A New Life Series - Starter Kit

by Samantha Jacobey

  Still standing just inside the doorway, she rationalized she really hadn't done anything wrong. So I kissed the guy and let him cop a feel, so what? Nothing really bad happened. She raised her chin defiantly, shoving her hands into her pockets to hide the tremor that would give her away. “Anyways, I think I’ll head up to bed. Goodnight.” She darted for the door and went up the stairs, her boots loud on the wooden case.

  Watching her go, Sharon had a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. It’s Tori's second night here, and already she’s struggling. Taking a sip of her coffee, she moved to join her husband at the table, who had been watching quietly as the events unfolded before him.

  “Did you see it?” he asked as she sat down.

  “Yeah, I saw it,” she replied with a knowing look. Sharon, a recovering alcoholic, had been sober for ten years. But deep down, she knew the ache of the people who pass through her home, and understood their pain.

  Meanwhile, Tori made it to her bedroom door, closing it loudly behind her. She stood for several minutes in the center of her room panting, hands still buried in her jacket.

  Thinking about Paul, she recalled how he had followed her around with a bottle of rum the first night she drank herself into a stupor and let the Dragons have her body to do with as they pleased. So much time had passed, but she could still feel the cold wood of the table against her naked skin as they fucked her. Closing her eyes, she allowed the memory to progress, surrounding her, and she could hear the trees as they moved in the breeze.

  Eddie had been on the ground leaning against the cabin, when Tori straddled him, sitting on his lap and making her move. She had asked, “Can I take my clothes off now?” and his hands had been on her in an instant.

  She could feel his fingers as they worked their way back and forth across her back, then pulling her forward in an arch that pushed her breasts out further in front of her. He had cupped her right breast and toyed with it through the cloth. He nuzzled her cheek and whispered loudly, “Oh yeah, baby girl, you should most definitely…take them off.” She could tell it pleased him that she wanted to be his.

  Tori rose and silently removed her boots, then her pants and shirt. The onlookers had once again lain themselves out around the firelight to watch, but this night would be different. This night, she wanted to be a willing participant, and she had no choice but to play the part. Never again would they take her by force; not if she could help it.

  She removed her bra and panties and stood completely naked before the man who owned her. He reached up, running his fingers lightly across the bandage that covered her healing wound. He sneered as he did so, knowing the brand meant the others and any man who was with her knew whom she belonged to.

  He opened his pants and instructed her to get on her knees. Kneeling on the ground before him, she wasn't sure how to please him, having only touched Henry the one time a few short nights before. He guided her head with his hand as she took him in her mouth, and it made her gag as he forced his hardened organ into her throat.

  Tori managed to hold back the urge to vomit, and did her best to please him. After a few minutes, he used her hair to pull her to her feet, and then walked her over to the table where the tube of gel awaited.

  Turning her to face the table, he pushed her down so that her belly lay flat against the cold hard wood. His fingers were rough as he used the gel to smooth his path. She began to pant in ragged breaths as she realized he did not intend to take her as he should have, opting for the position that hurt her so badly. She gripped the edges of the table, refusing to cry as he made his way inside, and she fought to control her breathing and hold her façade in place.

  He slapped against her for several minutes, and Tori could feel her legs twitch from their awkward dangling position. He grasped the skin along her ribs tightly between his fingers and palms, his breath loud as his moans and grunts rose to their final peek, and then he stood still, pulsing inside her.

  Leaning over her naked back, he rested on top of her so that he could breathe against her neck and whisper in her ear. He stroked her hair as he exhaled, “So good, baby girl.” Her left cheek pressed against the table, she stared blankly into the night, unwilling to respond.

  Finished with her, he slid himself out, and walked away to allow the others to take what they wanted. Tori didn’t move or struggle against them, only allowing herself to grip the edges of the table and breathe to relax and accept them being inside her. She did not bother to keep track of who or how many, as it didn’t matter. That was her life; that was her place, her job in the darkness.

  Back in her room in the halfway house, Tori stood still for a moment longer as the memory faded back into the recesses of her mind. Pulling off her jacket, she tossed it onto the rocking chair beside the door. Stripping down, she put her clothes onto the laundry pile, thinking it would be a waste to wash them yet, as she had only worn them for a day. She frequently wore the same set for a week out on the road.

  Putting on her sleep shorts and tee, she looked around the room in disgust. They had blocked every single corner with furniture. Leaning into the closet, she surveyed the tiny space.

  A built in shelving unit ran all along the back wall that was about a foot deep. Both sides held two hanging bars that were three foot long, with a shelf halfway up, above the lower rod. Kneeling down, she slid under the bar to the right of the door facing out into the bedroom and worked her right shoulder into the corner.

  It felt odd, actually sitting in the closet, gripping the doorframe as she tried to breathe calmly. Sleep didn't come easy that night, so she had time to reflect on her day and formulate a plan.

  First off, I will be respectful of Terry. Whatever his reasons for allowing her to work for him, she was there now and needed the job and all it had to offer.

