Текст книги "Saved By Her"

Автор книги: Michelle Horst

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

Chapter Three

Jack~

Feelings swamp me. I’ve always been able to shut down. It’s not because Mistress Ryland is nice to me, that’s not it at all. Mistress Claire is also kind and I’ll even go as far as saying that I’ve grown fond of Mistress Claire. This is something else, something I’ve never felt before.

When Mistress Ryland told me she doesn’t like sex I was shocked at first, but then I felt an unfamiliar warmth creep into my chest.

Just maybe she’s like me. Just maybe she’s not bad – I hoped for a split second before the warmth faded and I was reminded that there are no good people. Any person who is willing to do business with Cameron has to be bad!

She brings her hand to my cheek and her touch is silky soft, just like her eyes. The lust filled looks I normally get is nowhere to be seen in her eyes.

She doesn’t want me? I’ve never experienced this before. People always want something from me, either my cock, or my ass and sometimes my blood.

Mistress Ryland’s eyes are so warm I want to crawl into them – I want to find rest there.

She drops her hand to her side and then walks over to the table. I watch her take a seat.

She’s really not going to fuck me?

This whole evening with her is foreign to me.

“Satisfy yourself,” she orders, but there is not bite in her voice.

I drop to my knees and I remove the towel baring myself to her. Her eyes quickly fly to the window and it confuses me. She said she’s a visual person, then why won’t she look at me?

I palm my rock, hard cock. It will be hard for a few hours still. I slowly start to stroke myself, just like Mistress Ryland instructed.

Minutes pass where my cock feels lifeless in my hand. My eyes are glued to Mistress Ryland. She has a sad look on her face and it makes the warm feeling from earlier return. I’m not used to feeling anything but longing and heartache for Momma and worry for David’s safety. I don’t know what this emotion is called that’s tightening my chest to the point where it’s getting hard to breathe.

More time passes, and the feeling becomes so overwhelming that it hurts my chest. I know I won’t come and I can’t stand the emotions any longer. “Mistress,” I say softly, hoping I won’t get in trouble for talking to her without her permission.

I keep my eyes on her, silently asking her to understand what I cannot put into words. I can’t come.

She comes to me, and kneeling in front of me, she makes my heart clench. It almost looks as if she cares for me. I know that’s only my imagination. These people don’t possess the capability of caring for another person.

I watch as her lips part and she sucks in a breath, and then she leans forward. Her sweet scent forms a cloud around me as she whispers, “Do you want me to help you, Jack?”

Again she’s using my name. I’m usually called slave. Only the other slaves use my name. I can only stare at her as her words sink in. She wants to help me? Why would she want to help me? I’m nothing but a slave here for her enjoyment.

Is this a game she’s playing with me?

Is this some kind of trick?

Her soft eyes tell me it’s not, but I could be wrong. A monster can be disguised behind many faces.

I have to remind myself that I’m only a slave and she’s a monster.

I nod, “Please, Mistress.” I say the words that are expected of me. The number one rule for a slave is to always do what a mistress or master wants you to do.

If they ask you whether you want your freedom you answer no, because that is what they want to hear.

If they ask you if you want to be flogged or whipped, you answer yes, because it’s for their satisfaction that you will bleed and scream.

I let my eyes travel over Mistress Ryland’s head and focus on the wall. For a moment I was stupid, I let myself feel something. It won’t happen again.

~*~

Chapter Four

River~

His eyes focus somewhere behind me and the blank look that comes over his face cuts deep into my soul.

He didn’t say yes because it’s something he wanted! He thinks it’s what I want.

I take hold of his arm and getting up I pull him up alongside me.

“Let’s just sleep, Jack. It’s been a long night.” I throw the covers back and looking up at him I order, “get in bed and sleep.”

Jack slips under the covers, his eyes not once meeting mine.

I switch off the bright light and then I strip out of the ridiculous outfit, but I keep on the bra and panty set. I get in next to Jack and then turn my back to him. “Night, Jack,” I whisper.

I can hear his breathing behind me. He’s not moving a muscle, most probably waiting for me to pounce on him.

I turn around and scoot closer to him. I reach under the covers and feel for his hand. Holding his hand in mine, I start to whisper so only he can hear, “I saw you working in the garden earlier, is that something you like to do?”

“Yes,” his answer is clipped with no emotion.

