Page 19 of Regressive

“What are you talking about?” I frown and look down at her. Nothing about her looks unusual other than her position. Every other time I’ve seen her asleep, she’s been curled up on her side. “What’s wrong with her?”

I don’t wait for an answer, yanking back the quilt covering her body. She’s wearing a cotton nightgown, but it’s pushed up to her waist. Her ass is blistered, flaming red.

“She went for Correction,” Silas says. “Things got… a little rough. I gave her a pill and applied some salve. It worked last time, but the wounds weren’t so severe.”

“Last time? Who did this?” Wild rage burns in my chest. I spin and look at Silas. “Was it my father?”

“No,” he replies, but I see the flicker of apprehension in his eyes. “She chose this, Rex. It’s part of the philosophy. You know that.”

“This,” I say, turning to look back at the bloody welts and bruises, “is my father’s fucked up mind games. It’s how he controls.” I step toward him. “I’ll ask again and I expect an answer. Who did this?”

Silas isn’t as tall as I am but he’s broad shouldered and not intimidated by me. He glances over at Imogene before grabbing me by the shirt and drags me into the hall.

“You’re right. She’s a creation of your father’s just like the rest of us. Correction is part of her life—it’s how she copes. You can’t blame her Guide. It’s not like you’re around here to take care of her.”

My hands ball into fists, but I don’t hit him, I just push past him down the hall and fling open Elon and Levi’s doors. Neither are inside, but just seeing Levi’s room, the books and journals tells me everything I need to know. Levi will doanythingmy father asks, including damaging my property.

“Where is he?”

He swallows. “Don’t make this harder than it already is”, he says.

I run my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends. “Where the fuck is he?”

The door slams downstairs and rage fuels me down the stairs. Levi stands in the hallway, hanging his satchel on a hook on the wall. I rush him, plowing my hands into his chest and smashing him into the wooden door.

“What the hell?” he shouts, eyes wide with shock. He struggles against me, but I leverage my forearm against his chest to keep him pinned.

“I saw what you did to her. She’s torn up and bloody!”

“I’m her Guide,” he says, without an inch of remorse. “She asked for Correction.”

“And you beat her black and blue?”

“She—"

“No! No excuses. I’ve given a lot of leniency when it comes to her and you three, but destroying my property isn’t one of them.”

The backdoor flings open and Elon walks in. He takes in the two of us and exhales. “What is this?”

“Levi Corrected Imogene,” Silas says. “Rex has suddenly decided he’s the only one that can play with his toy.”

I spin around. “Shut up.”

The distraction is enough for Levi to shove me off and get around me. He stands next to Elon and rubs his chest. “Tell him,” Levi says, looking at Elon. “Tell him about his Ordered.”

There’s something about Elon’s expression I can’t read. Something conflicted yet knowledgeable. “Tell me what?”

“She wants it like that,” he says. “Needs it. Rough and painful. Anex has gotten in her head. She’s so fucked up and twisted she can’t tell pleasure from pain. So, when she’s confused or feels guilty she goes to him.”

My eyes dart to Levi. “And you what? Fuck her?”

“ICorrecther. That’s all.” But I see it in his eyes. That’s not all he does to her.

“He’s telling the truth,” Elon says, crossing his arms over his chest. “I saw her after. She could barely function.”

“Because he tore the skin off her ass.”

“Because he left her hanging. She was sloppy wet, cunt swollen and aching. She couldn’t see straight.”

---