“Amanda Collins and Wren Jacobs,” she says as she hands our IDs to the man. He looks at them for a moment before handing the clipboard and our licenses back.
“Both of you read and sign. This is just a liability waiver to protect the property owner as well as the individuals coordinating and participating. Legalities matter, so don’t break the law. Universal safe word is red. If you need a moment to prevent calling red, say yellow.”
We both take a paper and look it over before signing it and handing it back. “Is that it?” Amanda asks.
“That’s it. Have fun, ladies,” he says.
The gate opens and she matches my excitement as we drive through the gate. We follow the handwritten signs for parking and jump out.
“What do we do now?” I ask.
“Now, we can go mingle until they blow the whistle,” she says. “Do you want to try to stick with me tonight? We will likely end up getting separated, but it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Yeah, at least for a while,” I say. “It will be light enough outside for a minute that we can get somewhere and holed up.”
“I’m afraid of falling asleep somewhere,” Amanda laughs. “I’ll probably wake up to someone putting their dick inside of me.”
“Same, although… that’s kinda hot.”
“Oh. By the way, I’m pretty sure Tate is going after you,” she says.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Robert isn’t participating but he is doing the assignments. The guys pick us so that everyone has one person, rather than two people going after one,” she explains. “I heard Tate tell him your name.”
“Is he always that… intense?” I ask.
“Oh, you mean quiet and creepy? Yes. He’s a great guy, he’s just not really into talking. He’s not shy or anything. He just doesn’t like people, but somehow seems to like you,” she says.
“Is that bad?” I ask.
“No, if I didn’t see him as a brother, I would definitely let him chase me through the woods,” she laughs.
We join a group of girls that are waiting for things to start. Amanda’s brother comes around with another waiver for us to sign. It’s essentially just to cover the guys in case someone tries to say they were assaulted. It’s the understanding of the use of thesafe word and giving the guys consent to do as they wish until that word is given.
Why someone would get as far as starting the games and not understand what’s going to happen is beyond comprehension. Some people just look to be a victim, I guess. It sucks because that only goes to discredit survivors of assault. Things like that are the main reason I never said anything about what Oscar was doing. I knew that no one at the church would believe me and it would only be my fault, so there was no point in saying anything.
I’m pretty sure that my parents knew what was going on because they brought up Oscar marrying me. I feel as though they would only bring that up if they knew that he was assaulting me. They would rather put me in a marriage with my abuser than anyone to know that I’ve had premarital sex. Although assault doesn’t count as sex, to them it does. I thought they had finally gotten it out of their system, but a few weeks before they died they brought it up again. Luckily, I was far enough away that I was able to avoid much of the coercion.
Robert, Amanda’s brother, walks back over to us and smirks at me. “Can I help you?” I ask.
“Just curious on how you grabbed Tate’s attention,” he says.
“They’ve exchanged very little in conversation,” Amanda says. “He just kinda latched onto her when he got there. To be fair, she was in someone’s lap getting finger fucked on a dare.”
“Ah, well… have fun with that,” Robert laughs.
“I don’t think that you two are making vague enough implications that I’m about to get wrecked,” I laugh.
“I’ll be less vague then,” Robert says with a smile. “If he’s as enamored as I think he is, you are definitely about to get wrecked.”
“He’s twice my size, so I am, admittedly, a little worried for my internal organs,” I say. Robert chuckles but then nods to someone behind me. I feel his presence near me, but I can’t tell how close he is. It’s like my body recognizes him but it’s so melted by his aura that the alarm bells are not sounding for him being so close.
“Tell me, Wren,” Robert says. “What is a pastor's daughter doing out here? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for church tomorrow?”
“Y’all just love this whole preacher's daughter stereotype,” I laugh. “The serious answer is simple. I was sheltered as a child to the point that the only thing I know outside of every word of the Bible is how to be assaulted by someone meant to protect me. Anytime I joke about it or mention it, you all look horrified. It is so normal to me that it doesn’t register that it should be painful to talk about. It’s a situation where I can predict every little thing that he will do to me in the event that he gets me alone again. This allows me other ways to take control of my life since my parents died. Although I know y’all are just having fun, I’m tired of having to justify myself just because I grew up with the Bible being shoved down my throat.”
“That’s her nice way of telling you to shut the fuck up,” Amanda says.