{Hayden's POV}
It was still surreal to me that Ashley was in my home, and resting upstairs after four long years of her being missing. The sad truth was that she was always in the city; being forced to work as a slave to Virgil Grimborn. I blamed myself; I should have looked harder to find her, and maybe she wouldn't have suffered whatever it was she did. It bothered me that I didn't know, but I planned to go through with my idea of asking her to tell me what used to happen in the whorehouse. If Ashley believed firmly that I was her master, then she wouldn't refuse to tell me because of her mindset that she'd be punished for disobedience. Granted, I would never harm her, but until I knew what she went through, I couldn't exactly find a counter method to break her out of the breaking in she endured for however long it happened. From what I could see so far, she was calm and did everything she was told. On the flipside, Ashley had hesitated to follow orders last night when Virgil told her to come to his side. And I believe that the reason she didn't is that I managed to get through to her since she called me Hiccup, and I hadn't given her that name, so she said it on her own because she remembered my voice.
I had so many things to take care of now that she was located. One of the first was that I needed to inform the police, and then explain to them that Ashley will be staying with me because returning her to her mother could end up killing Ashley, and I wouldn't allow that danger to befall her. My father had been the Chief of Police, I'm sure they would be willing to work with me, and also, I knew that they'd raid the whorehouse. I know I said I wouldn't rat them out, but I couldn't stand knowing how many girls were there, suffering the same as Ashley had. It wasn't fair to them, and it would be a police matter after I told. I'd do whatever it took to keep Ashley safe; I swore that on my life. I knew my friends would come over to ask why I bailed on them last night, and I took the chance to tell them I'd located Ashley, and as expected, they were speechless, and the girls crying. The shock remained as I explained everything to them, and they apologized for not believing me when I said something was wrong, and that Ashley had been in trouble. So now, they were over while I had Ashley resting, and we were trying to figure out ways to get through to her, make her remember the past.
I had no doubt she remembered us, but perhaps it was locked away because she'd been told that nobody else mattered but her master and his clients; in this case, that meant Virgil. The only reason I believed what I did was that Ashley called me Hiccup on her own. I didn't tell her too and only said that I was her best friend. If anyone could bring her back from this, it was her friends, and me.
"So what are we dealing in all this. What has she done so far that could be considered routine?" Devon asked.
"Routine? Well, she was taught to wake up and be dressed for work when her master gets up. I got out of the shower this morning, and she was wearing this very revealing outfit that would allow…easy access I suppose you could say. Uh, at breakfast, she said she doesn't eat until her master says she can. Her words this morning when I asked if she was hungry were; I am whatever my master says I am, and she would eat after the morning fuck sessions with him," I stated.
"Makes sense. Anything else?" Seth inquired.
"There was…one other thing right before you showed up. I was reclining on the couch like this and started falling asleep. Ashley came into the room and tried to give me a blowjob. I asked her what she was doing, and she said that her master told her if he was sitting the way I was, she was supposed to get him off. After that, I sent her to get some rest," I informed.
"And she's been up there since? Well, except for you bringing her down to see us?" Ford questioned as I nodded.
"Yeah, and you saw how she was upon seeing you. In the mindset that you were paying clients because she thinks I'm her master, due to something Virgil told her. That if she ever went home with someone else, that person would be her new owner," I muttered.
"Have you told the police that she's not missing, and was sold by her mother into slavery? All that is illegal, Hayden. You have to report it," Hailey exclaimed.
"I haven't done anything yet because I don't want them to take her away until she's…recovered more. I know the Ashley we know is still in there but buried. Right now she's…an obedient slave or that's her mindset at least," I sighed.
"I don't think they'll take her away from the person who saved her and put out the original missing person's report, Hayden," Eli remarked.
"It's still fear, guys. I don't know what she's been through, and I'm not contacting Virgil to find out because it took every ounce of restraint I had not to kill him last night when I found out that he's had Ashley since she was seventeen. Gods, I don't even what to know what they did to her to break the fiery spirit she had. You know how she was and now look at her," I looked down.
"Hayden, it's not your fault. You have searched endlessly for years to find her, and now you have. We'll get her back to herself; we promise. The first thing we have to do is figure out what she's endured," Ford pointed out.
"I assumed that on my own. I figured that so far, she tells me anything I want to know, so if I ask her how things were, perhaps she'll be forthcoming about it?" I shrugged.
"It's worth a shot. As long as she believes you're her master, she'll do anything you say to avoid punishment," Roxanne nodded.
"Should I call her down and ask?" I wondered.
"I'd give her some time to rest, Hayden. Another thing you might want to do is be friendly, that way she'll be more receptive to being open and talking to you as a friend rather than a slave who has to follow orders," Hailey offered.
"I had anticipated on doing that," I said. I checked the clock on the wall, seeing that the hands were positioned to show the time as 10 am, and it had been about twelve hours since I brought her to my house.
"What are you going to do with her mom?" Alicia questioned.
"Nothing," I informed.
"What? Hayden, she's the reason that-," Travis began.
"Asvora Hofferson is not my concern; Ashley is. The police can deal with her, and the whorehouse situation," I remarked coldly. Yes, I was pissed. Asvora lied to my father and me when we questioned here where Ashley was, already knowing that CPS didn't take her. No, I wouldn't do anything. My goal was to bring my best friend back, and once I knew was okay again, and healing. I'd tell her that I loved her; I would not miss the chance again. Even if she didn't love me back, as long as she was okay and happy, then I would be too.