“My favorite flower is a daisy.” I glance up at him, trying to see his reaction in the meager light the moon is offering through the window. “Have you seen a Brown Betty?” He doesn’t respond so I just go on, “The Black-Eyed Susan is the state flower of Maryland. It has thirteen petals. Thirteen is my lucky number.”

My mind races, searching for something else I can tell him. “Do you like water?”

“Yes,” he answers but this time the clipped tone is gone.

“Me too,” I sigh thinking of the plantation. I can’t wait to go home. “I love how it brings life to the surrounding areas.”

Silence engulfs us again but this time it’s not as tense. I close my eyes and keeping hold of Jack’s hand I drift between sleep and consciousness. I’ll never be able to get a good night’s rest in one of these places.

~*~

In the early hours of the morning Jack gets up. I watch as he walks to the bathroom and seconds later he comes out dressed in his jeans.

He walks to the door and he unlocks it, then he turns back to me. His eyes are filled with confusion when he asks, “Will that be all you require of me, Mistress Ryland?”

“Yes, Jack,” I sigh heavily as I too get out of bed. I get dressed in the stupid outfit from the night before and then walk to Jack. I stand on my toes and press a soft kiss to his stubbled cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Jack.”

I watch Jack walk away and then return to the room I share with Adam. When I walk in I find Adam sitting on the bed, his face in his hands.

“Morning,” I say softly so I don’t give him a fright. He hates it when people sneak up on him. I did it once and I landed flat on my back with an angry Adam towering over me.

He looks up, a world of exhaustion clouding his face.

I crawl onto the bed behind him and pull at his arm until he stretches out next to me.

I place my head on his shoulder. “Want to talk about it?”

He shakes his head. Adam is not a talker.

We both just take comfort in the others presence until there is a knock at our door. Adam gets up and opens the door to a girl. She pushes in a trolley and the smell of coffee makes me get up.

I have a cup of coffee while Adam enjoys the bacon and eggs. I usually have a healthy appetite but after a night like the one I just had, food is the farthest thing from my mind.

After coffee I go to shower. When I’m done I go to stand in front of the window, looking out over the estate while Adam freshens up.

The garden is really pretty. I wonder if it’s all Jack’s work. If he really loves gardening then I’ll make sure that he can continue his hobby back at the sanctuary.

~*~

Chapter Five

Jack~

I’m still confused by Mistress Ryland as I make my way to the room where Mistress Claire is waiting in for me. She comes every Friday. Sometimes she’ll visit more than once a week but she’s a busy woman so that’s not often.

I knock once and then I let myself in. I close the door behind me and before I can kneel Mistress Claire comes to me. “Ahh … there you are, my pet.” She kisses both my cheeks. She smiles up at me for a moment, as if I’m a precious possession.

“I want to take you hard today. I’ve had an awful week.”

I step out of my jeans before I start to undress Mistress Claire. I make sure to brush the back of my hands against her skin. She likes that. When we’re both naked I go to the bed and position my body over the length of it. I’m never on top. It’s one of the rules to always remind me that I’m a slave.

Mistress Claire crawls on top of me. She takes hold of my cock, positions it at her opening and then slides over me.

“Oh my, how I’ve missed your cock this week,” she murmurs as she starts to move up and down. She takes my hands and places them on her hips. “You know I love it when you touch me.”

I hold her for a while and then she begs, “Dig your fingers in, my pet. I want to feel your strength on my body!”

I do as she asks, tightening my hold on her. She starts to bounce hard on me, and her breaths rasp over her parted lips. Just as she’s about to come she stops. Her face contorts into a lust filled smirk. “I’ve been a bad … bad girl, my pet.” I scoot to the edge of the bed and she crawls over my lap. “I have to be punished,” she purrs.

I slap her ass and she jerks against my legs. “Harder! Hit me harder!”

I slap her harder and harder as she commands, until her ass is red and my palm is stinging.

She gets up and then sits on my lap with her back to me. She takes my cock in all the way and then starts to move faster again.

Taking my hands she brings my arms around her, and then she shoves one of my hands down between her legs, until I can feel her pussy. I can feel as my cock slides in and out of her.

“Pinch me hard!” I find her nub and then pinch hard. She starts to convulse on top of me and then she moans deeply with pleasure.

When she’s done orgasming she gets up and goes to the bathroom.

I stay seated on the bed. Sometimes she wants to come more than once.

When she comes out she goes to where her clothes are on the floor. “That will be all today, my pet.”

Her face is always sad after an appointment with me. I don’t understand her. But then, it’s not my job to understand her. It’s my job to make her come any way she wants to.

