Chapter Six
Annabelle woke to heat on her face and light so bright, she had to turn away. She could barely open her eyes, and the warmth and softness of what supported and covered her body allowed her to drift into sleep again. But voices rumbled around her, pulling her back from what felt like a comforting chasm. She was so annoyed by the noise, she tried to turn on her side to retreat from it. The spasm she felt in her legs and arms brought her to consciousness quickly, and she cried out, feeling as if she were gasping for air after rising from a depth.
“Have you examined her?” a deep, accented voice asked.
“Yes, sir. Her buttocks have bruising and whip marks, and her anus shows all the signs of a brutal rape.”
“She will heal?”
“Yes, Sir. It will simply take time. I’ll keep a close
