CW: Forced to choose torture, forced stripping (not sexual), allusion to whipping, self-harm
The camera was running. Nathan was back in his peppy entertainer persona, which only meant bad things for Alex.
Alex wasn’t chained down to the table this time. He was standing in front of the wooden slab, which was littered with torture implements. The knife, which he had already become friendly with. The taser, his most recent acquaintance. A whip. A cane. A long stick with two prongs on the end, which he couldn’t identify. A blowtorch.
Nathan stood behind Alex and rested his hands on Alex’s shoulders. “Go on, sweetheart. Choose.”
“I… I can’t.”
“Don’t you remember my promise? You get to choose how I hurt you today.” Nathan’s gaze turned to the camera. “You guys should’ve heard how he was begging me to hurt him. So pathetic, but a damn good show.”
Alex shuddered in the man’s grasp. “I-I didn’t mean it.”
Nathan’s grip on his shoulders firmed. “He keeps breaking his second rule. Never speak unless spoken to.” He chuckled. “Maybe I should choose for him. Is that what you want, Alex?” A smile overtook his face. “Maybe I should use them all.”
Alex jumped. “No! No, no, I’ll choose.”
He immediately ruled out the knife and the taser. He didn’t want to experience those again if he could avoid it.
“Hurry up, Alex.”
He knew the blowtorch would leave permanent burn scars. He didn’t know what the stick next to it would do to him.
“I don’t have all day.”
The whip or the cane, then. He didn’t know which would be worse. The whip might sting more, the cane might apply more pressure. But truthfully, he didn’t know.
“What’s your choice, Alex?”
The boy whimpered. “I… I don’t know…”
“Am I going to have to choose for you?” Nathan’s sing-song voice didn’t obscure the threat.
“No!” Alex cried. “I mean, it’s… the c-cane or the whip. I-I c-can’t choose, just p-please don’t use them all–”
“Shh, I’ll help you.” Nathan let his arms drop and picked up the cane and the whip, one in each hand. He faced Alex and put his hands behind his back so that Alex couldn’t see the items, but the camera could. Nathan switched the weapons around in his hands. “Pick a hand, Alex.”
Alex sighed with relief as he realized Nathan wasn’t going to use both. He glanced towards each arm before reluctantly pointing towards the left one. Nathan revealed his left arm.
The whip.
Alex’s heart sank. He wasn’t hoping for one over the other. If anything, he was hoping Nathan would forget about the whole thing if he couldn’t choose. Hope is useless down here.
Nathan turned the camera and the computer around to face a metal pole across from the table. It was parallel with the stairs. So close. I could escape… if I wanted to kill my family. He wasn’t chained down physically, but he could never forget Nathan’s threat.
“Come, sweetheart.” Nathan was leaning on the pole, stretching a piece of rope between his hands. “It’s time to get started!” he sang.
Knowing he had no other choice, Alex walked toward the pole and outstretched his hands. With a controlling grin, Nathan pulled Alex’s hands around the pole and tied them tight. Alex leaned his head against the pole, hoping he could somehow freeze time so that the whip would never touch him. But hope is useless.
He closed his eyes tighter when he heard the whip crack on the floor.
“You ready, Alex?” Nathan chuckled as he looked back at the camera. “He has no idea what he’s in for with this baby.” He cracked the whip again, drawing a whimper from the boy.
“P-please, don’t–”
That’s when he felt a cool metal touch against the back of his shirt. “No, no, you said you wouldn’t use them all, p-please–”
“Shh, this won’t hurt.” Nathan cut through the back of his already ripped shirt, completely tearing it half. He cut the tops of his sleeves so that the cloth fell to the side. Alex shivered against the pole, feeling its iciness overtaking his whole body. He knew that his shirt should be the last of his worries, but he couldn’t help but feel humiliated. He was shivering, crying, and half-naked, and all of it was being filmed. He had screamed for Nathan’s viewers, begged in front of them, been tortured in front of them. And yet, no one had come for him.
He knew it must have been over a week. If he had to guess, he was getting one meal a day. He had eight meals between today and his… introduction to the rules. He must have been there for a couple days before that. A week and a half, maybe?
It’s not easy to find someone who’s been missing for twenty-four hours. Much less forty-eight. Much, much less a week and a half.
I might spend the rest of my life here.
