Chapter 2: Being Opened

I could feel my heart pounding as I walked to the strange light. Something was there but it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I heard one of the man yell to walk through it. I step up and may legs wanted to turn and run away. I could heard the other girls on the chain line whimper in fear. I step into the light and was shocked, for I was no longer inside the cave but I was in a room built of stone. The chain ran from my neck and seem to end at the light, then the second girl came into the room.

A hand grabbed me and yell something that I did not understand. Then a voice spoke in English and said to keep moving. I looked around as I walked, just what is this place I wondered.

The room was lit by torches and the walls were cut stone. I thought of some of the books that grandfather Lee had of castles, but surly there are no such places in California.

I then looked at the man who had ordered me to keep moving. He was tall and strong looking. The size of his arms were bigger then any I had ever seen. He had on two strips of lather that crossed his chest in an X and he was wearing flaps like some of the Indian tribes but his legs were bare. His whole body was solid and he looked strong. I had an uneasy feeling.

As soon as the last girl had come through the door we were led out of the room. We were taken down a hallway and the doors were open. For the first time in almost two weeks I could see the sun. The chain jerked and I started out.

I suddenly froze when I saw people, I cannot walk outside in front of people wearing just a chain around my neck and on my wrists. The chained jerked harder but I would not go outside and exposed myself to the eyes of others nude.

I then heard a sound and just as it popped I felt the burning sting on my back.

"Move slut or you will get another taste of the whip," the voice said.

I step outside into a busy street. The people did not seem shocked to see a group of naked girls chained together being led down the street.

I held my head down in embarrassment, sooner or later I would get away and both father and grandfather would find these men and kill them for doing this to me.

As we were led down the street I did catch a glimpse of the people in the street. They looked like the drawings of Rome or Greece in history books. Men wore short skirts with sandals strapped to their legs. Women had on long skirts but their arms were bare. Some of the people looked at us but most went about their daily business as though a chain of nude women walking down the street was something that happen everyday.

Soon we were stopped in front of a large building. Colorful flags or yellow and blue, flew in the breeze in front, if at that time I had known the meaning of yellow and blue flags I would have been scared. For we were about to enter the training house of a slaver!

Several men came out and took the chain, I saw some papers being signed. We were then taken inside.

We were taken down into a basement and there were what looked like a torture chamber. We were taken to a large cage. The chains were removed as well as our gags and we were ordered inside. At least this time we were not tied up and could talk. But even went we were alone I stared to notice something. While we all were afraid we did not scream or cry much. We all seem to obey when we were told to do something. Two weeks ago I would have fought anyone that had tried to pull me into any street naked. What had happen, never had I heard of twenty woman being so quiet for so long.

"Why have we allowed ourselves to be treated like this?" I asked.

The other girls looked at me. Then it was as if a veil had been lifted. Everyone was talking and then the crying started. "The food," I said, "they must have put something in the food to weaken our will."

The others agreed with this. That night a two men came with a pot of food and a stool, we had agreed not to eat no matter how hungry that we were. The men enter our cage one filled a bowl and pointed to me to sit on the stool. I did so but I refused to eat. The second man pointed at the food and said something. I refused. He held up his hand showing all five fingers and said "lan voh." I did not understand. I refused to eat once more.

Suddenly I was grabbed by the hair and pulled outside the cage. The man turned a wheel and two long chains with cuffs can down. Both my wrists were locked and I was lifted off the ground. My arms ached from the strain on them and my shoulders felt as if they were on fire. I saw the man lift up a whip, I recalled being hit earlier and started crying and begging. He then held up his hand holding out his five fingers. I now realized that he had told me to eat or get five lashes. "No, no, no," I screamed out, "I did not understand, let me down and I will eat."

But this was my first lesson. Obey all orders or pay the price.

I watch as he flexed the whip he then placed it to my face.

"Ka ma-sha, lan voh macky."

"Please I do not understand."

He made a kissing face, and said "macky" and shock the whip and said "lan" and held up his hand he open and closed his hand to show me ten fingers and said "voh." I nodded as a way to thank him and kissed the whip.

He looked at me and nodded, he was pleased that I understood if I did not kiss the whip then I would received five more lashes.

I closed my eyes when he removed the whip and when behind me. I just hoped I could take the pain. I felt the sting of the whip, unlike the sting earlier this one I felt through my whole body. He said something that sounded like "urgry" and I saw the second man still inside the cage hold up one finger. I was still screaming out my anguish. How could I survive four more lashes?

Just as the sting of the first one was fading the second one hit. I heard "tolma" and the man held up two fingers. We were all being taught their language as I was being punished. After my five lashes we could all count to five.

I received all five lashes and was left hanging as the others were fed. I watched as each of my sisters sit on the stool and was fed like a baby. After all had eaten I was let down. The man that had whipped me rubbed some oil on my back and gave me a sip of something to drink. I soon felt sleepy. I received no food that day.