Jenna choked, gasping for breath that would not come. Lauren shouted to her, pleading the Shepherd to let her go. He did not let go, but his grip loosened minutely so that Jenna could manage a shallow breath.

“You don’t want to do this,” Jenna warned him. He punched her, knocking her skull back into the brick of the building.

“Don’t tell me what I want, middie!” the Shepherd barked, pushing Jenna’s schoolgirl skirt up her thighs. Lauren’s eyes welled up with frustrated, crimson tears. She could do nothing to help her friend. No one on the street would stop the Shepherd from what he was about to do because it wasn’t important. Lauren and Jenna were just a couple of middies getting much deserved punishment. Lauren swiped at the blood spilling down her cheeks.

He grabbed Jenna’s left leg, lifting her up by the neck, to position himself at her hips. “This is the only thing you ever need to know” he said in her ear. Jenna turned her head to the side, refusing to look at him. She wouldn’t let him see her pain.