~*~

Friday passes just like any other day. I wake up early on Saturday morning. Cameron always has an appointment for me on a Saturday night. Sometimes it’s a private party I have to attend and sometimes it’s a one on one fuck.

I spend the day outside clearing weeds and just making sure the gardens are all tidy.

Late afternoon I go back to my room. I eat the food that was left in my room at lunch time before I go to get ready for the appointment.

Dressed in jeans and the leather bands, I leave to go to the room that is always assigned for the clients coming to see me. Most of the slaves are kept in a building separate from the main house. Sophia and I are kept in the house, on the first floor where the guards’ rooms are. The visitors’ rooms are all on the ground floor. The third floor is reserved for Cameron. Everything has its place here, exactly how Cameron wants it.

I knock once and open the door. With my eyes on the floor, I enter. I close the door behind me with a soft click. I go down into my kneeling position and wait for the orders to come.

I feel a soft pat on my head and icy chills race down my spine. “You may rise, Slave,” Mistress Westbrook purrs. It’s seldom that she’ll book an appointment with me outside of a party. But when she does … heaviness fills my chest as I rise to my full length.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t get to finish the other night. You know what happens when I’m disappointed?”

I keep perfectly still. There is no need to answer her.

“Take off the jeans!” she snaps.

I do as I’m told. Once I’m bare Mistress Westbrook takes hold of my cock. I can’t stop the shiver of repulsion from spreading through my body. I hate this woman so much! Sometimes I fantasize about killing her. She works roughly with me as she places the same straps from Thursday night around the base and at the head of my cock.

“Go kneel on the bed.”

I walk over to the bed and get on top of the covers. I kneel down the same way Sophia does, with my cheek pressed against the covers, my knees open wide, and my ass in the air.

“Fuck him!” Mistress Westbrook barks at Master Westbrook. He seldom talks and lets Mistress Westbrook have full control over every meeting.

I feel Master Westbrook’s cock press against my ass and then a burning sensation fills me as he pushes in.

I feel the electric pulse sizzle up my cock. My hips jerk just as Master Westbrook shoves back in for a second time. He groans loudly, and starts to thrust harder into me.

I grab fistfuls of the covers beneath me and press my face hard into it. I don’t know why I can’t switch off! My cock stiffens until it feels like it’s going to explode.

Master Westbrook fucks my ass while the electric pulses torture my cock. It’s all too much! My ass is burning from Master Westbrook’s hard thrusts. The electric pulses get stronger and stronger until I can’t fight them anymore.

No! Disgust overwhelms me as come spurts from my cock, and then Master Westbrook comes in my ass, grunting like a pig.

“It’s my turn!” Mistress Westbrook says with a voice filled with victory.

Master Westbrook yanks his cock out of my ass, and then Mistress Westbrook’s nails dig into my side. She shoves hard at me until I fall to the side, exposing my cock and the come still spurting from it. She pushes at my legs, spreading them wide.

“I told you I would make you come!” She gloats, and then she smears her hand in the come, spreading it over my cock and balls. Her finger slips into my ass and she starts to finger me. She climbs on the bed and straddles my chest, her ass in my face.

I feel degraded that she’s won. I feel battered and ruined.

She licks the come from my abdomen, cock and balls, making sure to bite me where she can. The pain is nothing compared to what I feel inside.

She then she turns around, and leaving the bands on, she takes my cock into her pussy. She’s never fucked me before. It’s only Master Westbrook who fucks me. She’s sucked and bitten me, and she’s made me lick and bite her. We’ve flogged and beaten each other with paddles and whips. We’ve done everything but fuck.

She starts to ride me and then the electric pulse sizzles through me again. My hips lift from the bed with the force of the electric pulse. She must feel it too because her body jerks against mine. She throws her head back laughing and then she presses the button on the small remote she’s holding in her left hand. Another electric pulse hits hard and again my hips jerk forcing my cock into her.

She doesn’t let go of the button and the pulse is a constant attack on my cock. My ass is lifted off the bed as she bounces on top of me.

I want to scream as my hips start to jerk and then another orgasm robs me of the last bit of self-respect I was clinging to.

Mistress Westbrook screams loudly as she orgasms. She finally lets go of the button controlling the electrosex bands and she gets off me.

My come is dripping down her thighs. She drags a finger through it and holds it out to me. “See, Slave, you’re nothing but a fuck!” She spits at me. “Get out!”

