Page 6 of Hysteria Rises
And I’m on the verge of finding out.
My heart begins to thump a wild, curious rhythm behind my rib cage. Adrenaline spikes in my blood in a rush so swift it has my head spinning. I clear my throat. “Sounds good. I’m looking forward to it.” Shooting him a tight smile, I continue, “I didn’t expect this yet, but I want to help. You know I’ve been ready for a while.”
I also know the best way to remain in my father’s good graces is to pretend like I believe he’s smarter than I am. I huff out an internal laugh. He might be. But I doubt it. I work my jaw to the side, my eyes drawn back to the girl on the table. Under all the mud and debris, she wears dark clothing. I think her hairmight be blonde, but it’s hard to tell. It’s clear it was pulled up on top of her head, but it’s a mess of mud and leaves and twigs after the rain and the time spent in our mountainside forest.
I chew the inside of my cheek, pondering for a brief moment. “Seems like she got more than she bargained for out there. Wonder what she was doing.”
“Your guess is as good as mine. Not really my primary concern now.” My father pauses to clear his throat. “So. No time like the present to get some hands-on training.” He eyes me. “Not nervous, are you? A little trial by fire never hurt anyone.”
Even if I were, I wouldn’t say so. No way in hell. “No. I’m good.”
“Perfect.” He peruses the girl’s body, wetting his lips as his gaze wanders slowly. “Not a bad one to learn the ropes on either. Did you have a chance to read the pages I marked in the books I gave you last week?”
“I did.” Neither of us had any way of knowing I’d need that knowledge tonight, but I’m glad I took a look at the resources he’d offered me. If he thinks it’s time for me to begin assisting him with the women, I’m all for it.
Not to mention, it’d been eye-opening. I had devoured every bit of information in the medical textbooks, my curiosity piquing with every page I turned.
As each member of our commune reaches manhood, we’re pulled aside to make sure we’re aware of the rudimentary basics of procreation so we better understand what’s expected of us and how it’s done.Of course, by fifteen, most of us had been caring for animals all our lives, so the mechanics of how babies are made was no real secret. We know what our cocks are for, but the specifics of how semen meets egg were more of a mystery until one by one, we were sent to Nolan when we came of age. He’d explained when women are most fertile and had shown us a replica of a woman’s anatomy, including a plastic fetus that popped out of the womb. There’d also been hints about how to make sure the woman conceived, which is, of course, the goal.
That day, my father had leaned in and looked me right in the eye. Something about the intensity of his expression made me pay attention. And I remember exactly what he said over three years later.Cross, you must bring her to orgasm. There’s a higher chance that your seed will reach its destination if you do.I remember how my brows had drawn together in confusion. I’d simply nodded, even though he hadn’t explained how todothat. It wasn’t long after that I’d taken matters into my own hands.
My heart rate picks up, remembering the explicit content of the books at the back of his bookshelf. I’d hidden away to read them, my eyes flying over the words in amazement, taking in the story that’d made my cock swell in my pants. I hadn’t been able to resist pulling it out and tugging as I read.
Thinking back, I’ve never made a woman scream the way the one had in the story. But now that I’ve studied the medical textbooks, I have even moreknowledge. And combining that with what the man had done to the woman in that novel has given me a very good idea of how to make it happen. My anticipation increases by the second.
Digging into the pocket of my pants, I pull out an elastic, then with both hands scoop my hair back from my face and tie it out of the way at my crown.
With lips pressed into a thin line, my father gestures toward the girl, absolutely still on the metal table. “Let’s get to it, then.” He claps his hands, shooting me an obnoxious wink. “I’m interested in checking over what’s brought itself right to our front door.”
I don’t hesitate. The truth is, I’m strangely excited, and my curiosity is at an all-time high. Together, we wash up at the double basin sink, then when he sees I’m done, he waves me over to stand beside him. “We’ll more thoroughly assess any injuries after we’ve cleaned her up.”
My eyes are magnets, and the current problem is like the most seductive steel. Nothing could keep my gaze from pinning on her body, and similarly, it’d take the most violent act of nature to pry them away again. There’s no sense in fighting a losing battle. Call it human nature. Call it temptation of the forbidden fruit. There’s no fucking way I’ll deny myself what is within my grasp. The need to slake my thirst for knowledge is intense. Overwhelming.
I’d love to know how she got here. Life within the compound is all we know. Time and time again, we’retold that all we need is within the boundaries of our home. This mountain valley shields and protects us. But the arrival of this girl reminds me… there’s another world out there. One I don’t know much about. A life that might be very different from the one we live here.
FOUR
CROSS
The Disturbance releases a low,ache-filled moan. That’s what I’m referring to her as in my head. That’s all she is. A distraction. An intrusion on our daily lives. A hindrance that will throw the entire compound into an uproar.
My gaze darts to my father, checking in, but I fully realize he’ll respect me more if I just fucking dive in. Honestly, I can’t decide if I need his respect or if I just want what his respect will bring me. My father and the rest of the Collective are now well into their fifties. Still relatively young, but they aren’t spring chickens. Some day in the not-so-distant future, the other firstborn sons and I will take our rightful places as full-fledged members of the Collective.
Concealing the fortifying breath I drag into my lungs, I circle to the opposite side of the table from where he’s positioned himself. I clench my hands at my sides and exhale quietly before taking charge in a way Iknow will make him proud. “Everything off, I presume.” At least my voice is steady. Shifting to one end of the table, I deftly untie the laces of one shoe. My father’s lips curve into a smile as he does the same with the other. We peel damp socks from her feet next, and I note her skin is pruned from being wet for so long.
“She’s so cold,” I murmur.
He nods. “Yes. And she’ll continue to be until we get to the point of the exam where we can cover her up. Let’s get a move on. I don’t want to be up all night, and who knows what else this exam will reveal.”
My teeth scrape over my lip, deciding not to offer my opinion so as to not appear like I’m questioning him. It’s fine for me to do so in the privacy of my own head, but voicing my thoughts could mean trouble. Instead, I follow his lead with the remainder of her clothing. He divests her of her top while I unfasten her pants, then hook my fingers into the waistband and begin to peel them down over her hips.
My attention is caught on—or rather I’m distracted by—two things at once: the pretty pink underwear I’m having trouble keeping on her and the black bra concealing her breasts. I’ve never actually seen garments like these before… but I’ve read about them. In books. Our women own nothing even remotely similar.
“What are you waiting for?” My father’s sharp tone slices through the air like a knife as he removes the bra, and I immediately give myself a mental shake.
I meet his eyes, aggravated with myself that I’ve let him see my unabashed curiosity.
“No time for daydreaming, son. It’s just a body like any other. You’ll get used to it.”
