My Secret, My Bully, My Mates

"No! No, I mean I got my standard beating treatment, he likes the brutality, but he seemed to like the audience, so I had to watch." I shudder with Jena in my arms and Doc Sylvia just nods.

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Let's get you both back by the fire, get some food in you and clean, warm clothes." She walks out with the container and mutters something angry under her breath.

Lillian comes back in with a cooler full of food and drinks followed by Wyatt who has a duffle bag that must have clothes for us. He doesn't stay, but gives me a small smile before heading back out again.

much as right now. She also brought water and gatorade for both of us. I opened one of the sugary, salty electrolyte drinks and almost gagged

sleeping bag rolls and Jena and I both curled into the soft warmth. It has been a while since if felt something so soft and comfortable. We both tried to get back to sleep.

we were kept in. The sounds of the whips and paddles used on us. Our dirty and stained clothes being ripped everytime one of the guards reached out to restrain us for our daily beating. Every time my dream would move to focus on Mike, like a camera in a movie, forcing me

mind. She doesn't come out of the terror on her own, when she starts to flail getting dangerously close to the fire and finally calls my name, I grab her and haul her to me, cooing that she is safe. I sit and rock her until

herself at the cave entrance to keep an eye on us. I can hear murmuring voices just beyond the cave entrance. Maybe status reports or her relaying our restless states, who knows. I'm still too fried mentally to even think straight. I have noticed that my body is coming out of the fight or flight mode though and the exhaustion almost hurts. I