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My body doesn’t care I eat I gobble I gag fro ue as hard as I can, to reach the bottolass of tea and dump some in the bowl I swirl it around and drink the last of the stewbut I do it I need the food I drink the tea down and wipe my face off with my shirt
My tattered and filthy t-shirt The lock in the door turns I turn my head like a feral cat I scramble back to the corner My old ways are all back They were always there, hiding under the surface I just never knew it I never knew I could go back so easily I’m in dirty pants and a filthy shirt I stink in ways I don’t reht is too much I squint my eyes The man walks in I would know the slap of his shoes anywhere
"We have a deal to offer you today One of you is going to be tortured It’s a live feed for your friend, well benefactor I suppose he never was your friend Now Stuart, has had his fair share He has volunteered everyday to spare your life"
That hurtsto be proud of
"He has been beaten, cut, flogged, whipped, burned and endured water torture We are offering you the opportunity to take his place?"
His accent sounds like he should be offeringa children’s story He should be saying happy jolly things tome the chance to save my friend
I don’t answer hiht of the doorfra the door when I speak, "I will"
He pokes his head back in, "You will?"
I nod, "I will"
He snaps his fingers, "Clean her up I want to see her skin blush when I strike it"
I’ into the rooht instantly There is no point I won’t win But I fight anyway
They drag ht I’ They can’t walk I didn’t have irl with dark hair and pretty grey eyes is waiting for me there Theand filthy I a white dress It’s weird Like she is an angel She sainst her dark-red lips
"Hello" She says softly
She takes round I stand on wobbly legs and let her pull e steal tub Steam lifts off of it
She pulls my shirt off and tosses it in the bin I can see myself in the irl froasp and grab them I should leap away fro I let her pull me into the tub
The water burns my skin it’s so hot
"You’re cold It’s not that hot" She says when she seesair My skin burns but s collapse into the tub I sit as she washesI’ve ever had She washesusting filrabs a shower nozzle She sprays s hard I can see ry
She pulls e robe It’s soft and fluffy She takeswhite hallway It’s freakingBut it feels like that is the point I’m completely disoriented
The floors are dark slate and the walls are bright white She holdswide hallway to a huge dark-brown door
I glance out the s and wonder if I’m still in the city
"Is this Boston?" I ask in a dead voice The s are glazed in a way thatout of thenores h the doorway
The inside of the roos in the middle of several couches and chairs The floor is wood and warmer than the slate The walls are pale-blush colored It suits the furniture There is a bed at the back of the rooulp
It’s a massive canopy
My sto in a chair He grins and my heart beats wildly
His face
She curtsies and leaves the roo a lock
My eyes are wide I’ the robe
He doesn’t stand He srey pants and pale-blue dress shirt look alht in the bar
He smiles and flashes the dimple on his one cheek His dark hair is in the same faux hawk
My heartbeat picks up The roo of my wet hair on the wood
"Go sit by the fire, warone
Was he even the sa?
"Go" He de my back on him He doesn’t move from the chair
He sits so relaxed, it’s ally
My stoain I walk around the couch opposite him and drop toin front I sit there quietly I don’t knohat to say or do