He exited, leaving the two women to assist me.
Becca cleaned my cuts with warm water, making me jump. She leaned close to my ear and whispered.
"Kit, you have a little blood back here, not much, but please just do as he says. He is going to end up taking you from me, and I can't do this without you by my side."
She applied some ointment, rubbing it deep into my torn flesh. I yelped. My cheeks were on fire.
"Kit, he seems to give rewards for good behavior, and I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you—we—are to survive, you must give in to him. What's the sense in having open wounds and broken bones? Will you promise to behave?"
I turned my head to look at my friend. I thought she had just given up, but she didn't. She was adapting to her situation so she could make it through this nightmare.
I understood her completely. I am sure Atlas was going crazy searching for Beck and me, but there was no timeline of when he would find us. The two girls I saw at the first facility flashed through my mind. They were two broken souls.
I remember seeing it in their eyes. There is no way I can allow that to happen to me. Becca is right. Just do as he says, and maybe we will get out of this alive. Hector was an evil bastard with a black heart. An empty shell of shit.
He already showed us just how mean and rotten he could be by having his brothers raped and brutalized. My body can't take that much violence.
My tears soaked the pillow beneath my head. I nodded at my friend and whispered.
"You're right, Beck. I will try to be on my best behavior from now on."
She smiled at me, then kissed the top of my head.
"Come on, let's get you up. We have to be at the table in five minutes."
She and Layla lifted me from the bed, both holding me under the arms, and walked me to the chair.
They gently sat me on the cushion.
I flinched as the material scratched my raw skin. Hector sat in his usual seat, looking over the spread on the table. Bacon and eggs, pancakes, syrup, orange juice and coffee. He had a cook who took care of all his meals.
Although I never saw the person, I was sure they could hear all the screams and abuse that went on in this place, and I was positive they didn't give a damn.
I looked at my plate, and again, a big heap of cold, sloppy oatmeal stared me in the face. The other girls had a little of everything. I was so hungry, I whimpered, then I cried, and cried, and cried. Everyone at the table remained silent. Even Hector didn't lose his shit and slap me in the mouth. His voice was warm this time.
"Green eyes, what's the matter? Does your ass hurt?"
I just looked at him, not wanting to play this game. He knew why I was upset. I felt all the joy leave my body just then. He was breaking me. I knew it, and he knew it.
He shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth, demanding an answer to my sorrow.
"Well, tell me. What's wrong?"
Becca glanced at me with a stern look. I sighed loudly, feeling totally exhausted.
"I..I'm hungry. No, I am starving. I can't eat anymore of this crap. I am going to be sick."
He threw his head back and laughed.
"You're being a little dramatic. I warned you. When you behave, you will eat what we eat. Until then, you will deal with the shit I put on your plate, and you won't waste one bit of it. You will not croak. As a matter of fact, that so-called shit is what's keeping you from dying of starvation. Now, eat!"
I looked at him pleading.
"Can I at least have some milk and sugar to put on it?"
Becca squirmed in her seat, and Layla remained quiet, not moving a muscle. He had her well trained.
Hector rose from the chair and stood next to me. Without any warning, he gently grabbed my face and planted a quick kiss on my lips. I gasped when he pulled away and walked back to his seat.
