Page 27 of Behind the Bars

I hated being locked in places. I hated having no way out. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t, Icouldn’t…

“Let m-me out!” Iyelled.

“No fucking way,” Todd snapped. “You did this shit to yourself.” He stood tall for a moment and dropped his hands down, revealing a wicked grin. “Speaking of shit…”Oh no.“Boys, get those shovels and come overhere.”

“Wait,” I cried, the adrenaline I’d had coursing through me seconds before completely gone. “Don’t,” Ibegged.

They didn’t listen and were quick to grab theshovels.

“Now go into the other horse stalls and collect all the shit,” he ordered hisfollowers.

They did as he said, and I backed into the corner of the stable, knowing what was coming next. They collected so much horse crap and began slinging it over at me, hitting me with shit continually. They laughed as I covered my face with the palms of my hands. It only went on for a few minutes, but I swore it felt likeyears.

It was everywhere. I felt it. I tasted it. I gagged repeatedly, unable to breathe. Wet, mushy, and disgusting…in my hair, in my shoes, down my shirt. I curled myself into a ball and tried my best not to breathe in the disgusting smells that engulfedme.

Todd slammed his hands against the locked door and shouted, “That will tuh-tuh-teach you to not get in my way ever again, you little prick. Now, I’m going to go fuck Jasmine, but don’t worry—I’ll let her know you had to leave and get back to being anobody.”

They left me there alone after shutting off thelights.

I tried to stand up, but I slipped in the horsepoop.

I couldn’tbreathe.

I couldn’tmove.

I couldn’t do anything atall.

So, I just sat there, quiet, alone, andbroken.

Chapter Seven

Jasmine

“You’re finally here,”Todd said, walking up to me on his front porch. I’d been standing there for a few minutes, waiting for any signs of Elliott. Todd gave me his smug smirk and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “How about I give you a good reason to stay a bitlonger?”

“What happened to your nose?” I asked, stunned by his bloodyface.

“Don’t worry about it. How about we go inside and getsituated?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m actually waiting for a friend,” I replied, sliding his hand offme.

“Boney Bones?” heasked.

“Elliott,” I corrected. “What happened to your face?” I askedagain.

He ignored my question. “You’re joking, right? About Bones?” Todd laughed, tossing his hands up in confusion. He narrowed his eyes and said, “That dude’s a fucking joke, so you must bekidding.”

My eyes moved over to his group of friends coming out of the stable, and I stood up a bit taller. “Elliott’s myfriend.”

“Then you’re stupid. I’ll be your friend,” he said suggestively, wrapping his arms around me. I took a breath, feeling the unease caused by Todd’s touch on my body, feeling uncomfortable due to his proximity, feeling a little dash offear.

“Don’t,” I whispered, pushing himaway.

“Stop acting like you don’t want it. I know girls likeyou.”

“Girls like me?” I huffed, still trying to claw his hands off my skin. The moment I could rip myself away, I hurried down the steps as his followerslaughed.

“Yeah, girls like you—easy whores,” Todd hollered, making my skin crawl. “Remember last week when your lips were wrapped around my cock?” he asked. “Easy.”

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