To Be A Prize

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Fingers prod at my neck, pausing on my jugular searching for a pulse. Another set of hands are at my wrists. A third pair gently trace the scratches on my thighs, ass and arms. My head rests in someones lap as that same someone strokes my hair and occasionally bends down to kiss my forehead and I'm sure that every time they do I hear a small whimper escape their mouth, as if they're crying.

As my eyes flutter open, the boys all look at me with relief and worry. Karl, who's lap I realise I'm lying in, bends over me and presses his cheek to my own. "I thought I'd lost you" he whispers into my ear. His voice rings like an alarm in my head and I suddenly remember where I am.

Kicking all the hands off of me, I stand up precariously on shaky legs. Dream reaches up to help me balance but I hit his hand away.

"Don't fucking touch me" I say, with as much force as I can summon. As if in surrender Dream puts his two hands up in the air and mutters something about being sorry under his breath.

"Y/N what happened" Karl asks.

"You think you, of all people, can ask me questions? You think you can kidnap me, lock me in my room and then ask me what happened? No, I'm going to be the one asking the questions because believe me I have a lot", at this all the boys look at each other, unsure what to say.

"We can explain, y/n" Punz retorts.

"Are you going to explain why you picked me up like a doll and tossed me around? Or are you going to explain what the fuck is going on?"

"You did what?" Sapnap says in disbelief, turning to stare at Punz who's cheeks flare red in embarrassment, "so everyone here has gotten to touch her however they want? Am I the only one sticking to the rules?"

"I haven't" Dream offers, "yet".

"None of you will ever touch me again. Especially you." I say, looking pointedly at Karl. He lowers his gaze, refusing to look at me for any longer. Good. I didn't want him looking at me anyway.

"I'm going to stay in a hotel, far, far away from all of you" I declare, spinning to walk towards the door.

"Dressed like that?" Dream smirks.

It isn't until he says this that I realise I am in fact not dressed at all. Having just been 'rescued' from my bath, none of the boys thought it important to cover my naked body so I'm left unclothed, with it all on display.

I throw myself back down onto the sodden floor and hunch my legs up to my chest to retain any modesty I still can.

My cheeks flare up as I notice Punz greedily staring at my naked body, reshuffling to hide his slowly hardening cock in his shorts. Karl looks up for the first time to see what I'm gawking at and follows my gaze to Punz who now squirms with embarrassment.

Before I have time to say anything Karl reaches across the room and grabs Punz by the neck.

"You fucking perve" he shouts as he throws a punch hitting Punz square on the cheek. In retaliation, Punz shoves Karl back in the chest then raises his fist to land a punch of his own. Disgusted at the sight of my calm, caring boyfriend turned violent, I scream and try to yank them off of each other but Karl's elbow catches me in the side of the head.

The room around me spins. Flashes of Punz's slowly swelling chiselled cheekbone, fear and concern fixed on Karl's handsome face, bubbles swirling around on the floor from my overzealous bath and frustrated scratches covering my body, all swim before my eyes.

The momentum from Karl's furious elbow, intended to protect my honour, throws my head backwards knocking me down like a feather, before falling into Dream's lap.

His arm loops under my thighs as he pulls my legs up into his lap too, his other hand holds my neck, his thumb nuzzled under my jaw making small strokes backwards and forth. Such tenderness from a man I'm so used to delivering me sarcastic retorts surprises me but the combination of confusion, lack of sleep and the soon to be bump forming beneath my eye socket make me feel nauseous, so I relax into the comfort he provides.

The rest of the men crowd round me asking if I'm ok, each one careful to stay a respectful distance away as the nakedness of my body still looms over the room.

"y/n!" Karl tentatively squeaks, "I'm so sorry. I- I didn't mean to- you know I would never hurt you" he stammers reaching forward to gently stroke the spot he just violently hit, causing me to reflexively flinch. How my relationship with Karl has transformed from trusting, easy going romantic fun to me living in fear of him hurting me, I do not know.

Before he can reach me, Dream grabs Karl by the wrist and glares at him. Pulling him in close so his mouth is centimetres from his ear, I hear Dream whisper,

"Stay the fuck away from her, Karl."

Karl slowly sits back down, each movement he makes measured so as to not accidentally hurt me or agitate Dream into any further action.

If I were any stronger I would have got up by now but the warmth radiating from Dream's chest is oddly comforting. Across the room Sapnap stares at us, jealous. Punz's cheeks are less red but he still stares at me intently and looks away every time I catch his glances.