the water constantly hot so when we turn the faucet, it
runs through pipes to where it its needed. Oh Eric, you have so
much to learn about life in the real world. This is only the
beginning. They even have machines that wash the clothes and
another that dries them without my having to hang them on the line
to dry."
"Wow, I can't wait to learn about all this!
It is really interesting!"
After his bath, I apply antibiotic cream to
the lacerations on his back. Crying the whole time I spread the
cream, I apologize again for not being able to stop his father from
hitting him.
Eric responds, "Mom, it's all right. You
couldn't have stopped him from hitting me any more than I could
stop him from hitting you. It's not your fault. I love you
Mom."
I am crying openly now, "Oh, Eric, I love you
too. If something happens to me, please never forget that I love
you."
After Eric returns to the great room where
Barry is waiting, I decide to pamper myself with a long soak in a
tub full of bubbles. I really didn't realize how much I missed the
comforts of home until now. Having a huge bathtub to soak in is
real treat. After my soak I spend extra time blow drying my hair
and applying a thick layer of moisturizing lotion to my skin. Wow,
I could get use to this!
******
As darkness approaches, Barry makes beds for
both Eric and I on the floor of the great room in front of the
stone fireplace. After Eric is settled on his pallet, Barry pulls
me to the side,
"Melanie, do you know how to shoot? Well,
even if you don't I want you to take this." He hands me a two shot
derringer. "It only has two shots, so if you use it, make them
count. All you have to do is pull back the hammer then pull the
trigger." He shows me how to pull back the hammer and then points
out the trigger.
I look up into Barry's deep blue eyes. I am
sure he can see the fear shadowing mine. My hand is visibly shaking
as I take the derringer from his hand and place it in my pocket.
Barry lays his hands on my shoulders to comfort me.
I step into his embrace taking comfort from
his strength. "I am so scared. Darren is crazy and I can't even
imagine what he is going to do. What if he brings a bunch of
members from the area to help him?"
"I know you're scared, Melanie, but don't
forget you're not alone anymore. Scoot and the guys are prepared
for multiple adversaries. Don't worry." He just stands in front of
the fireplace holding me not saying anything. After a few minutes I
pull out of his embrace and go to my pallet and sink down to my
knees. Barry turns out all of the lights in the house and assumes
his position in his favorite chair with Ringo at his feet.
In the dark Barry asks, "Melanie, would it
help to talk about it?"
I take a deep, shuddering breath and have to
grab my ribs to keep from crying out in pain. After I again gain
control of the pain I whisper, "I really don't know, I have never
told anyone about my life at the compound." I pause for a few
minutes and then begin speaking into the darkness, "Darren Calloway
is a horribly cruel man. He brutally raped me that first night in
the compound when I was only fifteen. It was horrible for me. I had
never really even been kissed and I was a ... a... virgin." My
voice cracks on the last word. I take another steadying breath and
continue, "When I woke up from the drugs, he had me tied to the
bed, naked and spread eagle. He beat me when I resisted and raped
me over and over. During the day he left me tied to the bed so I
couldn't escape. The only time I wasn't tied was when one of the
women came to help me bathe and eat. She told me he had guards
posted outside the door with instructions to shoot me if I stepped
outside the cabin. The same thing happened every day and night for
weeks."
I take another calming breath. I am surprised
by how easily the words are flowing from deep within. "If it hadn't
been for the support of that one special woman, I would have died
during those first few days. She convinced me to accept
runs through pipes to where it its needed. Oh Eric, you have so
much to learn about life in the real world. This is only the
beginning. They even have machines that wash the clothes and
another that dries them without my having to hang them on the line
to dry."
"Wow, I can't wait to learn about all this!
It is really interesting!"
After his bath, I apply antibiotic cream to
the lacerations on his back. Crying the whole time I spread the
cream, I apologize again for not being able to stop his father from
hitting him.
Eric responds, "Mom, it's all right. You
couldn't have stopped him from hitting me any more than I could
stop him from hitting you. It's not your fault. I love you
Mom."
I am crying openly now, "Oh, Eric, I love you
too. If something happens to me, please never forget that I love
you."
After Eric returns to the great room where
Barry is waiting, I decide to pamper myself with a long soak in a
tub full of bubbles. I really didn't realize how much I missed the
comforts of home until now. Having a huge bathtub to soak in is
real treat. After my soak I spend extra time blow drying my hair
and applying a thick layer of moisturizing lotion to my skin. Wow,
I could get use to this!
******
As darkness approaches, Barry makes beds for
both Eric and I on the floor of the great room in front of the
stone fireplace. After Eric is settled on his pallet, Barry pulls
me to the side,
"Melanie, do you know how to shoot? Well,
even if you don't I want you to take this." He hands me a two shot
derringer. "It only has two shots, so if you use it, make them
count. All you have to do is pull back the hammer then pull the
trigger." He shows me how to pull back the hammer and then points
out the trigger.
I look up into Barry's deep blue eyes. I am
sure he can see the fear shadowing mine. My hand is visibly shaking
as I take the derringer from his hand and place it in my pocket.
Barry lays his hands on my shoulders to comfort me.
I step into his embrace taking comfort from
his strength. "I am so scared. Darren is crazy and I can't even
imagine what he is going to do. What if he brings a bunch of
members from the area to help him?"
"I know you're scared, Melanie, but don't
forget you're not alone anymore. Scoot and the guys are prepared
for multiple adversaries. Don't worry." He just stands in front of
the fireplace holding me not saying anything. After a few minutes I
pull out of his embrace and go to my pallet and sink down to my
knees. Barry turns out all of the lights in the house and assumes
his position in his favorite chair with Ringo at his feet.
In the dark Barry asks, "Melanie, would it
help to talk about it?"
I take a deep, shuddering breath and have to
grab my ribs to keep from crying out in pain. After I again gain
control of the pain I whisper, "I really don't know, I have never
told anyone about my life at the compound." I pause for a few
minutes and then begin speaking into the darkness, "Darren Calloway
is a horribly cruel man. He brutally raped me that first night in
the compound when I was only fifteen. It was horrible for me. I had
never really even been kissed and I was a ... a... virgin." My
voice cracks on the last word. I take another steadying breath and
continue, "When I woke up from the drugs, he had me tied to the
bed, naked and spread eagle. He beat me when I resisted and raped
me over and over. During the day he left me tied to the bed so I
couldn't escape. The only time I wasn't tied was when one of the
women came to help me bathe and eat. She told me he had guards
posted outside the door with instructions to shoot me if I stepped
outside the cabin. The same thing happened every day and night for
weeks."
I take another calming breath. I am surprised
by how easily the words are flowing from deep within. "If it hadn't
been for the support of that one special woman, I would have died
during those first few days. She convinced me to accept
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