Earn Your Keep

Back in the Game

Carter gathered the kids in the kitchen and began to pull out sandwich stuff and prepared a meal of sandwiches, juice and carrots. They ate quickly and soon were headed to the market. Wide brown wicker basket in hand, Carter led the kids throughout the market pausing to gather supplies and food for the next few days paying each of the sellers as she went along. Soon her basket was full with food and household goods. Each of the children had gone back to a more mellow behavior, and just followed her wherever she went. "Okay guys, why don't you all go pick out a sweet, and Trey would you please get some lollipops for Louie? Cherry and lemon if you can find them." Carter asked, and then watched as they ran off together to the sweets venders down the market. Carter felt a hand on her arm and went into defensive mode, but a voice stopped her from fighting back. "Hello darling, I've been looking for you, and you have been hiding. Naughty naughty, no no no, don't struggle, unless you want the small blond boy to get his throat cut, or the little girl with a long braid. Hmm, who will it be?" Carter stayed still while he whispered in her ear watching the kids from afar, and then glancing at dark looking men who were standing there for a reason. "Nick, if you touch them, I will cut off your balls, and shove them so far down your throat, you choke on them." Carter growled not taking her eyes off the oblivious children. "Oh Carter darling, you are in position to makes threats, not when I have such a firm hold over you." His growing gruff touched her face making her flinch slightly. "What do you want Nick?" She demanded. "Well darling, you owe Gethen, and I'm here to collect. He has a job for you."
"I'm not doing anymore runs. I got out."
"Nobody ever gets out darling. You will do this job, and the next and the next. Gethen sends his regards that he couldn't meet you personally, but you'll just have to deal with little old me." Carter could smell the stench of smoke on his breath. His hair was a black and sticking up in all directions and ink covered a good percentage of his body. Carter struggled not to punch him in the face. "Tonight you will come by the cave and retrieve what Gethen has for you. Don't be late, I would hate to have my way with one of them." Nick said gesturing to the kids. "Or I could have my way with you again, hmm that sounds nice doesn't it?" He asked running his hand up her leg and unto her jean clad ass. Carter bent down, slid her knife from her sheath on her ankle, and spun around to face Nick, basket still on her arm, her other hand twisting his molesting one down at an unnatural angle. She placed her knife at his throat. "Touch me or my kids and I will kill you, bring you back to life, and do it again." She threatened.
"Oh I love it when you're feisty, I especially enjoyed it in bed." Nick laughed his pungent breath on her face, "But that's because you were a toy, and I like the ones who fight back. It makes it fun. The ones who lay there and wait for it are boring, but you put up a hell of a fight."
"Try it again and I'll take your other nipple off with a knife." Carter said, remembering when she disobeyed Gethen's orders and he allowed Nick to have his way with her as punishment. Nick had forced her down on the bed and tried to take her clothes off, but she had fought and was able to steal his knife and slice his right nipple off allowing her to escape. After that she had changed back to her original sector, finding Dr. Chase again who helped her disappear, but she knew it wouldn't be long before Gethen found her. "Tsk tsk, threats are not going to get you anywhere darling. Oh no, it looks like one of your boys is wondering off."
Carter spun around searching for all of the kids, she saw one of Nick's men talking to Parke. "Alright. I'll come. Leave the kids alone." She said lowering her knife. "Do as Gethen says and we won't. But I'm hoping you slip up so I can have some fun with you, and them." Nick stated.
"You're sick." Carter said disgustingly.
"Tonight Carter, the cave at eleven. Don't be late. And don't worry, someone will be at the house to make sure nothing happens to your, kids." Nick said with a sly smile signaling to his men and walking away. Carter watched as they left and hurried to the kids. "Alright guys come on." Carter said paying each of the venders. "Um Parke, who was the guy you were talking to?" She asked bending down to meet his eyes. "I don't know, he was telling me that the vanilla chews are better than the gummy spiders." Parke answered holding up a handful of vanilla chews. "Okay, just, make sure you stay close, and don't talk to people you don't know." Carter said.
"I'm old enough to know not to go off with strangers." Parke said frustratingly.
"I understand that, but I still don't want you to."
"Why?" Parke demand.
"That man you were taking too, was he tall, and strong?"
"Well yes."
"I could have looked away for two seconds and he could have picked you up like a sack of potatoes and carried you off."
"I could have screamed, and kicked him." Parke argued with confidence.
"It would not have mattered Parke! He could have taken you and I wouldn't know where you are! Do not speak to people you don't know!" Carter said forcefully. Parke looked at her with hurt and surprise on his face. Carter noticed this and spoke more softly, "Parke, I care about you and I have to protect you. I have my reasons for not wanting you to speak to strangers and you will follow my rules whether you like it or not. Got it?"
Parke nodded his eyes cast down.
"A verbal response please, I want you to promise me."
"I promise I won't speak to people I don't know."
"Thank you. I'm not mad at you, I am just concerned okay?"
"Mmhm." Parke said, glancing up at her. Carter leaned forward taking his hand, "Come on." She said leading Parke and the others from the market back to her house. She brought them inside and unloaded the groceries. "Okay everyone, we will go back to the hospital in two hours. So go take a nap, or play something." She said. Nathan ran up to her, "Can Parke, Trey and I go outside?" He asked.
"No." She answered, not bothering to lift her head from what she was doing.
"Why not?" Nathan asked.
"Because I said so."
"You always let us go out before."
"Yes and now I'm changing my mind, you can't go out."
"That's not fair!" Nathan said loudly.
"I know it's not fair and you still can't go out." She sighed, "There was a notice on the radar channel, a criminal is on the run in our sector and I don't want you going outside. And that's that." Carter said.
"Oh." Nathan said dropping the subject and walking away, only to turn back to Carter. "I didn't know that..." He started.
"I know Nathan, you just have to trust me, and know that what I'm doing is in your best interest."
"Okay." Nathan said go back to Parke and Trey who had watched the whole thing.