Trigger warning to anyone with self harm issues. All characters engaged in sexual acts are of the age 18 and older.
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"All set," Emily announced as she pulled out the last of the stitches. The newly pink scars itched, but I simply rubbed them and pulled my sleeves down.
"Thank you Emily, you're going to make a great doctor." I informed her, her cheeks turned a bit pink as she started collecting her instruments.
"Well Clyde says there is still a lot for me to learn but I've been studying really hard."
"Don't give up if it's your passion." She gave me a half smile before standing up and leaving. Clyde stood nearby in the doorway watching the interaction with his arms folded across his broad chest. He was there to offer Emily support and guidance.
"You'll be with Maggie today, she's going to help you gather some food from the garden, and teach you how to clean the rest of the house." I nodded submissively and he smiled, kissing my forehead before heading outside. I stood and made my way to find Maggie. I found her in the living room kissing her youngest daughter on the head and sending her to Ruth. Maggie turned and offered me a genuine smile.
"She's in her last trimester, so I offered to switch until after the baby is born," she explained.
"What are we doing today?" I asked softly. I was tired, but I was looking forward to the nice distraction. If I jumped into the work enough, I could almost forget my entire situation.
"First we strip all the beds and remake them. We pick up the kids rooms, dust, sweep, mop, and clean the bathrooms. Occasionally we fetch things for Mama, she's a proud woman, but it's getting harder for her to move around. We will help pick some veggies from the garden, and anything else that might need to be done."
"Sounds fun," I replied. She laughed and I followed her down the hall and into Clyde's room. I started to pull the sheets and pillow cases off as Maggie opened all the windows, and brought fresh sheets in from the hallway closet. We quickly made the bed together, dusted the nightstand and moved onto the kid's room. I recall my room as a child, and what I found here was nowhere nearly as bad as I expected. There were a couple toys on the floor, and most the beds were unmade, however for the most part the place was pretty clean for being a room filled with several children. The room was giant, it was more like a corridor, with beds on one side, most of which being bunk beds, and toy boxes, and shelves filled with children's books. Becky's bed was the one that stood out the most. She had her own bed, not a bunk bed and her sheets were all bright pink, her walls by her bed were covered in pictures of hand drawn animals, pictures of her family, and designs for dresses, these ones were much more appropriate designs if I were to compare them to her father's standards.
I started to strip the bunk beds, bundling the sheets as Maggie fetched clean ones. Together we moved pretty fast. I found we worked well together as we finished the kids room, and moved onto Emily's than Christopher's. I desperately wanted to take her aside and discuss possible escape plans but I was afraid of who would overhear. I decided to wait until we were alone in the garden. The morning went by rather fast; at lunch I lowered my head in prayer, even though not a word left past my lips. I ate my food heartily and helped to clean up the dishes before I went back to work. I dusted while she started to sweep and that is when I came across my salvation, a stash of keys, they were in the nightstand drawer of Georgie's room. I was alone for the moment; Maggie had left to start sweeping the other rooms.
My heart pounded in my chest as I picked the keys up gently. They were all conveniently labeled, tractor, bike, truck, barn etc. I almost couldn't contain my excitement. I quickly pulled the truck key off the key ring and placed it in the pocket of my dress. I was nervous, excited, and buzzing with anticipation. I moved to the next room, dusting all the surfaces and making sure I cleaned with vigor. I did the mopping while Maggie went to help Mama.
Before I knew it, we were done and in the Garden picking beans and carrots.
"Maggie, we need to get out of here." She nearly froze, eyes focusing on her task.
"We shouldn't be talking about this," she replied softly.
"I don't know how to escape with everyone without alerting the others," I confessed, hoping she might have an idea.
"You can't. You'll have to go alone and bring help back. There is no way the kids would be quiet, we'd wake up someone and while there are four of us, I am not so sure what side Sarah and Ruth would be honest. They've been here much longer than me. The thought of leaving here and being back in the real world actually scares me a little," she confessed.
"We all need some serious therapy," I replied. She laughed and shook her head as she buried her fingers in the dirt and pulled up more carrots.
"I stopped imagining a life off this property Skye; I tried so hard for so long to remain strong. And now I just bow my head and do as I'm told, I have to protect my girls. If something ever happened to me, they wouldn't stand a chance. At least being here I can try my best to make sure they're loved enough, and know they're self-worth."
"I will come back though, I swear it." I vowed as I looked over at her. She smiled up at me and for a brief moment I saw hope flicker in her eyes. But as I looked past her I felt myself scowl. I watched as Christopher dragged Emily into the shed; she didn't look like she really wanted to go. I took the key from my pocket and buried it near the scarecrow before standing.
"I have to stop this," I announced.
"It's none of our business Skye." Maggie replied.
"What if it was one of your daughters? Would you turn your head then?"
