My mother and father were arguing about money again. That seemed to be all they ever did. When I finally turned 18 a few months ago they seemed to stop trying to hide these arguments from me and now my life is just watching them argue.

“He doesn’t pay me enough! there’s nothing I can do!”

“You can go down there and ask him for a raise! He knows you have a family he should be willing to give a little extra to provide! It’s not my fault you decided to take a job in a place where they won’t hire women!”

The one saving grace to living on this island was that I didn’t have to work the mines with my father. Dr. Paulson, the man who owned and ran the island, had a very strict policy of only hiring men. When my dad was in his twenties he made all the money he needed to provide for him and my mom but now he has a family and we can’t afford to leave but we can barely afford to stay. I know my parents skip meals sometimes just to help us get by.

“If I ask for a raise he’s going to do something terrible to me or you or us. He locked poor Simpson’s wife in the stocks naked for a whole day because he didn’t meet his quota. Then he made him go to work so no one was there to protect her. No one did anything but she was exposed and humiliated. can you imagine the fear they must have had? Being completely vulnerable for that long? If I ask for a raise he’s going to do much worse to you or Lindsey.”

I’m Lindsey, in case you couldn’t tell from context clues. Dr. Paulson was a cold older man who was known for his cruelty and perversion. No one knew what Dr. Paulson was a doctor of since he wasn’t a medical doctor but he was pretty strict about only being addressed by that name. In all honesty I was nervous about my dad asking for a raise since Dr. Paulson loved tormenting barely legal young ladies. It was basically a past-time of his. That said my 3 younger siblings needed new clothes and food in their bellies. I am wearing a hand me down dress from my mom that’s tattered and frayed, a simple pair of underpants and sandals. It’s all we can afford.

“Just be respectful and tell him how you have four children!”

Since I turned 18 and graduated what counts as a high school around here I pretty much just hang out with my mom all day. I can’t get a job and Dr. Paulson’s police force would bother anyone on the street so I never leave home.

“It’s too big a risk!”

My dad walked past me huffing and puffing as he left my mom in the kitchen. I could hear my ten year old sister crying in the next room of our home which was basically a shack. She deserved better as did my two brothers. I walked up to my father as he sat in his chair very agitated. I was terrified, but I love my family.

“Dad, whatever happens, I can take it.”

I placed my hand on his shoulder as he looked up to me on the verge of tears.

“Lindsey, you say that but you don’t know this man like I do. He’ll do something to you or your mom or both of you.”

“Then just let it happen to me. We need the money.”

“You’re my firstborn, I love all my kids but you’ll always be the first. I can’t let whatever happens to you happen if I can prevent it.”

I just gave him a look challenging him as I walked out of the room, sad about my siblings living in poverty. My Dad walked out of the room angry but got his coat and left in with mid afternoon sun starting to set as he walked up our road towards the mines and wherever Dr. Paulson might be. I hope I didn’t make a huge mistake.

We waited around in the living room as family for my father to return. Finally after an hour my father returned but he wasn’t alone. Two of Dr. Paulson’s thugs were with him. They waited outside while my father approached the house. He looks nervous and upset.

My father entered and said “I need you and your mother go come with me.”

He was agitated but my mother and I followed him out of the house leaving my younger siblings to themselves. I could already tell whatever it was we were going to encounter wouldn’t be good. The two thugs walked behind us and kept a close eye, likely to make sure no one ran. We were all dead silent; my siblings left in the house had no idea what was going on but my parents looked afraid and my mom had a look of regret.

After a ten or so minute walk we arrived at the estate of Dr. Paulson. The thugs got in front of us and knocked on the door of his mansion. The rest of the island lived in shacks but his immense wealth allowed for a huge mansion that looked roughly the size of the White House if the books I’d seen were any indication.

Dr Paulson opened the door. He was about 6 feet tall and had white hair with a matching white goatee. He wore black sunglasses. He had a menacing look as he looked over my family.

My dad was rubbing the back of his neck nervously and avoiding eye contact. He held my mom tight to him. I stood to the side trying to seem as tough as possible but knowing he had all the power in this situation. The two thugs stood to the side of him making it clear that whatever he wanted to happen would happen.

“So this is the family you were telling me about. They look lovely. A beautiful Daugher and a lovely wife, you must be proud. I also hear you have little ones at home. That is a lot of mouths to feed I can see why you were asking for a extra help.”

My mom looked pleased but my dad looked like he knew that this was not going to turn out the way we want.

Dr. Paulson came to my mother’s side and looked her over. She’s got dirty blonde hair, slightly above average size breasts and has a little bit of a tummy, after 4 children who wouldn’t? She also had a round bottom that he seemed to pay special attention to. He brushed the hair from her shoulder and my father got uneasy but the two thugs merely took one step forward and he went right back to his position. Dr. Paulson took my mother’s hand and kissed it.

“A pleasure to meet you. I can see where your daughter got her looks. I hope you are proud.”

She looked down and nodded clearly uncomfortable.

He then came up to where I was standing and looked down at me. Slightly separated from my family I felt even more vulnerable. He looked at my blonde hair, lighter than my mother’s, my slightly tan complexion, my blue eyes, my b-cup breasts without a bra, my slim stomach and my curvy hips. He circled and took in my ass. He leaned over my shoulder and smelled me. I was on the verge of tears. I looked to my father and he was scared clearly he knew he was no match for these men.

Dr. Paulson circled back to face all of us.

“So you need more from me? then I’ll need something in return.”