by Athan, Jon
Shocked, Calvin took two steps in reverse and retreated from the frontlines. He moved closer to his sister in an attempt to comfort her, but he was stunned by her horrifying story. He could only grunt and groan as his sister sniffled and moaned.
As she stared at the floor, Ashley said, “I hate mom for that, too. You know, she thinks I hate her because she's old. What kind of stupid shit is that? I don't give a crap about her age. If she was a real mother, I'd love her even if she was a fucking corpse. I'd love her forever. I hate her, though.”
Calvin stuttered, “D–Did she touch you, too?”
“No. I told her about Uncle Huey after it happened. When you and dad went to a movie, I brought her inside from the garden... and I told her everything. She didn't believe me. She blamed me instead. She said if anything happened, it was because of something I did. I cried and I cried, begging her to do something about it, but she just blocked it all out. She abandoned me when I needed her. You can't love a woman like that.”
Calvin stared at his sister and examined her ruminative demeanor. He felt the same. His mind was clouded with guilt, doubt, and distrust. The sound of a creaky floorboard emerged in the basement – the undeniable sound of a rickety stair.
Without glancing over, Calvin inconspicuously slipped the phone into his pocket. He turned towards the stairs, doe-eyed.
***
Jane stood towards the center of the stairs, surprised. She glanced at Calvin, then towards Ashley. Despite their silence, she was able to connect the pieces to form a suitable image for her agenda. There was a bulge in her son's pants and her daughter's shirt was wide open. A boy going through puberty and a teenage girl in the same room at night did not paint a pretty picture in her mind.
Jane inhaled deeply, then she walked down the stairs. She approached her children, strutting with unwavering strides. Since she shaved her daughter's head, the unhinged mother received a boost in confidence.
As her mother stopped in front of her, Ashley said, “Mom, it's not–”
Mid-sentence, Jane slapped her with all of her might. Ashley did not have the opportunity to compose herself, either. The woman hit her again and again – and again. She placed all of her weight behind each strike. The teenager's cheek was red and swollen after the tenth slap.
Jane wagged her index finger at Ashley and said, “You disgusting little whore... How could you do something like this? How dare you seduce your little brother like that? Huh? How could you be so sick? What is wrong with you? We're trying to teach you lessons, we're trying to help you grow, and this is what you do? Your father was right about you. Oh, God, you're sicker than I thought...”
Calvin said, “Mom, I was–”
“Be quiet, Calvin. Don't you dare try to protect this piece of trash. I know what women do to boys like you. I know how they try to trap and manipulate you. You're in trouble, but it's not your fault. It's your whore sister's fault.”
Jane turned her attention back to her daughter. She lifted her right hand over her left shoulder, then she struck Ashley with a backhanded slap. The teenager's teeth sliced into her lip. A droplet of blood dripped from her bottom lip and streamed across her chin, as if she were feasting on raw flesh. Both sides of her face were red due to the brutal slaps.
Yet, Ashley did not cry or yell. Calvin furrowed his brow and cocked his head back as his sister giggled deliriously. Jane's breathing intensified upon hearing the insolent laughter. The girl, a victim of savage abuse, laughed in the face of adversity and refused to be broken by her wicked family.
As she laughed, Ashley said, “Yeah, it's my fault. It's always my fault in this goddamn house. Get the kid out of here if you're going to keep hitting me, okay? Jesus, what kind of mother are you? Huh? He shouldn't be seeing this, should he? He shouldn't be seeing his mother breaking the law and hurting her child, should he?” She huffed and rolled her eyes. She said, “Get him out of here. Let's deal with this one-on-one.”
Jane jabbed her index finger at Ashley's face and said, “You're going to pay for the things you've done. Okay? Okay?”
Ashley chuckled and shook her head. She said, “Yeah, I know.”
“You think this is a game, you're treating this like one of your classes, but you're going to learn, Ashley. If everything we've done hasn't taught you to stop pulling crap like this, it's obvious to me that you're going to need some tougher lessons. I didn't want to do this, but there is no other choice. You're going to pay, young lady. Oh, you're going to pay...”
