In Smiles Secrets Lay

Chapter 4

Jeff gently laid the boy down in the water and picked up a bottle of shampoo, one hand still on the back of his neck, a silent warning to stay still. The boy laid his head on the edge of the tub and let the pale man wash his hair, growling softly when he did something he didn't like. Jeff opened his mouth to ask him something, desiding he was calm enough to question at this point. The pup boy decided otherwise and lurched, the water following his movement and dousing Jeff. His quick hands caught the boy, growling as he wrestled him back into the tub. He gripped his hair, pulling his head back as his unblinking stare bored into the pup's eyes.

"I'm trying to help you!" He exclaimed, not liking the boy's disobedience. The pup let out a soft whine and sunk into the water, whimpering quietly. Jeff sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, looking down at the boy. "I was going to ask you if you had a name.." He mumbled, running his fingers down his back to keep him calmed and soothed. The pup tilted his head and whined. Jeff sighed, tilting his head to look down at him. The pup copied him. "I suppose we'll just have to call you pup until you name yourself." The boy tilted his head the other way.

The rest of the bath was relatively silent, save for a few comments about how dirty the boy was and a few scolding remarks as Pup tried to escape. Jeff didn't try to question him, figuring the feral boy had forgotten how to talk. The bath water turned brown, hiding the boy until he was pulled out and dried out. Jeff's eyes widened as he saw the markings on the boy's back. He called for him mentally, figuring it was easier on the boy's nerves if he didn't yell. The tall, pale man walked into the room, glancing down at the boy. He crouched, making his try and turn away, Jeff's grip tightening on his scruff. He used his other hand to turn him back so Slenderman could see, the pale hand rubbing circles into the pup's hip to keep him calm.

"Holy shit..." Long whip markings ran down the length of his spine, 'MINE' branded into the base of his spine. His hands and ankles were scared from rope and shackle. Pup let out a soft whine, arching his back to try and curl up. He began to freak out as the elder being reached down and traced the marks, forcing himself out of Jeffs hands with a pained yelp. He ran from the bathroom through the door Slenderman left open and darted into a room directly above the stairs. He slid under another man's bed, the stench of blood and fear filling the room. Jeff had scratched four long marks in the side of the boy's neck as Pup ran out of his arms. The elf boy let out a yelp, not expecting a naked man to run in on all fours and slide under his bed. He sat there, stunned for a moment, blinking. He pulled his hat off and pulled up the side of his lime green sheets, leaning over his bed. His eyebrows raised as he saw the red haired boy curled up in fear. He was still dripping wet and starting to shiver in the cold. He let the blanket fall back down and pulled his hat back on, leaving his room and closeing the door, trapping the pup in there. He quickly found the others, telling them where he was. Jeff, having spent the most time with the boy, was instructed to lure him out long enough to get him into a smaller spare room or the cage they had set up at the top of the stairs. The pale man grimmaced, glaring at Ben.

"I'm not going in there, his entire room smells like pot."

"Does not!" Ben cried back, pretty obviously high.

Slenderman quickly shut down the arguement, not having the time or patience for this. He let out a low growl, shutting them both up. "Jeff, you need to go in there. You're the one he trusts the most. We need to get him contained and warm before he shuts down on us out of stress."

They set up the cage in case the man ran the opposite direction, covering it mostly with a blanket to keep it dark and warm. Jeff slipped into the room, leaving the door open. He grimaced at the smell, freezing as he heard the sound of dog-like crying.

((I'm sorry it's so short, it doesn't even break 800 words.))