  Secondly, I need to stay the hell away from those boys. Her no touch policy would need to be strictly enforced, as Max had already proven to be more than willing to go for a romp if she ever wanted one, which she didn't.

  Third, under no circumstances will I allow myself a drink or even a taste of alcohol. No matter what, it would be essential that she stay sober and not fuck things up. Deep down, Tori knew she could do this; I’m smart and strong after all, and I have survived much worse than this.

  Her mind drifting to Eli, she became riddled with guilt about her behavior that night, for his sake. She felt ashamed she had let another man touch her so soon after their night together and also glad he would never find out she had done so.

  Her feelings for Eli had grown strong during the time they had spent together, and although they really didn't have much in common, she knew their future together would be a good one. As her mind began to wind down, Tori finally fell asleep in the darkness of the closet, the comforting coolness of the wall pressing against her face.

  Get a Routine

  Tori awoke when her alarm went off at 5:00 am, leaning into her corner in the closet. She had slept only marginally better than the first night, still upset with herself and her actions the day before. Dressing for her run and workout, she shuddered to think what might have happened if they had been someplace more private. The thought excited her for a moment, and she quickly admonished herself; you can bury that idea for good, and you’re gonna avoid that situation all together.

  Heading down the stairs and out the side door, she took the same path she had the day before, this time moving out onto the grass and doing some other exercises to vary her routine. She pushed herself hard, almost as a punishment for her misdeeds, doing twelve sets of twelve before she turned back to the house.

  Bob didn't react this time when she opened the door, only lifting his head from his newspaper long enough to wish her a good morning. Tori answered likewise as she exited through the far door, eager for her shower.

  A few minutes later, she stood beneath the cascade of warm water. Allowing it to soak her thoroughly, she used the peach scented gel to lather her skin and relax her exhausted muscles. She dressed in h
aste and put on her makeup quickly, pleased she got better at it each time she did so.

  Finally, she put on a fresh pair of jeans and another long sleeved white tee; finally she checked her boots and pulled those on, as well. She didn't stop for breakfast this morning, exiting the house straight away. She made her way over to the garage and pulled on the handle. It wasn't locked and swung open with ease.

  In the early gray light of dawn, she could barely see the machine, but it gave her enough to get a mental picture and an idea of some of the work that needed to be done. Closing the door tightly, Tori hoped focusing on the bike would give her something to think about that did not involve sex or drugs, both of which she wanted desperately to avoid.

  Deciding she had a few minutes, she went back inside, where Bob had finished his morning routine and was about to go back upstairs. Noticing her looking around the kitchen, he pointed to the fridge, “Grab some of my fruit if you like. It's in the bottom drawer with my name on it.” He smiled as he spoke, and she tried to respond with one of her own, but felt exposed, as if everyone in the house could read her dirty thoughts and judged her for her stupidity.

  Pulling out an orange and two plums, she snagged a bottle of water and sat at the table a few minutes munching on them. The clock read 7:15 and she did not want to be late. Taking the bottle with her, she made her trek to the store at a brisk pace.

  Reaching the light at the halfway point, Tori kept her eyes straight ahead, not even allowing herself to look at her nemesis that now stood on her left. When the light turned green, she moved ahead swiftly and arrived at the store with plenty of time to spare.

  Seeming to be the first one there, she checked both doors to find them locked, and no one answered when she knocked. Leaning with her back against the wall alongside the single door, she propped her foot up next to her knee, the sole pressing against the concrete partition, her hands shoved in her pockets.

  A few minutes later, Terry drove up and parked down the block. He could see her relaxed position as he moved to exit the vehicle, and grinned to himself. Thinking back, he wasn't sure exactly what had made him agree to his old friend's request. It’s true, he recalled; it had taken a fair amount of convincing to sell me on the idea.

  Huffman had been a career man in the agency, with no family to speak of and no friends outside of it for many years. He had been involved in bringing down his share of bad guys, and although he still felt good about his job, he had been tired by the time he called it quits. Tired of the pain and misery humans could cause one another.

  In the end, that’s what had sold him on allowing her there. That girl’s seen more than her share of pain and misery; what I hope to give her most is some tools she can use to build a real future for herself. He reminded himself of his motives as he approached her, hoping to convey his feelings of good will.

  Smiling warmly as he drew close, he spoke in a friendly tone, “Well, nice to see you so bright and early.”

  Tori managed a small grimace, not quite able to hold his eyes, allowing hers to dart away before looking at the ground. She could feel the stab of guilt, and she wondered if he knew about Max and what she had allowed to happen. She followed him inside without speaking, suddenly glad to be there, where she might be able to get a routine in her life.

  Terry did not question her odd behavior. Instead, he got right to work, explaining his short list of lessons for the day, “I’m going to teach you how to open the store, count the previous day’s sales, and prepare the deposit.”

  “I still don't understand why you want me to do this,” she told him bitterly. “I just got here, and I’m sure one of those other guys would be much better suited.”

