- Marcus stood up and I knew he looked down at me. "Stand up." I stood up before him and I kept my eyes trained on the floor. He caressed my cheek and I closed my eyes tightly and a small whimper sounded in my throat. "I'm sorry but I had to do that, the girl couldn't be punished so you had to be." I didn't react at all and he sighed. "Boxers on and let's go. Carry the clothes and shoes." I leant down to pick the boxers up and pain flared from my butt and up my back. I winced as I put on my boxers and picked up the clothes. "Good, let's go." I followed him as he walked out of the cabin and he closed the door when I was out.

- I gasped at the cold and tried to curl into myself. I followed him as he walked to the house. The walk felt like forever and I was relieved when we walked through the huge doors. "Marcus! It's good to see you back safe." John greeted as we walked towards the stairs and Marcus nodded to him before climbing the stairs.

- "Sit." He ordered when we got into his room and motioned towards a air bed. I lowered myself onto the bed and I stiffened when he grabbed my leg and chained it before doing the same to my other leg. He stood up and left the room after throwing my bag at me.

- I listened to his footsteps going down the stairs before I laid down and curled into myself as much as I could and I allowed myself to cry. I sniffed once and forced the tears to stop. I sat up and pulled my bag onto my lap. I opened it and sighed when I saw my picture ripped in half. I pulled clothes out of the top of my bag and laid them beside me. I pulled out the teddy I'd packed before putting all the clothes back in, including my own clothes that I'd worn today. I held the bear in my hands before pulling it to my chest.

- I don't know how long I sat holding the bear but stiffened when the door opened slowly. "Riker?" I turned to see Gloria at the door holding a tray in her hands. I smiled at her and she walked into the room, closing the door behind her. "How are you coping?" She asked as she put the tray on the floor and lowered herself onto the bed beside me.

- "I-I don't really know. I mean I'm here but I'm not really here, does that make any sense?"

- "It does." She answered with a smile. "I'm just lucky that I don't have to worry about going to auction." I stared at her and she covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry! I-I forgot." She stuttered with wide eyes.

- "It's ok, I mean I was bought. There's no point hiding the fact." I replied and she put a hand on my knee. "How are you free from auction?" I asked, finally processing her words.

- "Dad made a deal with John." She looked at her lap. "John is my grandad. Papa, that's Grant, was bought to be Darrel's slave but dad fell in love. Dad made an agreement when Grant was pregnant with me, he would be Johns slave if I wasn't registered as being born and papa could have me." She finished her story and I nodded.

- "H-how did Grant have you?" I asked.

- "He's transsexual. He had a gender change after I was born." I nodded, it made sense. "Now, let's talk dinner." As the words left her mouth my stomach growled loudly. "I'd say you're hungry." I nodded with a sheepish smile. "Good, because I have some food for us!" She picked up a plate off the tray and my mouth watered looking at the 2 sandwiches on there. "One is corned beef and the other is egg mayo, do you want to have half each?" I looked at her.

- "Does anyone know you brought this up?" I asked.

- "Dad, papa and Marcus. Marcus told me to bring you a sandwich and to make one for myself. So, do you want half each?" I nodded and she smiled, giving me half of the corned beef sandwich. "Eat up." She said.

- I bit into the sandwich, relishing the taste of the meat. I closed my eyes and chewed slowly before swallowing. I took another bite, then another and soon the half was gone. "Thank you." I whispered and Gloria smiled before giving me half of the egg sandwich. I ate it slowly, not knowing when I would next eat something.

- "Time for our drink! Do you want fanta or water?" I stared at her with my mouth opened and she picked up a 2L bottle of orange fanta up. "I take it you want the fizzy stuff?" She asked with a laugh and I nodded. She poured me a glass and I drank it slowly. "I heard you on the TV, Darrel wasn't happy."

- "Marcus phoned and handed it to me, I had no idea that he would do that." I answered honestly and smiled as I remembered talking to Rocky. "I've thought about talking to them since the second day of the training, I never thought I would." I saw Gloria smile at me.

- She poured me another glass of fanta and we both looked at the door when it opened. I stiffened when I saw it was Marcus. "Go downstairs Gloria, leave the drink up here." She quickly got up and picked up the plate the sandwiches had been on. I watched her leave the room and I watched Marcus as he walked around the room. He finally sat on his bed and looked at me. "I talked to Darrel and John." I listened to him as he spoke. "They've agreed to giving you to the science facility. we only have tonight and tomorrow together, they're picking you up tomorrow night." The words sank in and I couldn't help but feel happy, I would be out of this hell hole. He stood up and walked into his bathroom. When he walked out he was only dressed in boxers and he sat on his bed before looking at me again. "Sleep well tonight, we'll have fun tomorrow." He ordered as he laid down and his back was towards me.

- I laid down on the mattress to find that it was actually comfortable. I turned my back to Marcus and pulled the bear to my chest, holding it close to my heart. Today had been a whirlwind of emotions, but it had been the best day of his slavery life.