Chapter 9
There were five of us, all branded with tattoos…1 through 5. Never knew I had a real name until I was charged with murder. Never knew what underwear was until I went to jail. We wore these short shapeless shifts and nothing else so HE’d have easy access anytime HE wanted…and HE wanted several times a day.
At night we were stark naked with just a thin blanket over the five of us, no matter how cold it was. We slept like cordwood…1 to the outside, then 2, then 3, then me, and 5 was against the wall.
Our bedroom was pitch black. The only light slid under the door from the hall. Shadows of feet would pass through the light, sometimes pausing as if to come in, and we’d tighten our grip on each other’s hands. HE might or might not come in. If HE didn’t this time, HE might the next o