  Terry only grinned at her observation, not bothering to reply. Godfry had called the girl a genius. “But she doesn't know it, so you might keep it to yourself,” his friend had advised. She obviously undervalues herself, he assessed. He would have to work on helping her build her confidence and self-esteem, which would be a long and slow process.

  Pulling out the money from the night before, he showed her how to count each till and subtract the starting cash each register begins the day with. He then showed her how to pull the sales reports and reconcile the two. Finally, they made out the deposit slip, which they placed in a zippered bag with the cash for deposit, and locked it in the safe to be taken to the bank later in the day. Taking the starting funds, he walked her out to the floor to show her how to open the registers.

  Tori was sharp, exactly as Godfry had promised, picking up on the process with relative ease. The pair opened both registers, and then made a quick sweep of the store to be sure everything would be ready for opening. At 10:00 am, Derrick and Max arrived, being the morning crew for the day.

  Max stared at her coldly, obviously a bit put out at the way she had left him the night before. Derrick laughed, and as he walked behind her towards the back of the store, he leaned over and uttered a single word; “Tease.”

  So, Max had seen fit to share the events with his friend. That's fine, Tori consoled herself; that will make it easier not to repeat.

  The two young men were put to work on the front, cleaning and running the registers, and Terry led Tori to the back to finish showing her the store’s overall routine. The back divided into two basic sections, he pointed out that the left contained the small office and a receiving area where a large overhead door stood for unloading trucks. On the right stood a workshop of sorts, where he did, in fact, build the guitars that he sold.

  Giving her a quick overview of the process, he explained that after he left the agency, he felt like a broken man, who needed something to do with his hands. “So, I learned to build guitars. It has helped me cope and feel useful in my retirement.”

  He smiled at her, and Tori felt very appreciative of his efforts. She noticed that his eyes were blue, like hers, and found herself staring into them for a few moments as she considered exactly what it might have been he was coping with.

  “How long were you with the agency?” she asked in a quiet voice.

  Nodding his head, he responded in a low tone, “Twenty five years.”

  Breaking their eye contact, Tori looked around at the wooden counters strewn with tools and guitar parts, thinking to herself, it must be nice to have a purpose; something to do that’s for a good reason or cause. Remembering the bike parked in the garage, she felt the urge to go look for parts.

  Turning abruptly, he bade her to follow him over to the office, where he opened the safe and handed her an envelope. “I thought you could use an advance,” he stated calmly, “Since you’re just starting out.”

  Tori peeked into the white pouch and counted three $100 bills. It gave her stomach a funny twinge that he gave her money, and she looked at his face for a moment, not sure what to do or say next.

  Noting her confusion, he smiled and clarified, “It’s just an advance. Take it and get what you need, and I’ll deduct it from your paycheck, let's say fifty dollar installments for six checks.”

  Looking down at the cash again, she managed a small smile and thanked him quietly. His kindness touched her, and Tori realized for the first time that caring people were not such a rarity after all. Eli and Debra had only been the start of all the people she would meet in her life; people who would help her on her journey. Meeting his warm blue eyes, she grinned, and spoke with more confidence, “Really, thank you very much. I will do my best to deserve it.”

  “You already deserve it,” he laughed as he gave her a quick slap on the shoulder, “Now, go take the rest of the day off, get what you need to make yourself at home in your new life.”

  Tori nodded, slipped the envelope into her jacket pocket and headed towards the front. Making her way across the sales floor, she could see the two boys snickering at her as she exited, but she wasn't going to let them bother her. She had too many other things to worry about.

  Making a Way

  Tori left the shop and returned to the house straightaway. Once inside, she
located Brandon in his office, shuffling through a pile of papers. Knocking lightly on the open door, she got his attention. Giving him a shy smile, she requested, “Can I come in? I have a few questions, if you have the time to help me.” He immediately shoved the stack back into the plastic tray and waved her into the room, pleased at the surprise visit.

  Taking a seat in the folding chair across from him, she explained that Terry had given her some cash, and she faced the issue of never having handled money on her own before. She had $300 in her pocket, and she realized if he were going to be taking out $50 a week to pay it back, she was going to need some skills to go about it the right way.

  “Let me make a few calls,” he told her patiently, so Tori moved over into the living area while she waited. Walking around the room, looking at the simple decorations, her mind drifted away, and she recalled what the Dragons had taught her about money.

  It had been a cold evening in the fall, and the group had stopped over in a medium sized town in Indiana. They were at a small local dive with a loud jukebox and cheap liquor. Some of the guys were playing pool, and Tori, already drunk, busied herself giving head in the back corner.

  A man came in to see Eddie, and they sat at a table alone for about half an hour talking business. When it came time to close up, Eddie paid the barkeep to let them stay the night, telling him they would be gone by first light, and they had fucked her on the pool table after he left.

  The next day, they didn't leave town, which meant Eddie had picked up some work from the guy the night before. The Dragons messed around for the day, working on their bikes, doing laundry and what have you.

  As night fell, Eddie handed Tori a picture of a woman, with an address to a shoe store at the bottom and 10:00 pm beside the word front written on the side. His only command, “Take care of this.”