Another rape warning for this chapter. It will not be in near as much detail. The parts will be short so I will add (skip) and (continue) before and after the parts if you need to skip them.
Chapter 12: Rewards
Keith blinked away the blurriness as he sat up in his bed. With a long stretch, he noticed his whole body felt sore, his wrists, his legs, his… the memories of the night before suddenly came rushing back into him. He felt his hands shaking a bit. What had he don't to deserve this? Oh… Mom. It's my fault. That thought had been engrained in his mind by his father. He'd said it so often to the younger boy that he now believes it to be true.
He dropped his feet to the floor and was about to get ready for school before he saw some books on his small desk. There were two books, looking brand new, both about building motorcycles. His eyes widened. He flipped through the pages. There was so much information in these books. He'd checked out books from the school library on motorcycles, but they were few and far between. The ones he found were short and brief, mostly information he already knew. But these! He could learn so much from these books. But why…
"Ah, I see you found the books."
Keith looked up to see his father in his doorway (he never did bother to knock).
John continued. "Nyma was pleased with your time last night. Those are yours and she said she'll be back." With that, he turned and left.
Keith wasn't sure what to think. He hated last night. His mind, his body, his whole being was telling him that last night was wrong. Having someone force themselves onto him, taking away his very innocence, removing an irreplaceable part of him, it was absolute torture for the mind and body. But these books were something he's always wanted. They could give him a lot of information he couldn't get at the school library. Was it worth it?
Keith shook his head. He didn't really want to think about that right now. He left the books there, not wanting them to het lost or ruined, and began getting ready for school. He paused in front of the bathroom as he saw the marks that littered his body: bruises covered his torso and arms in the shape of that harness, on his hips in the shape of handprints, and circling his wrists. His eyes trailed up his torso and stopped on his neck, hickeys scattered about. Luckily, the mark form the gag was almost completely unnoticeable.
With shaky hands, he pulled a black turtleneck over his head, thankful that the temperatures were currently low as no one would question him wearing a turtleneck. It covered majority of what he wanted covered. The only thing that showed now were a few hickeys a little higher on his neck and the rings around his wrists. He pulled on his red jacket and the sleeves covered his wrists. The combination of his jacket collar and his long hair helped to hide the hickeys still peeking above the neck of his shirt. His hair helped to hide the holes in his ears he hoped would close up soon. He sighed and grabbed his backpack. He headed out the door early, knowing he would be walking slower from the soreness.
Lance almost immediately noticed a small change in Keith. Before classes even started, Keith just seemed quieter than usual. Lance really thought the slender boy had been getting better lately, he was talking more, smiling wider, he seemed happier. Now… he seems to have returned to his quieter self. Even the others seem to take note, though they didn't say anything about it.
Lance really began to worry that something had happened. During first and second period, he was constantly running through different scenarios in his head; none of them were anything good. Was he beaten? Had he been starved? Did his father say something to him? The thoughts just kept repeating in his head.
All through third period, Lance sat watching the boy next to him. His face was so emotionless. Even when he noticed Lance staring, his expression never changed. He glanced to Lance then back to the teacher. Lance's heart broke. What could have happened for him to be like this? He just seems so emotionally languid, like he's not wanting to feel anything anymore. Thanksgiving break is next week and Lance is worried about Keith. Thinking about Keith in that home, with that man, with no outlet for a week is definitely cause for worry in Lance's mind.
Lance watched as Keith stood to leave after the bell rang. He thought he saw something on the small boy's neck. Bruises? Lance's eyes widened. Was he choked?! He shook his head to get out of his thoughts as he saw Keith leaving. He stood to walk beside him. While they were walking, Lance decided to invite him to his house for Thanksgiving (knowing his mom wouldn't mind) but Keith politely turned him down. Lance didn't push, knowing that his father probably wouldn't approve and that would just make matters worse.
By the time lunch came, Keith seemed even more lethargic. He sat down with some food but didn't even touch it. Pidge pulled Lance to the side before they got food.
"Lance, I'm really worried about him." She glanced to the dark haired boy in question. "I mean look at him. I know he's not the most energetic but this…" She looked back at Lance with wide eyes.
