When You Were Young

An animal crashes through the brush nearby. Prudence cries out and yanks back on Bradley's hair. "There's nothing to be afraid of," he says. "I'm here."

He pushes aside a branch to reveal a creek. A fawn and its mother drink from the water, raising their heads to stare at Prudence and Bradley. Then the deer gallop off into the forest. "Oh, this is a beautiful place," she says.

Bradley swings her down to the ground and then sits next to her. "I thought you'd like it," he says. He puts his arm around his shoulder. "This is our special place. Only you and I will ever know about it."

"It's like a magic forest in Daddy's stories."

"That's right. Our own magic forest." His hand slips inside her dress to massage her back. "I am going to miss you terribly. You're the most beautiful child in all Wessenshire."

"You think so?"

"Yes. Why I'd wager you're prettier than all the girls in the whole world."

"Even prettier than Annabelle?"

"She's a hag compared to you." Bradley leans down to kiss her on the lips. His hand on her back digs into her skin. She whimpers with pain.

"What are you doing?" she says.

"Prudence, I love you. I can't stop thinking about you. Every moment without you is pure torture."

"You're being silly again."

"I'm deadly serious. I want us to be together forever. Come with me to London. I can provide for both of us."

"London? But I can't leave Daddy and Mother."

"Don't you love me?"

"Yes, but-"

"It'll be a grand adventure. We'll see real princesses and princes and even the king. Isn't that what you want?"

She starts to cry again. "I want to go home," she says.

Anger flashes in his eyes a moment before he slaps her. "I thought you loved me!" he says. "You don't care. You're just like everyone else. Like my parents and your father. Fine, you can stay here and rot for all I care."

Prudence's tears become sobs. She tries to run away, but Bradley still has a hold of her back. He pushes her down to the ground, clamping a hand over her mouth. The hand muffles her screams as he lifts the hem of her dress.

The next minutes last eternities. She feels a pain so intense she fears she'll split in two. Throughout it all, Bradley says, "You're a naughty girl, toying with me like this. Now you get what you deserve."

By the time he finishes, Prudence can't move. He stands over her, looking down on her with disgust. "If you tell anyone about this, they'll banish you and you'll spend the rest of your days begging for scraps. That's what happens to little whores."