He didn’t even realize tears were streaming down his face until Nathan snapped him back to reality. “Why are you crying, honey?” He wiped the boy’s tears away. “I haven’t done anything to you yet.” His eyes narrowed. “I told you I didn’t want to break what’s already broken.”
“I want to go home.” The words escaped Alex’s mouth before he had even thought of them. He just wanted to see his mother and Jordan and his aunties, he even wanted to see his control-freak boss and his dickhead landlord, he wanted to see the bullies at school that would throw homophobic comments at him– he wanted the good and the bad, because nothing was as bad as this.
“Alex.” Nathan’s sing-song tone was gone. “You belong here with me. I own you, understand?”
He sounds mad. Don’t make him angrier. “Y-yes, Sir,” he forced out.
“So you understand that this is your home now, yes?”
“NO!” Alex screamed his denial, struggling against his binds and banging his head against the pole. “This will never be my home, I will never stop fighting you, you son of a–” Nathan pulled him back by his hair, silencing him.
“Don’t you dare go ruining your face again,” Nathan hissed. He turned back to the camera. “Sorry about that, everyone. Looks like Alex here needs another punishment, doesn’t he? He’s gone and made himself ugly again.”
Alex noticed the blood dripping from his forehead, the metallic taste reaching his lips. “No, no, I’m s-sorry, Sir, p-please no punishment, please–”
“Oh, don’t worry.” Nathan laughed. “I’ll still give you a whipping first. You’ve earned it.”
He cracked the whip against the floor again, and Alex sank to his knees, his stomach filled with dread.
Alex tried to look away from the camera, but Nathan grabbed his chin and forced his head toward the tripod. He chuckled. “He’s still a little camera-shy, but we’ll get him trained in no time.” Alex tried to shrink in on himself, but the chains prevented him from struggling.
“Let’s get to it, then.” Nathan clapped with excitement. “Nothing like cutting up some fresh meat, huh?” What was that supposed to mean?
Nathan ran his fingers over the knives on the wall. “So many to choose from…” he muttered. His hand finally landed on one and he walked back to the table. “Where should we start, Alex?” The boy turned his head away. Nathan grabbed his hair. “No, tell me, where should I hurt you first?”
“Please, don’t–”
“Looks like we have some suggestions from the chat!” Nathan smiled at his computer. “Arms, stomach, legs… Hm, I’ll choose all of the above.”
Nathan ran the knife down Alex’s chest, with just enough pressure to cut through his black t-shirt. Alex sobbed as his stomach became more and more exposed. His skin grew cold, even colder than the knife against it. He wanted to escape so badly, but he didn’t dare move a muscle.
The knife dug into the skin below his chest. Nathan drew out a whimper from Alex, which gradually became a scream. “Stop, stop stop stop–”
“Stop?” Nathan pouted. “But I’m just getting started.”
He’s going to do it again. He’s going to cut me again and again and again, and it’s going to hurt just as bad.
The cuts started coming faster. Nathan sliced through skin like wildfire, leaving crimson scars behind. The skin on Alex’s stomach was burning as his chest heaved up and down. He couldn’t breathe properly. He just wanted the pain to end.
Nathan began to move to Alex’s arm and Alex panicked. He struggled to get his hand out of the cuff, rattling the chains in his futile effort. “Stop, please, I can’t take anymore–”
“Aw, he’s already giving up,” Nathan pouted, staring into the camera. “How adorable.” He pressed his hand into Alex’s shoulder and bored his stormy eyes into his. “Now stop resisting before I dislocate something.”
Alex froze as the knife approached his forearm. Nathan cut slower this time. And deeper. He drew yet another scream out of Alex. He wrenched his head away from the knife, like if he couldn’t see it, then it wasn’t happening.
It didn’t work.
Nathan continued the chit-chat, as if he wasn’t slicing up a kid in his basement. Alex couldn’t hear him anymore. He could only hear the ringing in his ears as the knife kept cutting. He could only feel the cold, stinging sensations and the hot blood running down his body.
“Please, please, stop, I’ll do anything you want, please–”
“Shh,” Nathan whispered. He ran a hand through Alex’s hair. “Just let me do your legs and then we’ll be done. That’s what I want.” Alex cried. Someone has to get me out of here.
Nathan moved the knife below Alex’s shorts. The cuts were fast again– a quick sting that wouldn’t stop burning. It didn’t hurt any less, just in a different way.
The stings stopped coming, and Alex realized he wasn’t being hurt anymore. He opened his eyes, only then realizing he had closed them. He tuned back into his surroundings, the pain worsening as he came back to reality. He hoped to hear Nathan say that they were done. That he was letting him go, and forgetting this ever happened.
