Rope
Part 2
Warnings: referenced captivity, referenced torture (unspecified), catatonia, blood, scrapes, hurt/aftermath
Whumpee sat in the passenger seat where Caretaker had placed them. Sat and hadn't moved. Hadn't spoken. Hadn't done anything but breathe. And stare at the raw rope burns on their wrists.
"Hey, hey, it's ok, Whumpee," Caretaker said as they rummaged through their trunk to find the first aid kit. "It's ok. We'll fix you up, good as new. I promise."
Caretaker tried to sound happy, to sound relieved, that they had Whumpee back. But they were afraid they had arrived too late. They had found Whumpee bound to a chair in Whumper's compound. Their collar was bloody and their wrists were raw and actively bleeding around the rope binding them. But Whumpee didn't say a word. Didn't look at Caretaker. Didn't look at anything but stare at the ground in front of them.
"I'm here, Whumpee. I've got you," Caretaker murmured as they freed Whumpee and dragged them from the room.
But Whumpee didn't say anything. They stared at their hand as Caretaker pulled them along. What had Whumper done? "It's ok, Whumpee. I've got you. You're ok." Caretaker said as they pushed Whumpee to sit in the backseat.
Maybe Whumpee still needed time. Maybe once Caretaker got them home they would realize they were safe. Maybe then they would realize they were free. Maybe then they would talk again. Caretaker repeated these thoughts over and over as they got behind the driver's wheel and drove home. Whumpee just needed time. It had to be that.
