Page 2 of Bound By Secrets

Most people find Connor scary and intimidating. Likely because of the scowl that's constantly painted on his face paired with the fact that he grunts and growls more than he speaks. To most people, anyway. Honestly, I'm lucky to be their little sister because I get to see Connor's good side and Callum's bad side.

As far as I'm aware, no one else has ever gotten close enough to either of them to witness both sides of them. We're close-knit and we protect each other at all costs. We kind of have to if we want to survive the demons that make up the rest of our family.

"I feel like I was given a big dosage this time. I’m still feeling drowsy. How long do you think we've been down here?" I ask him, resting my head on his shoulder. He squeezes my hand and blows out a breath.

"I didn’t get a good look but I’m sure it was a full syringe. I was still fighting them off when they injected you. You passed out almost instantly, and then they brought you down here. They managed to get me in the leg shortly after and I think Cameron mentioned something to Dad about going to some warehouse, so I’d assume it’s been a couple of hours… I don't know how longthey plan to leave us down here this time, but it can't be too long because we start our new college in two days."

Ugh.

College, how could I have forgotten? The boys purposefully failed their last year so that they could redo it with me. Even though they knew they'd get a beating for it, they still chose to do it.

A week later, a couple of days into our summer break, my dad decided to change our colleges. He claimed that people were going to get suspicious of the bruises and broken bones. He told us we had to be more careful now and learn to hide them better; like it was our fault.

"We'll be okay. Get some sleep if you want. I know the drugs don't mix well for you." He squeezes my hand and rests his head on top of mine.

"You're the youngest out of us, Callie. You shouldn't be the one always looking out for us. It's meant to be the other way around," he responds tiredly. I shake my head, trying not to disrupt him.

"Callum, I’m twenty and only eleven months younger, so we’re all responsible adults." He laughs and squeezes my hand again, "Also, you do both look out for me. I honestly think I’d be dead if it weren't for you two. Just because I’m younger, doesn't mean I can't be there for you as well. You're my brothers, and I love you both. We're all getting out of this together. Besides, with the drugs and the beating from up there, you need rest." He kisses the top of my head and slings a protective arm around my shoulders.

"To the moon and back, Little C," he mutters.

"To the moon and back, Cal," I whisper.

I sit in silence for what feels like days, but I know it’s only hours. The only sound is Callum's quiet snoring in my ear.

I’m struggling to tell if my eyes are open due to the pure darkness down here.

No doubt, my father, Cameron and my father’s 'friends' are up there laughing about the fact that we're stuck down here, probably hoping that we’ve caused ourselves some pain from the little contraptions they’ve put in.

My legs are starting to go numb from being sat in this same position for who knows how long, but I'm not planning on moving any time soon.

Not only because I don't want to wake Callum but also because of the nails, metal poles and whatever other surprises they might have in store for us down here. I don't need to end up with more cuts and bruises than I already have when I go to a new college in two days. I don't want to draw any attention to us. If I do, everything will just get worse.

After all, that's why Callum and I are down here in the first place.

We were down at the beach earlier, glad to get away for a few hours without any prying eyes on us, or so we thought.

We were having fun and laughing, which is a rare occurrence for us Conrad's. We’d gotten ice cream and sat on a bench up on the sidewalk across the top of the beach.

Cal had his top off because it was scorching hot and, surprisingly, wasn't busy. We'd both forgotten that he had faint, mottled bruising down his left side and around to his back until a woman walked past and gasped as she stared at him before asking if he was okay.

We realised pretty quickly what she had seen, and Callum assured her that he was fine before quickly shoving his top on. He told her some story about being in a fight, and once she’d left us alone, we stood and turned to go back to the car park. That’swhen we saw Paul, my father’s top lackey, also known as our uncle, standing a few metres away observing the whole scene.

We rushed over to Callum's car and sped home, hoping to get back and up to our rooms in time to lock ourselves away and avoid any repercussions. But, when we pulled up outside our 'family home', Cameron and Dad were already standing outside waiting for us. Callum had grabbed my hand and squeezed it three times, our way of silently saying I love you, before turning off the ignition and facing the consequences we knew were heading our way.

A little while later, the clanking sound of the weights that secure the metal hatch shut echoes through the emptiness. I gently shake Callum, rousing him from his sleep. His head shoots up instantly, and his arm tightens around me.

"Shh, don't say anything," he whispers. I nod and push myself further into his side. The creaking of the hinges on the hatch to this man-made torture chamber alerts us that the hatch is open, and then the dim lights that hang from the ceiling flicker on. My body stiffens, and Callum rubs my arm in a soothing gesture.

"Time's up kiddos. Calliope, you're needed, so make it quick and get up here now!" My eldest brother Cameron shouts.

Callum's body solidifies, his hold on me becoming so tight it hurts. A small whimper escapes me, but not because of his hold, it's because of the dread and fear running through my veins at Cameron's words, they can only mean one thing.

Fraser is here.

I turn to look at Callum and find him already staring at me with a tortured expression. My vision blurs but I bite the inside of my cheeks and take a deep breath to keep the tears at bay.

"I'll be okay, don't worry about me. Go find Connor. I'll see you both when it's over." I press a quick kiss on his cheek.

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