“I don’t know how things here are run during the summer,” he went on as I followed him to the living room. “I mean, I don’t plan to be here anyways. And who knows how long you’ll be here.” He took a seat on the couch, letting his head lean against the back.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be here.” Not long, I hoped.
The longest time I was punished was…well I couldn’t remember. Being held in a cage for days on end was bad, but at least there wasn’t pain. Being drugged and used was horrible.
I could handle a few days to learn my place for Sir.
“You aren’t going back to where you came from.” Nathen’s voice was a bit loud as he shifted to face me on the couch by sitting on both of his feet.
“Sir owns me.” I tilted my head, trying to find words to explain that I would, in deed, go back to the man. In my mind, there was nowhere else to go.
“I think I’ll leave that comment there,” Nathen shook his head. “But I know he won’t come here. He’s not allowed. Ever. The abusers no longer have their hands on our lives.”
Oh, how wrong he was. Nathen saw more to life than he gave off at first glance. I had to give him that. But Sir would come. He’d demand me to go back with him, and I would.
I fiddled with the metal bracelet around my wrist, knowing I was right.
I don’t know how much time passed, but Nathen had turned on the TV, putting on some animal show. He got up once to check on the laundry, only to return back to his seat.
He didn’t speak, letting me zone in and out. Maybe Nathen understood that my mind wasn’t going to take the bait, thinking I was safe here. Because Iwasn’t. I wouldn’t be safe ever again. It didn’t matter if I was in a cage, or in Sir’s arms.
Safety wasn’t something I deserved or got.
When there were multiple car doors outside, my body jerked into alertness. The bit of peace of just being with Nathen wasn’t right. I wasn’t meant to enjoy my time being here.
Before I could run and hide, the door opened and with it brought three people. Two men and Mrs. Meyer. The voices were drowned out by shoes being taken off and shifting of shopping bags.
Nathen turned off the TV, also more fully alert. That alone told me that whoever else lived in this house wasn't to be trusted. That they would, in time, hurt me if I didn’t do what they wanted.
Had they hurt Nathen? Did I really want to know?
“Oh, hello boys.”
“Hi, Ma’am.” Nathen spoke softly.
“Dakota, meet Gunner and Heath.”
They both grunted before disappearing up the stairs. Well, at least that helped my worry for a moment.
“The other two won’t be home till after dinner tonight.”
“Those two aren’t here at dinner often,” Nathen supplied when Mrs. Meyer left towards the kitchen. “Which is good, in a way. They are the nicer ones though. Not that anyone is mean or anything. Sorry. I’ll shut up now.”
I wanted to tell him that he was fine, but the words wouldn’t come out. So I just shrugged, then pointed to the stairs.
“Sure. I’ll see you at dinner then?”
If I had a choice, no he wouldn’t.
***
Somehow, or maybe it was just luck, I got to skip dinner. No one came to tell me to join the others downstairs. No one called for me. I was left to my own devices as the sun set and the sky turned dark.
Since I hadn’t turned on a light, my room was only lit up by a small light that was plugged in across the room.
I ignored my growling stomach as I laid on the bed, curled up as tightly as I could. My hunger was the least of my concerns. It always was.
As the wind began to swirl outside, rattling the window panes against one another, a shiver wracked me.
