Slowly wiggling my fingers and toes, I felt no bounds holding me to the bed. The smallest sigh of relief past my thin lips.
As the soft words somewhere just out of reach disappeared, I forced my eyes open. It took more work than I expected, and even longer to bring what I was seeing into focus.
The ceiling was darkened, a low light shining somewhere that created a couple of shadows.
Where was I now? Was I still in the place with Mr. S? Or had I been sold off?
Squinting, I kind of remembered a small needle being pushed into my skin before everything had gone black. So who knows where I was, or how long I’d be here.
Gently rolling to my side, my head began to pound like a drum inside my skull. I groaned, quickly clutching the banging body part, hoping it’d go away.
“It’s okay, hon.”
I jerked, pulling myself inward as a voice spoke out of the darkness. Or maybe it was the closet. Whatever place in hell I was in now.
I couldn’t think, couldn’t hear, or do anything, as the pain in my head grew more with each heartbeat. I could feel that organ thumping away in my chest, like a ticking time bomb.
“Shhh, honey. It’s all okay now. You’re safe.”
I wanted to laugh. I wasn’t safe. I wasn’t anything but a stupid slave. A slave that was going to explode one way or another.
With my eyes squeezed too tightly, tears had no way to escape, even if there had been any. But I also didn’t see, nor hear, the man as he muttered about something. I couldn’t tell a single person, even myself, if he was possibly just talking to me. Whatever he said didn’t reach me.
“No...” The whine bubbled forth as yet another sharp poke, similar to what Carson had given me, in my shoulder. I didn’t want to go back to the darkness.
“It’s for the pain, kid. Nothing more.”
Too bad I can’t glare at him to death for that lie, I thought as I breathed in deep, trying to keep my misery inside of me. My emotions weren’t meant to be seen or heard.
“No one here will hurt you.” He kept talking, but as the pain began to slowly fade, I paid attention to his feet as he backed away a few steps from where I lay.
Maybe he was telling the truth, but it wasn’t something I was going to take more time to think about. Men had played that game before.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed curled up, feeling my heart settle in my chest once more. I was afraid to move, afraid to do more than breathe. The uncertainty over everything hung heavy on me, like the thickest blanket, holding me down and hostage in this thing called life.
Why couldn’t I just die? Why did I keep living when all I wanted was a way out? Hadn’t I suffered enough already?
I was used, torn up inside and out. Who could possibly still want my body for pleasure?
Forgetting I wasn’t alone for a second, I shifted, pulling my body to sit up on the bed. The blanket fell to my lap as my head swam for a moment. I swallowed against the rising bile before things settled again.
“Do you have a name?” The man asked, causing me to give out a startled yelp. In my moment of weakness, I looked at him from under my lashes.
One long leg was resting on top of the other, hands at his sides. It was too dark to see much of his shadowed face, and I quickly dropped my eyes back to my lap.
When I didn’t answer, he sighed. His clothes rustled as he stood and walked closer to me once more. Knowing better than to move away, I forced my body to stay as still as I possibly could.
I forgot how hard it was to not know what to expect. I had forgotten how fear was worse than pain sometimes.
“We can do this the hard way, or the easy way. It’s all up to you. I can find everything I need to know about you, which I will in time anyway.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the glare to go away. I knew better than to send any look that wasn’t nice to any man, no matter who they were.
“I’m Collin.” The man sighed like I was already testing his rules that weren’t spoken. “You are safe here. Allister, who owns this house, is currently dealing with his own boy. But no one here will touch you. You’re free now. Well, will be once I get some information from you.”
Free?
I...I didn’t....no. That...wasn’t....no.