(Hours Later)
Lunchtime had come, and the friends were staying to see how Ashley would behave during the midday meal. I had made grilled cheese with bacon, one of Ashley's favorites, so we'd see how this went. When everything was all made up, I went to the bottom of the stairs to call for her.
"Ashley, are you hungry? I made lunch," I said. A moment later, I saw her come out of the room, then walked down the staircase to me. "Grilled cheese with bacon, one of your all-time faves," I smiled some.
"But I've not yet earned my lunch, master," Ashley said.
"Excuse me? Earned your lunch? You're a human being, Ashley, you don't need to earn food," I stated.
"I was told that I had to earn my food by doing work or pleasing customers," Ashley responded. I sighed.
"You cleaned earlier, Ashley, and at your desire to do so. You don't have to earn food with me. You will get three main meals a day, and if you're still hungry in between, you can have snacks," I told her softly.
"Have I…upset you, master?" Ashley inquired.
"What? No, you haven't. And stop calling me master, remember?" I reminded while leading her to the living room so she could eat. I noticed she was moving slower as if she were in pain, and I wondered what the cause cold be to that. Ashley sat down on the couch, and ate slow, but never finished the first sandwich. "What's wrong?" I asked her.
"I'm fine, Hayden," Ashley replied.
"Don't lie. I know that asshole didn't feed you a lot. You're wicked skinny, Ashley, and you need to eat," I stated. "Now, tell me what's wrong?"
"I'm just feeling a bit nauseous, and my stomach is cramping," Ashley said.
"Likely due to the fact you're not used to eating this much," I sighed.
"Or getting her period, since she mentioned cramping?" Devon interjected. Ashley yawned three times within five minutes, and I could tell that her body must be aching.
"Ha-Have I been good?" Ashley inquired.
"Of course you have, Ashley. Don't worry, you're not in trouble, and you won't get punished with me. I promise," I tried to assure her.
"O-Okay," she nodded, trying to eat again. I didn't understand why she was asking if she'd been good. However, as the day went on, I began to notice more with her. Ashley had begun to sweat, and throw up a few times. Ashley was absurdly tired too, and I was starting to get more concerned. As dinner neared, Ashley approached me quietly. "I haven't pleased my master, please, punish me for my insolence," she got on her knees before me.
I quickly faced her, shocked. What the hell?! Ashley was ASKING me to punish her on the ground she thought she didn't please me? "Ashley, I'm not…punishing you. You've done nothing wrong," I said to her.
"I haven't pleased you all day because you won't let me. It's…my job as your slave to make you happy, and you're not. You won't let me touch you, so you're mad at me. You won't let me service your clients, to make you money. I don't want you to be upset with me; I've been bad and deserve to be punished for failing you," Ashley looked up at me. I didn't have words on how to respond to this. I wouldn't let her do anything sexual to me, or what she was used to doing so she thought she was bad?
"Ashley, when you were with your old master, Virgil, what did you have to do, to make him happy, and what happened if you did and didn't achieve that goal?" Ford asked. Ashley looked at me, asking if she could answer him. I nodded to her.
"My old master expected me to surprise him with random acts of sexual activity while he worked. One of his workers would let me out, and tell me to find Virgil to please him. I had to go to him and make him happy. And if he had friends over, I was to please them too. If the master weren't happy with me, he would punish me for disappointing him, and then he wouldn't let me touch him again for the rest of the day. If I made him happy, I'd get a reward for doing a good job," Ashley responded.
"What was your reward?" I asked now.
"Master would give me a shot, something to take the pain away, and relax me for the rest of the night before working with clients," Ashley enlightened. A shot? What kind of shot would do that? Morphine? "I always made him happy because I like the shot. But I've…let master down today, so I'm to be punished," she looked to the floor.
"Hang on a second," Hailey crouched down to Ashley's level, lifting her face, and checking over her outward appearance, then lifting her arms, checking both sides of them. "I think I figured out why she's seemed sick all day," Hailey looked at me sadly.
"What, what is it?" I asked quickly.
"It's a drug withdrawal, Hayden. Everything is there to show she's been using drugs, and given the marks on her arms from recent shots, as she calls them; the drug being used to control her behavior and remove pain. That's why she's asking if she's been good, to get another shot because it's been over twelve or so hours since the last one, and she's used to getting it every day. I can see the effects of the drug use on her face. I hope you're ready for the long haul, Hayden because the next week or so is going to be hell to work this out of her system," Hailey explained as I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Drugs? That's what they'd been giving her to stay calm, relaxed, and obedient?!
"Do you know which drug, Hailey?" Ford asked. Hailey nodded slowly.
"Judging by the timeframe of the withdrawal, and symptoms; its Heroin," Hailey informed. My hand clenched into a fist as I struggled to stay in control of my anger. Those bastards were giving her HEROIN through injection?! "Once it's out of her system, she might have an easier time adjusting to being out of that lifestyle, Hayden. It won't be a great week, but we'll be here to help her through the at-home detox process,"
I sighed and relaxed. "Thanks," I said, looking at Ashley's miserable form on the floor. So, this was why she'd been the way she has been since I brought her back here. It didn't matter, she was with me now, and I'd help her with this first hurdle in returning to herself; overcoming the withdrawal from Heroin, and getting her clean once more. This was the first problem to take care of in her recovery.
