Bonus Chapter

The man who objected shuts up and pulls his daughter closer to his side.

"That's what I thought," Aaron says coldly, looking at the rest of the room again. "This is where things get difficult. What kind of punishment is fitting for the crime he committed? I can't throw him out and leave him to die. I can't charge him with aggravated assault and imprison him. I can't put him on probation. So, this is what I've settled on," he says, bringing the whip out from behind his back.

There's a collective gasp from the room as people take in the long, black leather torture device in Aaron's hands.

"This isn't ideal, and I'm by no means happy to be doing this, but something has to be done. Now, I want all of you to hear me when I say this: the bartering system is over! There will be no more trading sex for food. If I hear of anyone else participating in this, you will be punished!"

Aaron turns around and shifts his grip on the whip. He raises his hand and flicks his wrist, and the thin end of the