When I stand back, he says, “Better.Do it again.”
I grit my teeth, staring at the floor.It’s a fucking bed.The rest of the guys are in the dining room eating.Keagan grounded me for the evening and has forbidden me from having dinner to teach me a lesson.
He ordered me into the dorm the moment I got off the bus from school.I knew I was toast the second I saw his face.It was confirmed when he grabbed my shirt collar and dragged me down the hall.
At no point have I noticed a single difference between my bed and any other in the room.The asshole simply chose to pick on me tonight.He does that.It’s never rational.He likes to play with us.His life mission is to get boys kicked out of this home and placed in a correctional facility under false pretenses.
I won’t let him get to me.All I need to do is make this bed over and over until he grows tired.It’s a game, though.I have to present myself as somewhat angry and bitter.If not, he doesn’t get his narcissistic fill.
I’ve tried the other way.Blind obedience without questioning.Meekly doing whatever he asks as if I have no spine.The results of that route are worse.He hates it when we’re too mild-mannered.He wants us to be fuming.So we do it.Just enough to fill his fucking asshole tank and not enough to get actually kicked out.
Punching him in the face is going too far.Fuming is on the gray line.
Resigned, I pull the covers off the bed yet again, all my focus on maintaining my anger at the right level.It’s fucked up.I know it’s fucked up.But there’s nothing I can do.Not unless I want to be locked up.
The deck is stacked against me.It always has been.The only way out of this fucked-up situation is turning eighteen.I have four years left.But I have a plan.I’m going to get the fuck out of here.We all are.We’re going to play the game and come out as survivors.
We may be different from our peers, but we’re not stupid.We’re intelligent.Above average.We can outsmart this asshole, and we will.Fuck him.
I finish making the bed yet again without remembering doing it.
“Again!”Master Drill Sergeant Keagan yells.
It’s hard to maintain my composure, but I do.I’ve promised myself to never let this fucker see me sweat.I’ve promised my brothers, too.We have a pact.We’re going to get out of this hellhole together.
“Again!”
I flinch.
Fuck you.Fuck you.Fuck you.Fuck you.Fuck you.Fuck you.
Gasping, I bolt awake and sit upright on my bed.It takes me a moment to realize I’m no longer in that fucking home.I’m in Brimstone House.I’m safe.I survived.Wealldid.We’re making a life for ourselves.It’s unconventional.We’re unusual fuckers.But we did it.We got out.
I stand and glance at the clock.It’s time to go to my girl.I’m determined to help her understand my world.Yeah, I know I’m warped.I have idiosyncrasies and odd needs.But she does, too.The goal is to make them mesh.
If anyone can achieve that, I can.
Twelve
Briana
I fell asleep.I only know this because I’m startled awake when his hand lands over my mouth.I should be used to it by now.But it still stuns me every time.
“Shhh.It’s just me, princess.”He sits on the edge of my bed.I kind of wish it were a full or a queen instead of a twin.I’d like him to be able to lie next to me.But I’m not sure that’s something he would ever do anyway.
This man, my stalker, is not…normal.Something is off about him.
Ha.Besides the fact that he’s a stalker.There’s more than that, though.
But I’m so drawn to him I can’t stop myself.I have Stockholm Syndrome or something.Is that the correct label?It’s not like he’s holding me hostage.He didn’t kidnap me.Right?
“Can I lower my hand, pretty girl?”
I nod.
He lifts his palm from my lips and sets a finger on my cheek, stroking.“Good girl,” he praises in that voice I’m learning to love and crave.
I’m so fucked up.