Ashamed and degraded I quickly grab the jeans, pull them on and then run from the room. She fucking won! Why couldn’t I fight it? Why was I so weak?

Two orgasms? Not just once but twice! I’m nothing but a fuck. She’s right.

I take the stairs up to my room, two at a time, and when I reach the top I freeze. I tilt my head to the side, not sure I’m seeing right.

David is in the hallway. He looks a lot older from the last photo I saw of him, but it’s still David. He has a hard look on his face.

Sophia is on her knees and he’s shoving his cock down her throat. Right there in the passage for all to see! She’s making gagging sounds, tears spilling from her eyes from all the gagging and lack of oxygen. David’s hands are fisted in her hair as he keeps her in place so he can fuck her throat as hard as he wants.

Horror creeps over me, slowly and dark. My whole body wounds tight and then something snaps.

My brother is fucking a slave!

My brother… my baby brother!

The brother I sacrificed everything for!

I don’t know how I get to them so fast, but I shove Sophia back. She falls hard to her side but I don’t care. I grab David’s shirt and press him into the wall. My breaths are ragged with anger and misery. The slither of humanity I clung to for David shatters inside of me. It cuts me into a million pieces until there is nothing left of me but an empty black hole.

David’s face contorts in anger. “Get your filthy hands off of me, slave!”

Hands grab me from behind, yanking me away from David.

I pull against them, fighting to be free. David tucks his cock back in his pants and then zips up. I shake my head, rage setting my insides alight. I yank free and swing a fist at David. The impact of my knuckles against his cheek is loud.

David takes a swing at me and I watch as the first blow slams into my jaw. I don’t pull away as he starts to throw one punch after the other. I get my own punches in and a few makes him grunt with pain.

Hands claw at my back and arms, and I’m pulled away from David.

He comes at me, his face dark and bloody. He starts to pound one fist after the other into me.

In my warped mind I feel it’s only right that the one person I promised to protect from this life is the one to end it, seeing as I failed him.

I failed David. My heart mourns because David is just like them. David is a monster. I tried to protect him from becoming a slave and instead he became a monster!

My soul grieves because I’ve failed Momma.

My vision blurs and I sink to my knees. Punches become kicks until the darkness drags me under.

When I come to it’s dark. My hands and feet are tied and I’m spread over a bench. I’m naked and every inch of my body is alive with pain. Someone is slamming his cock into my ass, fucking me raw.

I hear a whimper and I squint through one swollen eye. In front of me is Sophia, also leaning over a bench. David is fucking her hard, but his eyes are on me. “Thanks for all the money you made us you dumb fuck,” he sneers. “Sadly, every hole has an expiration date and you’ve reached yours. No use in pretending anymore. But hey, the money you made us came in handy. The new Ferrari I bought with some of the money they paid for the two of you drives like a dream.” He keeps pumping hard into Sophia as he tells me all of this. “I think I’ll get myself a yacht and a nice place somewhere in Europe. Yes!” He laughs hungrily, and that’s when I see it – he’s just like Cameron – he only cares about the money we can bring in.

The person behind me comes violently and then they pull out. I know this night is far from finished. This was how I was trained. This is how they try to break you. A whip cracks over the back of my thighs and balls, cutting into my flesh.

Every blow hurts more than the one before, tearing the very skin from my bones.

I close my eye not even bothering to see who is doing the whipping and fucking. I’m ready to die. David was all I was living for and he’s gone.

~*~

Chapter Six

River~

Sunday morning can’t come fast enough! I want to go home. Adam has already taken our bags to the car. Now we only need to collect Jack and Sophia and we’ll be on our way.

As we leave the room Sven is waiting for us. “Master Cameron would like to speak with you one last time.” It’s not a request.

We follow him to the same study we met Cameron in yesterday. I transferred the funds in front of him. I’ve paid for Jack and Sophia’s freedom.

The same stale cigar smell hangs in the air. Cameron is busy with a call and I take a seat. Adam takes the seat next to me. I can feel how tense he is.

When Cameron is done with the call he leans back in the oversized leather chair. He rests his hands on the armrests and crosses his legs.

“There’s been a development,” he starts.

My body tightens and I try to stay calm as I say, “I’ve paid for the slaves.”

“Indeed you have,” he continues. “You will have them, but they are no longer in the same condition. You see,” Cameron clears his throat and taps his fingers on the leather as if he’s bored, “the male slave attacked my son.”

My heart flutters with panic. “Both of the slaves had to be punished. It’s the law of my house.”

