Your friend,
Mary Neal
Cina hated the protection facility, but Krista had never believed she’d actually escape. She hoped her friend made it to family. Canada was her most likely destination. There was supposedly an underground network of men who believed women should have a choice and that the US government was using the lack of women to achieve their objective of genetically engineering a smarter, healthier population. She didn’t doubt there wasn’t some truth to the suspicion, but she knew there was no guarantee of protection in Canada.
While the country offered any woman asylum upon request, without a network of friends or family who were willing to be on guard for you twenty-four seven, the odds of enduring rape or abduction were frighteningly high. There were “female friendly” communities who guarded against strangers and would shot to kill intruders, but without a support system, running was not the safe choice. At least the lottery gave you a chance to find men who would care. After what Damon had done to her, she hated the idea of another man forcing himself on her, and the thought of that happening to Cina made her want to cry. Cina wasn’t as strong as she was; she’d been far more sheltered and pampered. Harsh reality hadn’t ever been easy for her friend to accept.
Krista deleted the email and then deleted it from the trash, not wanting any of the men to know her friend escaped, but not really sure why. Taking a deep breath, she began searching the internet. What would happen to Cina now? She needed to know more than she did. She knew how to delete browsing history after a brief tutorial from Jared and she was unusually alone. Reading the numbers of women fleeing to Canada and the number of families who’d left after the government had demanded all ten-year-old girls enter the protection facilities across the country made her realize Cina did have a chance, albeit slim. If she found the right people, people who wanted to make her their agenda of goodwill, she’d be all right. But if the wrong people found her…
Severely disturbing YouTube videos made her cringe. She closed her eyes. Private leaked home footage of women who weren’t compliant to their six was one title and showed girls surrounded by military men holding them down as the men received a quick tutorial of government-approved bondage. Horrible images of girls crying and screaming, begging, but no help came, just hard, punishing cocks. The rape was far more brutal than she’d ever imagined. What she saw made Damon look like a saint. There was special equipment, to ensure no injury happened to the girl. It was monstrous. Krista shook. Suddenly, she felt lucky to be here, even if she knew in reality that she wasn’t any freer than this brutalized woman was. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her heart broke for the traumatized woman. By the third man, she’d stopped thrashing and just laid cursing and moaning on the bed. Krista closed the browser. She couldn’t watch another moment. She deleted her browsing history. Do my six know just how far they can actually go?
For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening she was quiet, worried about her friend. If the men noticed her introspectiveness, they didn’t say anything to her about it. She noticed Braxton watching her, but ignored his curious gaze.
Her six talked and joked, but Krista was too sullen to join in.
“We’re going to play Xbox. What to play?” Jared asked.
She shook her head. “I think I’m going to bed.”
“Don’t worry about Mal. He’ll be all right.”
“Thanks, I’m worried about a lot right now,” she replied cryptically. It was better he think she was worried about Mal than he probe deeper for the truth. Should I have run like Cina? Is this really the life I want? Can six men with their own agenda ever make me happy? In her heart, she knew she wanted a real family, not this mockery. Cina’s escape reminded her that she did have a choice. Danger lurked away from this compound built to disguise her prison as a home. She looked at Jared. “Goodnight.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Sleep well.”
Nodding, she turned before he could see the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Her feet had just hit the stairs when a hand gripped her elbow. Krista didn’t turn around. The small scent of light, musky cologne told her Brax held her arm. She didn’t want him to see her cry.
“I want you to be with me tonight. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about my night, or my morning. I think you might be an addiction.”
His words sent a thrill through her, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the melancholy she’d been feeling. He might just be saying those words to manipulate her. She was an agenda, after all. None of these men loved her. If she allowed herself to love them, then she was deluding herself.
“It’s not your night.”
“Would you rather be with Mal? Is that why you’re upset, Kristannie, you wanted him?”
“What I want doesn’t matter anymore.”
“That’s not true. What’s happened since this morning? Last night I thought…never mind.”
“I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Braxton.”
The hand on her arm tightened. His body shifted and she knew her words had hit him hard. If she looked at his face, her resolve would crumble, so she focused on a single spot of discolored carpet on the stairs. A woman would’ve known better than to choose white carpet.
“Sleep well. I hope you’ll feel differently next Monday.” His voice sounded strained.
For a moment, she almost allowed herself to turn to him. Losing herself in his arms, in his body, it would be so easy. She needed to be careful not to allow herself to indulge in a fantasy world.
This would be so much easier if Cina hadn’t run, if Krista hadn’t realized she’d been a coward. She’d taken the easy way out, and now she felt ashamed. She’d let her government use her. Each sexual encounter might just as well have been performed by congress instead of these men. She had to find a balance again. Courage had never been her strong suit, because she hated conflict and the two usual lived together, simultaneously in the moment, one needed to draw on inner strength. Her friend had courage. All she had was a future of servitude. Her body would provide these men release while her womb provided her country with citizens who would grow up in a choice-less world. Bleak. Tears tickled her cheeks.
Braxton let go of her arm, and she went to bed.
