed her duffle bag and overcoat. She paused and took a moment to look around the tiny apartment one last time, though not for nostalgic reasons. The apartment would not be missed, but Lindy wanted one last reminder of what she was leaving to calm her quivering nerves and ease her nagging doubt.

She found no reassurance, however, in the petals of peeling paint that sloughed from the wall in dry, curling flakes or the sagging; dusty armchairs that leaned against each other for support. The only window in the room leaked a narrow stream of pale light through washed-out, dingy curtains, dulled by sun and time.

She suffered another stab of doubt, worried about leaving her father alone, but she was as desperate as ever to leave. Lindy knew that she deserved much better than this, and now she had her chance, which is why she was standing there with her best clothes and treasured possessions packed inside a worn duffle bag.

Still, her stomach was a bundle of nerves. Excitement and fear fought a familiar tug-of-war inside her, and she still wasn’t sure which was winning. Now that the time had come, she was almost reluctant to go. Was she really going through with this? Was she doing the right thing? She tried to stifle her anxiety by telling herself that it was simply an irrational fear of the unknown.

As miserable as things were here, at least she knew what to expect. And she loved her father deeply, despite his habitual drinking and failure to hold down a job. He had always been a good man that loved his wife and daughter. Lindy remembered basking in his attention when she was a little girl. He had spent a lot of time with her then, devoted to his young daughter, but seven years ago her mother died and everything changed overnight.

Her father was still a good man but had long since given up on life. After the loss of his wife, he had withdrawn from Lindy and turned to the bottle for his comfort. Now, instead of going to work each day, he worked on getting drunk, and their roles had reversed with Lindy being the one to take care of him.

It was Lindy that put food on the table. Initially, her young age limited her to shoveling snow for neighbors in the winter and mowing their lawns in the summer. When she got older, she worked two paper routes. Those gave way to a better paying job as a counter girl at a fast food joint, but it never seemed to be enough. The money she made paid their bills, but just barely, and if Lindy didn’t keep a strict eye on her cash, her father would take it to buy beer. It was the only thing he was interested in anymore.

As much as she worried about leaving her father alone, she knew that she had to go. She just couldn’t live with him anymore. Not like this. Here, where even the air reeked of desperation, there was nothing to look forward to except grinding poverty. She was determined to do whatever it took to have a better life. If she stayed here, she would end up like this apartment - used up and worn out.

She pulled her eyes from the room she had called home for the last few years and lifted the envelope from her purse with resolve. She propped it up against the framed photograph of her late mother, gone so many years now, then took a step back and inhaled deeply.

She closed her eyes for a second and said a silent apology to her father. Please forgive me, Daddy. I love you. Before she lost her nerve and changed her mind, she straightened her spine and marched to the door, pulling it open just as the knocking started up again, this time, louder and more insistent.

What took you so long? C’mon Lindy, we’ve got to go. They’re waiting.

Eva Rothman’s luminous green eyes flashed with excitement. Before Lindy could answer, her friend was pulling at her arm and lifting the bag from her hands. Lindy quickly reached back and managed to hook the door at the last minute, yanking it shut behind her. She resisted the urge to take one last look at the apartment. She had said her goodbyes already. From now on, there would be no looking back.

The two girls hustled out to the large sedan that waited for them on the street. Lindy’s heart skipped a beat, and she faltered a step when she got a good look at the vehicle waiting at the curb. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It was a real limousine! Lindy had never actually seen a limo up close before. She marveled at the gleam of the metal, the sleek lines of the long body and the exotic tint of the windows. Even the tires had a polished shine. That car was worth more than everything in the apartment she had just left. It was spectacular, and she was thrilled at the prospect of actually riding in it!

Eva’s boyfriend must be loaded, she thought. Eva had hinted that he had money, but Lindy had not realized the extent of his wealth. Maybe this was going to be better than she had dared to dream. At the same time, her stomach cramped as another pang of doubt swept through her. She told herself not to be silly and did her best to push her apprehension aside.

She bent to see inside the rear compartment, but because of the way the windows were tinted, all she could see was her pale face reflected back. Lindy could not see inside. Just as she was wondering if someone inside could see out, the front driver’s door swung open, and a huge man eased out of the car.

