It was difficult not to flinch from the touch of a man she hated and feared greatly. But she forced herself to remain still, hope brightening her eyes as she looked up at his hard face.<em>How you're treated here depends on how you act</em>, he'd said. But he'd said he liked hurting her, so even if she behaved well, he would still hurt her? She was confused and sought clarity.<br/><br/>"If I behave, you won't hurt me?" she asked with a tremor in her voice.<br/><br/>Her gaze followed him as he reached for the brush, sitting still as a statue while he slowly brushed her hair. A slight bit of the tension melted from her shoulders as the bristles slid through her dark tresses in a soothing, gentle way. It was obvious that the man knew how to brush hair as he worked from the bottom up. She paid attention as he began to state rules.<em>While you are here.</em>That implied that she would be somewhere else at some point, but where? Would he let her go once he raped her? Once he tortured her?<br/><br/>Her head held still for him as her eyes cut to him, her tongue sweeping out to moisten her dry and bloody lip. She thought better than to prompt him for water, however parched she was. He enjoyed hitting her too much. She would have to wait until he finished brushing her hair.<br/><br/>She sighed, chin quivering as a few more tears seeped out. She would look for ways to escape, but she would need to be very careful. She let her head hang forward slightly. Let him think that she was broken, beaten into accepting her new place.