I wasn’t able to stay away, hidden, for the entire day. By the time the clock across the room read noon, Mrs. Meyer had come in, hands on her hips and told me that I was going to get up and help do chores. And eat food.
With the tone of voice she used, as though I was a naughty child who was in her care, I had no choice but to do what she wanted.
Numbly, I followed Nathen through the house. I wasn’t exactly helping him do the chores, but he happily told me what to do and how to do things. Things that I knew how, if I wanted to actually do my part.
A big huge family who each had a part to add to the life to make things easier.
I wanted to snort at that thought. Happy families didn’t exist.
I didn’t care one bit who was who or who did what. I just knew most of the boys ignored me andNathen, which was in my best interest anyways. It seemed they all worked outside of the house, leaving and dressed half way nicely in some sort of work uniforms or outfits.
Mr. Meyer had stayed behind while his wife took one of the others to work. He kept his distance, at least. He only greeted us briefly before leaving the house to work on his car, or something of that nature.
I didn’t care.
“So, how old are you?” Nathen asked, moving a load of laundry to the dryer.
“Nineteen?” I think. I wasn’t sure. I couldn’t remember how old Collin had said I was.
“Cool. I’m sixteen. My social worker is working on tracking down an uncle of mine, but he’s overseas or something. So I’m stuck here.”
Once again, I didn’t care. I lifted a shoulder.
He seemed so normal. But surely he was in a similar situation as I was in. I didn’t understand some of the words he spoke, or what he was hinting at.
“Mrs. Meyer didn’t tell us anything. She never does.”
“Nothing to tell.” I was pathetic, but not enough to tell this younger boy how naughty I had been.
“That’s okay. You don’t have to say. Just some of the others always like to play games to get you to tell them.”
Another shrug.I was good at the quiet game. That, I’d win.
I almost snorted at my thoughts. I wasn’t good at anything. I wasn’t a good boy; a good slave for Sir.
I sniffed, fighting back tears. I just wanted to be what I was trained to be.
“They’ll back off if you tell them to,” he went on, none the wiser on the rising emotions that were swirling inside of me
I wanted to go back to the time before Sir. Then, at least, I had a good reason to cry. Sure, my ass hurt, and bruises and cuts would cover my skin for days on end, but the tears had a reason to be there. I didn’t have to hide them to make people worry. They were wanted, actually, by the men who used me.
Slowly, I took in a breath and held it for three seconds before releasing it. I needed to shut offeverything once and for all. There was nothing I could change. I was here, and had to deal with the punishment.
“Sorry. Tell me to shush, and I will. I tend to talk too much when I’m nervous. But I’m glad I have someone to keep me company. Everyone thinks I’m too young and don’t really like to hang out with me.”
He wasn’t bothering me, even though I’d prefer to be left alone in my prison a floor above. But I could stand his company. It was better than others.
“I end up getting the most chores around here during the days I don’t go to school. I shouldn’t be there today, but Mrs. Meyer didn’t want to leave you alone that long. Not sure why. I don’t think you’d run away.”
“No.” I shook my head, agreeing. I knew better than to try to do that. Not with a tracker.
Maybe if it was a couple of weeks ago, before Sir bought me and claimed me as his, I would have.
Today, that just took too much work. I didn’t want to run. It was cold outside. I could feel the temperature dropping outside more than I thoughtwas reasonable. I was just glad I wasn’t in a basement, freezing and shivering without any clothes.
“Tomorrow, you’ll probably be here on your own. I can’t miss too much school. Not when I’ve missed too much already. Not that the school will care. They know my reasons.”
He left it hanging. Was he hoping I’d ask what his reasoning was? If so, it was a lost cause. I didn’t care.
