<div style="text-align: justify;">Melinda was acting out of pure instinct. She knew the wise thing to do to preserve herself would be to do whatever Thomas wanted of her. Rationally, she knew it. But something inside Melinda didn't allow her to bend. Pride, or whatever else it was. She simply could not bring herself to do what was requested - demanded - of her. Melinda's heart raced in fear, and her neck was starting to hurt pretty bad. Thomas' heavy-handed smack made lights explode before Melinda's eyes, blinding her for a moment.<br/><br/>When Thomas' face got closer to hers, Melinda's cheeks were already wet with tears of pain and fear. Still, that instinct that kept her from obeying kicked in again. "Never", Melinda's lips formed, almost silently.<br/><br/>She knew she was treading on a dangerous path. She knew that no help would come, and that Thomas would probably humiliate her in every possible way. But it was stronger than her rationality. Her dignity was literally the only thing Melinda had left from the time when her life was decent. And she intended to hang on to it for as long as she could.<br/><br/>"The only thing I need... is for you to get your filthy hands... away from me", Melinda spat out, nearly out of breath, but with her spirit yet unbroken.</div>