“I've been paying my whole life, mom. If the bill isn't my life, I just don't care anymore. Do whatever you want. I'm done with dad, I'm done with Cal, and I'm done with you. Now, if you're done, get the hell out of my face and let me sleep.”
The pair glared at each other, infuriated. An encounter caused by Calvin's sexual curiosity destroyed an already crumbling relationship. It could no longer be kept a secret: mother and daughter despised each other. Jane was originally uncertain of the abuse, but the night changed her. She was determined to hurt her child.
Realizing the consequences of his actions, Calvin stepped forward and said, “It's my fault. I was wrong, mom. I'm sorry. Please, don't do anything else. Please.”
Jane responded, “Don't apologize for your sister's actions, darling. Don't ever apologize for another person's sins. In a way, it's a good thing she tried this tonight. Now, we can teach you about women and whores. Maybe after the barbecue we'll have a serious talk.” She gently spanked her son and said, “Go to bed. Go on.”
Calvin gazed into his mother's lustrous eyes and thought: why doesn't she hate me? He glanced over at Ashley and frowned, dejected. His sister swayed her head towards the stairs, motioning her demands – get out of here. He didn't have any other options. He trudged up the stairs and reluctantly departed from the dungeon.
As she took her first step up, Jane glanced back at Ashley and said, “We're going to teach you a very important lesson, girl.”
Ashley did not respond. She watched as her mother marched up the stairs. The door closed and the sound of locks clicking echoed through the room. The tortured teenager slumped her head down and sniveled. Sleep was the only remedy for her perpetual agony.
Chapter Fifteen
Summer BBQ
Children sprinted across the backyard in their bathing suits, spraying each other with water guns and sliding across the water slide. The adults stood around the grill and sat at a table under a large shade umbrella. A cool breeze wafted the scent of barbecue into the neighboring nostrils, baiting the people with an irresistible aroma. The afternoon sunshine doused the barbecue with a welcomed warmth.
It was the perfect day for a friendly gathering – despite the teenager held captive in the basement.
Jane sat at the table, draped in a blue sundress. Her friends, other housewives much like herself, sat around the table as well. The women chattered about their husbands and the challenges they faced as parents. Of course, Jane kept her mouth shut about her new parenting techniques – brutal abuse.
A brunette woman, donning a white sundress and a straw hat, said, “Jane, your garden is beautiful. I've been meaning to start my own for so long, but, with the kids and everything, it's rough finding the time and the patience. It's crazy.”
Jane smiled and responded, “I know how it is, Liz. It's hard, but it's worth it. It's fun. It's rewarding. It's... It's liberating.”
Liz's eyes widened as she glanced over at the small garden near the house. Kids sprayed each other with water near the vibrant flowers.
Liz waved and shouted, “Hey! Be careful around there, boys!” She sighed in relief as the kids nodded and ran off. She turned towards Jane and said, “Like I said, it's rough with kids. I'm getting anxious with all of these boys and girls around the garden and it's not even mine. I'm surprised your kids haven't destroyed it yet.”
“It's good parenting, I guess,” Jane responded as she shrugged. “When your kids respect you, they respect everything about you. That's the bigg
est thing when it comes to parenting: respect. I've been learning quite a bit about that.”
“Well, it's impressive. If I were you, I'd consider writing a book about it. You know, a self-help book for parents. I've heard they're very popular and you can even publish it yourself if you want. I'd definitely read it.”
The other women agreed with several variations of the same sentiment: yes, yeah, sounds great, I'd read it.
Jane leaned back in her seat and nodded. She couldn't help but smile, proud of her garden and elated by her friends' encouragement. She pictured herself as a best-selling writer, which would eventually lead to a career in television as a parenting professional. I could write it, she thought, I could teach the world about good parenting.
Logan stood near the sizzling grill, an ice-cold beer in his right hand. His close friend, Robert Castro, stood beside him and watched as the children played. The men were at peace during the serene afternoon.
