Chapter 9

I'm sitting cross-legged against the cool wall as Eden absent-mindedly draws delicate shapes on my kneecap with his fingertips. My eyes follow the pattern to discover he's drawing a heart. A satisfied hum leaves me, making Eden twist his head to look at me.

"What?" he innocently asks, unaware of his unconscious cuteness.

"Nothing," I murmur, letting my eyes flutter closed.

I bask in the feeling of the patterns his fingertips make.

We've slipped into a meditative state today. It's the only way to cope with the never-ending boredom of being stuck in this ghastly place. Occasionally, we stand as far as our chains allow and stretch, but the lack of movement and entertainment is starting to grate on me.

It's been three days since the head of operations visited, which makes it six nights and five days since we were abducted. Our only hope is that one of Eden's clients has reported him missing. They took our phones, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've messaged our family and friends pretending everything is hunky dory.

Devlin hasn't said much since the attack except to snipe at Jeremy or Dr Evil when they come to see us. She hasn't taken another beating, but Dr Evil's patience is wearing thin.

Jeremy secretly slipped her some pain meds for her ribs, which further confirms he isn't like the rest of those horrible bastards.

Eden and I have been trying our best to communicate with Emiliya. I've taught her a few basic English expressions and pointed out and named several things from around the room, not that there's much here. She's catching on quickly, but it's not enough to have a full-on conversation yet, and I can tell she gets frustrated easily.

With gestures and terrible translation, we figured out that she's 21 and came to London on a solo trip for a few days to see if she liked the city enough to study there.

I wonder if her family is searching for her already. She should've flown home days ago.

Things between Eden and me are strange. Each day is different. The physical affection is there, subtle touches and nighttime spooning, but he goes painfully quiet for hours at a time. I have to remind myself it's not something I've said or done. It's the fact we're prisoners, but it doesn't tame my ever-growing anxiety. I can't help but feel like I'm pissing him off by speaking too much. Or squash the feeling that this is my fault, I got him into this fucked up mess, and it doesn't seem like we're getting out of it anytime soon.

Footsteps approach from outside, so I straighten my posture, and unfortunately, Eden's fingers slip from my knee. I'm getting less terrified of that sound as the days pass. It seems like they don't want to physically hurt us unless we aggravate them.

"Get up, Kai," Dr Evil barks.

Fuck, this is it. It's my turn to do a job. Jeremy skulks behind him, holding a black drawstring bag in a loose grip, like what's inside it might set his hands on fire. Dr Evil puts his hand out in a silent demand, and Jeremy passes him the bag.

"Unchain him," Dr Evil snaps at Jeremy when he doesn't move quickly enough.

I reluctantly ease myself up on shaky limbs. Once I'm free of my chains, Jeremy guides me towards the bathroom with a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"What are you doing? I don't need the bathroom."

My heart tries to battle its way past my rib cage as they follow me into the rundown bathroom. Eden and the girls shuffle to the edge of their mattress, keen to know what the hell is going on.

I stumble backwards when Dr Evil and Jeremy crowd me in the bathroom. A sharp shooting pain runs up my spine as I crash into the glass shower door.

"Take your clothes off," Dr Evil demands, face like thunder.

My hands wildly shake as I dangle on tenterhooks.

What are they going to do to me? Are they going to violate me right here in this bathroom? With Eden and the girls listening.

The bitter taste of bile rushes my throat, but I force it down.

"Wh-what?" I stutter.

"Take your fucking clothes off now," Dr Evil roars, making my whole body tense enough to shatter.

Chains rattling draw my attention.

"Leave him alone, don't touch him," Eden calls from the other room.

"You've got ten seconds to get undressed."

Dr Evil starts counting down from ten, and I realise I have no choice but to comply. I won't recover from this, not if he touches me.

Hesitantly, I slide the shirt off my quaking shoulders and then peel the jumper off. The bitter air cuts across my bare chest. I cross my arms and tuck my hands under my armpits to hide my exposed nipples. I haven't removed my joggers yet. I can't allow them to just take from me. I need to put up a fight.

"Wha-what are y-you going to do to me?" I chatter.

"Let him go, don't hurt him, take me instead," Eden yells.

"Shut that fucking oaf up," Dr Evil snarls at Jeremy.

Jeremy reluctantly removes his gun from his waistband, leaves the bathroom and threatens Eden, "Shut the hell up. Don't make me hurt you." There's an obvious waver to his weak voice.

"No, please. You can't touch him," Eden pleads.

The jarring sound of chains clattering against the floor follows.

Dr Evil reaches inside the bag and reveals electric clippers. I shake violently, horror-struck by how he might use them on me. He forcefully grabs the back of my neck and drags me closer. I try to pull away, but his firm grip overpowers me.