Chapter 8
Krista felt a hand on her back. She shrieked, turning so quickly her neck ached. Half sitting, half laying on her stomach, she peered into the darkness. It was Mal. “How are you feeling?” she muttered sleepily.
“Horny.”
“The doctors give you anything for it?” She wasn’t in the mood for sex and hoped he’d take the hint.
He snorted. “He knew I had a home remedy waiting for me. It’s still my night. You okay with me crawling in bed with you?”
She paused. She’d fallen asleep feeling the sting of having told Brax no just because she could. She really wanted to be with Brax, but her body wasn’t her own anymore and allowing him an extra night just didn’t feel right. She wanted to hold whatever true freedom she could, like a precious thing in need of protection.
Dim hallway light illuminated Mal’s face, he looked determined. Her funny man sat on the bed. She liked Mal, but with the new knowledge that her men could abuse her, taught by and endorsed with a government stamp of approval, she just wanted to be alone to think. Yes, she knew these men weren’t the worst she could have “won”, if she was willing to let herself look at the lottery in reverse, but they were still her “keepers” and at the moment that made them feel like the enemy.
“It’s late, I’m tired.” She hoped he’d do the gentlemanly thing and let her go back to sleep.
“I’m a little groggy, but I’m not going to miss my turn, baby.” Nope.
“I think you should rest. It’s been an eventful, almost fatal, day.”
“All the more reason to have you, life is short.” He touched her breast through her thin, silk nightgown. Flinching, she scooted away. He looked upset. “It’s my night. You technically have to sleep with me.”
She ju
st adored his use of the word “technically” as if he’d call the sex police and they’d hold her down for him. Hell, he could actually do that. She shuddered, remembering the YouTube video.
“Mal, I’m just not feeling it…”
“Bullshit! You’ve given everyone else their night when it’s been their turn. You get sex every day, but we have to wait.”
“Oh, and I’m so delighted to be so in demand. You have no idea how I feel. At first, everything was novel, I sort of thought I could keep you all happy and be able to just let you guys have sex with me every day. Please let me go back to sleep.”
She began to roll over. He took her shoulder and turned her to look at him again. “Damn it, Krista, no. I want you. I don’t want to wait until Sunday. Please. I need this.”
The pain in his voice made her heart ache. She didn’t want this, any of it, but she didn’t want to go back into the protection facility. She just wanted one man, not six. She wanted romance, not just sex. She doubted she could truly love six men, but she wanted to be their friend. They were all she had. Tears filled her eyes. She wasn’t being fair, but she was hurting too, and the worst part was she didn’t have anyone she could confide in.
He ran his hand through his hair. “Don’t cry,” he whispered. His thumb wiped at one of the tears on her face. “Don’t.” Mal stood and left the room without another word, he didn’t look back.
She closed her eyes, her pillow soon felt damp. Sleep took it’s time returning.
* * * *
Krista walked slowly down the stairs, late for breakfast as usual. Hearing her name caused her to pause.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s on her period. Don’t they get moody around that time?”
“No, according to the information packet they gave us she’s not premenstrual,” Jared spoke in his most doctor-knows-best voice.
They gave them a packet about my cycle. She wrapped her arms around her chest, feeling another quick burst of violation.
“I thought she was upset because you were hurt, but it’s something else,” Jared said.
“She was on the computer yesterday. I should’ve looked at what she was doing, but it just felt wrong to spy,” DeAnthony chimed in.
Krista bit her lip, worried she’d just lost a small freedom.
“Well, no more fucking internet for her,” Mal said. I’m not the kind of guy who supports forcing a woman…” He coughed. “…Damon. Nevertheless, I don’t think we need to let her get so damn elevated in her belief she is in charge. No, when it’s your night, it’s your night and that’s it.” He sounded terribly bitter.
Krista cringed. Her fears had been spot on.
“I don’t want anyone hurting her. She’s not a sex toy or a prostitute. This polygamist situation wasn’t her choice any more than it was ours. We need to give her some time. Whatever upset her needs to be resolved. Maybe she’s still upset about Damon,” Jared said quietly.
“Damn it, I didn’t beat her. Stop acting like I’m some sex-crazed monster!”
“Okay, we agree we won’t hurt her. It’s going to have to come down to her realizing she does have a commitment to us. If she’s not pregnant in a few months, they’ll take her,” Max added.
“I don’t want her hurt.” Brax growled.
She started back down the stairs, having heard enough. “Good morning,” Krista said quietly. Heat crept up her neck and burned under her cheeks. She knew they could see her embarrassment and didn’t try to hide it. “I’m sorry about last night, Mal. You do have Sunday. In my defense, I’ve never been much of a morning person. I guess it’s time to be real here. I thought I could do this, but I guess I didn’t realize how this included sex every single day. It overwhelmed…” She sighed. “I don’t know. I realize now how little control I have over my life here. At least at the protection facility I controlled my body, at least until the end. I know there’s no going back to that. I want what every woman since the dawn of time has wanted—love. I know you guys aren’t the worst six I could belong to, but it’s all so hard. I’m sorry. I don’t want drama. I want to try to make some kind of happiness. It all hit me yesterday. I realized I wasn’t as brave as I thought. It was a big pill to swallow and left me…not myself. Sorry.” She didn’t look at them as she finished. Instead, she looked down at the poached egg on toast Steve sat on the table in front of her. She took a quick sip of orange juice.
