Escaping Neverland

Just Keep Swimming

I reluctantly consumed the food they had left behind, but it only worsened my state. Overwhelmed by sadness, I ended up vomiting beside the bed, which further intensified my tears. As I curled up, my mind wandered to the hurtful things Greg had said. How could he claim to have liked me from the beginning? He had tormented me ever since Peter, and he had never shown any kindness except when I asked for the recent party, which came at a steep price and didn't count as genuine. If he truly liked me, then his mind must be twisted, as it was not normal for someone to be so cruel, especially towards someone they claim to like. I sighed and shook my head, realizing it wasn't worth dwelling on these thoughts. I had to believe that once the children were safely hidden, Carson would find a way to save me. However, a nagging doubt crept in. What if Greg was right, and when Carson discovered my current state, tarnished and impure, he decided to abandon me? The prospect of being alone was unbearable, even in the face of freedom. I curled up even tighter, eventually falling asleep and only waking up when Damien entered the room, cursing.

Gradually awakening, I could hear Damien's curses and his call for someone to clean up my room. However, he dismissed them and personally uncuffed me. Uncurling myself, I looked at him, witnessing a side of him I never thought I would see. He appeared concerned, but the illusion quickly faded as he spoke, reminding me that he needed me healthy because I was his captive. Lost in my thoughts, I was taken by surprise as he lifted me in a bridal hold and carried me out of the room. My senses jolted as I suddenly found myself surrounded by water. Damien motioned toward the soaps, indicating that I should wash up. Silently complying, I carefully cleaned myself, biting my lip as the pain flared from the soapy contact with my wounds.

Once I was washed, Damien made me sit on a bench and proceeded to dry me off himself. Then he handed me a short, thin black dress, instructing me to wear it due to the warm weather. While I dressed, he cupped my elbow, guiding me out of the room and into the dining area. "Sit next to me. You need to eat now since you're running on empty," he said. I nodded and sat down, observing Greg's entrance as he placed a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of me. Softly, I uttered my thanks before looking at Damien, who gestured for me to start. With no further hesitation, I began to eat slowly, mindful of not upsetting my stomach. After finishing my meal, I tidied up my area and sat quietly, afraid of doing anything that could be misconstrued. When Damien was ready, he smiled down at me and helped me stand.

"Are you ready to learn, my little fighter? It seems like all your friends have abandoned you, not a single one returned for you," he stated. I nodded, biting my lip as I glanced at the ground. We moved slowly towards the rooms, but instead of stopping at my usual room, we kept going. Ascending the stairs, we arrived at the only room on the top floor. It was my first room in this building, a forbidden place for what felt like an eternity—my mother's room. As Damien opened the door, my heart sank, and I trembled, taking in the familiar surroundings, from the large bed to the crib and children's toys. Emitting a soft chuckle, he gently nudged me into the room. "This is now your room. You will only leave if I permit it. There is an attached bathroom, and your meals will be brought to you. There are two cameras in this room and one in the bathroom, so don't get any ideas. You will also have two daily visits from Greg until you provide me with a positive test," he informed me before departing. Before leaving, he handed me two pills and waited until I had swallowed them and showed him they were gone. Once he left and locked the door, I released a deep sigh, sinking onto the bed, reminiscing about the countless days I had spent in this room. Days passed slowly, following the same monotonous routine without any significant changes. I began losing hope of anyone coming back for me. Letting out another sigh, I got up and grabbed one of the pregnancy tests they had left behind, taking it with me to the bathroom. After a few minutes, I returned to check the results, but upon picking it up, I gasped and dropped it, unable to comprehend what I saw. I hurriedly grabbed another test, hoping for an error. I couldn't be pregnant; it seemed impossible. If it were true, I couldn't bear to go through with it. I was ready to end everything tonight, if necessary. While waiting for the test result, I heard the door unlock. I quickly composed myself as they brought in breakfast and left, locking the door again. Letting out another sigh, I walked back to the bathroom, hurling the second positive test against the wall in frustration. It was over. I had to put a stop to this. Eventually, the others would expose these people, reducing their capacity to harm more individuals. But I had to prevent them from rebuilding from scratch. Looking up, I decided that the bathroom was the best place for me to pretend to take a bath. I bit my lip, took a deep breath, and got to work, preparing for what lay ahead.