With a sharp nod to Eva, he grabbed Lindy’s duffle and popped the trunk with a button on his key ring. Lindy didn’t want to let the bag go, but she told herself she was foolish and did not want to seem rude, so reluctantly allowed it. The man never once looking in her direction and casually tossed the bag into the trunk like it didn’t weigh a thing. Lindy cringed inwardly, thinking of all her treasured items and said a quick prayer of thanks for having had the foresight to pack carefully.

She threw one last glance at the bag that held her dearest treasures; photographs, her mother’s wedding ring, a snow globe she got for Christmas one year when her Dad had some money, and the very best of her clothes. It wasn’t much, but it was everything that mattered to her. The man slammed the trunk closed and returned to his place behind the wheel.

She found it odd that the man didn’t acknowledge her, but then, other than a nod; he hadn’t spoken to Eva either. Perhaps he wasn’t supposed to chat with his passengers. What did she know about etiquette between the rich and the help? By then Eva had opened the back door and with a subtle pressure from her palm on Lindy’s back, Eva was guiding her into the car.

Lindy ducked her head at the last minute and slid over the seat, the cool leather whispering against the backs of her bare knees. She hitched over once more to make room for Eva, and she hit a warm, solid body. She gasped, pulling her hand back quickly as if burned. She felt a damp hand on her bare thigh as a voice purred in her ear, Welcome Lindy. Don’t be scared. I am Niko. Eva has mentioned me, yes?

Niko Beno. Eva’s boyfriend. Of course. She sucked in a breath and forced herself to relax. She studied him for a moment. He was much older than she had imagined. And uglier. His close-set eyes were small, like two black marbles, peering out over cheeks pocked with acne scars. And as if that wasn’t enough for one face, his front teeth were small and ferret-like and bore the yellowish cast of a lifelong smoker - cigar smoke, judging by the pungent smell clinging to his clothes. No, he was not what she had imagined at all. What does Eva see in him? She briefly wondered, before chiding herself for judging the man on his looks alone. Eva thought he was a decent guy. Who was she to judge?

As her eyes became accustomed to the dim interior of the limo, she was startled to realize that two more men sat across from her. Before she could even wonder who they were, Eva slid in beside her and slammed the door shut. The driver immediately started the engine and pulled away from the curb.

I see Niko has introduced himself already.

Yes, he has, Lindy smiled while nervously smoothing her skirt over her knees. The place where he had touched her thigh felt cold and damp, and she wanted to rub his touch off but didn’t dare for fear of offending the man.

Nice car don’t you think? Eva waved her arm at their surroundings. The decor was indeed luxurious. Lindy surveyed the plush leather upholstery and velvety carpeting and the polished walnut accents trimming the doors. Outfitted with a mini bar set into a side panel and a privacy screen between their compartment and the driver, it didn’t appear to be lacking anything.

Yes. It’s gorgeous.

Do you see why I am so in love with him? Eva beamed as Niko smiled at her indulgently. He’d heard this all before. Lindy glanced at the two strangers who had still not uttered a word, then back at Eva with a question in her eyes. Eva, in turn, looked to Niko to explain his companions.

You’ll have to forgive Jancsi and Matyas. They are Hungarian and do not speak English very well. They are business associates of mine.

Matyas’ lips parted in a semblance of a smile. Jancsi, who had dozens of tiny red lines from burst capillaries across his cheeks, and the bulbous red nose of a drinker, did not move an inch. He sat stone-faced, staring straight ahead as if he hadn’t heard a thing. Lindy assumed that he just didn’t understand what they were saying.

Niko turned to Eva and started talking about plans for that evening. Lindy was somewhat disappointed to learn that Niko had planned a party for them that night. Why hadn’t Eva told her? She supposed that it was nice of Niko to make the effort for them, but she wished that they were just getting on with it instead. Now that she had made the leap, now that there was no turning back, she was more eager than ever to begin her new life.

It had been Eva’s idea to go to the city of Vancouver, in Canada, where Niko’s business was. Lindy had been reluctant to follow her new friend to a different country, but Eva had been persistent. The lure of opportunity proved to be too compelling, and Lindy finally agreed to go.

Once Lindy had committed, Eva lined up a place to stay and arranged for jobs in a dress shop owned by Niko. Eva told her that if they did a good job, Niko would eventually let them manage the store, which meant Lindy could earn even more money. At first, she resisted the idea of leaving her hometown of Eugene, Oregon. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that getting completely away from her life, giving herself a genuinely fresh start, was the only way to extricate herself from a life of struggle.