"Stay the fuck still, mutt, or I'll cut you and don't think I wouldn't enjoy watching you bleed."

My body goes stiff and I take harsh breaths through my nose to stabilise myself. The hum of the clippers coming to life fills the empty space. My brain says fight, but I'm paralysed.

"Oh god, no! What are you doing to him?" Eden cries.

Emiliya bawls something in Bulgarian.

"You're sick bastards, do you know that?" Devlin shouts over the sound of the clippers.

"Shut up! All of you, ok?" Jeremy yells with more conviction this time.

Dr Evil forces my head forward and starts aggressively shaving it. I try to block out the cries and shouts coming from the others. My whole body quakes, and my heart thunders in my chest as I watch my luscious curls cascade to the floor around me.

Up until this point, I've managed to stay strong, but as he strips me of my identity, I feel something inside of me snap. Silent tears and snot crash onto the grimy tiles, only adding to their filth. It only takes him a few minutes to ruin me.

Dragging my head, Dr Evil smirks at me with shameless glee like he knows what he took from me.

"Much better. Now rinse off and get dressed, mutt."

He shoves me towards the shower cubicle, and I climb in on unstable legs. I detach the shower head and lean forward to rinse my head, shoulders, and face while trying to avoid my joggers, but I still manage to get a few splashes on them. The feel of my bare scalp forces a pained sob out of me.

I know it's only hair. It will grow back, but it's the lack of control and the bitter realisation that we are nothing more than their playthings.

I frantically dress, causing my feet to slip on the puddled floor. I clutch the sink to steady myself as another cry escapes. I bite down on my lower lip to suppress my whimpers.

I feel degraded and disgustingly weak, reminding me of how my parents used to make me feel. I promised myself I'd never let anyone make me feel worthless again. Yet here I am, amounting to nothing.

The severity of our situation hits me like a ten-tonne truck. The brain is a peculiar thing. I'd convinced myself this isn't as bad as it seems for days, but now the blinders are off. I see this for what it is. We've been trafficked, and if we don't do exactly as they say, we're going to die.

Shame washes over me as I re-enter the room. It feels like a boulder has dropped into the pit of my stomach. My head hangs low, and I tightly squeeze Eden's shirt around me as if it'll protect me.

"Oh my god, Kai. Are you ok?" Eden's voice rattles.

I try to walk towards the mattress, but Dr Evil's firm palm on my chest brings me to a halt.

"No, we're not done, turn around," he spits.

I do as he says because I have no fight left in me. He painfully grips the back of my neck and leads me out of the room. Before I have a chance to take in the long corridor, he shoves me into the room next door.

I can just about make out Eden shouting at Jeremy, demanding to know where Dr Evil is taking me as the door slams shut.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise as I take in the creepy surroundings. The room is bare like our own, but there's a bright white bed sheet stretched across one wall and a battered desk in the corner. On top sits an expensive-looking computer and photography gear. There's also a ring light facing the covered wall.

"Stand against the wall and wipe your eyes," Dr Evil barks, pointing at the white backdrop.

He flicks the light on, making me squint as I adjust to the offensively bright light shining in my face.

"Don't look so fucking miserable."

I angrily scrub my eyes with my palms, which is useless because there's no way I'm done crying. If he thinks he's going to get some hot shots, he's sorely mistaken.

"Look up," Dr Evil demands.

I vacantly gaze down the camera's lens as he takes several shots.

Once he's satisfied with the photos, he drags me back to our prison.

"Right, tie him back up, Jeremy. Gobby, you're up next."

"Am I fuck," Devlin hisses, her teeth on full display like she's ready to take a chunk from one of their faces.

Jeremy leads me to the mattress. The click of the padlock engaging is a too-familiar sound now.

Eden flies over to my side of the mattress, but I can't look at or touch him right now. The pity in his eyes will destroy me so I face the opposite direction. Eden's hand lands on my shoulder, but I shrug him off.

"Please, just leave me," I mumble.

"You know I can't do that."

He reaches for my arm this time, but I tuck it in.

"Don't, Eden," I whisper, fighting further tears.

"I thought he was hurting you," his voice trembles.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Devlin screams, stealing our attention.

She's practically wrestling Dr Evil and Jeremy as they try to unlock the padlock around her neck. Emiliya trembles on the corner of the mattress with her hands hiding her face. Can't blame her. I wouldn't want to watch this shitstorm unfold, either.

Dr Evil pulls out his gun and forces it under Devlin's chin, making her freeze.

"Fucking stay still, or your brains will paint these damn walls."

She snarls at him but no longer resists. They drag her stiff body to the bathroom, and before long, the sound of scissors snipping away cuts through the harrowing silence.

