"In time, you'll grow to love him just as you had your other Daddy," Dorothy assured me, but I didn't believe her. My Daddy and I had a special bond. He was the only adult who showed me any sort of affection past stiff politeness. Even Dorothy was cold to us most of the time. This was unusual for her.
"And until then, what am I supposed to do?" I sat up and crossed my arms. "Just pretend he's not the same age as me? That he's an authoritative figure? I couldn't listen to him if I tried." I glared at him from across the room. Callahan's face was blank, as if bored. Bored!
"You wanted this, didn't you?" I pointed and accused. "You love seeing me at my lowest. I bet you love knowing that I was stripped of everyone I cared about, don't you?"
"Eleanor," Dorothy warned. "That's not the way to speak to your Daddy."
"Or what?" I mocked. "He'll punish me? Too late for that, buddy. My old Daddy couldn't break me. There's no way you're going to."
Callahan leaned forward, clapping his hands slowly. "You really are quite the drama queen."
"Why you—" I leapt up and lunged for him. Dorothy and the medic snatched me back. Suddenly, something was being plunged into my arm, and I gasped with pain.
"You have disappointed me today, Eleanor," Dorothy said after I was dragged back to bed. My head was dizzy, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Those bastards had sedated me. "Whether you like it or not, we have to continue. For the human race to one day thrive and leave the bunker, we must continue to send you out to collect the necessary items to help us create a solution."
I raised my arms, which felt like limp noodles. "Just giveeveryone the pills.” I said, my vision going blurry. I was going to fall asleep. I wobbled on my feet. “There's tons of them. I've seen it." I struggled to get my words out, my tongue and everything else feeling heavy.
A hand slapped over my mouth. "Don't listen to her, she's delusional." She urged my head back to my pillow. I was so weak from the sedatives, I couldn't fight, and quickly lay back, defeated. Why wasn't Callahan supposed to know about the pills? I wanted to ask, but my mouth was dry and my jaw felt too heavy to form words.
"Callahan, stay with her tonight. If she gets up, assist her. The sedatives were heavy."
While I couldn't do anything but listen, I heard them leave my room. A chair scooted closer, and I felt hot air on my cheek. I groaned and turned slowly away.
"Hello, Young Lady," Callahan said dryly.
"Cal." The word was heavy, but I managed to get it out. I wanted to scream and shout and kick and thrash like a toddler denied dessert, but it was futile. Our fates had been decided, and I had no say in the matter.
"Nuh-uh." His voice took on a sing-song tone, and he tsked. "That's not my name anymore, is it? Oh, sweet Eleanor. Sweet, sweet, cunty Eleanor, you have to call me Daddy."
Rule Six - Eleanor
Listen to your Daddy the first time.
"What happened last night?" Frances asked as we made our way through the breakfast line. "You look awful."
I swung my head over to her. "Thanks," I said sarcastically. "I got reassigned."
"Reassigned? What do you mean?" We got our oatmeal and toast and went to sit with the other Young Ladies.
"It means, I got reassigned to someone else." I grit my teeth and kept my head down.
"I don't understand. Are you leaving us?" Olive asked, her voice panicked. We'd all been in a state of confusion and worry since my Daddy died. Well, now we knew. If your Daddy dies, you just get a new one.
"No." A hand on my shoulder caused me to jerk forward. "Eleanor is staying here with all the other Young Ladies. She's been reassigned to me," Callahan explained. I brushed off his hand.
"Don't touch me."
He chuckled and started off toward the other Daddies. They had their breakfast in another area andhad already eaten. They were chatting and smiling, welcoming Callahan into the fray. He looked so out of place with them. The other Daddies were ten years older than him.
"Callahan is your Daddy?" Frances gaped. "How?"
"Beats me," I snapped. "I don't want to talk about it."
"We have to talk about this," Olive insisted. "How long have you known?"
"I didn't know anything. They just moved him in."
"When? Last night?" Nancy screeched.