He sighed, wondering whether to tell her about his encounter with Mr. Kogane.
Pidge spoke again before Lance could decide. "He was like that all last period in Algebra. I tried talking to him but it was like he didn't even hear me. I'm worried something is wrong."
Her eyes were so sad and pleading that Lance had to say something. "Ok, I'm going to tell you something but you have to keep it to yourself until I have further information."
She nodded, a bit confused but curious.
He explained to her the whole encounter with Keith's father after he left Burger Palace. He also voiced his suspicions that Keith is being physically and mentally abused. He could see a shine forming in Pidge's eyes as he spoke. He sighed. "I don't want to say anything yet and risk making matters worse. For now, just be gentle with him and supportive as best you can."
She nodded, eyes downcast.
While eating, the only time Keith lifted his head was to stretch his arms. Interlocking his hands, he stretched them up and behind his head. Lance's eyes widened when he saw the dark, ugly purple bruises encircling both of his wrists as his jacket sleeves fell slightly. Keith must have noticed him looking because he immediately dropped his hands to hide them, laying his head back down. Lance cast a glance to Pidge. Judging from the horrified look on her face, she must have noticed too.
Keith went through this last week of school almost numbly. He didn't really hear most of his friends' conversations and moved almost on auto pilot. He wasn't looking forward to Thanksgiving break. It was never much of a Thanksgiving for him anyway. Though, he did usually get some extra food. He would get some leftover turkey or stuffing form his father's dinner at his work. He'd learned to cook those leftovers in several different ways to give him something new. But other than that, it was no different than any other week of the year. To make matters worse, he didn't have school. School was his temporary escape from his father. During the holidays, he didn't have that.
The last day of school before the break came and went the same as the rest of the week. Now he has all nine days of the break to survive until school returns the next Monday. He thought back to those books on his nightstand. Those could help pass the time. But… how he got those books suddenly entered his mind. Nyma was pleased with your time last night. So he got them for doing a good job? Does that mean he should do it again?
That Sunday, again, his father arrived late and with Nyma by his side. Upon seeing her, Keith's body started to shake, knowing what was coming.
(Skip) Once again, he found himself in a forced intimacy with the taller woman. This time, he was wrapped and draped in intricate scarves, one tied his wrists behind his back. Nyma used these to manipulate his body as she pleased. She had him pinned against a wall, her body was flush against his as she moved against him with him inside of her. He entered her several times as she continued pulling him around the room by the scarf around his waist or neck, pushing him against any surface there was, and vocally expressing her pleasure the whole time.
(Continue) Just like last time, she left as soon as she was finished with him, not even bothering to remove the bindings. She expressed her satisfaction, blew a kiss, and returned to John. Keith was on the ground, leaning against one wall, too numb to do much else. When he slowly gained some sense back, he moved his bound hands beneath him and around his legs to get them in front. Then he was able to untie his wrists more easily. After that, he followed the same routine as last time: waited for his father to go to bed, took a shower, scrubbing his body raw, and headed to bed for a restless sleep.
Thanksgiving Day came. Keith didn't even leave his room until later in the evening to finally find something to eat. He froze at the sight in front of him. Their table was full of food: a large turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and much more. It took him a minute to realize he had passed both his father and Nyma in the living room on his way to the kitchen. He turned back to them.
Nyma chuckled at the surprised look on Keith's face. "It's a gift." She smiled, but there wasn't much emotion behind it.
His father chimed in. "Nyma enjoyed her night on Sunday so she brought this for you."
Keith looked form the food and back to his father. The two adults made their way to the table and began making a plate for themselves. With a bit of hesitation, Keith joined as well.
That was the best meal he had ever had. So much food and so many kinds. He had three plates and was happy to see plenty of leftovers. All this for his night with Nyma? Is it really so wrong if he gets something like this, or his books, afterwards? Something deep inside him told him yes, it was most definitely wrong, but he just wasn't sure anymore.
So Keith is beginning to question what's right and wrong and John knows exactly what he is doing to the poor kid. Nyma is definitely not through but the same 'skip/continue' warnings will be given when needed. From here, though, the scenes won't be much longer than the one mentioned in this chapter. Please review! Until next chapter,
NyteXade