“Okay. I get it, really I do. Let’s agree that from now on you’ll save your inner turmoil for Sundays. Just not this Sunday, you know you have to get pregnant. The pressure is on until then. We don’t want to lose you, and you don’t want to be taken away, do you?” Mal said.
“I don’t,” she said quickly, looking at the worried and unhappy faces of her assembled six. “I’m sorry Mal bore the blunt of my soul searching. I really thought I could do this without a meltdown, but that’s asking a lot. I know a lot of guys would’ve have just forced themselves on me.” She looked pointedly at Damon. “I appreciate you giving me time, Mal. I’m sorry you have to wait.”
His grim look told her he was sorry he had to wait too. “Damn, it’s just been a dream of mine to be inside a woman. So far, other than oral, I’m still a virgin.”
DeAnthony snorted. “Don’t tell Rosie Palm that, poor old Rose is usually chaffed from all the lovin’.”
Mal scowled at his best friend. A few of the men chuckled, but the ones still on the waiting list didn’t look any happier than Mal about the situation.
“I just want to be happy,” Krista whispered.
“So do we,” Jared said. “We will be. This just needs time. We have to get used to the arrangement, okay?”
Krista gave him a small smile. “Okay.”
They finished breakfast. She didn’t eat much, but she had a second glass of the delicious orange juice. Krista stood, ready to leave the uncomfortable gathering.
“Today is going to be a busy one for you, Krista,” Brax said. “Your social worker is coming to check on your welfare. We also have our first interview for a companion scheduled. Do you want to cancel the companion?”
She sighed. “No, I just want to get it over with.”
* * * *
Krista sat at the kitchen table, waiting for the interview with her new “friend” nervously. There was a knock on the door. Steve showed a tall, lanky man into the room. He walked with a flourish of confident grace. This newcomer held out his hand to Brax. A hot look on his face told Krista the companion candidate found her favorite just as appealing as she did.
“Hello. My name is Lee Young. I’m here for the companion position.”
“Thank you, Lee, please have a seat.” Brax seemed a bit uncomfortable under the man’s hungry gaze. Krista immediately gave the man a mental point. She liked seeing Brax squirm.
He walked over to her, looking her in the eyes. “You must be Kristannie.”
“Call me Krista.”
“The agency tells me you’d like to learn to cook and paint,” Lee said, sitting down and folding his hands in his lap with an exuberant flourish.
“Yes, I’d like to very much. I’ve never had to have a friend ‘purchased’ before. Please tell me why you chose this line of work?”
“Well, honey, I’ve had a hard time being me. Not everyone accepts gay men, even now, so this was a job that appealed to me because of my sexual orientation. I can be me.”
Two points for Lee. That response is honest enough for me. “Reasonable. Tell me about yourself, Lee.”
“My mom survived the plague. I was a lucky kid. She died two years ago, the disease weakened her, and the last five years of her life she was disabled. It wasn’t easy. I did all I could to protect her, but she was raped twice. She was my best friend. When she died, I applied for my position as a companion. I worked for a woman in Duluth until six months ago.”
“Why did you quit?” Krista was curious. She’d never have been so forthright questioning a real friend, but she was interviewing him for a job.
; “I didn’t. She died.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. Was she ill?”
“Suicide,” he whispered. His eyes looked haunted.
“I think we’ve heard enough. Thanks for coming, Lee.” Brax spoke gruffly as Lee opened his mouth to elaborate. Brax grabbed the man by his arm, pulling him to his feet.
“I didn’t get to show you samples of my art,” Lee cried desperately.
“That’s fine, we’ll be in touch,” Brax said, all but pushing the man out the door. He looked over Braxton’s shoulder helplessly.
“Wait, I’d like to see them,” Krista called as Brax pushed the man out the door.
She heard the lock snick as Brax turned back around. “We’ll have them send someone else tomorrow.”
“I wanted to hear more. I really think he might be right for the job.”
Brax scowled. “I…” He ran his hand through his hair. “Damn it, Krista, no depressing people. I like you happy.”
“If you don’t bring him back, I won’t be happy. I think Lee could really be someone I’d feel friendship with. He’s experienced in this, more so than I am.”
“Yeah, sounds like he did great with his last position,” Brax grumbled.
“Who knows why she did it, but I doubt painting and cooking drove her to kill herself. I’d like you to hire him. You just don’t like him because he looked at you like he did.”
“It had nothing to do with that. Just, humor me please. Let’s find someone with a more—acceptable backstory.”
“Life isn’t some novel with backstories. If we’re going to do this, let me pick someone I like because they’re real. If I have to have a ‘fake’ friend, at least let them have a ‘real’ life story.” She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
His lips compressed into a thin line. “I just want to do what’s right for you. I know something is bothering you. I don’t want you to be unhappy, Kristannie. No matter what you believe, I do care about you. More than I probably should, considering you belong to all of us. I want your heart, not just your body.”
Given Page 14
