Emily's eyes were wide as the man set the young blond girl down next to her on the bed, her bright green eyes sparkling as she sent an innocent smile up to the older brunette. Emily sent her scared gaze to the man as he ran his hand over the child's soft hair, his gaze fixed on her chest. "Say hello to Mable, Bailey."
Bailey looked up to the brunette next to her and gave a small wave. "Hello Miss Mayabell!"
The man shook the young girl's shoulder before sitting down beside her. "We'll help you say that later." He grinned down to the frightened brunette sitting on the bed, and let his finger caress her pale cheek. He chuckled as she tried not to shiver. "Breakfast is ready. Are you hungry?"
When she didn't answer he gave a tug on her handcuffed wrists. "Mable, I asked you a question."
Emily nodded quickly after wincing when she felt her left wrist twist painfully. "Y-Yes, I'm hungry."
The man grinned wickedly, his light yellow teeth coming out to play as he set Bailey on the ground, calling Hampton in to take her back downstairs. Once both girls were gone, he bent down and gathered Emily in his arms, his muscles tight around her so she wouldn't squirm. "And by the way, my name Hastings. But you may call me Nathaniel."
Emily bit her lip as she nodded, her eyes closing as he carried her out of the room and down a flight of steps. When she felt herself being placed down, she let her brown eyes flash open to see all three children around a table in front of her, their hands clasped on the table in front of them. She looked up to Nathaniel beside her and felt her body freeze as he unlocked her handcuffs, before locking her hands on the arms of her wood chair. "Comfortable?"
She nodded numbly as she watched him sit at the other end of the table, his hands clasping in front of him before smiling at the children. "Everyone's already introduced themselves I'm hoping, so lets just get to the prayers."
Emily sat in her chair wide eyed as the entire table closed their eyes and bent their heads. She felt a shiver run down her spine as Hampton's hands landed on her shoulders, the younger woman's lips coming to her ear. "When he looks at you, you must look into his eyes. Try to not talk back to him, do you understand? You don't want to end up like the others."
Emily felt tears flood her eyes as she looked over her shoulder, seeing the woman's scared face. "What happened to the others?"
Hampton sighed as she stayed quiet trying not to interrupt the family, squeezing Emily's shoulders reassuringly before pointing out the kitchen window that stood not fifty feet away. "They're remembered in the backyard. And their hearts…"
Emily immediately jumped in her chair and groaned as he wrist twisted, causing four sets of eyes to look her way. Nathaniel's hard eyes looked to hers and gave a defiant grin as he spotted a tear running down her cheek. "Is everything alright darling?"
Emily bit her lip as Hadley hopped out of his chair and came over to her to start cutting her food. "Y-Yes sir. I'm fine."