I grind my teeth to cling to the slither of control I still have. “Just let me have my slaves.”

Cameron nods. “They have been taken to your vehicle. I just thought it would be in good form to advise you of their condition.”

I get up quickly and don’t even check if Adam is following. I don’t bother with the act anymore and as I head down the stairs I break out into a run. I can’t see anyone in the car as I approach it. I yank the back door open and the air is torn from my lungs. There is only blood. They are covered in blood! Dark chunks of either flesh or blood are all I can see.

I feel hands on my shoulders and Adam directs my body until I’m seated on the passenger side. He closes all the doors and then jogs around the car. We don’t even bother with safety belts as we speed away from the hell hole.

Warm tears spill over my cheeks. I can’t bring myself to turn around in my seat. If I see them beaten and bloody again I’ll lose it, knowing I can’t help them until we’re home.

After we’ve left San Antonio where Cameron’s business operates from, we make our way to Houston. We stick to the main roads and busy cities. The more people the easier for us. We only deviate from the road once and that’s to stop in a small town near Jackson, Mississippi. We always change cars, dumping the one we used to free the slaves. The car waiting for us is an old station wagon.

We carry all the bags over to the station wagon before we go to get Jack and Sophia. Adam opens the door and he doesn’t waste time hauling Sophia out from the car.

“Be careful!” I snap at him. “She’s hurting,” a sob chokes my words, making them thick.

“She’s out cold!” Adam snaps back at me. “The sooner we have them home the sooner we can ease their pain. I’m not going to waste time!”

He’s as angry as I am. I watch as he places Sophia on the back seat.

“We should leave the bags,” I say. “Then we can put Jack in the back and they don’t have to share the backseat.”

Adam looks at the backseat and then the open space where our bags are. “You’re right.”

He quickly removes the bags again and tosses them back in the car. “Make sure there is nothing in the bags that can help anyone track us down!”

While I quickly search the bags and then the car, Adam carries Jack to the station wagon. Sweat is beading on Adam’s forehead and his shirt is soaked through with blood once he has them both settled in. While Adam searches Jack and Sophia for any tracking devices, I grab a clean shirt and hold it ready for Adam.

He finds the tracking devices on their hips and I look away as he takes out a sharp pocket knife. I can never watch as he cuts the devices out, but I know it’s necessary to ensure our safety.

Once he’s finished he drags the bloody shirt over his head and uses it to wipe his hands clean before he throws the shirt and tracking devices in the old car. He takes the clean shirt from me and quickly pulls it over his head.

I get in the station wagon and drive a distance away. Adam sets the old car alight, burning all the evidence and then he covers our tracks before he jumps in the passenger side.

Adam closes his eyes and rests his head back against the chair while I get us back on the interstate. The road is long and hard. We don’t stop unless it’s for gas. We drive for over twenty four hours before we reach home.

I’m worried because Jack and Sophia have not woken yet. I hope they’ll pull through!

It’s well after breakfast as we drive through the gates. I feel a slither of relief when I spot Landon and Kyle on horseback. They patrol the entrance. Both tip their hats to us as we drive by.

I bring the station wagon to a standstill in front of the manor. It’s so good to see Miss Ella that tears flood my eyes. I jump from the car and run to her. She wraps me in a motherly embrace. “It’s okay, Darling. You’re home.” She lets go and starts to walk to the car. “Did you save anyone?”

Adam opens the back door of the station wagon and that sets Tristan in motion. As he looks into the car his eyes widen with the same horror I’ve been carrying in my heart. “Are they alive?” Tristan whispers.

“Yes,” I snap, pushing past him. “You can help Adam. Carry Jack to the room.” I look around and spot Ian coming around the side of the house. “Ian!” I call and getting his attention I wave him over. “Come help me.” I look at Adam. “We’ll put them in the same room. I don’t think they should be separated.”

There’s an urgency in the air as we all work together to get them into the room. Miss Ella has quickly yanked the bedding off, leaving only the sheets. When both Jack and Sophia are each on a bed we run to get our medical supplies.

Ian leaves the four of us to do our thing. Miss Ella brings two buckets of water and I quickly wet a cloth. I start to clean the blood from Sophia, while Adam cleans Jack.

There are thick smears of semen all over her body and it yanks a chunk of my heart out just thinking what she must’ve been through.

We have to change the water four times before most of the blood is washed off. It’s just horrible! I start to cry silently when I see all her wounds now that the blood is coming off.

