Page 3 of Protector

“Will you plait my hair?”

Dax runs a hand through his blond waves, and I can hear the sigh from here.

“Pleeease,” I beg, knowing he can’t say no to me.

He nods, following me in defeat.

It’s not until I’m lying in bed that night, my dark brown hair in one long French braid, with a purple bow at the end of it, that my mind trails off. Not into dreams or fairy tales. But my unusual life.

I never meet anyone new. I’m always hidden away. I’ve never been allowed to leave the house.

My daddy always makes comments about me being a girl.

I’ve never known any different, and that’s okay.

I’m not stupid, though. I’m quite clever for a six-year-old, thank you very much.

But this isn’t normal.

I wish I could do normal things, like go to the park and play with my friends.

Actually, I wish I had friends. Even just one.

All the little girls in the books King and Dax read to me have friends and they always play together.

Wendy, who, like me, had two brothers, was never shunned or hidden away. Her mummy and daddy loved her very much. She got to go on exciting adventures and meet lots of new people.

I am not Wendy Darling. I am not living a fairy tale, nor will I ever be.

I am Bonnie Rhivers, kept away from humanity, invisible to the world.

No, I am not Wendy Darling, but a Lost Boy.

Age 8

The car pulls up the long driveway, and I stand in the window at the top of the stairs, watching and waiting.

I am normally thrown into my room long before the gates at the end of the driveway open for whoever is visiting.

But today, I am rooted to the spot, watching the car kick up dust as it crawls over the gravel and draws closer and closer to the house.

Why has nobody come to grab me yet?

I used to comply and disappear to my room like a good girl. But now, I try to put up a fight. I’m a big girl now. Why can't I stay and meet new people? It’s not fair.

But it always ends with Daddy’s men picking me up over their shoulders and throwing me, literally, into my room. I try to stop them, but I’m never as strong as Dax always used to say I was. I can’t do anything against Daddy or his men.

The black car drives around the huge fountain and pulls to a stop outside. I push myself up against the glass window, my cheek practically squished to it, and watch with bated breath for someone to step out.

This is the first time in eight whole years that I will ever see someone new. Whoever it is, I am going to remember their face forever.

Will it be a man or a lady?

I would love it if it was a lady who brought a girl my age so we could be friends.

But that will never happen. Kids never ever come here.

The back door opens, and I see a dirty white trainer. Another follows, along with dark jeans, and then a plain black t-shirt.

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