As he stared at the kids, proud and happy, Robert said, “They're having a lot of fun, Logan. This is a great barbecue you set up, man. The kids deserve this after another year at school.” He glanced at the house behind him and asked, “Where are your kids, man? I don't think I've seen them yet.”
Logan casually sipped his beer, then he said, “I think Cal is up in his room with some of the boys.”
“And Ashley?”
“Ashley... She needed some breathing room. Jane and I, we've been trying to work with her, you know? We're trying to 'fix' her, I guess. We figured she could use a break today.”
Robert chuckled and nodded. He said, “I get it. So, you finally gave her a little 'push' to the good side, right?”
“I gave her a little more than a push, but I'm dealing with it with a steady hand. I'm handling it like a man.”
Robert couldn't help but chuckle again. He grinned and shook his head, amused by his friend's response. Handling it like a man – he figured he was taking care of her with a stern but respectful approach. He was all for corporal punishment, but he wasn't aware of Logan's wicked actions. He believed he was spanking her, he didn't think the man would brutally whip her while forcing her to swallow condoms.
Robert asked, “So, how's the 'rehabilitation' going? Is she finally showing some respect?”
Logan chugged the rest of his beer, then he said, “It's going well. I really think we're making progress. It's only going to get better with all of the lessons I have planned for her. When I'm done with her, you won't find a better behaving teenage girl in the state. Hell, probably even the whole country.”
Robert examined his friend's proud demeanor, befuddled. The speech was not particularly worrisome, but his statement was odd. Lessons?–he thought. When he gave advice to Logan, he never mentioned anything about lessons.
Robert said, “Well, I'm looking forward to meeting this new and improved Ashley. I hope she shows up soon, I feel like I haven't seen the kid in ages...” He glanced back at the house and stared at the windows on the second floor. He said, “I wonder what Calvin is up to. The kid looked a little 'off' when I saw him at the diner the other day.”
Without even glancing back, Logan shrugged and said, “He's fine. He knows how to take care of himself. He's probably playing video games in his room or something.”
***
“I told you I had them,” Calvin said, his friends huddled around him like penguins searching for warmth. He raised his cell phone and asked, “You see? They're good, right?”
Calvin cycled between two pictures of his sister's chest, flicking his finger left-and-right on the touchscreen. The boys oohed and aahed, amazed. Two of his cousins sat to his left, two neighborhood kids sat to his right. They sat on the bed and leaned closer to the youngster, itching for a better view of the pictures.
Roy, one of Calvin's older cousins, said, “They're nice, but... I don't know. It could be anyone. You probably just got these from the internet. My bro has pictures and videos on his computer, too.”
As he leered at the picture, aroused, Calvin said, “I didn't get them from the internet, man. My mom still has that safe-guard thing on the computer. I can barely look at anything on there. These are from...”
He paused and glanced over at the door. He feared one of the adults from the barbecue would barge in at any moment and catch them. He also needed a second to think of an excuse. He couldn't tell his friends about Ashley's condition. He certainly couldn't tell his own cousins that he was sharing pictures of his sister with them.
He coughed to clear his throat, then he said, “These are from my girlfriend... My mature girlfriend. She let me take them as a gift, you know? They're only supposed to be for me, but, I don't know, I thought you guys might like 'em since you don't have girlfriends.”
“Who said I don't have a girlfriend?” Jordan, one of the neighborhood kids, asked. “I've had plenty of girlfriends, bro. I just don't kiss-and-tell.”
“Yeah, well, I don't think she'll mind. She can't do anything about it, either...”
Calvin smirked and nodded. At heart, he knew he was wrong for sharing the pictures. However, his deviant side told him to push forward. His sister could not stop him from exploring her body. His parents were his only obstacle.
Interrupting his contemplation, Roy asked, “What's her name?”
“Huh?”
“What's her name, Cal? You said she was your girlfriend, right? Well, what's her name?”
Calvin stuttered, “Mo–Morgan. Her name is Morgan.”
