Depraved by Bryan Smith

probably had been for generations.
    “I guess you’re going to kill me.”
    “Ain’t decided on that yet, girl. Hell, there’s all kinds of possibilities for a cute little thing like you.”
    A shiver went through Megan at his words. The implications were obvious and troubling. She knew she was going to be raped. Repeatedly. And perhaps by multiple individuals. That was a horrible enough thing to contemplate. But rape wouldn’t be the end of it. Sheimagined months or even years confined in a Hopkins Bend jail cell, an unofficial prisoner and slave of the local law. And all the while her family would never know what had become of her. The thought of the pain her mom and dad would go through made her eyes water.
    “You people are animals.”
    The deputy glanced at the rearview mirror again. “Now, honey, you know that’s out of line. I’m shocked to hear that kind of insensitivity from a big-city gal like you.” The deputy grinned. “Aren’t you people all into being politically correct? Don’t you know it’s wrong to judge other cultures?”
    Megan grunted. “If by some miracle I get out of this backward backwoods pit of hell, I believe I’m going to be readjusting my thinking on a lot of issues.”
    The deputy laughed, didn’t say anything.
    The light turned green.
    The cruiser moved through the intersection at a lazy pace and pulled into the parking lot of a small, official-looking building two blocks farther down the street. There was a flagpole flying the flags of the Confederate States of America and the state of Tennessee. Megan didn’t bother making a comment. It made total sense that a place like Hopkins Bend had chosen to simply ignore the outcome of the Civil War. At this point, she would be shocked if the locals didn’t still keep black people as slaves. The small parking lot was about half-full, with two more Sheriff’s Department cruisers facing the street at opposing angles and one civilian car, a Jetta that was a few years older than the one owned by Pete.
    Formerly owned by Pete.
    The deputy pulled the cruiser into a space just to the left of the building’s front entrance. As the deputy parked and shut the engine off, the door opened and an elderly, gray-haired woman in a blue dress stepped outside. Shesmiled and waved at the deputy as he stepped out of the cruiser. Then she came across the sidewalk and peered through a rear window at Megan.
    “Oh, my. She’s just darling.”
    The deputy smiled.“Ain’t she just?”
    The driver’s-side door stood open. Megan heard them clear as a bell. It stood to reason the old woman would be able to hear her, too.
    She drew in a deep breath.
    This was probably going to be pointless.
    But what the hell.
    The effort would cost her nothing, and she had nothing to lose.
    “Please help me. This man has arrested me illegally. He’s probably going to kill me. Or rape me. Or both.”
    The old woman’s smile broadened.“Such a lovely face. So fresh. And such a clear complexion. Where did you find her, Hal?”
    “Out on Old Fork Road.”
    The corners of the old woman’s mouth drew down to convey disappointment. “Oh, darn. I was out that way earlier. Wish I had gotten to her first. I would so love to sit on that sweet face.”
    The old woman licked her lips.
    Megan’s stomach churned.
    Oh, Christ…
    Everyone here was just demented, even the sweet-looking little old ladies.
    Hal laughed.“Maybe we can work something out. I’m keeping my options open with this one.”
    The old woman smirked. “I bet she’d cost me a pretty penny.”
    “You know it, Martha.”
    The old woman and Hal turned away from her then and engaged in a bit of small talk. Inquiries about thehealth of relatives and bland comments on the weather. At last they said their good-byes, and the old woman got into the Jetta and drove away.
    Then Hal opened the back door and hauled her out of the cruiser. He kept a hand on one of her cuffed wrists and steered her toward the building’s