Lindy had spent her childhood taking care of her father and trying to find a buck, so the heady combination of freedom and money had ultimately made the offer irresistible. She was getting stuck in the rut of her father’s life, and if she didn’t watch out, she was going to wake up one day and realize that the best of life had already passed her by.

Then, like providence, Eva appeared at the restaurant where Lindy was working. They soon discovered that they had a great deal in common; they liked the same music, styles, clothes and hobbies, so naturally struck up a quick and easy friendship and soon became inseparable.

The only significant difference between the girls was Eva’s worldliness and Lindy’s innocence. Lindy found Eva fascinating. When Eva suggested they earn some quick money and go on an adventure, maybe travel the world, Lindy was captivated. She had never imagined that she could do something like that. But Eva promised she not only could do something like that, but she would do it. Eva would help make it happen. And she had. She had made all the arrangements. And now here they were. They were doing it!

Lindy didn’t like leaving her father alone, but she reasoned that once she got some real money she could take better care of him. Right now, however, all she felt was the guilt of abandonment competing with the euphoric excitement of what was to come.

After an hour, the limo pulled up to a beautiful home in a private setting surrounded by a velvety emerald lawn boasting several thriving flower gardens. There was even a little Koi pond with a bench where one could sit and watch the fish swim. The sheer opulence of the house and grounds took Lindy’s breath away.

We’re going to stay here tonight for the party; then tomorrow we get a ride to Vancouver where we’ll start our new lives. Aren’t you excited? Eva clapped her hands in front of her; a big smile spread across her beautiful face. Isn’t this place grand?

Magnificent, Lindy managed. She didn’t know what else to say, and could not believe she was going to stay in this elegant house, but at the same time, she was anxious to complete the trip and start her new life. Slow down; she admonished herself. Vancouver would still be there tomorrow. Besides, how often did she think she’d get a chance to live like the rich did, if only for one night? There was no good reason not to enjoy the evening.

Besides, refusing Niko’s generosity could come across as ingratitude. Lindy certainly did not want to insult either him or Eva; they had both been so good to her. With that decided, she thought about her best dress and hoped that it would be good enough for a party at this house, which was bound to be expensive and elegant. Lindy made a mental note to ask Eva’s opinion once they got a chance to unpack for the night. If her dresses weren’t suitable, then maybe her friend had something she could borrow. She subconsciously ran a hand through her hair as she worried about her appearance.

Come on. Let’s go inside. I want to show you around. Eva grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. A silent woman wearing a black and white, old-style maid’s uniform opened it before they could touch the doorknob. The woman kept her eyes focused on the ground as she held the door open for them. Eva let go of Lindy’s hand as they entered and before Lindy could protest, Niko replaced Eva at her side and as Eva had done, clutched Lindy’s hand in his damp grasp.

Come, let me show you to your room, he said guiding Lindy to the stairwell, encouraging her up the stairs with a hand on the small of her back. She started up and then realized that Eva wasn’t moving.

Aren’t you coming? she called down to her.

I’ll be up in just a minute. Niko wants to give you a bit of a tour after he shows you to your room. I’m sure you’re going to like it. Eva grinned, then turned and started down the hallway to what Lindy assumed was the kitchen area.

Niko pushed on, applying subtle pressure to propel her up the stairs. He steered her to a room on the right side of the hall and opened the door. As Lindy entered the room, she was startled to realize they were not alone. Two men stood against the wall, and eight other girls sat on thin mats on the floor. Niko closed the door behind him.

What’s going on? Lindy stammered as her heart dropped into her stomach. Something was not right. None of the girls were smiling. Some of them had bruises and most would not look at her. Her eyes flicked over to the men standing nearby. Those two were smiling, but that only served to clench her stomach into a tighter knot. They were not friendly smiles. More like smirks or sneers that left Lindy feeling cold. Despite her best efforts to ignore it, a gnawing sense of unease lingered. Something was very wrong.

Niko responded to her question by slapping her across the face. His hand whipped out and struck her so fast she didn’t see it coming, and her head rocked back from the force. She felt her cheek burn as she gasped and raised a hand, which somewhat protected her from the next blow.

Take off your clothes. I want to see what I bought, he said as his eyes slid over her body.