“Morgan?” Roy repeated, curious. He huffed and glanced over at his other friends, as if he didn't believe him. He said, “You're lying. I don't even know a 'Morgan' at school, man. What class do you have her for, huh?”
“She, um... She doesn't go to our school. She's from the other side of town, so you've probably never met her. She's older than you, too.”
His friends muttered about Calvin's absurd claim. His lies were too convenient, like the statements spewing from a career politician's mouth. The boy sought to save face, though. He couldn't change his statements, but he could tell more lies.
Calvin said, “I felt them.”
Roy responded, “Yeah, right...”
“I swear, I felt them. They were really soft. I was going to suck 'em, but... her mom came in.”
He wasn't exactly lying since their mother eventually interrupted his escapade. He was simply telling half of the truth. From the sparkle in their eyes, he could tell he caught their attention with his tale of foreplay.
Roy wasn't convinced, but he was undeniably interested. The entire group, as a matter of fact, was aroused and eager to hear more.
Jordan asked, “Did she give you a BJ?”
Baffled, Calvin repeated, “A BJ?”
“Yeah, a BJ, man. Don't tell me you don't know what that is? Are you kidding?”
The boys laughed at Calvin's lack of sexual knowledge. They patted his back and shook their heads. Still, they weren't entirely convinced the encounter didn't happen.
Roy explained, “A BJ is a blowjob, dude. It's when a girl sucks on your dick.”
Calvin nervously smiled, then he said, “Oh, a blowjob. I know about that. Yeah, I just got confused. I thought you were talking about something else.”
“So... did she give you a BJ or what?”
Calvin stared at the pictures on his phone. He wasn't the most informed teenager when it came to sex, but he was curious. He was willing to experiment, too. A teenage girl was chained in his basement, so the options were available to him.
As he gazed at the pictures, the youngster said, “No, she didn't give me a BJ. I don't know, maybe I'll ask her next time when we're alone. I think she'd do it...”
“Good luck with that,” Roy said as he patted his friend's back. He smirked and said, “Make sure you get some video, too, man. Well, if you're not lying.”
Without taking his eyes off of the screen, Calvin responded, “Yeah, sure...”
He sighed and smiled, eager to explore his sexuality wh
enever the next opportunity arose. He nodded as he stared at the image of his sister, determined.
While her family celebrated life, Ashley remained restrained in the basement. A ball gag was strapped around her face, the black ball jammed behind her teeth. Drool dripped from her bottom lip and tears gushed from her eyes. She couldn't scream for help. She could moan and mumble, but no one could hear her. The sense of abandonment was debilitating. She could only wait until her next lesson.
Chapter Sixteen
A Whore's Fate
Logan dragged a hardwood chair across the basement. The screeching sound of wood being dragged on concrete echoed through the home until he stopped in front of the support beam. He removed the ball gag from Ashley's mouth. As his daughter gasped for air, he tossed the gag aside. He fell into the chair and sighed, relieved.
He survived the barbecue without incident.
He rubbed his moist palms on his khaki work pants, then he tugged on his tight white t-shirt – searching for comfort in the most uncomfortable place. He couldn't be expected to abuse his daughter without feeling comfortable – it just wasn't right.
Logan muttered, “Damn, it's stuffy down here...” He glanced up at his daughter and asked, “Aren't you hot being down here all day?”
Ashley did not respond. The teenager was rendered lethargic by the abuse and neglect. Particularly, the limited food and water she received had taken a toll on her health.
Logan ran his eyes across the young girl's figure, analyzing her deteriorating condition. Her eyes appeared vacant – voids of melancholy. Her lips were discolored, pale and chapped. Her breathing was slow and hoarse. She was enfeebled by the constant abuse – physically and mentally. The man had finally broken through her rough exterior. He finally got through to her. However, he was not ready to release her. He had other plans for his daughter, he had an agenda to push forward.
Logan said, “I know we took a little break. I hope you don't think we forgot about you. We could never forget about you, sweetie. It's just... We had other plans we had to tend to before we could proceed. But, I'm back now and I'm ready to teach you a few things. First and foremost, we have to talk about something.”
