“Will she be okay?”
“Maybe in time. When’s she’s ready, she’ll find you.” Collin answered. “She’s had a hard life, Peyton. So be patient.”
“Come on, son,” a new voice said, slightly rough around the edges but gentle all the same. “We all want answers, and we’ll get them soon enough.”
The voices disappeared and, once again, everything was quiet. I sighed, letting my body soak into the mattress. I wondered if I could just fall into it.
“Hey sad girl,” Zevon said.
The only response I gave was a deep exhale and a blink. I willed myself not to respond to him.
“How you feeling this morning?” I didn’t answer as he came closer and closer.
“I wanted to ask before Ace comes back, because he’ll have my head,” he went on, taking a seat at the end of the bed near my feet but not touching. “Do you know who that was just now?”
I shook my head just enough to answer him.
“I can’t say how sorry I am, for everything. I can’t say it enough.”
I didn’t care how sorry he was. I didn’t give a rat’s ass how blue in the face he’d end up saying it over and over again. I couldn’t forgive him for what he did. My life may have not been that great, but that didn’t give him the right to just take me and drug me after making me believe that he wouldn’t hurt me. The way he talked and acted, he had to be a few years older. Why was he planted at school? How long had these people been watching me, waiting for the right moment to take me unseen by anyone else? How many times had they had the chance to do so? And what did they see happen inside the house with my father? After everything he did, why didn’t they ever step in and stop it?
“Ace isn’t a bad guy,” Zevon went on. “He’s worried about you. We all are. So, um, yeah.”
With that, he stood and left. When he was in the hallway, I heard his low voice. “Don’t give her any more drugs. I think it’s messing with her mind.”
“It’s only been a little over a week,” Collin said.
“I agree,” said the one I assumed was Ace from his voice. “No more drugs unless absolutely needed from here on out.”
“Yes, sir,” Collin said, following orders.
I opened my eyes right as Ace walked into the room. When he saw me, he gave a smile. “Glad to see you awake, Scarlett.” I rolled over, turning my back on him. I’d do whatever he wanted of me, but I wouldn’t talk.
“I can understand you may be frightened and upset, but I’m not here to hurt you, child,” he said, taking a seat on the side of the bed I was facing. My eyes stared towards the window instead of him. “I’ll explain things later, as there are a lot of things you must be confused about. But first, I need to know some things from you. I need you to answer honestly, okay?”
I nodded once.
“Will you talk, or will you prefer yes or no questions?”
I remained quiet, giving my answer.
“You name is Scarlett Elise Adams?”
A nod.
“Do you remember anyone you’ve seen today so far before the last few months?”
A shake.
“Do you remember anything from your childhood, other than the man that you lived with?”
Another shake.
I couldn’t even remember what my mom looked like, and there were no family pictures in the house.
“He really messed you up big time, didn’t he?” My eyes lifted to his for a moment before returning back to the window.
After a moment, Ace sighed and leaned forward enough to meet my eyes. “Okay, here’s the deal. When you’re ready to ask any questions, come find me and I’ll give you the truth, no matter what you ask. But first, I’ll have someone come in and help you get cleaned up. No one will hurt you as long as you stay in the house. If you can eat real food, the feeding tube can be removed, but I will not let you starve yourself to death.