* * *

The last time anyone spoke was before our salon visit. Because what is there to say, really? The dark cloud that hangs over us is thicker than ever.

Devlin now has a very uneven bob. They also took her picture, god knows what for. New ID maybe or just to humiliate us.

"Kai," Eden whispers, reaching out to stroke the back of my neck.

"What?" I grumble.

"Please, look at me."

The mattress dips behind me, making me flinch. Eden rests his chin on my shoulder and turns his face into the crook of my neck. The light tickle of his breath against my skin causes my back to stiffen.

"You're still beautiful, Kai," he says softly against my neck.

My stomach flips, forcing my shoulders to relax. Eden must feel my resolve slipping because before I can tell him to stop, he rapidly moves so his legs frame mine and his arms slink around my waist from behind. Surrendering to what I really want, I allow myself to sink into his chest, and he lets out a long breath like he can finally relax now we're physically connected again.

"I look like a thug. They gave me a number one all over, a number one, for fuck's sake."

"No, Kai, I won't hear it. You're beautiful. Stunning, in fact. Losing your hair doesn't change a damn thing."

"It's not even about the hair. It's the lack of autonomy. They can literally do anything to us."

He squeezes me tighter against his chest and lightly kisses my neck.

"I know, baby. I was scared, too. I didn't know what he was doing to you."

My breath catches at the term of endearment. I didn't consider how frightening that must've been for Eden and the girls, not knowing what was happening to me.

"When he asked me to get undressed, I thought he was going to…" I struggle to finish my sentence and feel Eden shudder behind me.

"Shhh, he didn't and he won't. We're going to figure a way out of this. I need you to stay strong for me."

Taking the side of my face in his large hands, he turns my head so I'm looking at him over my shoulder.

"Can you do that for me, Kai?" he asks with determination in his watery eyes.

I nod, squeezing my eyes shut, soaking up his warmth and letting it engulf me.

"Without hair it only makes your eyes stand out more. They're even brighter. Let me see them, baby."

Fuck, again with baby, he's going to thaw this ice-cold heart if he isn't careful.

I slowly peel my eyes open and all I see staring back at me is comfort and desire. I inch closer, seeking the taste of his lips. His hand slides up my chest, framing my neck as he kisses me feverishly like there's no one else in the room. I should care about the others, but I need this. I need him. Finding a moment of escape is my only focus in this catastrophe.

I guide Eden's hand lower so it's resting against my jogger-clad crotch. Despite what happened today, I'm rock-hard from a single kiss.

"Kai, we shouldn't," he mutters.

His chest rises and falls behind me, and I feel his cock growing against my lower back. I look over, and Devlin and Emiliya are fast asleep. The only light coming in is from the full moon. I know this is fucked up to want this with other people in the same room, but I've never needed to escape reality as much as I do right now.

"They're asleep," I whisper against his lips.

Eden quietly moans in protest, but then his mouth latches onto my neck, and his hand slides into my baggy joggers. The feel of him wrapped around my rigid cock makes me suck in air through my teeth.

"You have to be quiet," he murmurs.

Nodding in response, I pull my joggers down slightly so I'm partially exposed. He lazily strokes me for a few beats and then his hand dips lower, cupping my balls and rolling them in the palm of his hand. They're so full and tender after days of having no release. I know it won't take me long to come.

Eden tugs his hand back up and rolls it over my tip, gathering a copious amount of pre-cum, then glides it back down. A small moan creeps past my lips, and Eden covers my mouth with his own to silence me. His grip on my shaft tightens as he slides his hand from the base and up again over and over with perfect pace and precision. My body grows hot and tingly, and I feel my orgasm building deep within my core. I'm panting and my legs spread impossibly wide, resting against his. My head tips back against his shoulder, and I bite my lip to stifle my moan. Eden picks up the tempo, and I edge closer to the peak, ready to fall right off. At that moment, nothing else matters, only him and his all-consuming touch. I forget it all.

My body convulses as I release ribbons of hot cum onto the edge of the mattress and floor in between our legs. He continues to pump me, loosening his grip, but doesn't stop until I'm a shuddering mess against him. As I start to come down from my high, he kisses the side of my head and breathes me in.

"Better?" he asks, tone calm and steady.

"Yes, thank you," I manage to pant out.

I twist and try to slide my hand into his joggers, but he snatches my wrist.

"It's ok, this isn't about me."

I nod and settle back against him because I actually believe him. He doesn't expect anything in return. He wanted to make me feel good, make me forget. The weight of that settles in my chest. Everything he's done that's led to this moment has been for me.

"Can we cuddle now?" I'm instantly embarrassed as the pathetic words leave my lips.

Eden's comforting chuckle vibrates against my back, telling me it's ok to ask for such things.

"Of course, there's nothing I want more."