“Oh, that’s an interesting message,” Nathan mumbled, intrigued by whatever had come up on his computer screen. “You’ll give me a hundred dollars if I stab him?” Alex’s heart sank. “Now, don’t tempt me with a good time.” Nathan laughed as he twirled the knife in his hand.
“No,” Alex begged. “Please don’t kill me, please–”
“It won’t be fatal, sweetheart.” Nathan began positioning the knife over Alex’s stomach. “See, honey, it depends on where you stab. As long as I don’t hit a vital organ, you’ll be fine.”
“W-wait, I can’t, you s-said we’d be done–”
With that, Nathan sunk the knife into Alex’s stomach. Alex let out a gut-wrenching scream. “Take it out, please.” He choked on his words. “M-make it stop.”
“Not until I get my hundred dollars.” Nathan looked back at his computer screen. A moment passed. “There we go.”
Suddenly, the knife in Alex’s stomach was ripped out of him, along with a shriek. He found himself wishing the knife was never removed. Now there was a hole in him, blood pouring out.
“Thanks for the suggestion,” Nathan said nonchalantly. “Now, as much as I’d love to continue, I don’t know if little Alex here can take much more, can he?” Alex weakly shook his head.
Alex laid his head to the side and cried, no sound coming out. Nathan finished signing off, smiling all the way. Alex heard the camera shut off and the computer close and glanced up at his captor, whispering pleas. Let me out of the chains now. Let me go. I just want to go home. Nathan’s expression had gone from lighthearted to stone-cold.
“Shut up,” he ordered. “I was going easy on you. Jesus.”
“Easy?” Alex sobbed. “It d-didn’t feel very easy.”
Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then you better toughen up, kid. This is the way it’s going to be from now on.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you’d rather I just kill your precious loved ones and then you.”
“NO!” Alex screamed at him. “No, no, stay away from them, please–”
“Fine, fine, God.” Nathan put his hands up in mock resignation and sighed. “I already told you I wasn’t giving up my leverage too easily.” He turned to walk out of the room.
“No, no, please don’t leave me here, please let me go, please–”
Nathan reapproached the scared boy on the table and ran his thumb over the cuts he left riddled on his arm, making him wince. “Shh, sweetheart,” he said, his smile back, “I’m getting you a medic.”
CW: Reference to torture, multiple kidnappings, multiple whumpees, captivity whump, medical whump, conditioning, domestic abuse, intimate whumper, dehumanization
Year one. Walter Young. Seventeen. Skylar was a senior in college, pre-med. They had met Nathan on Tinder, and when they met in person, they hit it off. But after three months, everything changed. Nathan kidnapped Walter and started livestreaming his torture for money and fame on the dark web. The sheer thought made Skylar sick to his stomach.
And yet, Skylar had helped him. They had gone down to Nathan’s basement, littered with torture implements. And they had walked into the white room and seen the blond boy lying on the table after a whipping. They had to help him. They had nothing to knock him out with. They could still hear his screams.
Sure, Nathan had beat them in order to get them to cooperate. Sure, he had broken their ribs and held a knife to their chest. But it didn’t change the fact that they were an accessory to kidnapping, torture– and later, murder. Above all else, though, they were a coward. The only thing stopping them from turning in Nathan was that they would go down with him.
Year two. Raj Gupta. Sixteen. Nathan had convinced Skylar not to go to med school. “I’ll need all your attention if you’re going to help me,” he had said. “You can’t be distracted with studying.”
They had tried to stand up to Nathan. That’s when he told them that he would hurt Raj more if Skylar refused to fix him up. Skylar was helping Nathan out of fear, not just for themselves, but for Raj. They were doing the right thing.
By then, they had the burn scars riddling their back to remind them what happened if they didn’t cooperate.
Year three. Jerome Brown. Eighteen. Skylar had become an expert at compartmentalizing. Their memory was getting worse. They forgot that they weren’t helping Nathan voluntarily. They forgot that Nathan had hurt them. They forgot why it hurt so much to lie down on their back.
They weren’t as intimidating as Nathan would have liked. They recoiled at the sight of Jerome’s mangled body. Nathan would always remind them that they were just confused. They were his partner, romantically and in crime. They would help him no matter what.
