Page 27 of Stray

“Did she fuck Jackson?” I hear Derek mutter and then a smacking noise.

“I swear,” she mutters, and I hear her getting up and moving around. “You said Morris and you get along and that Jackson is a nice guy. Why give that up over a little heat-of-the-moment kiss?”

“Because I spent five months chained and raped and sold Indy,” I growl as I shift to get comfortable. “I don’t know how to feel anything besides fear and anger anymore. Now I’ve kissed a guy? I felt things. I can’t–” I hit the back of my head against the window and groan. God, that kiss was so amazing. Why did I have to hear Hugh’s voice? “I hope you realize this is all your fault,” I mutter, causing her to gasp dramatically.

“My fault? What did I do?”

“You had to send me those dirty books!” I whine, and Indy starts laughing loudly.

“First off, I never sent you dirty books. I sent you some audiobook recommendations that specifically had no sex in them. So whatever you’re talking about is your doing.”

“You opened the damn box, cupcake! Once it’s opened, everything just sort of… I don’t know! All I know is Jackson walks around with sweat and muscles and chest hair, and he does this thing with his tongue–”

“Oh my god, take her off speaker!” Derek’s voice groans, and Indy starts cackling.

“Indyyyy!” I whine, “Help me!”

“Okay, okay… do you want to quit?” I am quiet for a second as I stare out at the foggy area I’m parked in. I’ve been here long enough that the sun is beginning to rise and lighten the sky.

“No,” I say confidently. “This place is… no, I don’t want to quit. But I also don’t know if I should… continue things with Jackson… like at all.”

“Well, then slip on those sexy big girl panties and walk back in there. And if Jackson tries to question you about what happened, just say ‘you’re welcome’ and move on.” I snort at her comment before my phone beeps, alerting me it’s serious about dying this time.

“I should go. My phone is dying.”

“Yes, go back to the ranch. Derek has already told Jackson to fuck off like twelve times since we’ve been on the phone, so good luck with that not continuing things plan.”

“Love you, cupcake,” I say before hanging up the phone. I look at the twenty-seven unread texts, and I’m about to open them when my phone goes black. Tossing my phone onto the passenger seat, I stare at the fog weaving through the trees and over the fields as my mind wanders.

* * *

“Come on!” The large balding man slaps the younger man on the back. He looks my age, maybe a little younger. “You’re twenty-one now! Fuck going to a bar. Go get your dick wet!” The man shoves the younger man towards me and Hugh, who holds me on my knees with my leash.

I glance up to see Hugh put the chain into the nervous man’s hands. “You get thirty minutes. You kill her or permanently disfigure her face or tits. You best not come out of that room, got it?” He warns with an almost protective tone to his voice. Funny, considering my ass is still not healed from what he did to me last week. The boy nods and looks down at me. I can’t imagine what he must think, the infected cuts and sores, my snarled patchy hair, the ass plug with the animal tail I am sporting with the gag and muzzle.

He starts walking, and I follow him on my hands and knees, praying that this “shy boy” aura he is radiating isn’t an act. The last John got off on pain and… I just don’t have it in me to handle another one right now. I crawl into the room, sitting on my feet, head down, while he closes the door. I flinch as his hands reach for my muzzle. He removes it and my gag before looking me over. There’s so much fear in his eyes. Why? It’s not like I can hurt him.

“Are you okay?” His question is so out of the blue I nearly choke on a laugh.

“W-what?” I ask, my voice weak and raspy. “Of course not. Now can you fuck me so I can be done?” I sigh as I remove the plug from my ass and head towards the blood-stained bed. The man grabs my wrist, and I flinch at the touch.

“I’m Adam, and… I don’t want to fuck you.” I raise my tired eyes to him. Is this some kind of weird foreplay?

“You don’t want to, but you must? Okay, got it.”

“No,” He hisses, looking around the room. “You have thirty minutes. Is that enough time to run away?” I stare at him, frozen. Is he… serious? Is this a test? I look over to the door before turning back to him.

“They will kill me And you, too.” Adam shrugs softly.

“Then I die trying to be a hero instead of a slimeball like my dad, and you don’t have to live like this anymore if you want.” I swallow hard, and it’s so painful. I glance out the window, knowing this could be my only shot. These infections will kill me if I don’t get help soon.

Deciding it’s now or never, I nod firmly while gathering the chain in my hands. It would have to come with me since Hugh wore the key to the lock on around his neck. Adam looks at the window and frowns.

“We need to break the glass,” he whispers, and my heart drops. Undeterred, Adam rips the sheet off the bed and hands it to me. “Wrap it around your fist, punch straight through, then trace all four sides to swipe the glass away. You’ll need to do it as soon as I give you the signal.”

I wrap the filthy sheet around my hand and wait as Adam unplugs and grabs the lamp before standing on the bed. He nods at me, and as I drive my fist through the glass, he slams the lamp onto the hardwood floor before bouncing the headboard against the wall.

“That’s it, you nasty slut!” He snarls, making as much noise as possible while I clean the area and slide my naked body out, trying not to cry out as the missed shards rake down my skin, cutting it open. “You take it, you bitch! More!” I give him one final look before my bare feet touch the cool, damp ground. Instantly, I take off, running with everything I have into the foggy night. I get to the tree line when a single gunshot rings out and stops me in my tracks. It takes all of thirty seconds before the second one follows. They shot Adam and then his dad. I don’t have to see it to know they took that kind man down. My lip quivers, and I feel weak, like I can’t run.

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