Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Nightmares became a constant thing every night. Sakira couldn’t sleep anymore; she couldn’t get her mind off the fact that she had been raped.

“Sakira I’m so sorry you have to go through this” Mary apologized

Sakira looked at her with frail eyes. She had herself folded up against the wall, her hair was all scattered and disorganized. She looked sick and pale. Mary didn’t know what to do and just sighed sadly. She returned to sleep leaving Sakira where she was.

The next morning, Mrs Benson walked into the slave quarters with a slave, holding a bucket of water beside her. She stood in front of Sakira who finally could fall asleep peacefully on her mattress.

“Pour the water on her,” she said folding her arms.

The slave looked at her with shock.

“Are you hearing-impaired?! I said to pour the water on her” she said firmly

Without further discussions, the slave poured the water on her and Sakira jolted from sleep.

Coughing and trying to regain her sight, her hair was pulled by Mrs Benson. Sakira got up from the bed and allowed herself to be pulled by Mrs Benson to ease the grip on her hair.

Mrs Benson with no heart of pity threw Sakira to the floor roughly. She winced in pain as her hand collided with the rocky soil.

“So, sleeping with my son is what you find pleasure in doing now is it?” she said ruthlessly

Sakira got up from the floor and sighed. She was accused of the last thing she would do.

Mark had lied against her.

“I never slept with your son,” she said calmly

“What’s that?” Mrs Benson asked

“I said I never……”

Sakira paused in her statement when a grave slap landed on her face.

“You filthy liar, you force yourself on my son and you’re here telling me lies,” Mrs Benson said.

Sakira’s lips quaked as tears rolled down her eyes. She really did not know what to do anymore. She couldn’t even believe Mark could tell such lies; after all, he got what he wanted. Why did he have to take things this far? She was angry, broken and feeling gloomy that she couldn’t do anything to save herself from this ordeal.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Mrs Benson requested.

Sakira was quiet and refused to say a word.

“Are you deaf? You can’t speak?” she asked wickedly.

“I have nothing to say. I cannot express regret for the iniquity your son is to blame for” she

said heatedly.

“You insolent bastard,” Mrs Benson said surprised at the statement Sakira had made.

“You really do have the fortitude to make such statement, and I swear you’ll get exactly what you be worthy of,” she said and walked away.

Sakira gave a frustrated sigh and returned to the slave quarters.

“What happened?” Mary inquired

Sakira remained silent and walked listlessly to were her mattress was. She lifted her wet mattress from the floor and made it rest on the wall.

“Sakira” Mary called from behind her.

“Mary, please I would like to be left alone,” she said firmly.

Mary sighed sadly and left Sakira. She did understand what Sakira was going through and she wanted to help but it was obvious Sakira didn’t want any help.

***

Dave approached his house and sighed as he put the carriage to stop immediately he got in. He

couldn’t stop thinking about Sakira; he longed to see her again. He really missed her. He had no idea how he had become really attracted to her and it all started the first time he laid his eyes on her. He wished for her to leave the Bensons but fear had a great effect on him. He knew he could help her but his father would never approve him. Would he just continue to watch her suffer? He loved her but he couldn’t have her. What kind of thing was that? He thought to himself. He had to do something, but how? How would he start?

***

Later that evening, Mr Benson barged into the slave quarters.

“Sakira comes out here,” he said belligerently.

Her heartbeat skipped and for the first time since she got here, fear encroached in. Mrs Benson already told her to expect something big and brutal and she just sat there all day thinking of what kind of punishment could be like that.

Sakira got up and walked out of the slave quarters. She came out to see a wooden table filled with all sorts of torture tools, and she wondered who exactly those tools are for. Mr Benson walked to the table and picked a long two stripped whip, then looked at Sakira.

“You know what I hate the most?” he asked

Sakira was silent and just stared at Mr Benson. Mrs Benson came out from the house followed by Mark.

“Disrespecting my wife.” He paused “Tie her up,” He said

Two men that she had not noticed came from behind and tied her to face the tree. Mark folded his arms and enjoyed the view. Mrs Benson opened her fan and fanned herself slowly.

Sakira cried out loud as she heard the whip approach her. She couldn’t phantom the pain she would receive from that man-slaughter. Mr Benson came to her front, showed her the whip and smiled wickedly

“I think from this you’ll learn,” he said

“Please, I beg you” she cried.

He ignored her pleas and returned to her back. She closed her eyes as she welcomed the pain. The first strike he made sent a revolting shock to her and the realization set in that she had just been whipped. She screamed and cried out loud. It was like using a sharp blade to slice your skin continuously. She cried at every contact the whip made with her skin. Mr Benson continued and did not get tired of whipping her. She couldn’t cry anymore and just accepted more pain. Sakira became feeble and couldn’t stand on her feet anymore. And gradually, she fell into darkness.

“Father Stop!!!” Stacy shouted as she pushed her father away from Sakira.

“Don’t involve yourself in this?” he said to her panting.

“Can’t you see father, she’s not moving. Why do you do this?” she asked and wondered if the man standing in front of her was truly her father.

“She disrespected your mother!!!” he yelled at her

“And so, what,” she said firmly not caring if her mother was there. “Is it enough to kill her? I can’t believe you. You were never like this before. Each time you do this, you build the hatred I have for you” she said and walked away.

Mr Benson stood there gobsmacked with the blooded whip in his hand. He threw the whip to the floor and returned to his house. Mrs Benson smiled at lifeless Sakira and returned inside. Mark looked at her unmoving body and felt some sort of remorse but shove it off quickly and entered inside.

Mary ran to where Sakira was and cried bitterly.

“Oh no,” she wept.

She untied her from the tree and three other slaves ran to help her carry Sakira back to the quarters.

“She doesn’t deserve this” Mary said

Chris looked at her and sighed.

“We all don’t deserve this.” He said.

Mary treated Sakira’s wounds and hoped she would recuperate soon.

***

Dave’s carriage stopped in front of the gate as one of his father’s slaves opened it for him.

He sighed as he sank into the carriage seat. He couldn’t stop thinking about Sakira. It’s been two weeks since he last saw her and he wished to see her again. He wanted to help her leave the Bensons but had no idea. Fear was his greatest dilemma. He knew he would have to risk a lot to save her but was he all set to put all at stake to save the one person he loves?

Without taking off his clothes, he retreated to his study room and fell on his seat. He covered his face with his palm as his elbow found support with the table. Slowly, he lifted his head and smiled. If his father wasn’t going to have any business transaction, he could create one. He smiled at the thought of it. But he couldn’t do it alone.

“Dave, you have a visitor,” His father said as he opened the door.

“Who,” he asked

“Victor,” he said

Perfect timing. He thought to himself.