Sometimes, Nathan hurting them would seep into their dreams. But they knew it was just that: a dream. Nathan loved them and they loved him. He would never hurt them. Besides, he was always there to comfort them when they woke up screaming.
Year four. Charlie Green. Seventeen. Skylar had toughened up. They didn’t have the night terrors anymore. They had moved in with Nathan, and as long as they were with him, they were safe.
Something in their brain told them that they didn’t want to do this. They didn’t want to hurt the poor kid in their basement more than Nathan had. That voice annoyed them. They remembered Nathan telling them they wanted to do this, and they believed him. The thoughts angered them, and they took that anger out in their work.
Year five. Daniel Li. Sixteen. Skylar wasn’t having the bad thoughts anymore. They loved Nathan, they would do anything for them. Until death do them part.
Daniel was more of an annoyance than anything. His begging nearly triggered an emotional reaction within Skylar, but they pushed it away. Their heart and soul were always replaced by anger, but they didn’t remember what they were angry about. They just knew that they had to be good for Nathan. They didn’t remember the consequences, but they didn’t want to find out.
Year six. Alex Diaz. Fourteen when taken– he had turned fifteen in captivity.
He was the youngest, but Skylar didn’t go easy on him. They repeated the harsh words that Nathan had said to them throughout the years: that he was Nathan’s property, that he wasn’t a human being. Nathan usually kidnapped boys around six feet, but this boy couldn’t be more than 5’6”. Regardless, they knew they had to be good for Nathan. That is, until Alex got sick.
He was delirious. He had begged Skylar before, but that time was… different. It reminded them of something. Walter had begged the same way. It brought them back to five years ago, when they had the bad thoughts. They remembered things they were sure had never happened– Nathan hurting them, Nathan threatening them, Nathan arguing with them…
But Nathan loved them. And they loved Nathan. It didn’t make sense. They were confused. And now, they were fixing up Alex after a beating, and the boy was making them more confused.
“Skylar?” Alex’s voice was barely above a whisper. He hissed as the bandages were applied to his broken ribs. “What happened to you?” He looked up at them with wide eyes.
“What do you mean?” Skylar tried to keep their tone even, but their voice wavered.
“You… you were scared. Scared of Nathan.” He glanced down. “Like me.”
They glared at the boy on the table. “I thought I told you not to bring that up.”
“Come on, Skylar,” Alex begged. “I know you’re in there. You don’t want to do this.”
Skylar remained silent. He’s just trying to confuse me. Can’t let him.
“Skylar, please,” Alex tried. “Please help me.”
Silence.
“I’ll tell everyone you didn’t hurt me,” he said. “I’ll tell them you were a prisoner, too. Because that’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Skylar gritted their teeth. “Stop talking.”
“We can help each other,” Alex continued.
Skylar shook their head.
“Please, Skylar–”
He was cut off by a slap to the face. “Do you ever shut up?” Skylar growled.
Their expression softened, taken aback by their own actions. They always helped fix Nathan’s boys. They never hurt them more than necessary. Who cares if I hurt him? Why do I care?
Alex just stared back. “C-can I ask a question?”
Skylar sighed. “What is it?”
“How many people–” His eyes widened at his mistake. “I mean, um, p-playthings, has Nathan, um… owned?”
“You’re the sixth.” Why am I having a conversation with him?
“How, um…” Alex swallowed. “How long does he keep them?”
“A year exactly.” Why am I answering his questions? “It’s June 26th, so…” Why am I telling him the date? “You have a little under eleven months.”
Alex sobbed. “I c-can’t do eleven more months of this, Skylar, please…”
A small bit of sympathy overtook them. “Um, happy belated birthday, by the way.”
Alex snickered. “Yeah. Happy.”
Skylar saw the deadness in his eyes. They felt like they were being tested– doing their job has never hurt them so much before. “And I’m sorry about Jordan.” Nathan always took people with very few friends or family looking for them. And now one of Alex’s people was dead. WHY DO I CARE?
A tear escaped Alex’s eye. “I miss him.” He looked up at Skylar with wide eyes. “Please tell me my mom’s okay.”
“I… I don’t know,” Skylar answered honestly. Nathan never talked about the murders. “If he hasn’t told you anything, then probably.”
“Probably?” Alex tried to yell, but his throat wouldn’t let him. “My family’s in danger and the best you can give me is ‘probably’”?
“I’m sorry.” The words escaped their mouth without their realization.