We spend most of the day cleaning Sophia and Jack. Adam has medical training and I leave it to him to stitch the gash on Sophia’s leg. When Adam is done with Jack and Sophia, Miss Ella and I get clean sheets for the beds.

I pull Jack up gently, careful of where I’m touching him. Miss Ella slides the sheet under his back. I let him down slowly and then pick up his legs so Miss Ella can pull the sheet all the way over the mattress. I cover him with a light sheet, knowing anything heavier will just hurt.

We do the same with Sophia and then Miss Ella talks for the first time, “I’m going to go make some chicken soup. The children will need food when they wake up.” She rushes from the room and I know that she needs time to herself in the kitchen to deal with what just happened.

Adam takes hold of my hand and he pulls me against his body. We hold each other a long while before he whispers, “Go clean yourself up. I’ll take the first shift.”

I nod and leave in a hurry. I go straight to my room. I strip the clothes from my body and get under a hot shower. I let the water pelt me. I wish it could wash the horror from my soul.

I scrub myself a few times, until my skin is glowing red. I move faster and faster, an urgency to get back to them building within me.

As I dry my body, hot tears sneak out. I’m hurting for Jack and Sophia. How could those monsters be so cruel?

I dress in some shorts and a t-shirt. I never wear shoes when we’re home. I tie my wet hair in a low ponytail and then run back to the room. As I walk into the room I can feel the heat. “Adam,” I touch his shoulder, “go shower. I’ll sit with them.”

As Adam leaves the room I go to set the AC colder. Miss Ella must’ve brought clean water again. I dip a finger in the bucket and feel that it’s cool. I rinse a clean cloth and start with Sophia, wiping her down again. We’ve dealt with cases like this before. We’ve had one death where the girl was too far gone.

I start to wipe softly over Jack’s chest and then moving the sheet away, I keep wiping him down. Now that all the blood is off I can see his wounds clearly. The part that’s been beaten the worst is his legs. They even whipped his groin area! Tears well in my eyes. I remember how gorgeous they looked on Thursday night, now they’re nothing but welts and bruises.

Adam returns quickly, bringing an extra chair to the room. “I told Mama to phone Doc. We’re going to need antibiotics.”

I can only nod. Doc is our town’s general practitioner. He’s older than the huge tree we have out front. He helps us where he can and that’s all that matters.

Doc doesn’t take long to come. I hear him down the passage, “That’s four dates you owe me now, Ella.”

“I don’t owe you a damn thing, old man! If you don’t want to help these people then leave!”

They are always going at each other. Why they don’t just get together, I’ll never know.

Doc stops in the door, looking to his left where Miss Ella must be. “You know I love helping, but I’d love it even more if you were to give me the pleasure of your company.”

“Oh hush! Just go fix them children.”

Doc finally comes into the room and the smile drops from his face. “Oh! What happened to them?” He rushes to Jack’s side and quickly gets to work.

“They were beaten,” Adam answers. “Check them for diseases as well. They were raped.”

“It’s wrong,” Doc mutters as he goes about checking them. “Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.”

I’ve never seen Doc so upset, but then again, I’ve never seen two people hurt so badly before. I’m worried that they won’t pull through.

~*~

It’s been two days. Both their fevers have finally broken. They’ve been in and out of consciousness but this morning Sophia woke up and she was able to eat half a bowl of soup. Adam doesn’t take his eyes off her. I see the look of protectiveness in his eyes.

My eyes go back to Jack and that’s where they stay. It’s late afternoon when Jack opens his eyes again. I quickly rush to his side and taking his hand, I hold it in both of mine.

“Jack?” I whisper softly.

He blinks a few times and then he turns his head to me. His green eyes are dull, there is no sign of the vibrant green they once were.

I lean a little forward. “Can you hear me, Jack?”

I feel a light tug and then he pulls his hand from mine. He turns his face away from me and he closes his eyes.

Not long after Jack woke up, Miss Ella comes in with two bowls of soup.

Sophia sits close to Adam, letting him feed her. She even allows him to hold her hand. It’s obvious she feels safe with him. I wonder what happened between them on Thursday night.

I take Jack’s bowl of soup and move closer to his bed. “Jack, would you like to eat something?” I sit down next to him. “It’s Miss Ella’s famous recipe.”

Jack moves fast, much faster than I thought he could with all his injuries. He slaps the bowl from my hands and it crashes to the floor, hot soup hitting my leg. Jack sits dangerously close to me. I’m aware of the fact that he can hurt me.