B
After a while the van stopped. The two men escorted Fern and Buster into an old house that was very run down. The ground was full of leaves from many years that had never been cleaned up and all the grass was dead. Buster and Fern were sat down in two chairs in a light room. The two men went away for a couple minutes and came back. One man with a lit candle and the other man with a plate of food.
The man with the lit candle said " My name is Smith. I am going to untie you. Don't make any sounds or else." He went to Fern and took off her mouth tie. Fern automatically said "What's going on" and on went the tie again. The man named Smith with the lit candle said "oh no little girl. We ask the questions here. Now I told you not to say anything." He grabbed the exposed part of her arm and held it out. He took the candle and held it over her arm. He dripped a couple drops of hot wax on her arm. Fern made a sound of pain and when she calmed down again the man named Smith said " Let's try that again…. I'll untie you… Don't make any sounds or try to escape" He took off her mouth tie. Fern didn't say anything this time. "Good girl" said Smith. Buster looked at her arm. It was red and it had dried wax on it. It looked awful.
Then the man turned to Buster. "I am going to untie you now. Don't say anything or else" He untied Buster. Buster didn't say anything. "Good Boy" said Smith.
Smith backed away and the other man came up " My name is Tom. I am going to ask you questions. You will answer me truthfully of else." He went up to Fern and asked "What is your name?" Fern waited a second and responded "Sally" and… Tom slapped her face and she said "ow" and put her head in her hands in pain. The man named Tom said "This can be a very easy and rewarding process young lady. Play nicely and tell the truth." He waited a minute and asked "What is your name?" and Fern replied "Fern" with her head down. Tom responded "Good Girl" and took a cookie off the plate. He gave it to Fern. "Eat It" He said. Fern took the cookie and she put it up to her mouth…and she took a bite. Tom smiled at her. He Turned to Buster "What is your name?" he asked and Buster said "Buster". Tom smiled. "Last name?" and Buster said "Baxster". Tom smiled and said "Good Boy" and took a cookie off the plate and gave it to Buster. "You're doing a better job then your friend here" he said "Take two" He gave buster another cookie and Buster looked at them… Tom lowered his smile a bit but kept it saying "Go on… Eat them" So Buster ate the cookies. They tasted like normal cookies… the tasted good but Buster could only feel dread.
B
Buster looked at Fern. Her lip was bleeding slightly from when Tom had hit her. Fern had two injuries now and Buster had none. Buster not only hadn't been able to save Fern but he had to watch her in pain as well. He hoped Fern would go alone with what the men said so she wouldn't have to be hurt any longer. Buster told himself he'd find a way out of this for both himself and Fern…. The first chance he got.
Smith was walking back up again and he faced Fern "Now I really regret having to do that to you Fern. WE need a very specific amount of information and you WILL give it to us or unfortunately we will have to reprimand you again. Do you under stand?" He looked at Fern and when she took a minute he took her arm and as he did she said "Yes"… Smith dropped her hand and said "Thank you Fern… Now tell me you parents phone number" Fern gave him it. Smith looked a bit surprised but then smiled and said "Thank you Fern" and he gave her another cookie and told her to eat it and she did. Smith looked at Buster and asked "What is your parents phone number" he asked with a different tone. Buster had no idea what the tone meant. Buster gave him the phone number and Smith said "Good boy" but didn't give any more cookies. "You're a friend of Fern's Buster?" Smith asked and Buster told him "Yes". Smith asked some more questions like if they went to the same school and stuff like that. After a while Smith took on the same face he had been talking to Fern with. And Buster knew then… Smith had known about Fern…. But he HADN'T known about Buster.
Smith went out of the room leaving Tom with Fern and Buster. Fern and Buster were both still tied up on their arms and legs. Tom went up to them and untied Fern's Arms. Then when she didn't move he untied her legs. Fern sat there and didn't move. Tom turned to Buster and untied him too. Buster didn't try to escape. Tom went up to Fern and removed the dried wax from her. He cleaned her up slightly and she closed her eyes while he did. … Tom said "We are going to be putting you in a room now. You will be staying there for a bit. If you behave you will be given food and drink on a regular basis and returned to your parents within a few days. You will behave yourselves or Mr. Smith may have to reprimand you like he unfortunately had to do to Miss Fern" he said looking at Fern. "Do you two understand" He asked and both Fern and Buster said "Yes" Tom smiled again and let them into their room… They heard Tom say into the door "You'll be allowed out in the morning. You're not allowed to talk to one another. We'll be listening. Behave. You share that one bed. Goodnight Buster and Fern". They heard him lock the door behind himself.
The room had a bright light on it and it was very empty except for one poor looking bed and in the corner of the room a toilet and a sink. There were no other doors and therefore no privacy. Buster didn't feel like using the bathroom and he didn't think Fern did either. Neither of them said a word. They just got in the bed next to one another giving each other as much space as they could and they laid down. Buster was scared and he closed his eyes and he heard Fern crying next to him…. He closed his eyes and eventually fell asleep.