“If you’re sorry, then help me.” Alex grabbed Skylar’s hand. “You weren’t always like this, were you? Help me and I’ll help you.”
Skylar’s breathing sped up. They thought of attacking Nathan, turning him in– no, no, can’t let the bad thoughts in. Their hands balled into fists, making Alex recoil, but they exhaled and released their clenched hands.
“Please, Skylar.” Alex looked away. “C-could I at least have some water? Coughing up blood is dehydrating.”
“Okay,” Skylar resigned, “but don’t tell him I gave you any.”
Im highkey obsessed with your writing and so curious about Skylar’s progression from a reluctant, abused victim to the cold, mocking medic they are now. I’d love to see any more whumpee!skylar you have up your sleeve, possibly involving the taser or whatever you feel like, I just love seeing them in pain 🥰
I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! I have PLENTY of whumpee!Skylar up my sleeve, too much for one person, so I should probably share some with you guys teehee >:) Thanks for the prompt, have a drabble!
CW: Electrocution, whumpee turned whumper, domestic abuse, mention of minor whumpee
"I had a lot of fun today, babe!" Nathan clapped his hands as he emerged from the basement. "I sliced Raj up and tased the cuts! You think you can fix him up?"
Skylar sighed. Nathan had kidnapped a second boy after Walter... they didn't want to think about it. Only sixteen years old. He looked nothing like Walter, the first one- black hair instead of blond, mahogany skin instead of pale, rosy cheeks. But the look in his eyes was exactly the same.
Skylar thought this would be a one-time thing. They thought Nathan would realize he was in the wrong and let Walter go. But they were wrong, and now Walter's blood might as well be on their hands.
They reluctantly stood up, shaking on their feet. They followed Nathan back down to the basement where the boy was no doubt in the medical room.
Skylar began walking from the stairs to the door, but froze. I can't go in there. I can't see those pleading eyes and double the pain again.
"What's wrong, Sky?" Nathan noticed his discomfort.
Skylar turned around to face him with wide eyes. "I... I can't go in there. Please don't make me-"
"Skylar." Nathan raised a hand to silence them. "You don't need a little persuasion, don't you?"
Skylar paled. "What?"
Nathan began stalking toward them and cupped their face. "Remember, you want to do this."
With that, a shock of electricity coursed through Skylar's torso. Nathan had jabbed the taser into their side. This is the pain Raj had to go through. Over and over. Plus being sliced up. I can't be part of this...
"Hurt me as much as you want." Skylar gritted their teeth, clutching their side. "I'm not taking any part in this. I'm done."
"Fine, then." Nathan's lips curled into a smile. That can't be good. "I'll just give your punishment to my new boy instead."
Skylar stumbled backwards. "Wait, no-"
"You want to take it instead? Fine."
They heard the crackle of the taser before their body was on fire again. They were frozen, but that didn't stop them from falling to the ground, gasping for air.
"Now that you know what that feels like," Nathan's crouched down to whisper in Skylar's ear, "do you really want Raj to deal with it again? Or do you want to be a good little partner and fix him up?"
I don't have a choice. I have to help Nathan or he's going to hurt that boy more.
"I'll..." Skylar choked on his words. "I'll do it."
"Good." Nathan got to his feet, dragging Skylar with him by their bright blue hair. "Go on."
The minute Skylar entered the medical room, they wanted to break down. "P-please," Raj begged, his eyes wide as he lay on the table. "P-please don't hurt me more."
"I'm helping you, trust me." Trust me. How is he supposed to trust me? "I know it's hard, but trust me. I just want to help."
But that was five years ago. When they saw Alex's face now, they didn't remember the others. They didn't remember the abuse. They just remembered that they were helping him.
Skylar just remembered that they were doing the right thing.
CW: Illness, domestic abuse, PTSD, heavy conditioning, multiple whumpees, minor whumpee, reference to death, captivity whump
Alex’s head was pounding. Every muscle in his body hurt, but it wasn’t just from the torture. He was covered in sweat, yet couldn’t stop shivering. He was delirious, but aware enough to register the nausea in his stomach. Yet, he barely noticed the footsteps getting closer and closer to him.
A man was crouching down in front of him, but he could barely remember the man’s name. The blurriness didn’t help, either. Something in his body screamed “DANGER” at him, but he couldn’t remember why. It took him ages to recognize that the man was talking to him.
“Alex?” he heard the man say. “Alex, sweetie?” The stranger reached down and carded a hand through Alex’s hair, letting his hand linger on the boy’s forehead. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re burning up.” Alex simply closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. He forgot that the man was there at all.
