Hunger #Wattys2017

Investigate

Disappear...disappear...

From subtle to blatant, Connor has been appearing less and less into Sherri's, Judith's, and his mother's lives.

He still went to school, but when it came to afterschool plans, Henry controlled where he went, and it was almost always with him. He seldom got to go with his friends, and if he did, it was on Henry's time, so very limited.

He spent most of his time at Henry's house as his pet. When he was there, he was forced to change out of his clothes and into jeans. Bare chest and bare feet were the remainder of his outfit. From 3pm to sometime in the early am, Connor had to do and say whatever Henry told him to do.

Every day he was shirtless and shoeless, with an electric collar around his neck, his skin cold and littered with bruises. Sometimes he practically cowered in Henry's presence. He tried his best not to show it in school around his friends.

Henry decided to take a bathroom break.

"I'll be right back my pet." he said with a wink.

Connor put on his best fake smile until after he left. He laid on his side and quietly sobbed, he didn't want Henry to know he was too miserable here, or who knows what he'd do to him.

At least I can see my mom and friends...he thought. But I miss them so much...

He missed his mother. Going clothes shopping with her, mani-pedis, watching TV with her with his head resting on her shoulder, her home cooked meals, playing with her long, flowing, burgundy-brown hair.

He missed his friends. With Judith, hand games, wrestling, writing even though he wasn't good at it, dancing around in her garden, and talking with her two moms and dad. With Sherri, her dads' cooking, playing board games in the loft, playing outside, sitting and doing impressions of people from a distance, and talking.

Talking.

How he missed talking to Sherri. He loved talking to her, and he was pretty sure she liked talking to him, because she talked a lot. He missed her voice. He missed her playing with his hair while she did so, sometimes she made braids in it when she was nervous.

He talked about almost anything and everything with her. His soft sobbing picked up slightly in volume from the physical and metaphorical aches that lingered along his body.

He opened his eyes and turned his body. He sat up quickly when he saw the time on the clock.

5pm. Or at least it was close to it. Five was the time he could take a break from the cage. Which gave him an idea.

He saw Henry come into the room. He quickly cleaned his face, put on a fake smile, and cleared his throat.

"Hello again pet." Henry said as he went to his computer.

He began to type away. Connor went up to the cage and wrapped his hands around the bars. He gulped and parted his lips.

"H-Henry...?"

"Yes pet?" Henry asked sweetly while not taking his eyes off the screen.

"It's almost five." Connor said timidly.

"Why yes, yes it is." Henry said again still looking at the screen. "Is there something that you want? Because you're mentioning break time before break time."

"Yes actually." Connor continued in a quiet manner. "I was thinking...during my break I could maybe...visit my friend Sherri at her house?"

"DAMN IT!" Henry blurted while slamming his fists on the keyboard, then turned around in his swivel chair with a hand on his forehead and let out an aggravated sigh.