Collared-Chapter 1

"Goodnight Dad" Lena tapped her father on the shoulder gently.
"What? Oh goodnight dear" He hardly looked up from the paperwork strewn about the table.
On her way upstairs Lena glanced out the window at her family's once thriving vineyard.  The economy had been at best unstable for the last few years and this summer they had been experiencing a draught.  So just like most everyone else in Canada they were having trouble financially.  Her, her baby brother Matthew and her parents still lived in the family home but it was decidedly more barren than Lena remembered from her younger years. She checked and saw that both her mother and brother were still asleep so she just went to bed. Lying atop her bed in shorts and a tank top, the air conditioning had been the first thing to go.

She fell asleep  quickly but was jarred awake by the sound of her Matthew crying. When he didn't stop right away she stood up and went to her door, she couldn't even hear her mother trying to quiet him. His screams tapered off slowly and she was just turning to go back to bed when she noticed that the light downstairs was still on. She moved to go and tell her father to go to sleep when she heard angry voices.
"We just need another week!"
"You have had plenty of time Thomas"
"You must have some understanding! Look it's all right here! We are not holding out on you!" Suddenly there was a loud smacking sound and Matthew began to cry again.
"Shut that baby up!"
"Then stop that! He doesn't like to see his Daddy hurt!" Lena's mother Tabby. Lena crept quietly until she sat near the top of the stairs. Confident she was hidden in darkness she surveyed the scene. Three men in suits stood in her dining room. One Blond,  one with black hair and one with brown. Her parents sat on chairs and Tabby held the fussing Matthew. Thomas was clearly roughed up, he was bleeding from arm and mouth and was sporting a black eye.

"We need payment Thomas" The brown haired one spoke.
"Maybe the baby" The Blond reached forward and stroked Matthews cheek
"Don't you touch him!" Her mother covered the baby protectively.
"Or the mate" He shifted to stroke her cheek
"Stay the hell away from my family"
"Or maybe" The one with black hair took a picture of Lena off the wall " I'll just go upstairs and get her"
"She isn't home" Thomas had never been a good liar. Lena took this as her cue and as quickly and quietly as she could she stole into her parent's room and found Thomas's gun.  As she approached the stairs with the gun already cocked she heard more of the  conversation.
"Maybe we will just kill your wife and children, what do you think Darin, would that pay his debt?" The Blond asked thoughtfully
"Why yes David I think it would" The one with black hair responded they laughed cruelly.
"Please, kill me; take everything we own, just leave my family alone" Thomas begged.
"How altruistic of you"
'Oh I do not think so' Lena spoke under her breath, she could not stand to see her father, reduced to begging. Apparently, she was louder than she thought however because the three men all looked towards the stairs.
"Do I hear a mouse Michael?" Darin asked
"I think you do" The third man walked towards the stairs just as Lena emerged from the shadows, the gun levelled at his head.
"Lena, run!" Her parents yelled.  Lena took another step closer.
"That's a pretty big gun there darling" Michael took a step closer.
"Don't you move! I'll shoot!"  Her father was yelling threats but he was almost muted as she held eye contact with Michael.
"I mean it , clear off" Her voice was much quieter this time.  Michael's chest now touched the end of her gun.

"You wouldn't shoot me would you?" He taunted her. Pushing the gun aside and then taking it out of her numb hands.
"How old are you?" He gripped her shoulders and began to lead her down the stairs. As soon as they broke eye contact the volume got turned up again.
"I'm 17 don't you touch me!" She struggled vainly. He was too strong, not that that was surprising. Lena was short and thin, with muscle tone in the negatives.  He pushed her into a chair and before she could blink he had re-established eye contact.
"Maybe we just take her" Michael suggested touching Lena's auburn hair.
"You leave her alone!"  Thomas stood but was punched in the stomach and forced to sit down.
"That would be more fun"
"At least for a while" David wondered down into the wine cellar
"It seems that we have a decision to make gentlemen" Michael said thoughtfully.
"Take me" Lena spoke slowly "Leave them alone and I will come quietly"
"Lena baby no!" Her mother began to cry
"It's okay " Lena stood focused on Michael's chocolate eyes.
"Have some mercy! She is my daughter"
"So?" Darin lit a cigarette
"Say goodbye"
"Bye mom, dad, Matthew" She moved to hug them but Michael used both hands to hold her.
"Please let us hug her! Please" Both parents were crying and Matthew began to whimper.
"Nope"
"For the love of God!" Tabby wailed and tried to get to Lena but was held back.
"Promise you won't kill her! Please!" Tabby stopped and stared Darin down.
"Tell you what" Michael chuckled "I'm in a good mood, we  promise we won't kill her" David reappeared with several bottles of wine which he proceeded to pour out.
"She'll regret that promise" Michael began to lead Lena from the room, quickly followed by the other two. As he shut the door Darin tossed his cigarette onto the floor. Lena was pushed into a car and screamed as she saw her home burst into flames.