“Jordan…” Alex found himself muttering. “Jordan, I missed you…” He didn’t know why he was saying it. He just remembered Jordan stroking his hair and running his thumb across his face, so it must be Jordan in front of him, right?
“Aww, you think I’m Jordan, don’t you?” Nathan said, smiling at the clearly delusional boy in front of him. “How cute.” He removed his hand from Alex’s hair. “Don’t you remember, sweetheart? Jordan Fielding is dead.”
“You’re talkin’ funny, Jordan,” Alex slurred his words like a drunk. “You’re here, with me… right?”
“Sure I am, honey.” Nathan laughed as he walked towards the stairs. “SKYLAR!” he yelled upstairs.
Alex opened his eyes, flinching at the name. Skylar. Nathan. Jordan is dead. Jordan is dead. Everything from the past few weeks came crashing down on him. I’m still here, aren’t I? That wasn’t Jordan, was it?
Soon enough, two pairs of footsteps were walking toward him. Another hand was on his forehead. “He’s burning up, alright.” It was Skylar’s voice. Alex whimpered at the sound.
“I need you to fix him up, okay?” Nathan said. No, no, please. “Without giving him more fluids, though. He hardly deserved the Gatorade you gave him.”
“He needed electrolytes.”
Nathan chuckled. “He would’ve survived.”
“If you want me to fix him, let me medicate him properly!” Skylar yelled. Is Skylar sticking up for me?
Nathan lowered his voice and took a step closer to Skylar. “Skylar, it’d be wise for you to listen to me.” Maybe I can reason with them.
“Skylar…” Alex begged. “P-please don’t hurt me, I can’t…”
There was a blond-haired boy laying on his stomach, his blood dripping from the metal table. Lash marks riddled his back, maybe thirty, if Skylar had to guess.
The boy turned his light blue eyes to Skylar, cringing. “P-please don’t hurt me, I can’t…”
“No, no,” Skylar muttered to themself. They weren’t supposed to remember those times. But Alex sounded so much like that boy from six years ago…
“What’s wrong, darling?” Nathan put a hand on their shoulder, but they immediately recoiled.
They remembered Nathan first telling them he had kidnapped someone. They remembered Nathan breaking their ribs when they refused to help him torture kids. Nathan hurting them, saying they deserved it. Nathan pinning them down to his bed…
Nathan leaned down to whisper in their ear. “You’re doing this because you love me. Repeat it.”
Skylar winced. “I-I’m, doing this because I love you.” It’s not true, it’s not true…
“You want to do this.”
“I-I… I want to do this.” It’s not true.
“You’re going to keep doing this for me until death do us part.”
“I’m going to keep doing this for you…”
“Until death do us part, Skylar.” The wicked grin was back.
“Until d-death do us part.”
Alex was fully awake now, staring at Skylar. They were huddled in the corner across from Alex. “I’m not supposed to remember,” they whispered. “He wouldn’t hurt me, I love him, I want to do this, I…”
Nathan stalked towards Skylar and crouched down in front of them, balancing on the balls of his feet. Just like he does with me. “That’s right, babe.” He touched their cheek. “You want to help me, right?” He smiled. “Your job is completely voluntary.”
Skylar frantically nodded, their eyes wide. Were they scared of Nathan? Maybe even more than I am?
Nathan helped Skylar to their feet, ignoring their trembling. “Come on, take care of Alex, alright? I want him back in business as soon as possible.” He patted their cheek and left them alone with the confused boy.
“Skylar?” Alex asked, watching them walk toward him. “Wh-what was that? Are… are you okay?”
The medic’s fearful face turned to one of fiery rage. “Don’t bring this up again. You ever even think about what just happened, and I’ll kill you. Got it?”
“N-no, I don’t think I do.”
“What?”
“Skylar,” Alex tried, “You’re not doing this voluntarily, are you?” It took all of his energy to form the words.
“Stop.”
“If he’s hurting you, too, we can still work together, we can both get out–”
“Stop.” Skylar pulled at their hair. “I’m going to let that slide because you’re delirious.” They sighed. “Nothing happened, okay? Don’t– don’t worry about it. I’m…” Their voice shook. “I’m not supposed to remember anyways.”
What the fuck. Skylar was more traumatized than Alex.