What? she gasped. She felt paralyzed as disbelief gave way to dread and she suddenly felt like throwing up as her stomach lurched up into her throat. No, I won’t! Are you crazy? she clutched her hand over her neckline and bunched the top of her shirt together to keep it closed. Her eyes darted to the girls on the floor. They were all looking away. Their faces were expressionless. They didn’t say a word or move a muscle.

Niko gave a slight nod to the men who instantly sprang to her side, each taking one arm. The man on the right grabbed the top of her shirt at her back and ripped it open, leaving the shredded material to hang in flaps at her sides. The other man was bunching her skirt up and grabbing at her panties, which she felt sliding down her thighs.

No! What are you doing? Stop it! NO! she screamed helplessly and tried to kick out with her feet. None of the girls on the mats moved to help her. They wouldn’t even look her way. Some just looked down while others covered their ears. Her panic intensified as she was quickly overpowered. Please!.....No, no, no….EVA!

The man on her right hooked his leg around hers so that she couldn’t kick anymore. He smacked her hard across the face. Quit fighting. You only make it harder on yourself.

Niko smirked. You call for Eva? Who do you think sold you to me? he asked. You will indeed be working for me, as Eva told you. But the job description may be a little different than you were expecting. I will treat you well if you do as you’re told, but disobey my rules and you will suffer appropriately. Do I make myself clear?

Horrified, Lindy continued to struggle while she absorbed this news with disbelief. Eva had betrayed her. Sold her! My god, how could this be happening? Why? What was she going to do now? As her bra was wrenched from her body, leaving red marks on her skin from the straining elastic straps, Lindy began to cry.

The man pinning her legs with his own suddenly pulled his leg back with a jerk, lifting her feet out from under her. Her head slammed hard on the floor as she went down. As she lay there in a daze, fighting to stay conscious, she could feel their hands everywhere, probing, pulling, pinching, slapping and squeezing. Hot, stinking breath scorched her skin and seeped into her nostrils like foul, sour tentacles; thick, oily sweat dripped onto her breasts and stomach as one of her tormentors rocked above her.

The ordeal lasted for hours; so unrelenting and brutal that Lindy became convinced that she was going to die. She tried desperately to block out the horror and the pain as she endured each fresh assault. Finally, after the men had exhausted themselves, they threw her a sheet and left the room without another word. One of them looked back at her and gave a soft chuckle before pulling the door shut behind him. Lindy lay in a ball and cried. She had been a virgin until now.

Lindy couldn’t fathom why the girls would allow this to happen to her until it dawned on her that the same thing must have happened to them. Looking at them now, she could see that they were too scared and beaten to help her. Was she going to be like them, just sitting there helplessly while some other girl was brought in here and raped? Is that what her future now held? Oh god, no…

After she could no longer cry, she wrapped the sheet tightly around her nakedness and closed her eyes, trying to pretend that she was somewhere else. Fingertips brushed her arm, and she instinctively jerked away, repulsed by the touch. Only when she heard the sharp inhalation of surprise did she realize it was one of the girls that had been on the floor mats.

Here. You can use this to clean yourself, was all the girl said, as she held up a bottle of water. Lindy hesitated a moment, then took it.

Sorry, it’s the best I can do, the girl whispered before moving back to her place on the mats.

Lindy used the water and a corner of the sheet to clean the men off her as best she could. She picked up the remnants of her clothes and tried to put them on, but they were too shredded to stay on her body.

She pulled the damp sheet close again and curled up on the floor and tried to shut her mind against the images that seared her brain, and the sore, aching stiffness that permeated her muscles. Somewhere deep inside her, something vital slipped. She wasn’t the same girl anymore. She was damaged. She thought briefly of the hope that had filled her just that morning, but it all seemed so distant now. Like it had never been real.

She lay perfectly still, paralyzed by fear and shame, terrified that a movement or sound would bring them back. Only her eyes moved freely, continually darting around the darkened room. She listened for footsteps, but the only sounds to reach her straining ears were the steady breaths of sleep that drifted like waves around her head, emanating from the mass of bodies that slumbered around the room.

The other girls. Her fellow prisoners.

How could they sleep, she wondered? Weren’t they terrified too? But eventually, despite everything that had happened, utterly exhausted by fear and pain, Lindy felt her eyelids growing heavier until finally, thankfully,