“Skylar,” Alex kept his voice even, “how long have you been dating–”
“Stop acting like you get to ask questions,” Skylar growled. They tried to stay mad at the boy, but his face looks so much like the others’… “Let me get you some water, okay?”
Alex perked up. “W-water? But he said–”
“I know, I know, I just…” Tears brimmed in their eyes. “I’m sorry, kid.”
CW: Mention of burning, humiliation, captivity whump, reference to alcoholism, reference to death of a loved one
The door creaked open. Alex shrank back in his corner, wondering what torture Nathan had in store for him today.
He smelled something burning.
His first instinct was to panic. The image of the blowtorch lying on the table in front of him wouldn’t leave his mind. Nathan’s gonna burn me. He’s gonna burn me, he’s gonna–
A small candlelight came into view. As Alex looked up, he saw the candle was attached to a slice of cake. He furrowed his brow. He’s giving me dessert?
Nathan held the cake in front of Alex’s face, laughing at the boy’s instinctive flinch. “There’s nothing to be scared of. Go on, blow it out.”
“Wh-what?”
“Blow out the candle.”
Alex summoned his remaining strength. He was finding it taxing to even breathe, let alone blow out a candle. He tried blowing, but the flame only wavered.
Nathan snickered at the sight. “It’s okay, try again.”
Alex blew harder this time. After a couple of tries, the candle finally went out. His face turned red at the humiliation.
“Good job.” Nathan picked up the fork from the plate and took a bite of the cake.
“W-wait, I–”
“Oh, you thought this was for you?” Nathan took another bite. “No, I’m afraid it’s too delicious for you. Red velvet, your favorite.” He took the candle out of the cake and licked the icing off of it. “It’s your birthday, right? June 24th? Are you already losing track of the days?”
Alex’s face burned with jealousy and hatred. You’re the one isolating me, keeping me captive, eating in front of me…
“Cheer up.” Nathan patted his cheek. “I got you a better present than cake.”
Alex perked up. “Y-you did?”
“Yes.” Nathan grabbed Alex’s chin, making sure the boy maintained eye contact. “You get to ask me for one thing. Anything in the world– except for your freedom, of course. Otherwise, your wish is my command.”
Alex thought about it. He would love some cake, but that would only be temporary. He would love a blanket to keep him warm, but that wouldn’t help him when he started getting sick from the torture. The torture. He could stop the torture.
“C-can you promise n-never to hurt me again, Sir?” Alex pleaded with his eyes. Please say yes. Please say yes.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Nathan tutted. “That’s another thing I can’t promise.”
Alex thought of seeing his family again. Seeing Jordan alive, seeing his mom. Suddenly, he knew what he wanted.
“Sir, p-please don’t hurt my mom.” Please say yes.
“Alright, sweetheart.” Nathan ran a hand through Alex’s hair. “When Selena dies, I’ll make sure it’s painless.”
Alex broke down into sobs. That’s not what I meant and you know it.
“Happy birthday, sweetie.”
—
“Happy birthday to you,” everyone sang. Selena, Jordan, Andre, Knights, rescues, and rescues’ family members were all gathered around the cake. It was June 24th. Alex’s birthday. Everyone in the Knights’ house was showing support for Alex’s family. They had heard “we’ll find him soon” and “I know what you’re going through” and “I’ll keep you in my thoughts,” but it didn’t change the fact that Alex wasn’t there.
“He’s supposed to be fifteen today,” Selena said to the crowd. “I already bought him a Nintendo Switch before he…” She sobbed. “I just hope he m-made it to fifteen.” She broke down crying in front of the cake, and soon soothing hands were on her shoulders and back. Everyone was telling her it would be okay, and she wanted so badly to believe them.
“I hate to ask this,” Jordan began, “but who should blow out the candles?”
“He’s your son, Selena,” Andre cut in. “You should do it.”
She looked back at him. “He’s your son, too. And he has your name. It’s only right that you do it.”
Andre blinked back tears. He hadn’t been in Alex’s life until now, it wasn’t right. Alex should be the one blowing out the candles, he should be here with both his parents, that’s how it should have always been…
“I can’t.”
Selena placed a comforting hand on his back. “I think you should.”
Andre nodded and breathed in. I wish that Alex comes home safe and sound. He exhaled, blowing out all the candles in one breath. Everyone clapped in celebration, even Selena and Jordan.
“What did you wish for?” Jordan asked.
Andre forced a smile. “I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
—
Selena was helping Andre clean up after the party. Jordan had stayed late, too. It was nearly midnight.
“Hey, Jordan.” Andre tapped him on the shoulder. “Do you need a ride home? It’s getting late.”
“No, I just want to help clean up.”
“I know today’s an emotional day for you…” Andre looked at him with pity. “You should go home and get some sleep.”
“I’ll go home after I finish helping out, okay?” Jordan’s response was sharp, but panicked. Andre could recognize that defensiveness anywhere. It was the defense of someone who was scared about something they’d rather not share.
“Hey, Selena,” Andre asked. He made sure Jordan was out of earshot before speaking. “Is everything okay with Jordan?”
Selena glanced at the boy who was slowly washing dishes. Her heart sank. “It’s Thursday, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Thirsty Thursday,” she responded plainly. “His father always drinks on Thursdays.”
“Oh.” Andre glanced down. “Does he have anywhere to stay?”
“I mean, I always let him stay with us, but I don’t have a place anymore…” She trailed off.
“Okay, okay, we’ll figure it out.” Andre walked back over to Jordan. “Hey, bud, you need a place to stay?”
Jordan’s eyes widened. “Why do you ask?” He glanced at Selena. “Did she…”
“Yeah.” Andre sighed. “We have some rooms available if you need–”
“You told Selena those rooms were for the rescues.”
“Jordan,” Andre began, “if by letting you stay here, I’m getting you out of a dangerous environment, you are a rescue. And you can stay as long as you need.”
Jordan set down the dish he was washing, tears brimming in his eyes. “R-really?”
“Yeah.” Andre smiled. “We can go back and get anything you need in the morning, okay? Let’s just get you to bed now. How does that sound?”
They couldn't tell up from down or left from right. They couldn't tell what Nathan's next move would be. And they couldn't tell if the Jerome, the boy in the basement, was really screaming, or if they were just imagining it, replaying memories.
They could only tell one thing: They needed to get out.
If not for them, then for Jerome.
They knew they couldn't run. They had no place to go, and they wouldn't feel safe regardless until Nathan was locked up far, far away. But then Nathan would be hurting, and some sick part of them didn't want him to be hurting... and another part of them wanted to hurt him in all the ways he hurt them...
It took strength to make the call. It took mental gymnastics. It took accepting that they didn't love Nathan, they hated him more than anything. It took unlearning everything he had told them.
Skylar waited until Nathan was down in the basement, as far away as he could get from them. Then, they outstretched a shaking hand to pick up their phone and click on the call icon.
Their fingers trembled as they dialed 911. They didn't know what they were going to say. I helped my sicko boyfriend torture and kill a couple kids, but hey, I promise I'm a victim, too.
They almost didn't press the call button. But they realized that prison would be an upgrade. As long as they didn't have to share a cell with Nathan. And at the very least, Jerome would be free.
They called.
It didn't go through.
The words were clear as day on their screen: Blocked Number.
What?
They tried again.
Blocked Number.
Skylar figured they must be having a bad dream. They would wake up, do what Nathan says, and be a good partner for him. They were being so bad right now. They should've never even thought of calling the police. They resorted to tell him what happened later, maybe they could salvage their reputation a little...
They didn't get the chance.
The door to the bedroom swung open. Nathan was standing in the doorway, shooting daggers at Skylar with his eyes. Nonono. They threw the phone on the bed in an attempt to be inconspicuous, but Nathan still prowled toward them, glaring.
"Back so soon, babe?" Skylar forced a smile, their voice shaking.
Nathan backhanded them across the face and grabbed their chin, forcing eye contact. "Do you think I'm that stupid?"
"I, um..." Skylar stumbled for words, but none came out.
"I set up your phone so that you can't call 911. But if you try," Nathan held up his own phone, "I get a notification."
Skylar's stomach dropped. "I wasn't, I-"
"Save it." He bruised their face with the grip on their chin. "You interrupted my whipping session with Jerome, you know that? Do you want to take his lashes for him?"
Skylar violently shook their head back and forth. Their eyes welled up with tears. "Please, no..."
"Be in the basement in thirty minutes to fix him up." A twinkle shone in Nathan's eye. "Then, I'll distribute your punishment. How does that sound?"
"Please-" A punch to the gut cut them off as they wheezed for air.
"Shut up." He left, finally, and Skylar curled up on the bed, crying as they wondered how they got themselves into this mess.
They could only tell one thing: They weren't sleeping on their back tonight.
